UAE Weekly Business News 05/05/2025
- Jenny Hunt
- 1 day ago
- 8 min read

Welcome to Gateway Group's weekly collation of trade and investment headlines shaping the Abu Dhabi and Dubai economies.
Stay up to date with UAE Business
UAE Weekly Business News is the quick and easy way to stay informed about crucial UAE business news and laws, conveniently in one place.
How to use this resource
Scan the headlines and click the ones you want to read in full.
Every Monday
UAE Weekly Business News is published every Monday. Subscribe to our blog to receive it in your inbox automatically. It's FREE.
UAE Weekly Business News: Issue 237 published 05 May 2025.
UAE FREE ZONE NEWS
DMCC unveils new SPV and Holding Company Licenses (Government of Dubai Media Office 05/05/2025)
SRTIP forges landmark healthcare R&D partnerships to boost Sharjah's innovation economy (WAM 04/05/2025)
TECOM Group’s Q1 2025 net profit rises by 23% (WAM 02/05/2025)
RAKEZ leadership visits China to boost bilateral business ties (WAM 01/05/2025)
Circle secures in-principle approval from ADGM’s FSRA (Arabian Business 30/04/2025)
Gate Group secures Dubai VARA license (Arabian Business 30/04/2025)
DIFC announces 35% leap in insurance business during Dubai World Insurance Congress (WAM 28/04/2025)
UAE VISA NEWS (inc. employment, Emiratisation, human resources, training and women)
MOFA permits UAE nationals to travel to Lebanon from May 7, 2025 (WAM 05/05/2025)
UAE’s non-oil sector hiring grows fastest in 11 months (Khaleej Times 05/05/2025)
UAE job market sees shifts in hiring strategies (Arabian Business 05/05/2025)
Dubai jobs: Emirates to hire over 1,500 new pilots in next two years (Khaleej Times 01/05/2025)
UAE tops GCC in women’s board representation (WAM 29/04/2025)
UAE BUSINESS NEWS
Dubai retains top global position for attracting Greenfield FDI Projects in cultural, creative industries in 2024 (WAM 05/05/2025)
RTA Grants Naming Rights of Metro Station to Life Pharmacy under 10-year agreement (Government of Dubai Media Office 05/05/2025)
Dubai secures 5th ranking in first-of-its-kind Tier-1 City Index (Khaleej Times 05/05/2025)
Dubai rents to stay stable amid population growth, new visa policies, says top executive (Khaleej Times 05/05/2025)
Dubai: Is it legal to co-own property with my friend? (Khaleej Times 05/05/2025)
Yango launches Dubai robot food delivery in Expo City (Arabian Business 05/05/2025)
Dubai Launches Family Business Guidebook (Government of Dubai Media Office 04/05/2025)
UAE carriers lead aviation boom as Middle East emerges as global hub (Khaleej Times 04/05/2025)
Dubai real estate transactions hit $12.6b in April; up 77% (Arabian Business 04/05/2025)
Dubai real estate sector recorded $6b of transactions last week (Arabian Business 04/05/2025)
Soaring population increases Dubai real estate demand (Arabian Business 03/05/2025)
AGDA launches UAE Economic Diplomacy Report 2024–2025 (WAM 02/05/2025)
Dubai World Trade Centre unveils events for May (WAM 02/05/2025)
Education Cost Index set at 2.35% for Dubai’s for-profit private schools in 2025-26 academic year (WAM 02/05/2025)
UAE restaurants turn to AI, ghost kitchens to counter soaring rents (Arabian Business 02/05/2025)
Dubai off-plan property sales surge 47% y-o-y in April (Arabian Business 02/05/2025)
Dubai leads Middle East private jet demand (Arabian Business 02/05/2025)
ATM 2025 attracts 55,000+ attendees, marking 16% YoY growth (WAM 01/05/2025)
SEE Holding, Micropolis to power Sustainable City 2.0 with AI (WAM 01/05/2025)
Inaugural edition of Al Ain International Hunting & Equestrian Exhibition announced (WAM 01/05/2025)
Inaugural Abu Dhabi Infrastructure Summit to take place in June (Abu Dhabi Media Office 01/05/2025)
