Dubai attracted 18.7 million tourists in 2024, with cash-reliant travellers representing the emirate’s potential for digital payment adoption
Industries
Dubai
FIVE Holdings secures $460 million facililty to fund global expansion
The group plans to invest $500 million over the next two years, strengthening its footprint in Dubai and Ibiza and expanding into the US and Asia
Dubai
Marriott International, Shamal Holding to open EDITION Hotel and Residences at Dubai Harbour
The Dubai Beach EDITION will mark the first EDITION residences in the Middle East, according to the companies
Microsoft
Nadella ‘reinvents’ Microsoft by naming new CEO to run commercial business
Judson Althoff, Chief Commercial Officer, gets an expanded role as CEO of commercial business; Nadella to focus on tech
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi’s NMDC Group secures $610mn contract in the Philippines
Awarded dredging and reclamation works as part of the development of the Harbor City Project in Pasay City, Manila Bay
Abu Dhabi
Silal, Limagrain to develop abiotic resilience and crop genomics centre in Al Ain
Crops produced will have the ability to withstand extreme conditions such as heat and salinity, and new varieties developed will be more productive and sustainable
DEWA
DEWA and Siemens Energy launch Phase Two after ‘exceptional results’
World’s first AI Plant Intelligent Controller at the Jebel Ali Power and Desalination Complex improves efficiency and fuel savings by 2.2%
ALEC
ALEC IPO raises $381m after 21x oversubscription in UAE’s biggest construction listing
ALEC’s IPO on the DFM raised $381m with demand topping $8.1bn, marking the UAE’s biggest-ever construction listing by size and value
Amira Sajwani
Indian investors lead UAE fractional property boom with 37% share as millennials drive demand
PRYPCO Blocks data shows Indian investors hold 37% of UAE fractional property ownership, as millennials drive demand and upfront rental guarantees boost returns
Saudi Tourism
Saudi Arabia enforces new Saudization and worker registration rules for tourism sector
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism has approved new rules for worker registration and Saudization in licensed tourism facilities, with strict compliance checks
Aviation
Dubai’s SolitAir marks first year with 30 Global South cargo routes and plans 20-aircraft fleet by 2027
Dubai-based SolitAir marks one year with 30 Global South cargo routes, a fleet of seven Boeing freighters and plans to expand to 20 aircraft by 2027
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
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
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
Abu Dhabi
Gulf money fuels Egypt real estate with UAE, Saudi leading $1.4 bn inflows
Foreign capital is pouring into Egypt’s housing market as Cairo pushes its most ambitious development agenda in decades