UAE Weekly Business News 12/01/2026
- Jenny Hunt
- 1 day ago
- 6 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 crucial UAE market intelligence to help with your business decisions.
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 271 published 12 January 2026.
UAE FREE ZONE NEWS
Ahmed bin Saeed witnesses signing of MoU between Department of Finance & Dubai Free Zones Council (WAM 06/01/2026)
UAE VISA NEWS (inc. employment, Emiratisation, human resources, training and women)
GPSSA announces 2026 pension disbursement dates (WAM 09/01/2026)
Mona Kattan: “Being a CEO is not glamorous – it’s tough” (Arabian Business 08/01/2026)
UAE BUSINESS NEWS
UAE leads new era of renewable energy driven by AI, doubling its renewable capacity (WAM 11/01/2026)
New report calls for stronger public role in building domestic supply chains, inclusive workforce (WAM 11/01/2026)
UAE Cybersecurity Council underscores importance of raising awareness of AI-driven fraud risks (WAM 11/01/2026)
Leadership vision reinforces UAE’s position as premier hub for creators, innovators, entrepreneurs: Latifa bint Mohammed (WAM 11/01/2026)
Retired England star Rio Ferdinand reflects on settling in Dubai to pursue new dreams (WAM 11/01/2026)
Why Dubai’s property boom is built to last for a long time (Khaleej Times 11/01/2026)
Abu Dhabi tourism growth accelerates as visitor numbers rise and revenues hit $1.59b (Arabian Business 11/01/2026)
Lara Trump highlights evolving media landscape amid diminished trust in legacy outlets at 1 Billion Followers Summit (WAM 10/01/2026)
Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy highlights Dubai’s strengths as global hub for content creators (WAM 10/01/2026)
1 Billion Followers Summit highlights role of content creation in boosting digital economy, safeguarding public awareness (WAM 10/01/2026)
1 Billion Followers Summit stresses medical content's role in raising public awareness (WAM 10/01/2026)
ADCMC activates Al Dhafra Coordination & Monitoring Centre (WAM 10/01/2026)
Livestock Festival showcases advanced farming technologies (WAM 10/01/2026)
UAE developer Ardee breaks ground on $545m Fairmont Al Marjan Island waterfront project (Arabian Business 10/01/2026)
ADNEC Group prepares to host, organise over 190 events in H1 2026, driving business tourism in Abu Dhabi (WAM 09/01/2026)
DoE launches 'Barq' to promote sustainable transport (WAM 09/01/2026)
flydubai selects ZestIoT to digitise turnaround operations (Government of Dubai Media Office 09/01/2026)

Entrepreneurs in Abu Dhabi set new regional benchmarks for sustainable leisure, tourism experiences (WAM 08/01/2026)
UAE FoodTech Challenge supports global food security innovation (Abu Dhabi Media Office 08/01/2026)
Hazza bin Zayed receives delegation from IHC and 2PointZero Group (Abu Dhabi Media Office 08/01/2026)
Dubai’s ready homes lead growth as rents jump to new highs (Khaleej Times 08/01/2026)
Dubai real estate outlook 2026: steady demand, selective cooling, and a tech‑driven turn (Khaleej Times 08/01/2026)
Abu Dhabi accelerates AI government push with $3.5b digital strategy (Arabian Business 08/01/2026)
UAE passenger rail network: Etihad Rail reveals full national system connecting 11 cities ahead of 2026 launch (Arabian Business 08/01/2026)
Dubai College of Tourism’s online programme marks five years, licences over 2,400 guides (WAM 07/01/2026)
GCAA accredits 5 UAV training centres in UAE (WAM 07/01/2026)
UAE Government issues updated laws on agricultural and veterinary quarantine, protection of new plant varieties, endangered animals and plants (WAM 07/01/2026)
More than 1.4 million companies operating in UAE (WAM 07/01/2026)
Borouge advances industry-first AI-powered autonomous operations (WAM 07/01/2026)
Parkin deploys smart parking at select Spinneys and Waitrose locations in Dubai (Government of Dubai Media Office 07/01/2026)
Design Commission Abu Dhabi (DCAD) launched in emirate (Abu Dhabi Media Office 07/01/2026)
UAE luxury property market set for sustained boom as global wealth flows in (Khaleej Times 07/01/2026)
70-year old real estate group names Dubai as regional headquarters (Khaleej Times 07/01/2026)