Middle East carriers face decline in demand in March (Khaleej Times 01/05/2025)
UAE and New Jersey gaming regulators sign Memorandum of Understanding (Arabian Business 01/05/2025)
Middle East emerges as key growth market for Chinese auto exports amidst global shifts (Arabian Business 01/05/2025)
Research unveiled at ATM 2025 outlines leading travel trends, market opportunities in Middle East (WAM 30/04/2025)
PCFC launches ‘Digital Zero Four’ (WAM 30/04/2025)
Dubai DET, Visa collaborate to drive tourism growth (WAM 30/04/2025)
Tawazun Council launches its strategic plan 2025 – 2028 to strengthen UAE’s defence ecosystem (WAM 30/04/2025)
Etihad, China Eastern Airlines celebrate start of JV (WAM 30/04/2025)
Maktoum bin Mohammed meets CEO of WPP (WAM 30/04/2025)
DXB welcomes 23.4 million guests in Q1 (WAM 30/04/2025)
IHG to introduce Kimpton hotel brand to UAE in 2026 (Arabian Business 30/04/2025)
Dubai developers capitalise on local supply chains as Trump tariffs drive up construction costs (Arabian Business 30/04/2025)
Facial recognition to cut hotel check-in times as Abu Dhabi bolsters ‘safest city’ status (Arabian Business 30/04/2025)
Butterfly Gardens Abu Dhabi set to open in September 2025 (WAM 29/04/2025)
Emirates activates codeshare agreement with Condor, establishes new partnership with Air Seychelles (WAM 29/04/2025)
Emirates, Philippine Airlines to explore enhanced partnership (WAM 29/04/2025)
Yas, Saadiyat islands set tourism records in 2024 (WAM 29/04/2025)
UAE President receives Crown Prince of Dubai (WAM 29/04/2025)
Russians, Gulf nationals lead tourist spending in Dubai (WAM 28/04/2025)
UAE FINANCE AND ECONOMY NEWS
ADNOC Gas announces Q1 2025 net income of $1.27b (WAM 05/05/2025)
Alpha Dhabi reports AED17.4b revenue in Q1 2025 (WAM 05/05/2025)
Changer Club announces strategic investment in EVEDEX (Khaleej Times 05/05/2025)
RTA posts 16% rise in digital revenues in 2024, reaching AED4.4b (WAM 04/05/2025)
Dubai stock market gains most among GCC peers in April (Khaleej Times 04/05/2025)
UAE card transactions set to surge to AED565.5b (Khaleej Times 04/05/2025)
ADIO, Alpheya to accelerate AI-led digital wealth management capabilities in Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi Media Office 02/05/2025)
PureHealth reports AED505m net profit Q1 2025 (WAM 01/05/2025)
Alef Education posts AED115.3m in net profit in Q1 2025 (WAM 01/05/2025)
M42, Reem Hospital to launch ‘Nafas’ mental health platform (WAM 01/05/2025)
UAE's public debt management policy strategically fosters investor confidence; operates distinctly from budget financing (WAM 01/05/2025)
Maktoum bin Mohammed meets with Mizuho Financial Group (Government of Dubai Media Office 01/05/2025)
DFM achieves strong growth in Q1 2025 (Government of Dubai Media Office 01/05/2025)
UAE developer inks world’s largest real estate tokenisation deal (Khaleej Times 01/05/2025)
Abu Dhabi tipped to grow 5.8% next year, with Dubai up 3.5% (Arabian Business 01/05/2025)
Dubai Duty Free sales pass $195m in April; as viral Dubai chocolate sells AED1m a day (Arabian Business 01/05/2025)
Borouge Q1 2025 net profit increases to $281m (WAM 30/04/2025)
NMDC Group reports robust financial results for Q1 2025 (WAM 30/04/2025)
DAE earns $85.8m in Q1 2025 (WAM 30/04/2025)
GCC sees massive surge in high-value startup funding deals in early months of 2025 (Arabian Business 30/04/2025)
Americana Restaurants revenue up 16.2% in Q1 2025 (Arabian Business 30/04/2025)
UAE sees over 537,000 corporate tax registrants and 511,000 signed up for VAT (Arabian Business 30/04/2025)
ADNOC prices debut Sukuk offering under newly established International Sukuk Programme (WAM 29/04/2025)
