UAE Weekly Business News 26/01/2026
- Jenny Hunt
- Jan 26
- 9 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 273 published 26 January 2026.
UAE FREE ZONE NEWS
Metal Park launched as world’s first AED430m pay-as-you-grow metals ecosystem in KEZAD (WAM 23/01/2026)
TECOM strengthens premium Education Cluster portfolio (WAM 22/01/2026)
DP World unveils Dubai Food District, new hub for global food trade (WAM 22/01/2026)
UAE VISA NEWS (inc. employment, Emiratisation, human resources, training and women)
MoHRE launches ‘Emirati Work Bundle in Private Sector’ to provide integrated employment services (WAM 22/01/2026)
CERT, Pipetec partner on talent, workforce development (WAM 22/01/2026)
How to secure a golden visa across the Gulf region (Khaleej Times 22/01/2026)
FAHR, PwC collaborate to develop national talents (WAM 21/01/2026)
Shamma bint Mohammed highlights Emirati women’s transition from empowerment to global leadership (WAM 20/01/2026)
UAE BUSINESS NEWS
Dubai Culture signs MoU with Spotify (WAM 25/01/2026)
RTA Completes 65% of bridge leading to Dubai Harbour access points (WAM 25/01/2026)
Dubai Municipality, General Construction Company and Binghatti, to expand ‘Hewi Dubai’ initiative (Government of Dubai Media Office 25/01/2026)
Smart money pivots to Dubai offices, logistics, retail as investors recalibrate (Khaleej Times 25/01/2026)
Dubai luxury real estate buyers shift towards proven developers as long-term capital replaces flipping (Arabian Business 25/01/2026)
Dubai real estate sector recorded $5.9b of transactions last week (Arabian Business 25/01/2026)
GCC population set to reach 83.6m by 2050 as region ages rapidly (Arabian Business 25/01/2026)
Education national priority, driver of comprehensive development (WAM 24/01/2026)
ADNOC Gas sees potential to advance Ruwais LNG commercial start (WAM 24/01/2026)
Urban planning, data centres cement UAE leadership in future cities (WAM 24/01/2026)
Paolo Maldini adds his name to growing list of global celebrities setting up base in the UAE (Khaleej Times 24/01/2026)
Holcim UAE joins IRENA’s alliance for industry decarbonisation (Khaleej Times 24/01/2026)
Future of luxury living in UAE: Bigger spaces or smarter experiences? (Khaleej Times 24/01/2026)
eVoost AI: Proptech emerging as a key pillar in UAE real estate (Khaleej Times 24/01/2026)
Tesla begins Cybertruck deliveries in UAE with Dubai launch event (Arabian Business 24/01/2026)
Saud bin Saqr receives Samsung Electronics delegation (WAM 23/01/2026)
RTA completes infrastructure to enhance soft mobility, transport integration in Al Quoz Creative Zone (WAM 23/01/2026)
Dubai’s First-Time Home Buyer Programme helps over 2,000 residents become homeowners in 6 months since launch (WAM 23/01/2026)
DoH extends partnership with World Economic Forum’s Digital Healthcare Transformation initiative (WAM 23/01/2026)
Al Zeyoudi joins UAE delegation at World Economic Forum in Davos to reaffirm global trade ties (WAM 23/01/2026)
How UAE’s early AI, digital investments turned ideas into real-world impact (Khaleej Times 23/01/2026)
UAE highlights leadership in shaping future of global trade (WAM 22/01/2026)
UAE, WEF release third TradeTech Report, laying out four key layers of global TradeTech adoption (WAM 22/01/2026)
UAE showcases advanced GovTech vision, human-centric governance (WAM 22/01/2026)
MBZUAI, WEF to establish Abu Dhabi Centre for Intelligent Future (WAM 22/01/2026)
Technology Innovation Institute, WEF announce ‘Abu Dhabi Centre for Frontier Technologies’ (WAM 22/01/2026)
Gulfood Grocery Trade by Gulfood 2026 to accelerate future of retail, wholesale, FMCG distribution in ME (WAM 22/01/2026)
ERC's Ramadan programmes benefit 1.5 million people in UAE, 44 countries worldwide, costing AED60m (WAM 22/01/2026)
SIRBAI, EDGE to advance AI-powered swarming capabilities for unmanned aerial systems (WAM 22/01/2026)
ADJD highlights legal frameworks for medical tourism (WAM 22/01/2026)
Natural parks across UAE serve as open platforms for attracting investors, entrepreneurs (WAM 22/01/2026)
EDGE secures order for 168 advanced unmanned helicopters (WAM 22/01/2026) (WAM 22/01/2026)
Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy supports establishment, expansion of 1,690 digital startups in 2025
Dubai real estate posts strongest year on record as market shifts toward sustainable growth (Khaleej Times 22/01/2026)
Dubai targets smarter, more sustainable advertising across public spaces (Arabian Business 22/01/2026)
