Governments additionally superior landmark digital and journey initiatives, together with the UAE’s first Digital Dirham transaction and the GCC’s new one-stop border system. In the meantime, Dubai continued to set the tempo—with recent transport megaprojects, surging sports-sector ambitions and a buoyant luxurious property market.
Meet up with 10 of the largest tales this week, as chosen by Arabian Enterprise editors.
Abu Dhabi launches first crowdfunded actual property funding with $327,000 Yas Island studio
Abu Dhabi has made historical past by launching the UAE capital’s first-ever crowdfunded property, a milestone that opens a brand new chapter for traders in search of diversified alternatives past Dubai.
The property, a premium studio valued at AED1.2m ($327,000) on Yas Island, options canal and pool views and has been listed by SmartCrowd, the area’s first regulated actual property crowdfunding platform.
The launch marks SmartCrowd’s enlargement into Abu Dhabi, a transfer that permits traders to take part within the emirate’s dynamic and fast-evolving actual property market by means of fractional possession.
UAE set for main rental shift as Property Finder integrates month-to-month hire funds by means of Keyper
The UAE rental market is about for a significant shift as Property Finder begins integrating Keyper’s rent-in-instalments know-how—bringing month-to-month hire funds to residents for the primary time at nationwide scale.
The characteristic will go dwell on Property Finder’s app and web site within the first half of 2026. The transfer represents a big modernisation of the UAE’s rental ecosystem, which has traditionally relied on one to 4 giant upfront cheques.
By enabling card or direct-debit month-to-month funds, the partnership goals to ease monetary strain on residents, assist brokers in closing offers quicker, and provides landlords extra dependable, digitally-managed earnings streams.
Oman pronounces 4-day vacation
Oman has introduced an official vacation for private and non-private sectors to mark Nationwide Day 2025.
On the behest of Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, it has been determined that November 26 and 27, will probably be an official vacation for workers in models of the State’s Administrative Equipment, different authorized entities and personal sector institutions on the event of the Nationwide Day of the Sultanate of Oman.
In keeping with state-run information company ONA, employers could agree with workers to proceed working throughout the above-mentioned two days, if deemed vital, supplied the employees be compensated for that.
REVEALED: Mid-income, smaller residence consumers now powering Dubai’s actual property increase – report
The Dubai property market remained resilient in October 2025, with a reasonable seasonal slowdown offset by continued power in off-plan and secondary gross sales, and sustained demand from mid-income mortgage consumers, in line with Property Finder.
The newest Property Finder Market Efficiency Highlights point out that though exercise cooled barely following the summer time trip interval, the market’s fundamentals stay sturdy, supported by robust mortgage exercise and wholesome demand in key communities resembling Al Yelayiss 1, Nad Al Sheba First, Al Barsha South Fourth, and Burj Khalifa.
Within the major market, gross sales declined 8 per cent in worth and 6 per cent in quantity in comparison with October 2024. Regardless of this dip, the primary 10 months of 2025 recorded a year-on-year enhance of 18 per cent, reaching 103,939 transactions.
REVEALED: UK millionaire exodus to Dubai accelerates – report
The UK has been seeing a steep annual decline in its millionaire inhabitants, the very best amongst any nation globally as high-net-worth people (HNWIs) proceed to relocate to Golden Visa locations like Dubai in seek for a greater high quality of life and beneficial tax situations.
In keeping with a latest report by worldwide property consultancy Astons, the development is pushed by sweeping tax hikes particularly focused in the direction of the wealthy together with will increase to capital positive factors tax, inheritance tax and reforms to the non-dom regime.
The very best proportion of millionaires is at present held by the US, China, France, Japan, and Germany at 39.7 per cent, 10.5 per cent. 4.8 per cent, 4.6 per cent, and 4.5 per cent, respectively. Six international locations have seen a decline in its millionaire inhabitants – Australia, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, and Germany. Nonetheless, the UK noticed the most important drop at 14.3 per cent.
