Saudi architecture map defines 19 different styles for buildings in the Kingdom
Industries
Auction
Dubai number plate sells for AED35m in RTA charity auction
The auction raised a total of AED83.6m with the sale of five premium car plates and 20 exclusive mobile numbers
Aviation
Emirates to deploy retrofitted Boeing 777s on additional Riyadh routes
The updated aircraft will begin service on the airline’s second daily flight from March 30 and third daily flight from May 7, 2025
International Space Station
NASA confirms Sunita Williams, Crew-9 return after nine-month space mission
Williams, along with NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Nick Hague, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, will return to Earth aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft with splashdown targeted for approximately 2:57 AM GST
district cooling
Tabreed and Dubai Holding form JV to build $410mn district cooling network for Palm Jebel Ali
Anticipated total cooling capacity of appx 250,000 RTs; First phase of cooling services to be delivered by 2027; Tabreed to own 51% stake in the JV
car rental
SelfDrive Mobility projects 30% growth fuelled by Eid car rental demand by GCC, Western travellers
The platform said it provides access to more than 100 car models from over 50 renowned brands directly from dealerships
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi converts key bus route to green fleet in sustainability push
The Integrated Transport Centre introduces hydrogen and electric-powered buses on one of Abu Dhabi’s busiest routes, aiming to cut 200 tonnes of carbon daily
Abu Dhabi
NMDC Energy secures $2.6bn Abu Dhabi EPC contract
The deal envisages NMDC Energy providing the EPC services for the project, beginning on March 31
Indian real estate sector
Indian real estate developers target NRIs in Dubai, US, UK amid housing sales slowdown: Report
The move comes against the backdrop of a major plunge in the rupee’s value against the US dollar and other major currencies, which enhances NRIs’ purchasing power
GCC
GCC worker remittances hit $131.5bn in 2023, global highest after US
The centre’s data indicated a slight dip of 0.4% from 2022
Dubai
Surging population growth fuels property demand in Dubai in early months of 2025; triggers race for new project launches
With an average household size of four people per unit, the population increase in January–February translates to a demand for more than 51,126 additional homes in 2025, sector experts said
Dubai
Dubai real estate trends revealed: ‘Community-centric living is the future of leasing’
Recent regulatory changes have also played a key role in reshaping Dubai’s rental market
SEWA
SEWA opens $136mn 220 kV substation in Sharjah airport area
SEWA collaborated with Siemens Energy and General Projects Company for Mechanical and Electrical Contracting to deliver the installation
Dubai
Dubai RTA nol cards to support digital wallets, QR code payments by 2026 in $149mn system upgrade
The upgraded nol system in Dubai will allow users to create and manage their accounts, link personal and family members’ nol cards, and control account settings, including allocating top-up amounts for each card, RTA revealed
Dubai
Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab: New Dubai luxury resort opens—Everything you need to know
Inspired by superyachts, bookings at Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab are now open
Eid Al Fitr
UAE Eid Al Fitr 2025: Residents plan getaways, spring travel adventures, says Expedia report
The report indicates strong interest in both domestic and international travel during Eid Al Fitr, with Ras Al Khaimah showing a remarkable 240 percent increase in searches
Etihad-SAT
UAE launches first synthetic aperture radar satellite Etihad-SAT successfully
The satellite departed aboard a Falcon 9 rocket at 10:43 AM UAE time, with the Dubai ground station confirming receipt of the first signal at 12:04 PM UAE time