UAE Weekly Business News 20/04/2026
- Jenny Hunt
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
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UAE Weekly Business News: Issue 285 published 20th April 2026.
UAE FREE ZONE NEWS
DMCC to launch Cacao Centre to strengthen Dubai’s position in agri-commodities trade (WAM 20/04/2026)
Dubai South introduces incentives to sustain economic momentum (WAM 17/04/2026)
PCFC ensures continuous supply of provision, fuel to ships at Dubai Ports, its anchorage areas (WAM 16/04/2026)
Barings opens office in Abu Dhabi to strengthen Middle East presence (WAM 16/04/2026)
Bain Capital opens office in ADGM (WAM 15/04/2026)
Atradius expands Middle East presence with new DIFC hub (WAM 14/04/2026)
DMCC reports strong 2025 growth, welcomes over 2,300 companies (Government of Dubai Media Office 14/04/2026)
UAE VISA NEWS (inc. employment, Emiratisation, human resources, jobs, training and women)
Dubai free zone employer rights: Can you fire staff over unauthorised leave? (Khaleej Times 19/04/2026)
UAE domestic workers law: Employer duties on pay, housing, medical care explained (Khaleej Times 19/04/2026)
Want to become cabin crew? Flydubai announces new jobs (WAM 17/04/2026)
MoHRE: UAE labour market remains stable, workers’ wages paid on time (WAM 16/04/2026)
Abu Dhabi’s DGE trains 10,000 Emiratis, creates 3,000 jobs through Mawaheb Talent Hub (WAM 16/04/2026)
'They are safe': Dubai official says Iranians still participate in economy (Khaleej Times 15/04/2026)
Abu Dhabi unveils scheme to fast-track new teachers into classrooms (Arabian Business 15/04/2026)
Dubai job hunt: Recruiters reveal how to stand out now (Khaleej Times 14/04/2026)
Monthly salary support, no cap on child allowance: UAE announces new Nafis benefits (Khaleej Times 14/04/2026)
UAE BUSINESS NEWS
EMX, EMPALA sign agreement to deploy electric bikes for delivery operations to advance green mobility (WAM 20/04/2026)
Bangkok joins flydubai’s network with launch of daily flights (WAM 20/04/2026)
UAE real estate sector posts record Q1 performance in 2026 (WAM 20/04/2026)
Dubai rents 12.5% below March 2025 levels as leasing market becomes more competitive (Arabian Business 20/04/2026)
Ocean Harvest to launch UAE fish farm pilot within 18 months after strategy pivot (Arabian Business 20/04/2026)
GAIA uses global expansion to protect local jobs (Arabian Business 20/04/2026)
Dubai hotels: Which luxury properties are closing, upgrading or reopening in 2026? (Arabian Business 20/04/2026)
UAE Etihad Rail full station list ahead of 2026 launch (Arabian Business 20/04/2026)
Abu Dhabi seizes $490k in counterfeit goods as consumer complaints hit 31,759 (Arabian Business 20/04/2026)
Leaders of Dubai-based unicorn companies hail city as global innovation hub shaping future technology, driving digital economy (WAM 19/04/2026)
Cartel involved in anti-competitive practices in poultry market referred to prosecution (WAM 19/04/2026)
Dubai leasing activity steady as Q1 rental contracts hit AED32.2b (Khaleej Times 19/04/2026)
Dubai targets 27,000 Emirati SMEs by 2033 with property-sector push (Khaleej Times 19/04/2026)
Customer conversions grow threefold as Dubai market rebounds after ceasefire (Khaleej Times 19/04/2026)
Air Arabia restarts UAE flights (Arabian Business 18/04/2026)
Etihad Airways announces significant expansion of its Africa network (WAM 17/04/2026)
Silal reinforces commitment to UAE supply chain resilience, sustainable food security (WAM 17/04/2026)
UAE launches major 2026 infrastructure projects worth billions across energy, transport and real estate sectors (Arabian Business 17/04/2026)
AD Ports Group leverages integrated logistics network to ensure trade resilience, strengthen regional supply chains (WAM 16/04/2026)
Dubai SME, Dubai Land Department to enhance SME integration into Dubai’s dynamic real estate ecosystem (WAM 16/04/2026)
Ajman DED issues 1,617 new licences, renews 8,777 in Q1 (WAM 16/04/2026)
UAE ranks among leading global AI hubs in AI Index 2026 (WAM 16/04/2026)
Ahmed bin Mohammed meets with CEO of Galaxy ME (Government of Dubai Media Office 16/04/2026)
Construction on track to deliver all projects on time, Samana (Khaleej Times 16/04/2026)
Business leaders’ briefing: UAE resilience and optimism are unshaken (Khaleej Times 16/04/2026)
Aluminium demand holds steady as construction and infrastructure drive growth in Gulf markets (Khaleej Times 16/04/2026)
Anantara World Islands Dubai Resort ceases operations (Khaleej Times 16/04/2026)
First air taxi station now 'ready', located near Dubai airport (Khaleej Times 16/04/2026)
ADNOC Gas restores Habshan supply after Iran attacks in April (Arabian Business 16/04/2026)
