UAE Weekly Business News 19/05/2025
- Jenny Hunt
- May 19
- 7 min read

Welcome to Gateway Group's weekly collation of trade and investment headlines shaping the Abu Dhabi and Dubai economies.
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UAE Weekly Business News: Issue 239 published 19 May 2025.
UAE FREE ZONE NEWS
DIFC, IPEM to advance global private markets ecosystem in Dubai (WAM 19/05/2025)
Significant growth recorded by Dubai Industrial City since 2024 (WAM 19/05/2025)
Dubai Finance, DIFC to support Dubai Cashless Strategy (WAM 16/05/2025)
Dubai opens real estate market to Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone companies (Arabian Business 16/05/2025)
Meydan Free Zone launches 60-minute business licence service (Arabian Business 14/05/2025)
IFZA, Smart Cities Council partner to drive cross-border innovation (WAM 13/05/2025)
Moro Hub, DIFC to accelerate digital transformation (WAM 13/05/2025)
DFSA’s Tokenisation Regulatory Sandbox attracts EOI from 96 firms (WAM 12/05/2025)
UAE VISA NEWS (inc. employment, Emiratisation, human resources, training and women)
Full list of visa-free countries for Indians, Pakistanis, Filipinos (Khaleej Times 17/05/2025)
Blue Visa: UAE offers multiple-entry permit to foreigners applying for residency (Khaleej Times 16/05/2025)
New 10-year UAE visa: Who can apply for blue residency and how? (Khaleej Times 16/05/2025)
UAE Blue Visa awarded to 20 environment advocates as it launches first phase (Khaleej Times 16/05/2025)
UAE Blue Visa: Which jobs could get you the 10-year residency permit (Khaleej Times 16/05/2025)
UAE Golden Visa: 7 additional professions eligible for 10-year residency permit (Khaleej Times 14/05/2025)
MoHESR, EGA to support Emirati engineering talent (WAM 13/05/2025)
UAE content creators and influencers 10-year golden visa; how to apply (Khaleej Times 13/05/2025)
UAE BUSINESS NEWS
NMDC LTS, Jiangsu Huaying Valves to explore establishing a valve facility in the UAE (WAM 19/05/2025)
Innovest Holding, OXON Technologies partner in clean energy (WAM 19/05/2025)
Strata produces 100,000 aerostructure components (WAM 19/05/2025)
Global Village attracts 10.5 million visitors in Season 29 (WAM 19/05/2025)
EPointZero purchases 1GWh battery system from Enercap by Apex Energy (WAM 19/05/2025)
ADNOC, Tawazun Council to strengthen collaboration in key sectors (WAM 19/05/2025)
'Mubadala Bio' launched to transform life sciences in UAE, beyond (WAM 19/05/2025)
EDGE launches 'Group AI Accelerator' to boost AI-enhanced solutions (WAM 19/05/2025)
MBRCGI launches Government Technology 5.0 report (WAM 19/05/2025)
Julphar plans to invest AED300m over next five years (WAM 19/05/2025)
Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy drives 23% sector growth, industrial enterprises up 19.4% (WAM 19/05/2025)
ADNOC, Tubacex sign agreement to localise oilfield technology (WAM 19/05/2025)
Revealed: 1 billion carats diamond trade in Dubai (Government of Dubai Media Office 19/05/2025)
The Dubai PropTech Hub launches (Government of Dubai Media Office 19/05/2025)
Abu Dhabi announces car manufacturing plans (Arabian Business 19/05/2025)
PureHealth invests $613m in local goods and services (Arabian Business 19/05/2025)
Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy sees sector GDP pass $30b (Arabian Business 19/05/2025)
Global investment companies line up for a piece of Dubai real estate pie (Arabian Business 19/05/2025)
UAE sees 70% adoption rate in AI-assisted shopping (Arabian Business 19/05/2025)
UAE industrial exports pass $53b (Arabian Business 19/05/2025)
Public bus coverage now reaches 88% of Dubai’s urban areas (WAM 18/05/2025)
Dubai Municipality completes development of Deira wharf (WAM 18/05/2025)
