UAE Weekly Business News 20/07/2026
- Jenny Hunt
- 17 minutes ago
- 5 min read
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UAE Weekly Business News: Issue 296 published 20th July 2026.
UAE FREE ZONE NEWS
DIEZ, Salik to advance innovative, seamless mobility solutions (WAM 16/07/2026)
DMCC announces record $41.7b in diamond trade through Dubai in 2025 (WAM 13/07/2026)
UAE VISA NEWS (inc. employment, Emiratisation, human resources, jobs, training and women)
Why Talabat UAE's first female riders chose a job long seen as men's work (Khaleej Times 18/07/2026)
Will salaries in UAE, GCC increase this year amid regional conflict? (Khaleej Times 16/07/2026)
Dubai cuts domestic worker visa process from 11 steps to 6 with new digital service (Khaleej Times 16/07/2026)
GDRFA Dubai processed over 7 million entry permits, residency permits during H1 2026 (WAM 15/07/2026)
Over 60,000 UAE citizens, 3,000 companies benefit from career counselling programme: MoHRE (WAM 15/07/2026)
Dubai issues over 1 million residency permits, 66,000 Golden Visas in H1 2026 (Khaleej Times 15/07/2026)
GCC hiring falls 3% in Q2 2026 (Khaleej Times 14/07/2026)
Over 1140 licensed professionals enhance quality of life in Dubai (WAM 13/07/2026)
UAE BUSINESS NEWS
RAK-DED completes over 25,000 electronic transactions in H1 2026 (WAM 20/07/2026)
WEF recognises UAE PASS as global digital government model (WAM 20/07/2026)
Abu Dhabi completes 12 disease registries (WAM 20/07/2026)
Dubai office sales surge 190% as commercial property market shows resilience (Khaleej Times 20/07/2026)
Dubai Customs' Green Corridor moved AED33.9b in trade during regional conflict (Khaleej Times 20/07/2026)
UAE food delivery boom: Orders rise 15% despite weaker restaurant demand (Khaleej Times 20/07/2026)
UAE retailers expand ready-to-eat meals as busy residents seek quick, healthy options (Khaleej Times 20/07/2026)
XRG builds Americas platform extending UAE’s global economic reach (WAM 19/07/2026)
Department of Municipalities and Transport advances Abu Dhabi’s urban development journey through international partnerships and initiatives (Abu Dhabi Media Office 19/07/2026)
UAE approves updated regulation on radio systems for unmanned aircraft (Khaleej Times 19/07/2026)
How can expats buy freehold property in the UAE? (Arabian Business 19/07/2026)
UAE authorities summon news agency officials over false Dubai explosion report (Khaleej Times 18/07/2026)
Abu Dhabi shuts down Yummy Indian Bite restaurant after repeated food safety breaches (Khaleej Times 18/07/2026)
How UAE-founded Coffee Planet brewed a global business from Dubai (Arabian Business 18/07/2026)
UAE flights latest (Arabian Business 18/07/2026)
National Space Science and Technology Center announces development of 'SEO' satellite mission (WAM 17/07/2026)
Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre records AED117b in real estate transactions in H1 2026 (WAM 17/07/2026)
UAE marks Union Pledge Day, celebrating 55 years of achievement (WAM 17/07/2026)
RAK DED conducts 24,000 inspection visits in H1 2026 (WAM 17/07/2026)
UAE's National Ambulance responds to over 73,000 emergency cases in H1 2026 (Khaleej Times 17/07/2026)
Dubai Government Media Office: Action will be taken against media outlets that publish false news or unverified information about Dubai (WAM 16/07/2026)
New resolution approved for Licensing Higher Education Institutions throughout the UAE (WAM 16/07/2026)
flydubai doubles daily flights to Bangkok (WAM 16/07/2026)
UAE reaffirms commitment to building smarter, more integrated national logistics ecosystem (WAM 16/07/2026)
Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement and Emirates Council for Balanced Development to launch Rawaafid Programme for Defence Industries Micro-Parks (Abu Dhabi Media Office 16/07/2026)