Dubai actual property: fäm Properties launches AED3bn ultra-luxury assortment within the emirate
Dubai’s ultra-luxury property market is coming into a brand new part with the launch of an AED3 billion assortment of ready-built properties developed by Nordic by fäm, a division of fäm Properties. The portfolio spans two of the town’s most sought-after neighbourhoods and represents a break from the business’s conventional reliance on off-plan gross sales.
The corporate’s strategy focuses on establishing every property earlier than placing it available on the market, giving potential consumers the chance to expertise the finished properties first-hand. The event additionally embraces a Scandinavian-inspired philosophy of simplicity and craftsmanship, in distinction to the opulence usually related to Dubai’s luxurious actual property.
The transfer comes as knowledge from DXBinteract reveals that greater than AED140 billion value of ultra-luxury properties have been launched in Dubai over the previous 5 years. Gross sales of villas priced above AED40 million have surged from 27 transactions in 2020 to 242 in 2024, with whole transaction worth rising from AED0.89 billion to just about AED16 billion.
UAE makes historical past with first authorities transaction utilizing Digital Dirham
The UAE has accomplished its first authorities monetary transaction utilizing the Digital Dirham, marking a big milestone within the nation’s drive to construct an built-in and safe digital financial system.
The transaction, executed collectively by the Ministry of Finance and Dubai Finance (DOF) in collaboration with the Central Financial institution of the UAE, represents a key step towards the broader adoption of the nationwide digital forex throughout authorities and personal sector operations.
The initiative reaffirms the UAE’s position as a pioneer in next-generation monetary applied sciences. This achievement types a part of the pilot part of the Digital Dirham mission, initiated by the Central Financial institution of the UAE underneath the Monetary Infrastructure Transformation (FIT) Programme in coordination with native monetary authorities.
GCC approves ‘one-stop’ journey system; UAE and Bahrain to pilot historic scheme in 2025
The GCC has permitted a brand new “one-stop” journey course of to simplify worldwide motion of residents of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain.
The brand new system was introduced by GCC Secretary-Common Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi following the forty second assembly of the Ministers of Inside of GCC international locations, held in Kuwait on Wednesday, November 12.
The “one-stop” journey system will permit residents of the six GCC international locations to finish all journey necessities – together with immigration, safety checks and customs – at a single checkpoint when travelling across the bloc. It’s going to scale back the variety of journey inspections, improve effectivity and reduce processing time at worldwide airports.
Dubai unveils aerial taxis, expanded metro, and Future Loop in new transport grasp plan
Dubai has unveiled a brand new part of infrastructure growth that features aerial taxis, an expanded 131 km rail community, and The Future Loop, a climate-controlled pedestrian system forming a part of the Dubai Stroll Grasp Plan.
The tasks have been reviewed by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Government Council of Dubai, throughout a gathering with Mattar Al Tayer, Director Common, Chairman of the Board of Government Administrators of Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed stated that Dubai’s continued funding in infrastructure represents an funding in its individuals and its future, in keeping with the imaginative and prescient of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
He famous that these tasks mirror a forward-looking technique to create a related, sustainable metropolis powered by innovation, aligned with the Dubai Financial Agenda, D33. Sheikh Hamdan added that Dubai’s strategy to city growth is predicated on long-term planning, agility, and sustainability, integrating know-how into each facet of infrastructure to set new international benchmarks for sensible and resilient metropolis design.
Dubai targets $5bn sport financial system by 2033 as participation grows to 2.6m and occasion attendance hits 4.1m
Dubai targets $5bn sport financial system by 2033 as participation grows to 2.6m and occasion attendance hits 4.1m
Dubai has set out one among its most bold long-term sector plans to this point, unveiling a technique to double the sports activities sector’s financial contribution to AED18.3bn ($5bn) yearly by 2033.
The Dubai Sports activities Sector Strategic Plan 2033 targets increasing the variety of residents actively engaged in sport from 1.6m to 2.6m, whereas rising annual attendance at main sporting occasions to 4.1 million, greater than doubling present ranges.
The plan types a significant pillar of Dubai’s long-term agenda to raise high quality of life, neighborhood wellbeing and international competitiveness.
