Dubai Times

UAE Insurance Sector Reports Limited Exposure to War-Related Risks

Insurance and reinsurance companies in the UAE say their regional portfolios remain resilient and have limited exposure to geopolitical claims, supporting stability across the domestic market.

UAE Aviation Authorities Strengthen Safety and Air Traffic Management Amid Regional Uncertainty

The UAE Civil Aviation Authority is working with airlines to improve flight routing and maintain safety standards as changing geopolitical conditions affect regional air corridors.

UAE Advances Regional Cooperation on Sustainable Space Exploration

The UAE Space Agency is promoting joint initiatives in satellite telemetry, disaster-risk management and commercial governance as regional space activity expands.

UAE Logistics Operators Expand Rail and Port Links to Strengthen Regional Supply Chains

Freight and shipping companies are expanding automated handling facilities and connections with Etihad Rail and major ports to improve cargo movement between industrial centers and maritime gateways.

Oraseya Capital Named Middle East and Africa’s Most Active Venture Investor for Third Year

The investment firm backed 15 startups in the first half of 2026, increasing funding by 25 percent from a year earlier, with proptech and artificial intelligence among its focus areas.

Ras Al Khaimah Attracts AED 771 Million in Capital Investment in First Half of 2026

The northern emirate recorded almost 1,000 new establishments and attracted investors from 68 nationalities, reflecting growing interest in its business and investment environment.

UAE Financial Sector Monitors Shipping Disruptions While Maintaining Strong Liquidity

Banks and financial institutions in Abu Dhabi and Dubai are maintaining stable liquidity and capital buffers as maritime disruptions create uncertainty for Gulf shipping, supply chains and energy transit.

Dubai Free Zones Reach 96 Percent Occupancy as Company Numbers and Employment Rise

The Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority reported a 13 percent increase in registered companies and a 24 percent rise in the workforce during the first half of 2026, supporting continued activity across major free zones.

UAE and Russia Trade in Services and Investment Agreement Takes Effect

The bilateral agreement expands market access and investor protections in sectors including fintech, healthcare and logistics, adding to the UAE’s trade framework with the Eurasian Economic Union.

Dubai Real Estate Projects Exceed AED 111 Billion in Value in First Half of 2026

The Dubai Land Department says 104 major projects were completed in the first six months of 2026, with completions rising 38 percent and investment value increasing 52 percent from a year earlier.

UAE Suspends Commercial and Financial Transactions With Iran Amid Rising Regional Maritime Tensions

The United Arab Emirates has suspended commercial activity, trade exchanges and financial transactions with Iran following escalating maritime security incidents, while national air defenses remain on heightened alert.

Iranian Hackers Shut Down British Power Plant for Four Days in Landmark Cyber Attack

Security officials quietly alert energy leaders after a small-scale UK generator was taken offline in a breach coinciding with widespread cyber intrusions on US water infrastructure.

Dubai Mallathon Attracts 100,000 Participants and Records 220 Million Steps

Dubai’s indoor summer fitness initiative has attracted one hundred thousand participants who collectively recorded two hundred and twenty million steps over two months, offering residents a way to exercise indoors during the extreme summ...

Dubai Resident Recovers Lost Gold Bracelet and Phone After Losing Them in the City

A Dubai resident who lost a gold bracelet and phone later recovered both items, prompting widespread discussion online about the city’s reputation for public safety and honesty.

Abu Dhabi Recognized as Home to the World’s Largest Arabian Oryx Population

The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi has announced that the emirate now hosts the world’s largest Arabian oryx population following conservation efforts that restored the once-endangered species across protected reserves.

Dubai Autism Center Highlights Delays in Autism Diagnosis Among Girls

The Dubai Autism Center is raising awareness that girls can face significant delays in autism diagnosis because symptoms may differ from traditional behavioral patterns more commonly associated with boys.

Heavy Rain and Fog Hit Parts of UAE During Peak Summer Heat

The National Centre of Meteorology has reported localized heavy rain and dense morning fog in parts of the eastern and southern UAE, including Al Ain, prompting warnings for motorists amid high August temperatures.

Dubai Police Warn Against Fake Vehicle Insurance Deals on Social Media

Dubai Police are warning motorists about fraudulent vehicle insurance offers advertised on Instagram, WhatsApp and other social media platforms, saying buyers could face legal and financial consequences.

Dubai’s Iconic Toyota Building Set for Demolition After More Than Fifty Years

The Toyota building on Sheikh Zayed Road, one of Dubai’s long-standing landmarks, is nearing demolition after more than fifty years as the area undergoes further urban redevelopment.

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to Proceed as Scheduled in December 2026

Formula One chief executive Stefano Domenicali has confirmed that the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will go ahead as scheduled at Yas Marina Circuit, despite wider geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

New Dubai Bridge on Al Mustaqbal Street Set to Cut Journeys to Two Minutes

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has completed a new bridge on Al Mustaqbal Street that is expected to reduce travel times through the downtown commercial district to about two minutes.

Dubai Opens 102-Metre Bridge for Cyclists and Hikers at Mushrif National Park

A new 102-metre bridge at Mushrif National Park has opened for cyclists and hikers, adding a dedicated route through one of Dubai’s largest forest areas.