Dubai off-plan real estate sales lure investors with high returns and easy finance (Arabian Business 18/05/2025)
EAD issues resolution regarding approval, registration of environmental consultancy offices (WAM 17/05/2025)
Abu Dhabi Codex Workshop concludes with recommendations for legislative alignment, national capacity building (WAM 17/05/2025)
ADIO, Qualcomm Technologies to establish Engineering Center in Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi Media Office 17/05/2025)
WeRide announces robotaxi trials in Abu Dhabi (Arabian Business 17/05/2025)
Etihad boosts US network with flights to Charlotte from 2026 (Arabian Business 17/05/2025)
Etihad Airways expands US network with flights to North Carolina (WAM 16/05/2025)
Tawazun Council, RTX, EGA to explore gallium production in Abu Dhabi (WAM 16/05/2025)
Why HNWIs are moving to UAE golf-front homes (Khaleej Times 16/05/2025)
Dubai-made perfumes drive UAE’s rise in global luxury fragrance market (Arabian Business 16/05/2025)
325 companies in Dubai apply for 'Dubai AI Seal' certification (WAM 15/05/2025)
Madrasa, TikTok to launch STEM Feed in UAE (WAM 15/05/2025)
Google for Startups Accelerator welcomes 26 Hub71 ventures (WAM 15/05/2025)
RTA Streamlines Driver Licensing Services by 53% (Government of Dubai Media Office 15/05/2025)
Dubai simplifies driving licence services with digital transformation (Arabian Business 15/05/2025)
Etihad Rail to launch passenger service in 2026 (Arabian Business 15/05/2025)
UAE’s DEWA, ADNOC Gas and Salik included in MSCI Emerging Markets Index (Arabian Business 15/05/2025)
Dubai emerges as premier destination for global millionaire migration (Arabian Business 15/05/2025)
Salik added to MSCI UAE Index (WAM 14/05/2025)
ADNOC Gas joins MSCI Emerging Markets Index (WAM 14/05/2025)
Neuralink’s UAE-PRIME launches, enhancing health in Abu Dhabi (WAM 14/05/2025)
DXB to close upon completion of Al Maktoum International Airport (Khaleej Times 14/05/2025)
Unilever plans major investment in UAE, Middle East and beyond (Arabian Business 14/05/2025)
Talabat, Bolt announce ride services for ‘pro’ Dubai customers (Arabian Business 14/05/2025)
Etihad reports April 2025 traffic statistics (WAM 13/05/2025)
Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, Novartis Middle East to enhance public health, disease prevention in Abu Dhabi (WAM 13/05/2025)
Flying taxi launch ‘on track’ for later this year (Khaleej Times 13/05/2025)
Abu Dhabi shuts down 5 restaurants and a supermarket (Arabian Business 13/05/2025)
UAE, Gulf supply chains go local despite easing global trade tensions (Arabian Business 13/05/2025)
UAE Cybersecurity Council, e& UAE to launch Al Ain Innovation Centre (WAM 12/05/2025)
MoHAP, EHS host launch of State of the World’s Nursing 2025 report (WAM 12/05/2025)
RTA to release 116 tenders for private sector by end of 2025 (WAM 12/05/2025)
UAE FINANCE AND ECONOMY NEWS
ADEX, EDB to unlock AED1b in export financing for UAE industries (WAM 19/05/2025)
General Gulf inflation rate logs 1.7% by end of December 2024 (WAM 18/05/2025)
UAE fintech sector to hit $6.43b by 2030 (Arabian Business 18/05/2025)
Flexible UAE regulations drive Fintech growth (WAM 17/05/2025)
Masdar raises US$1b through green bond issuance (WAM 16/05/2025)
Bank of Sharjah and Apex Investment added to MSCI Global Small Cap Index (Arabian Business 16/05/2025)
du Pay, Checkout.com to strengthen UAE payments infrastructure (Arabian Business 16/05/2025)
Space42 advances strategy execution with solid Q1 2025 results (WAM 15/05/2025)
Amlak Finance posts AED28m net profit in Q1 2025 (WAM 15/05/2025)
TAQA Group reports revenue of AED14.2b for Q1 2025 (WAM 15/05/2025)