Zuma boss talks global growth, brand discipline and the future of luxury dining (Arabian Business 16/04/2026)
UAE hotel revenues reach AED49.21b in 2025, up 9.7% (WAM 15/04/2026)
Parkin App and Wallet to Power Customer Payments at Secure Parking Sites (Government of Dubai Media Office 15/04/2026)
Dubai office prices jump 29% as investors chase prime assets amid tight supply (Khaleej Times 15/04/2026)
Building economic resilience: How strategic commodities influence the UAE’s industrial future (Khaleej Times 15/04/2026)
UAE businesses ditch SMS for WhatsApp (Arabian Business 15/04/2026)
UAE should use local travel boom as a long-term strategy, says tourism veteran (Arabian Business 15/04/2026)
Aldar, ADEK partner to support SMEs providers of extracurricular education activities in Abu Dhabi (WAM 14/04/2026)
Burjeel Hospital Abu Dhabi launches Korean Pavilion (WAM 14/04/2026)
Dubai developers award construction contracts worth billions of Dirhams (Khaleej Times 14/04/2026)
The Gulf in Transition: What Businesses Need to Know Today (Khaleej Times 14/04/2026)
Dubai Airport handles 95.2m passengers, ranks among world’s busiest in 2025 (Arabian Business 14/04/2026)
UAE tourism needs to ‘reinvent itself’ to recover strongly from the regional downturn (Arabian Business 14/04/2026)
UAE FINANCE AND ECONOMY NEWS
Capital.com reports $1.27t in client trading volume (WAM 20/04/2026)
Emirates Development Bank reaches AED1b in monthly approvals (WAM 20/04/2026)
Dubai’s Al Ramz Corp announces IPO for two new funds (Khaleej Times 20/04/2026)
UAE economy continues global ascent with robust growth in early 2026 (WAM 18/04/2026)
National Bank of Umm Al Qaiwain posts AED152m net profit in Q1-26 (WAM 18/04/2026)
Nasdaq Dubai raises over US$8b in fixed income listings in Q1 (WAM 16/04/2026)
ADIB becomes UAE’s first bank licensed to operate as Open Finance Provider under AlTareq initiative (WAM 16/04/2026)
Aldar closes AED5b sustainability-linked revolving credit facility (WAM 16/04/2026)
UAE regulator warns investors against unlicensed entity 'Better Experience' (Khaleej Times 16/04/2026)
UAE Central Bank tightens Anti-Money Laundering rules to meet compliance standards (Khaleej Times 16/04/2026)
UAE launches AED100 million fund to boost non-profit sector (Khaleej Times 16/04/2026)
Sanad achieved AED7b revenues in 2025 (WAM 15/04/2026)
Central Bank of UAE develops e-KYC platform (WAM 15/04/2026)
UAE taxes: FTA announces new penalty rules, reduces fines for violations (Khaleej Times 15/04/2026)
New UAE pension service helps plan retirement with personalised advice (Khaleej Times 15/04/2026)
Homegrown Ventures closes $22m debut fund that backs region’s ‘consumer moment’ (Arabian Business 14/04/2026)
UAE M&A NEWS
Joe & The Juice’s valuation rises as UAE-backed EIIC takes strategic stake to support global expansion (Arabian Business 16/04/2026)
UAE BILATERAL TRADE NEWS
Dubai Chambers meets with key entities in Manila to strengthen trade between Dubai, Philippines (WAM 18/04/2026)
Global South Utilities expands renewable energy portfolio across Africa, Central Asia in 2025 (WAM 17/04/2026)
UAE–Ethiopia relations reflect growing strategic partnership (WAM 17/04/2026)
UAE holds high-level bilateral meetings in Washington to strengthen global financial partnerships (WAM 16/04/2026)
EDGE strengthens partnership with Brazilian Army for operational evaluation of next-generation weaponry (WAM 16/04/2026)
Tawazun strengthens global presence, strategic partnerships at Defence Services Asia in Malaysia (WAM 16/04/2026)
General Women’s Union expands partnerships in China (WAM 16/04/2026)
EDGE, Indra establish partnership for radar production in Brazil (WAM 16/04/2026)
Ministry of Investment, Jereh Group to build integrated clean energy, industrial platform in UAE (WAM 16/04/2026)
UAE Good Delivery-accredited gold secures listing on Multi Commodity Exchange of India (WAM 16/04/2026)
UAE, Jordan to develop railway network in Jordan, establish UAE–Jordan Railway Company (WAM 15/04/2026)
DEWA explores ways to strengthen cooperation with Kazakhstan in energy, efficiency, innovation (WAM 15/04/2026)
UAE-Azerbaijan CEPA officially enters into force (WAM 15/04/2026)
AD Ports Group signs agreement to explore investment opportunities in Port of Constanța, Romania (WAM 14/04/2026)
President of the People’s Republic of China receives Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi Media Office 14/04/2026)
Mansour bin Zayed receives Uzbekistan’s Deputy Prime Minister (Abu Dhabi Media Office 14/04/2026)
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Written by Jenny Hunt
Founder, Gateway Group, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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