UAE sugar tax impact: Price hike leads consumers to choose healthier options (Khaleej Times 07/01/2026)
Dubai’s residential values rise almost a fifth in past 12 months (Khaleej Times 07/01/2026)
ADNOC takes final investment decision on SARB Deep Gas project offshore Abu Dhabi (Arabian Business 07/01/2026)
MoHAP releases National Health and Nutrition Survey 2024-2025 (WAM 06/01/2026)
Abu Dhabi University inaugurates Cancer Research Institute (WAM 06/01/2026)
RTA expands public transport network with 4 new bus routes and upgrades to over 70 routes (Government of Dubai Media Office 06/01/2026)
UAE adds 250,000 new companies in 2025, eyes 2 million in the next decade (Khaleej Times 06/01/2026)
UAE businesses continue to remain on strong growth track (Khaleej Times 06/01/2026)
Emirates SkyCargo outlines growth roadmap for 2026 (WAM 05/01/2026)
RTA launches Al Ruwayyah Yard Project (WAM 05/01/2026)
Q Mobility announces activation of paid parking system in Musaffah (WAM 05/01/2026)
DAE announces full year 2025 business, operational highlights (WAM 05/01/2026)
Dubai posts 4.5% water network losses, lowest globally (WAM 05/01/2026)
Abu Dhabi Public Health Center expands Reference Laboratory for Infectious Diseases (Abu Dhabi Media Office 05/01/2026)
Dubai property market caps record‑shattering 2025 with powerful December finish (Khaleej Times 05/01/2026)
UAE and Saudi Arabia power MENA consumer goods growth as market heads towards $650b (Arabian Business 05/01/2026)
UAE FINANCE AND ECONOMY NEWS
Wio Bank launches first account for content creators in UAE (WAM 11/01/2026)
GCC IPO fundraising drops to $5.1b in 2025 (Arabian Business 10/01/2026)
UAE hosts workshop to support FATF Joint Working Group (WAM 09/01/2026)
ADFD launches 'Abu Dhabi Global Water Platform' with value of $2b (WAM 08/01/2026)
Emirates NBD completes landmark transaction with largest dual-tranche blue-green bond issued by a financial institution globally (Government of Dubai Media Office 08/01/2026)
Ethmar International Holding, Guggenheim Brothers Media to launch multi-million-dollar investment fund (WAM 07/01/2026)
FTA launches Labaih Initiative, providing tailored access to its services, seamless facilitation for senior citizens (WAM 07/01/2026)
Dubai Clear, Nasdaq Dubai receive European Securities and Markets Authority Tier 1 recognition (WAM 07/01/2026)
RAKBank gets UAE Central Bank approval for dirham-backed stablecoin (Khaleej Times 07/01/2026)
Digital finance accelerates across Gulf markets – Moody’s (Arabian Business 07/01/2026)
ADX delivers major achievements in 2025, reinforces global standing (WAM 06/01/2026)
Zero revenue, real penalties: Why inactive UAE companies are getting corporate tax wrong (Khaleej Times 06/01/2026)
UAE economic expansion set to scale new highs in 2026 (Khaleej Times 06/01/2026)
Strategic vision of Mohammed bin Rashid propels UAE Government toward record national economic growth (WAM 05/01/2026)
UAE BILATERAL TRADE NEWS
Dubai Chambers receives Philippine First Lady to advance trade, economic cooperation (WAM 11/01/2026)
UAE restricts scholarships for citizens studying at British universities amid radicalisation fears (Arabian Business 09/01/2026)
Dubai Chambers to organise 'Dubai Business Forum – China' in May (WAM 08/01/2026)
Emirates issues travel advisory on e-visa rules, ETA requirements for UK passengers (Khaleej Times 08/01/2026)
Dubai-born Rove Hotels eyes Saudi, Oman, Egypt growth as lifestyle hospitality gains ground (Arabian Business 08/01/2026)
TRENDS, Argentina’s CARI explore research, cooperation prospects (WAM 07/01/2026)
UAE uniquely positioned to fuel UK’s Green Hydrogen growth (WAM 07/01/2026)
Joint Ministerial Statement between United Arab Emirates, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (WAM 06/01/2026)
Emirati-Syrian Programme to train 10,000 Syrian healthcare workers for emergency response (WAM 06/01/2026)
UAE, Türkiye Presidents discuss bilateral relations (WAM 05/01/2026)
🙏 Thank you for reading our blog.
❤️ Support us by clicking the ❤️ at the bottom of the page.
Written by Jenny Hunt
Founder, Gateway Group, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, United Arab Emirates
FORBES' Top 100 Most Influential Women in the Middle East