Former hostage negotiator Scott Walker says trust drives deal-making in the Middle East (Arabian Business 22/01/2026)
Abu Dhabi awards driver training and testing to Yas Driving Academy (Arabian Business 22/01/2026)
Dubai’s Gaia reveals plans for first hotel as Fundamental Hospitality pursues $200m global expansion (Arabian Business 22/01/2026)
Emirates signs agreement with Dubai Investments Park to secure site for new Cabin Crew Village (WAM 21/01/2026)
Latifa bint Mohammed meets OECD Secretary-General (WAM 21/01/2026)
EDGE, Allison Transmission sign authorised dealership agreement to support land mobility platforms (WAM 21/01/2026)
Dubai Chamber of Commerce highlights expansion opportunities for local businesses in Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa (WAM 21/01/2026)
Latifa bint Mohammed holds talks with UNESCO Director-General to boost cooperation in education, culture, heritage, knowledge (WAM 21/01/2026)
UAE innovates future of tourism with smart technologies that transform travel into immersive experiences (WAM 21/01/2026)
Abu Dhabi exports office grows BGN finance facility to $400m (WAM 21/01/2026)
Calidus, Hameem Technologies, Aergility to produce VTOL drones (WAM 21/01/2026)
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi performs UAE’s first robotic-assisted DIEP flap breast reconstruction (WAM 21/01/2026)
Frontier25, Global Methane Hub to assess methane emissions on air quality, public health (Abu Dhabi Media Office 21/01/2026)
Sobha Realty sales jump 30% to AED30b in 2025 (Khaleej Times 21/01/2026)
G42 aims to build one billion AI agents in 2026 (Khaleej Times 21/01/2026)
Infrastructure boom and refurbishment drive tools demand in UAE and GCC (Khaleej Times 21/01/2026)
One in three ecommerce brands now use AI agents to drive shopping, new Pattern report finds (Khaleej Times 21/01/2026)
Dubai Square Mall to drive higher occupancy, stronger retail sales, premium pricing for surrounding areas (Arabian Business 21/01/2026)
UAE highlights soft power’s critical role in economic resilience (WAM 20/01/2026)
DP World Report finds 94% of executives expect trade growth despite rising volatility in 2026 (WAM 20/01/2026)
DWTC, Informa sign partnership agreement to create 'inD' (WAM 20/01/2026)
SIRBAI launches Middle East’s first AI-powered autonomous drone swarm technology at UMEX 2026 (WAM 20/01/2026)
AEEDC Dubai 2026 records 25% growth in participants, exhibitors (WAM 20/01/2026)
EDGE CEO says defence products now reach over 100 countries (WAM 20/01/2026)
Young Emiratis redefine tourism through bold, innovative startups (WAM 20/01/2026)
‘Gulfood Startups’ launched to scale global food innovation (WAM 20/01/2026)
Empower’s connected capacity has increased by 315 times since its establishment (Government of Dubai Media office 20/01/2026)
Dubai property developers announce record AED36b sales in 2025 (Khaleej Times 20/01/2026)
Mubadala targets opportunities in AI and robotics (Khaleej Times 20/01/2026)
Beauty brands find fertile ground for expansion in the Middle East (Khaleej Times 20/01/2026)
CargoCrew launches Middle East operations, establishes regional headquarters in Dubai (Khaleej Times 20/01/2026)
Gulfood expands across two venues (WAM 19/01/2026)
Dubai Fashion Week reveals Autumn Winter 2026/27 schedule (WAM 19/01/2026)
Ministry of Foreign Trade partners with Presight to deliver new AI-powered trade platform (WAM 19/01/2026)
Dubai expands EV Green Charger network to 1,860 points (WAM 19/01/2026)
ADJD consolidates leadership in civil family matters with 53,000 civil marriages, 21,000 wills (WAM 19/01/2026)
Dubai Chamber of Commerce launches Holiday Homes Business Group (WAM 19/01/2026)
Emirates ramps up operations to Manila with four new weekly flights (WAM 19/01/2026)
Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, Agility sign MoU to enhance energy efficiency (WAM 19/01/2026)
GCC growth set to accelerate as UAE leads non-oil expansion drive (Khaleej Times 19/02/2026)
Dana Gas reaches production milestone of 70,000 boepd, highest in 7 years (Khaleej Times 19/02/2026)
Dubai property developers move from post-handover to construction-linked payment plans (Khaleej Times 19/02/2026)
Enterprise security strategies evolve as digital transformation accelerates across the Middle East (Khaleej Times 19/02/2026)
NMC Healthcare CEO: Rebranding would not have solved trust issues after $4b collapse (Arabian Business 19/01/2026)