EDB industrial development prospects with strategic partners (WAM 15/05/2025)
BHM Capital reports strong Q1 profit growth (WAM 15/05/2025)
Deyaar Q1 2025 net profit before tax up 54% (Arabian Business 15/05/2025)
EMSTEEL delivers AED2.2b revenue in Q1 2025 (WAM 14/05/2025)
ADNIC records AED133.3m net profit before tax in Q1 2025 (WAM 14/05/2025)
Tabreed reports AED115m net profit in Q1 2025 (WAM 14/05/2025)
Al Ansari reports AED109m net profit after tax (WAM 14/05/2025)
Ahmed bin Saeed meets with President and CEO of the Institute of International Finance (Government of Dubai Media Office 14/05/2025)
Ahmed bin Saeed meets with global fintech leaders (Government of Dubai Media Office 14/05/2025)
Five new stores push Lulu’s Q1 2025 revenue up 7.3% YoY (Arabian Business 14/05/2025)
Dubai Holding announces details for imminent IPO (WAM 13/05/2025)
Air Arabia reports AED335m Q1 2025 net profit (WAM 13/05/2025)
Salik reports AED751.6i revenue for Q1 2025 (WAM 13/05/2025)
Agthia reports AED1.3b in Q1 2025 net revenue (WAM 13/05/2025)
New stores propel Spinneys’ Q1 2025 revenue up 11.3% (Arabian Business 13/05/2025)
Botim, Mbank launch UAE’s first fintech-integrated Jaywan card scheme (Arabian Business 13/05/2025)
Dubai Finance to enable cryptocurrency payments for government fees (WAM 12/05/2025)
UAE one of the world’s most banked nations (Khaleej Times 12/05/2025)
UAE M&A AND INVESTMENT NEWS
Fertiglobe to acquire Wengfu Australia’s distribution business (Arabian Business 13/05/2025)
Elevate acquires Dubai’s Hartland School in $100m deal (Arabian Business 13/05/2025)
UAE BILATERAL TRADE NEWS
TAQA Morocco and partners to develop of large-scale power, water projects in Morocco (WAM 19/05/2025)
UAE President visits King of Bahrain at his residence in Abu Dhabi (WAM 19/05/2025)
Dubai to participate in GITEX EUROPE x Ai Everything with 12 government, private entities (WAM 18/05/2025)
UAE/US Framework on Advanced Technology Cooperation (WAM 16/05/2025)
UAE, US: Partnership for innovation, opportunity (WAM 16/05/2025)
ADNOC deepens energy partnerships with US companies (WAM 16/05/2025)
dnata to open dedicated animal handling center at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (Arabian Business 16/05/2025)
Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong enhance regulatory cooperation on cross-border investment management (WAM 15/05/2025)
UAE, US Presidents attend unveiling of 5GW AI campus in Abu Dhabi (WAM 15/05/2025)
US President's visit reflects bilateral mutual respect (WAM 15/05/2025)
US President's visit opens horizons for economic cooperation (WAM 15/05/2025)
US President's visit highlights robust UAE-US economic ties (WAM 15/05/2025)
UAE, US Presidents discuss strategic partnership (WAM 15/05/2025)
Abu Dhabi, Singapore explore collaboration in regulation of petroleum products trading (WAM 14/05/2025)
Crown princes of Abu Dhabi and Saudi meet at the Gulf–US Summit in Riyadh (Abu Dhabi Media Office 14/05/2025)
AD Ports Group boosts Kazakhstan presence with fleet and terminal growth plans (Arabian Business 14/05/2025)
UAE, Jordan CEPA deal to boost non-oil trade to over $8b (Arabian Business 14/05/2025)
DEWA, Korean delegation discuss sustainable energy collaboration (WAM 13/05/2025)
Presight opens inaugural regional office in Astana (WAM 13/05/2025)
Maktoum bin Mohammed meets with Minister of Finance of Luxembourg (WAM 13/05/2025)
ADIO, Mizuho to streamline Japanese investments into Abu Dhabi (WAM 12/05/2025)
UAE investments in Uzbekistan surge to $1.3b in 2024 (Arabian Business 12/05/2025)
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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
