Dubai Times

Dubai Unveils Winter Arts and Culture Festival Calendar

Dubai Culture and Arts Authority has announced a programme of exhibitions, film festivals and design events across Al Quoz, Al Fahidi and Downtown Dubai as the emirate expands its cultural tourism offering.

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Reports Strong Demand for Tickets and Hospitality

Organisers of the Formula One season finale at Yas Marina Circuit say hospitality packages are sold out amid strong international demand for the upcoming race weekend and accompanying entertainment programme.

Dubai Launches Major Urban Greening and Park Expansion Programme

Dubai Municipality has begun an urban greening initiative involving hundreds of thousands of heat-resistant native trees, additional public parks and more shaded pedestrian routes across the city.

Sharjah Technology Park Reports Increased Venture Funding for Clean-Tech Start-Ups

The Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park says venture capital investment is rising across sustainable technology and agricultural technology companies within its start-up ecosystem.

Dubai Launches Global Tourism Campaign Across North America, Europe and East Asia

The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism has introduced a new international marketing campaign promoting the emirate’s hospitality, retail and cultural attractions as it seeks to sustain growth in visitor arrivals.

UAE Space Agency Advances Lunar Rover and Deep-Space Mission Preparations

UAE space officials said engineering teams are completing payload testing for an upcoming robotic lunar rover and other collaborative deep-space exploration projects.

Dubai Police Expands AI Use in Traffic Management and Public Safety

Dubai Police has deployed additional artificial intelligence systems across major roads and intersections to improve traffic monitoring, surveillance and emergency response operations.

Aldar Starts New Sustainable Smart Residential Communities in Abu Dhabi and Dubai

Aldar Properties has begun construction on several master-planned communities incorporating artificial intelligence-based energy management, lower-carbon building materials and pedestrian-focused design.

Abu Dhabi Expands Industrial Incentives for Robotics, Aerospace and Pharmaceuticals

The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development has introduced additional financial incentives and streamlined regulation under the “Make it in the Emirates” initiative, targeting advanced manufacturing sectors including robotics, aeros...

Masdar Advances Major Solar and Green Hydrogen Projects Across Emerging Markets

Abu Dhabi renewable-energy company Masdar has reported construction progress on utility-scale solar and green hydrogen projects in Central Asia and North Africa as it expands the UAE’s overseas clean-energy portfolio.

Dubai International Financial Centre Reports Record Growth in Wealth Management and Family Offices

The Dubai International Financial Centre says more international financial institutions, hedge funds and family offices are establishing regional operations in the emirate as its wealth-management sector expands.

Etihad Airways Reports Double-Digit Passenger Growth and Accelerates Fleet Expansion

Etihad Airways recorded strong passenger growth on rising tourism and connecting traffic between Europe, Asia and Australia, prompting the Abu Dhabi carrier to accelerate deliveries of more fuel-efficient aircraft.

Etihad Rail Completes Trials Ahead of UAE Passenger Service Launch

Etihad Rail has finished technical testing and safety certification for its planned passenger operations, preparing to connect Abu Dhabi with major urban centres across the Northern Emirates.

Emirates Launches Wide-Body Cabin Retrofit Programme and Adds New International Routes

Emirates is undertaking a multibillion-dollar refurbishment of its Boeing and Airbus wide-body fleet while adding direct services from Dubai to emerging destinations in South America and Central Asia.

DP World Opens Automated Container Facilities at Jebel Ali Port

DP World has inaugurated automated container-handling berths at Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port, expanding cargo capacity and shortening vessel turnaround times on trade routes linking Asia and Europe.

Dubai Holding and Emaar Break Ground on Major Dubai Creek Waterfront Development

Dubai Holding and Emaar Properties have started construction on a large residential and commercial project along Dubai Creek combining luxury housing, hospitality, green space and smart-city infrastructure.

UAE Non-Oil Foreign Trade Reaches Record High in First Half

Federal authorities said the United Arab Emirates recorded its highest-ever level of non-oil foreign trade in the first half of the year, supported by expanding Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements across Asia, Africa and Europe.

G42 and Microsoft Expand AI and Sovereign Cloud Infrastructure in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi technology group G42 and Microsoft are deploying additional cloud-computing clusters and sovereign data infrastructure in the UAE to support enterprise artificial intelligence and public-sector digital services.

ADNOC Gas Secures Major Long-Term LNG Supply Agreements With Asian Buyers

ADNOC Gas has signed multiyear liquefied natural gas contracts worth billions of dollars with major East Asian industrial customers, strengthening the UAE’s role as a long-term energy supplier to Asian markets.

UAE Central Bank Advances Nationwide Digital Dirham Rollout

The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates has moved into the next phase of its digital dirham programme, working with domestic and international financial institutions to expand secure wholesale and retail digital-currency transactions.

Arab Media Summit Examines AI and the Future of Digital Publishing

The 24th Arab Media Summit in Dubai is bringing together industry leaders to discuss generative artificial intelligence, regional media development and changing economics in digital publishing.

