Saudi Arabia’s HR ministry launches Qiwa initiative to correct “absent from work” status, enabling legal transfers to new employers
Culture & Society
Citizenship
UAE launches visit visas for friends, relatives under new ICP regulations
The permit is subject to conditions set by the UAE ICP
Dubai
Dubai Police adds three Mercedes-Benz luxury cars to tourism patrol fleet
The General Department of Criminal Investigation’s Tourism Police Department received the Mercedes SL 55 AMG, Mercedes GT 63 AMG, and Mercedes EQS 580 electric model
Cloud seeding
Saudi Arabia to rehabilitate 33 sites under cloud seeding initiative
Saudi Arabia has launched a large-scale environmental initiative to expand vegetation cover and rehabilitate rangelands across the Kingdom
archaeological discovery
Saudi Arabia uncovers earliest human settlements dating back 11,000 years
Saudi Arabia reveals new archaeological discoveries at Masyoun and Umm Jirsan, dating back up to 11,000 years, reshaping knowledge of early human settlement
dubai chamber of commerce
Dubai Chamber of Commerce reviews 27 laws as five new Business Councils launched in H1 2025
Dubai Chamber of Commerce reviewed 27 laws in H1 2025, launched five new Business Councils, and held 98 meetings to boost Dubai’s business environment
Saudi SMEs
Saudi startups raise $862m as 80,000 new SMEs launched in Q2 2025
Saudi Arabia recorded 80,000 new SME commercial records in Q2 2025, bringing the total to 1.7m, as Monsha’at highlights $13bn
AI
UAE warns social media users and creators against AI misuse
The UAE Media Council warned that misuse of AI to depict national symbols or spread misinformation violates media laws and can result in fines and penalties
Abu Dhabi real estate
UAE to invest $29bn in 13 new housing communities in Abu Dhabi
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed announced $28.8bn projects to build 40,000 homes and plots for Emiratis across Abu Dhabi by 2029
Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre
BRIDGE Summit 2025: Abu Dhabi to host world’s largest media and creative industries event
Abu Dhabi will host BRIDGE Summit 2025, the world’s largest media and creative industries event, with 60,000 participants, 400 speakers, and 300 exhibitors
F&B
UAE Future Food Forum 2025: F&B industry projected to triple to $43.98bn by 2029
UAE Future Food Forum 2025 returns to Dubai as the F&B sector surges to $13bn, with leaders driving food security, trade, and sustainability
Emirati entrepreneurs
Sheikh Mohammed: UAE aims to be world’s startup capital with 30,000 new jobs
Sheikh Mohammed launches “The Emirates: The Startup Capital of the World” campaign to train 10,000 Emirati entrepreneurs and strengthen the UAE’s global startup hub role
cyber attack
UAE Cyber Security Council warns 98 per cent of attacks target human weaknesses
UAE Cyber Security Council warns 98 per cent of cyberattacks exploit human weaknesses through social engineering
border regulations
Saudi Arabia arrested over 21,600 last week in residency and labour operations
Saudi Arabia announces more than 21,600 arrests in a single week as it clamps down on residency, labour and security breaches
Abu Dhabi real estate
Next UAE holiday, Dubai property surge, Abu Dhabi real estate boom and scam warning – 10 things you missed this week
Catch up on the UAE’s biggest stories this week: long weekend dates, Dubai and Abu Dhabi property booms, Sharjah’s new city, and key economic policies.
Humanitarian
Dubai launches ‘Rashid Villages’ to carry forward late Sheikh Rashid’s humanitarian legacy
Sheikh Hamdan launches Rashid Villages, a global humanitarian initiative to honour his late brother, providing homes, education and healthcare for underprivileged families
Saudi National Day
Saudi Arabia announces National Day holiday
Saudi Arabia has announced a pubic holiday for public and private sector