AI Appreciation Day: UAE shifts from AI adoption to AI leadership (Khaleej Times 16/07/2026)
Abu Dhabi shuts down Al Ain restaurant for repeated food safety violations (Khaleej Times 16/07/2026)
Abu Dhabi set for digital monthly rent platform (Arabian Business 16/07/2026)
RTA, Dubai Police launch traffic awareness campaign for truck drivers & transport operators (WAM 15/07/2026)
Financial Markets Tribunal orders company to pay US$143,000 to DFSA (WAM 15/07/2026)
UAE corporate wellness market nears $600m as AI platforms drive workplace wellbeing (Khaleej Times 15/07/2026)
UAE, Saudi Arabia emerge as AI infrastructure powerhouses as Gulf bets on long-term growth (Khaleej Times 15/07/2026)
Dubai property transactions jump 46.8% in strongest monthly rise in 3 years (Khaleej Times 15/07/2026)
Dubai launches free autonomous taxi service (Arabian Business 15/07/2026)
Dubai Islamic Bank reports AED3.7b net profit (WAM 14/07/2026)
UAE’s appetite for SUVs and pickups shows no sign of slowing (Khaleej Times 14/07/2026)
UAE influencer ordered to pay Dh81,000 over defamatory post targeting restaurant (Khaleej Times 14/07/2026)
UAE tells OPEC its oil production surged last month (Arabian Business 14/07/2026)
UAE FINANCE AND ECONOMY NEWS
UAE inaugurates 'Jaywan', UAE’s first national card scheme (WAM 20/07/2026)
Awqaf Dubai’s financial investment portfolio tops AED1.4b in H1 2026 (WAM 20/07/2026)
Khalifa Fund strengthens financing ecosystem with 7 integrated programmes to support enterprise growth (WAM 20/07/2026)
Sanad records H1 2026 revenue of AED 4.3b (WAM 20/07/2026)
ADI Chain, Tangem launch co-branded hardware wallets to Virgin Megastores across UAE (WAM 20/07/2026)
Fitch assigns Invest Bank inaugural Long-Term Issuer Default Rating of 'BBB+' with Stable Outlook (WAM 20/07/2026)
Dubai Customs economic packages provide more than AED79m in liquidity for private sector (WAM 19/07/2026)
UAE non-oil foreign trade up 13.1%, approaching AED2t in H1 2026, exports hit record AED452.8b (WAM 19/07/2026)
UAE’s non-oil foreign trade achieves historic results in H1 2026 (WAM 19/07/2026)
UAE economy set for rebound in second half of year says IMF (Arabian Business 18/07/2026)
NBQ reports AED271m profit in H1 2026 (WAM 17/07/2026)
IMF confirms UAE economy’s exceptional resilience, proactive readiness, continued financial sector growth (WAM 17/07/2026)
FAB reinforces position among world’s highest-rated banks with AA- equivalent credit ratings (WAM 17/07/2026)
Bank of Sharjah Q2 2026 net profit jumps 39% (WAM 16/07/2026)
(WAM 15/07/2026)
GCC energy group announces $375m funding to accelerate green transition (Arabian Business 15/07/2026)
Etihad Credit Bureau strengthens income assessment, enriches individual credit reports with GPSSA, Nafis data (WAM 14/07/2026)
Dubai’s Emirates NBD becomes first regional bank for real-time blockchain dollar payments (Khaleej Times 14/07/2026)
GCC inflation remains stable at 1.8% in 2025, data shows (Khaleej Times 13/07/2026)
UAE M&A NEWS
Mubadala Capital wins 80% shareholder backing for Pierre & Vacances takeover bid (Khaleej Times 20/07/2026)
UAE BILATERAL TRADE NEWS
UAE concludes 37 CEPAs, negotiating with 20 countries: Al Zeyoudi (WAM 20/07/2026)
Dubai Chamber of Commerce launches Kenyan Business Council (WAM 20/07/2026)
UAE President and Sultan of Oman discuss bilateral ties (WAM 17/07/2026)
EAD explores enhancing cooperation, innovation with environmental institutions in Italy (WAM 16/07/2026)
'Tawazun', France’s UTAC to explore cooperation in vehicle testing, certification in UAE (WAM 16/07/2026)
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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