UAE Weekly Business News 05/01/2026
- Jenny Hunt
- Jan 5
- 5 min read
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UAE Weekly Business News: Issue 270 published 05 January 2026.
UAE FREE ZONE NEWS
Creative City Media Free Zone, Fujairah reinforces role as national hub for media, creative industries (WAM 03/01/2026)
Bank of Palestine receives ADGM approval for full banking license (Arabian Business 31/12/2025)
UAE VISA NEWS (inc. employment, Emiratisation, human resources, training and women)
Dubai Police warn residents of rise in work visa scams (Khaleej Times 04/01/2026)
UAE sees sharp rise in women applying for visas, almost half of total travellers in 2025 (Khaleej Times 04/01/2026)
Minimum wage for Emiratis in private sector is AED6,000 per month, effective 1 January (WAM 31/12/2025)
UAE BUSINESS NEWS
71 events at DWTC in H1 2026 drive growth across business, trade and global investment (Khaleej Times 05/01/2026)
No major rent increases at renewal as Dubai’s Smart Rental Index guides hikes (Khaleej Times 05/01/2026)
Abu Dhabi Public Health Center expands Reference Laboratory for Infectious Diseases (Abu Dhabi Media Office 05/01/2026)
DEWA unveils smart solution to boost electricity network efficiency, speed up projects (WAM 04/01/2026)
Mohammed bin Rashid represents exceptional model of forward-looking, achievement-driven leadership in government (WAM 04/01/2026)
DEWA announces 90% completion of first phase of desalination plant project in Hassyan complex (WAM 02/01/2026)
Al Wathba Date Festival to begin 9th January (WAM 02/01/2026)
Dubai leads global surge in 'branded residences' as wellness takes centre stage (Khaleej Times 02/01/2026)
Viral Dubai chocolate brand FIX drops 2 new flavours with exclusive Careem delivery (Arabian Business 02/01/2026)
Mohammed bin Rashid, Mansour bin Zayed, discuss future of UAE’s development journey (WAM 01/01/2026)
DEWA develops advanced simulator for substation automation systems (WAM 01/01/2026)
Why Indian millionaire flow to the UAE keeps growing (Khaleej Times 01/01/2026)
AI takes centre stage in transforming HR across the UAE and GCC (Khaleej Times 01/01/2026)
Applications open for 2026 Healthcare Research and Innovation Fund (WAM 31/12/2025)
Ministry of Health and Prevention transfer key services to Emirates Drug Establishment (WAM 31/12/2025)
Lodd Autonomous, Noon conduct first drone delivery in Liwa (WAM 31/12/2025)
Emirates carries 55.6 million passengers in 2025 (WAM 31/12/2025)
How Emirates reshaped air travel in 2025 (Khaleej Times 31/12/2025)
Affordable rentals surge past 20% as Dubai property market looks to sustain healthier pace in 2026 (Khaleej Times 31/12/2025)
DDoS attacks in Mena up 163%, attacks on retail at a historical all-time-high (Khaleej Times 31/12/2025)
Top Spotify podcasts for 2025 reveal UAE’s entrepreneurial spirit (Arabian Business 31/12/2025)
Dubai Shopping Festival acts as a “discovery engine” (Arabian Business 31/12/2025)
Shumukh Alezz Group, PittMoss to advance sustainable agriculture (WAM 30/12/2025)
MoHAP, Merck Gulf showcases results of National Prediabetes and Diabetes Screening campaign (WAM 30/12/2025)
UAE pre-owned EV market surges 41% in 2025 as electric vehicles gain popularity (Khaleej Times 30/12/2025)
UAE issues new law for higher education and research (Arabian Business 30/12/2025)
Middle East business travel spending jumps nearly 20% in 2025 as MICE demand accelerates (Arabian Business 30/12/2025)
FIFA, Dubai Sports Council sign partnership agreement for new awards to celebrate best in football annually (WAM 29/12/2025)
Hamdan bin Mohammed meets with FIFA President (WAM 29/12/2025)
From military use to blood sample transport: UAE-built aircraft prepare for real-world use (Khaleej Times 29/12/2025)
UAE FINANCE AND ECONOMY NEWS
As gold prices swing wildly, investors shift from jewellery to bars, coins (Khaleej Times 05/01/2026)
Dubai outshines as GCC markets trail global rally in a divided year (Khaleej Times 04/01/2026)
Two new federal decree laws on Capital Market Authority, Regulation of Capital Markets (WAM 01/01/2026)
Dubai Duty Free celebrates 2025 annual sales of AED8.6b (Government of Dubai Media Office 01/01/2026)
UAE becomes world's 4th largest state investor with AED10.7t assets (Khaleej Times 01/01/2026)
Global Islamic finance set to hit $6t in 2026 as industry posts strong double‑digit growth (Khaleej Times 01/01/2026)
Gold prices in Dubai: Residents, investors get richer by AED200 per gram in 2025 (Khaleej Times 01/01/2026)
FTA announces implementation of amendments to certain service fees from 1st January (WAM 30/12/2025)
TAQA, EWEC announce financial closing for 1GW Al Dhafra Power Plant (WAM 30/12/2025)
Pay10 and First Abu Dhabi Bank announce Open Finance go live under Al Tareq scheme (Khaleej Times 30/12/2025)
New Excise Tax 'Tiered-Volumetric Model' on sweetened drinks effective 1 January 2026 (WAM 29/12/2025)
Emirates Reit reports 22% increase in property income and 57% dip in net finance costs (Khaleej Times 29/12/2025)
UAE BILATERAL TRADE NEWS
Abdullah bin Zayed, Zambian Minister of Foreign Affairs discuss strengthening bilateral relations (WAM 04/01/2026)
UAE President, Emir of Qatar discuss fraternal ties (WAM 01/01/2026)
President of Cyprus underscores strategic relations with UAE (WAM 31/12/2025)
UAE President meets Prime Minister of Pakistan (WAM 30/12/2025)
Lebanese delegation explores UAE’s future government models (WAM 30/12/2025)
Minister of Foreign Trade leads high-level delegation to Egypt for CEPA negotiations (WAM 29/12/2025)
ENOC Group advances critical energy infrastructure in East Africa (WAM 29/12/2025)
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Written by Jenny Hunt
Founder, Gateway Group, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, United Arab Emirates
FORBES' Top 100 Most Influential Women in the Middle East