US Airport Telecom Outage Causes Delays Affecting Middle East Flights

A telecommunications failure at several major US transport hubs caused international delays and logistical disruption, temporarily affecting some long-haul traffic bound for the UAE.

Dubai Mallathon Ends After Summer Indoor Fitness Campaign

Dubai’s Mallathon initiative has concluded after turning shopping centres into free early-morning running spaces during the hottest months of the year.

Dubai Miracle Garden Prepares to Reopen for Winter Tourism Season

Dubai Miracle Garden is preparing to reopen after its annual summer closure as cooler weather marks the start of the city’s main outdoor tourism season.

Dubai Metro’s ONPASSIVE Station Renamed Garmin Under 10-Year Deal

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has awarded Garmin naming rights to the former ONPASSIVE Metro Station under a 10-year agreement, with signage and transit systems being updated.

Dubai Fountain Shows Suspended During Official Mourning Period

Dubai Fountain performances have been paused until the end of September during an official mourning period, while the surrounding boardwalk and abra services remain open.

Museum of the Future Temporarily Closes for Exhibition Overhaul

Dubai’s Museum of the Future has temporarily closed for a major redesign of its galleries and exhibitions ahead of a planned reopening in early 2027.

AIM Investment Summit Opens in Dubai With Focus on Cross-Border Capital

Government officials and investors gathered at the Dubai World Trade Centre for discussions covering green infrastructure, emerging-market debt and international technology investment.

Arabian Travel Market Opens in Dubai With Focus on Aviation and Global Connectivity

Arabian Travel Market has opened at the Dubai World Trade Centre, bringing together travel and aviation executives to discuss technology, tourism recovery and international connectivity.

GISEC Global Cybersecurity Conference Opens at Expo City Dubai

More than 25,000 specialists and 750 brands are attending GISEC Global in Dubai, with the conference focusing on artificial intelligence-driven cyber threats and protection of critical digital infrastructure.

Abu Dhabi Metal Park Starts Region’s Largest Galvanizing Facility

Abu Dhabi’s Metal Park has begun operating what it describes as the Middle East’s largest galvanizing kettle, expanding local capacity for construction and infrastructure manufacturing.

UAE Highlights Water Supply as Key Constraint on Future AI Data Centres

UAE officials said sustainable water resources and desalination capacity will be essential to meeting the cooling and energy requirements of expanding artificial intelligence infrastructure.

UAE Sets Minimum Excise Price for E-Cigarette Liquids

The Ministry of Finance introduced a minimum excise price of AED1 per millilitre for electronic smoking liquids as part of tighter regulation of vaping products.

Abu Dhabi’s Mina Zayed Waterfront Masterplan Covers 2.3 Million Square Metres

X Architects unveiled a three-district redevelopment proposal for Mina Zayed designed to connect Abu Dhabi’s downtown area and Corniche more closely with Saadiyat Island.

UAE Revises Nafis Salary Support and Introduces Child Allowance

The UAE has adjusted salary support under its Nafis programme for Emiratis working in the private sector and introduced a monthly allowance of AED600 per child.

Dubai Private Education Sector Adds 26 Institutions and Nearly 17,000 Seats

Dubai is opening 26 new private schools and early childhood centres for the 2026-2027 academic year, adding almost 17,000 places as population growth drives demand for education.

Middle East and North Africa Hotel Pipeline Reaches $90 Billion

Nearly 200,000 hotel rooms worth about $90 billion are in the development pipeline across the GCC and North Africa as governments and investors continue expanding regional tourism capacity.

JPMorgan and Qatar Investment Authority Target $20 Billion Investment Partnership

JPMorgan and the Qatar Investment Authority are pursuing a $20 billion investment framework across strategic sectors, adding another major source of institutional capital to Gulf financial markets.

Dubai Plans Interest-Free Monthly Rental Payment Scheme

Dubai residents will be able to pay annual rent in 12 monthly instalments without interest through participating banks under a planned initiative aimed at reducing the burden of large upfront housing payments.

Flydubai Prepares for Phased Move to Al Maktoum International Airport

Dubai aviation authorities are preparing for flydubai to shift operations progressively to Al Maktoum International Airport as part of the emirate’s long-term plan to transfer capacity away from Dubai International.

UAE Central Bank Restricts Bank Melli Branches From Iran-Related Transactions

The Central Bank of the UAE imposed restrictions on Bank Melli Iran branches operating in the country, prohibiting them from processing transactions to or from Iran.

Dubai Rolls Out AED1.5 Billion Economic Incentive Package

Dubai introduced AED1.5 billion in economic incentives, including relief from tourism and hospitality fees, as the emirate seeks to support businesses affected by regional disruptions.

Etihad Rail to Launch Dubai Passenger Service on September 30

Etihad Rail plans to begin passenger operations between Mohamed bin Zayed City in Abu Dhabi and Dubai’s Al Yalayis Station on September 30, with the journey scheduled to take 57 minutes.