Complex launches Complex MENA in partnership with ITP Media Group (Arabian Business 19/01/2026)
UAE FINANCE AND ECONOMY NEWS
Dubai gold prices hit Dh600: Shoppers continue buying, selling unused jewellery (Khaleej Times 26/01/2026)
Middle East shows resilience as global bond sell-off hits markets (Khaleej Times 24/01/2026)
Barclays predicts surge in GCC IPOs as UAE strengthens position as global listing hub (Khaleej Times 24/01/2026)
Hotel revenues reach AED44.4b for first 11 months of 2025 (WAM 23/01/2026)
Sharjah Islamic Bank achieves net profit of AED1.3b in 2025 (WAM 22/01/2026)
AppliedAI secures investment from Mubadala, Arbor Ventures for global scale across key industries (WAM 22/01/2026)
Arada records 199% year-on-year sales increase in 2025 (WAM 22/01/2026)
GCC debt market tops $1.1t as dollar issuance surges (Arabian Business 22/01/2026)
ADIB reports AED7.1b net profit in 2025 (WAM 21/01/2026)
Sobha Realty sales jump 30% to AED30b in 2025 (Khaleej Times 21/01/2026)
UAE’s tax ecosystem enters a more mature compliance phase in 2026 (Khaleej Times 21/01/2026)
CedarBridge’s third private equity vehicle begins investing in the GCC (Khaleej Times 21/01/2026)
UAE tax compliance in 2026: All you need to know (Arabian Business 21/01/2026)
ADX, Saal.ai collaborate to design innovative platform for market data dissemination (WAM 20/01/2026)
Al Salam Bank marks 20 years of transformational growth (Khaleej Times 20/01/2026)
ADIB becomes first islamic bank to implement Open Finance (WAM 19/01/2026)
Emirates NBD issues Middle East's first AED-denominated digital bond on Euroclear’s D-FMI (Government of Dubai Media Office 19/01/2026)
UAE boosts digital trade as mBridge volumes top $55b (Khaleej Times 19/01/2026)
UAE M&A NEWS
Abu Dhabi’s MGX buys 15% stake to keep TikTok alive in the US (WAM 23/01/2026)
AD Ports Group expands operations in Spain with acquisition of Balenciaga Astilleros Shipyard (WAM 20/01/2026)
UAE BILATERAL TRADE NEWS
UAE-Kuwait Week to launch across all emirates next Thursday (WAM 25/01/2026)
UAE, Malaysia strengthen cooperation in anti-corruption (WAM 25/01/2026)
UAE, Cyprus strengthen strategic partnership during official visit of Cypriot Foreign Minister (WAM 25/01/2026)
UAE President receives Russian President’s Envoy (WAM 25/01/2026)
Greek drugmaker Elpen sets up in the UAE (Khaleej Times 24/01/2026)
Abdullah bin Zayed receives Cypriot FM; MoU signed to establish comprehensive strategic energy partnership (WAM 23/01/2026)
UAE President meets heads of delegations participating in US-Russia-Ukraine trilateral talks (WAM 23/01/2026)
EtihadWE participates in consortiums developing Misfah, Duqm power projects in Oman (WAM 23/01/2026)
Dubai Chambers concludes trade mission to Greece, calls for sustainable investment partnerships (WAM 23/01/2026)
UAE–India Business Council launches 2026 programme to bolster strategic cooperation (WAM 22/01/2026)
Latifa bint Mohammed meets with Ecuador’s First Lady (WAM 22/01/2026)
Masdar, EUDC to explore development of gigascale 24/7 renewable energy project in Uzbekistan (WAM 22/01/2026)
National AML/CFT Committee General Secretariat explores strengthening strategic partnership with France (WAM 21/01/2026)
Masdar, Octopus to turbocharge clean energy systems in UK, Africa (WAM 21/01/2026)
CRDB Bank opens Dubai office to channel Gulf capital into Africa’s $3.4t economy (Khaleej Times 21/01/2026)
Naval Group showcases unmanned maritime technologies, expands UAE partnerships at UMEX 2026 (WAM 20/01/2026)
UAE consolidates its position among world’s top ten countries in 2026 Global Soft Power Index (WAM 20/01/2026)
UAE tops rankings for favourable view of Korea (WAM 20/01/2026)
Germany’s CargoCrew establishes regional headquarters in Dubai (Arabian Business 20/01/2026)
UAE President, Indian Prime Minister witness signing of agreements between two countries (WAM 19/01/2026)
UAE President, Indian Prime Minister discuss ways to strengthen bilateral partnership (WAM 19/01/2026)
RTA handles over 104,000 lost property reports in taxis during 2025 (WAM 19/01/2026)
AD Ports Group, Nigerian ministry sign MoU on ports, logistics, maritime, digital collaboration (WAM 19/01/2026)
Abdullah bin Zayed, Kuwaiti Foreign Minister discuss fraternal relations over phone (WAM 19/01/2026)
Abu Dhabi, Italy to strengthen strategic partnership (WAM 19/01/2026)
🙏 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