Dubai Chambers Seeks Investment From Seventy-One Bengaluru Business Leaders

A Dubai economic delegation has promoted the emirate’s business incentives and digital infrastructure to seventy-one investors from Bengaluru, seeking to attract technology and startup investment from India.

Sheikh Mohammed Covers Treatment Costs for Child With Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid has funded advanced gene therapy for a young expatriate girl with spinal muscular atrophy, covering the substantial medical costs required for her treatment.

Dubai Police Impound Nearly Five Hundred Vehicles Over Unpaid Traffic Fines

Dubai Police impounded almost five hundred vehicles during the first half of 2026 after owners accumulated more than AED 6,000 in outstanding traffic penalties.

Etihad Rail Sets AED 200 Fine for Fare Violations on Passenger Services

Etihad Rail has established a AED 200 penalty for ticket violations as the UAE prepares for the broader rollout of passenger rail services across its national network.

UAE Introduces Stricter Anti-Commercial Fraud Rules Nationwide

Updated consumer protection regulations have taken effect across the UAE, bringing heavier fines and stronger market surveillance to combat counterfeit goods and deceptive commercial practices.

UAE Updates Military Service Fines and Exemption Rules for Emirati Citizens

Federal defence authorities have issued updated guidelines covering financial penalties for draft evasion and the medical and family circumstances that can qualify young Emirati citizens for exemption from national service.

Dubai Advances Urban Air Mobility Infrastructure Ahead of Flying Taxi Launches

Dubai transport authorities are developing vertiport infrastructure in preparation for electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, as the emirate seeks to establish an urban air mobility network.

More Than 27,000 Teachers Return to Dubai Private Schools Ahead of New Academic Year

More than twenty-seven thousand teachers have returned to Dubai’s private schools to prepare for the new academic year, while a separate Ministry of Education training programme is supporting twenty-four thousand public school staff.

Dubai Introduces Rent Now, Pay Later Scheme for Residential Tenants

The Dubai Land Department has launched a digital programme allowing residents to spread annual rent payments through monthly instalments, offering an alternative to the traditional bulk-payment model.

UAE Becomes First Country to Approve RINVOQ as Oral Vitiligo Treatment

The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention has approved RINVOQ as an oral treatment for vitiligo, making the Emirates the first country to grant the therapy this regulatory approval.

Dubai Court Enforces AED 1.3 Million Car Sale Contract Made Entirely on WhatsApp

A Dubai court has upheld a car sale agreement worth AED 1.3 million that was concluded entirely through WhatsApp, establishing a significant precedent for the legal treatment of high-value digital agreements.

ADNOC Partners With Reatile on Shell Asset Acquisition in South Africa

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company has selected South African Black Economic Empowerment firm Reatile as an empowerment partner in its planned acquisition of Shell’s regional retail assets.

Two Binance Employees Detained in UAE Amid Financial Crime Investigation

Two employees of cryptocurrency exchange Binance have been detained in the UAE as police investigate potential financial crimes, highlighting increased regulatory scrutiny of the country’s growing digital asset sector.

Abu Dhabi Installs Protective Anti-Drone Systems Around Strategic Fuel Facilities

Specialized protective netting has been installed around major fuel storage facilities in Abu Dhabi as authorities strengthen safeguards for critical energy infrastructure against potential aerial threats.

UAE Declares Friday August 28 a Paid Public Holiday for Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday

The UAE government has confirmed August 28 as a paid holiday for public and private sector employees who normally work on a Saturday-to-Sunday weekend, creating a three-day break shortly before the new academic year begins.

UAE Sends Eight Hundred Tonnes of Humanitarian Aid to Gaza

The United Arab Emirates has delivered eight hundred tonnes of food and medical supplies to support Palestinian communities affected by the prolonged conflict in Gaza.

UAE Airfares Expected to Stay High Through 2026 Amid Regional Aviation Disruptions

Industry analysis indicates that airspace restrictions, longer flight routes and volatile jet fuel prices linked to regional conflicts will continue to keep passenger fares elevated despite some easing of security restrictions.

Al Maktoum International Airport Expansion Drives Investment Across Dubai South

The thirty-five billion US dollar airport expansion is increasing investor interest in areas including Expo City, Emaar South and Jebel Ali as Dubai develops its southern corridor as a major logistics and residential hub.

Dubai Commercial Property Transactions Triple to AED 15.8 Billion as Office Demand Rises

Commercial real estate transactions in Dubai tripled in the first half of 2026 as limited supply in major business districts encouraged investors to shift toward office properties and other income-generating assets.

Dubai Completes More Than One Hundred Property Projects Worth AED 111 Billion in First Half of 2026

Dubai Land Department data show completed property investments rose fifty-two percent in the first half of 2026, reflecting strong investor confidence and continued development across the emirate.

Gulf Maritime Authorities Tighten Safety Rules for Commercial Tankers

Maritime authorities in the Arabian Gulf have introduced stricter tracking, communication and escort requirements for commercial vessels operating through regional maritime choke points.