The UAE-Malaysia CEPA, effective from October 2025, aims to double non-oil trade to $13.5bn by 2032, boosting investment in AI, healthcare and logistics
GCC
Dubai real estate
Dubai real estate sales hit $14.8bn in September 2025; top areas and projects revealed
Dubai property sales rose 11.3 per cent to $14.8bn in September 2025, led by apartments, plots and Business Bay, JVC and Dubai Hills Estate
DIEZ
Dubai launches ‘Employee to Entrepreneur’ programme to turn staff into startup founders
Dubai’s DIEZ has launched the ‘Employee to Entrepreneur’ programme to help staff build startups
Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development
Saudi Arabia boosts electronic salary transfers for domestic workers in phase 4 rollout
Saudi Arabia’s HR ministry launches phase four of its electronic salary transfer system for domestic workers, with full rollout set for January 2026
Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK)
Abu Dhabi schools progress: 23 upgraded to ‘Good’, 13 rated ‘Outstanding’
ADEK reports 23 Abu Dhabi schools improved to ‘Good’ in latest Irtiqa’a results, with 13 ‘Outstanding’ and 51 ‘Very Good’ schools across the sector
Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC)
Dubai World Trade Centre to host GITEX Global, WETEX, Beautyworld and over 15 major events this October
Dubai World Trade Centre’s October calendar features GITEX Global, WETEX, Beautyworld and more than 15 exhibitions spanning tech, sustainability, healthcare, HR, and education
GCC Railway Project
Gulf Railway Project: Trains to connect UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain by 2030
Gulf Railway Project will connect all six GCC states by 2030, spanning 2,117 km with high-speed passenger and freight trains, official confirms
dubai chocolate
Dubai Duty Free hits record $184m September sales as luxury, gold and iPhone 17 drive 11.9% surge
Dubai Duty Free posted record September sales of $184m, up 11.9 per cent year-on-year, led by luxury, gold and Apple’s iPhone 17 launch
Dubai
Emirates adds six weekly flights to London Heathrow from October
Emirates currently operates six daily services to London Heathrow, all using the Airbus A380
Al Marjan Island
RAK real estate: Source of Fate launches new $708mn Miraggio Waterfront project on Al Marjan Island
Source of Fate has partnered with Savills as the sales partner for Miraggio
beauty
ULTA’s Middle East expansion fuels shift from import market to global beauty exporter
When the store launches in Dubai later this year, ULTA will be actively scouting for Middle Eastern beauty brands to take back to the US
Parkin signs 10-year agreement to build and manage Dubai Sports City parking spaces
The company expects total revenue of up to $13.6mn for creating 3,100 new parking spaces; Project starts from this month
Abu Dhabi
Refreshed ‘Oasis by ADNOC’ to feature elevated food and beverage options
The relaunched identity modernises the brand, and central to this update is the introduction of the ‘On-the-Gourmet’ concept
Dubai real estate
Dubai real estate hits $36.2bn in Q3 2025 as property deals surge 60.8%
Dubai’s property market hit $36.2bn in Q3 2025, with deals soaring 60.8 per cent year-on-year, driven by population growth and global wealth inflows
Italy
UAE-Italy trade hits $6.5bn in H1 2025 as exports surge 19%
Italy’s exports to the UAE rose 19 per cent to $4.9bn in H1 2025, with full-year trade expected to surpass $9.8bn, driven by industrial technology
Ministry of Finance - Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia unveils $350bn 2026 budget plan
Saudi Arabia’s 2026 pre-budget projects $350bn spending and $305bn revenues, with 4.6% GDP growth forecast and a 3.3% deficit
Dar Global
Saudi real estate: Dar Global and Trump Organisation launch $1bn Trump Plaza Jeddah
Dar Global and The Trump Organisation will launch Trump Plaza Jeddah, a $1bn mixed-use project with residences, offices and a Central Park-inspired design in Saudi Arabia