e& achieves 18.7% YoY growth in Q1 2025 (WAM 29/04/2025)
Emirates Stallions Group revenue grows 10% in Q1 2025 (WAM 29/04/2025)
Aldar reports AED1.9b net profit in Q1 2025 (WAM 29/04/2025)
United Arab Bank delivers 49% growth in Q1 2025 net profit (WAM 29/04/2025)
FAB reports 23% rise in net profit in Q1 2025 (WAM 29/04/2025)
Adnoc Distribution earnings top $1b for second year (WAM 29/04/2025)
NMDC Energy posts AED217m net profit in Q1 2025 (WAM 29/04/2025)
ADCB reports 20% YoY rise in profit before tax in Q1 2025 (WAM 29/04/2025)
UAE to post surplus as lower oil prices strain GCC budgets in 2025 (Khaleej Times 29/04/2025)
UAE announces new tax rule (Arabian Business 29/04/2025)
UAE M&A AND INVESTMENT NEWS
Mubadala Capital and TWG Global in a game-changing partnership (Arabian Business 02/05/2025)
Lunate provides strategic growth capital to Azura Partners (WAM 30/04/2025)
UAE BILATERAL TRADE NEWS
UAE President receives phone call from President of Cyprus (WAM 05/05/2025)
UAE, Croatia explore ways to strengthen bilateral economic relations (WAM 05/05/2025)
ADDED leads delegation to Japan to advance investment ties (Abu Dhabi Media Office 05/05/2025)
AD Ports Group, Egypt’s Suez Canal Economic Zone to develop KEZAD East Port Said Zone (WAM 04/05/2025)
UAE President receives phone call from Lebanese President (WAM 04/05/2025)
UAE-Africa Ministerial Meeting held to enhance cooperation in transport, railway, infrastructure sectors (WAM 03/05/2025)
e& expands global presence with new office in Miami (WAM 02/05/2025)
Mansour bin Zayed receives Syrian Minister of Finance (WAM 02/05/2025)
UAE, Greece discuss advancing Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, progress of Joint Investment Fund (WAM 02/05/2025)
UAE delegation visits Finland to expand cooperation in critical, emerging, advanced technologies (WAM 02/05/2025)
Dubai International Chamber establishes new representative office in Cape Town (Government of Dubai Media Office 02/05/2025)
Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed, President of Ecuador discuss strengthening bilateral relations (WAM 01/05/2025)
Noura Al Kaabi receives Costa Rican Minister of Culture and Youth (WAM 01/05/2025)
UAE, Lebanon issue joint statement on visit of President of Lebanon (WAM 01/05/2025)
Abdullah bin Zayed, President of Ecuador discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation (WAM 01/05/2025)
Khazna to build 100MW AI-ready data center in Turkey (Arabian Business 01/05/2025)
Emirates receives Tourism delegation from Jamaica (WAM 30/04/2025)
DP World Sokhna achieves record throughput in Q1 2025 (WAM 30/04/2025)
UAE, Egypt sign MoU to strengthen peaceful space cooperation, develop joint projects (WAM 30/04/2025)
UAE tourists account for 30% of Gulf visitors to Germany (WAM 30/04/2025)
Phoenix Group adds 52MW to Ethiopian Bitcoin mining operations (Arabian Business 30/04/2025)
Abdullah bin Zayed, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister & FM discuss strategic bilateral relations (WAM 29/04/2025)
Abdullah bin Zayed, Indian External Affairs Minister discuss strategic bilateral relations (WAM 29/04/2025)
Dubai highlights tech ties with Singapore at GITEX Asia (WAM 29/04/2025)
Sri Lanka, dnata Travel partner as UAE arrivals climb 28% in Q1 2025 (Government of Dubai Media Office 29/04/2025)
Peru inaugurates embassy HQ in Abu Dhabi (WAM 28/04/2025)
Thank you for reading this blog post. Please share it with friends and colleagues, and show your support by clicking the ❤️ at the bottom of the page. Thank you.
Written by Jenny Hunt
Founder, Gateway Group, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, United Arab Emirates
FORBES' Top 100 Most Influential Women in the Middle East
