UAE residents are looking forward to the following public vacation, whereas Dubai introduced a daring 2033 liveability push and a AED170bn ($46.3bn) nationwide transport improve.
In the meantime, retail traders gained new entry to government-backed Sukuk, Dubai property set recent data, Emirates rolled out 200 biometric cameras towards a passport-free DXB journey and Saudia examined totally internet-enabled flights with free WiFi.
Meet up with 10 of the most important headlines this week, as chosen by Arabian Enterprise editors.
UAE Nationwide Day 2025: When to count on your subsequent public vacation
UAE residents can sit up for yet one more public vacation in 2025 because the nation prepares to mark Eid Al Etihad, the nationwide celebration also referred to as UAE Nationwide Day.
The vacation is anticipated on Tuesday, December 2 and Wednesday, December 3, giving residents two days off to commemorate the UAE’s formation in 1971.
Whereas these are the anticipated dates, the Cupboard should still transfer the official vacation to create a protracted weekend.
Who’s Rama Duwaji, Dubai-raised spouse of New York Metropolis’s first Muslim mayor Zohran Mamdani?
As New York ushers in its first Muslim mayor, all eyes at the moment are on Zohran Mamdani, the 34-year-old Democratic state assemblyman from Queens whose progressive marketing campaign has upended one of many metropolis’s most carefully watched races.
However behind the newly elected mayor stands a girl whose personal story spans continents and artistic disciplines: Rama Duwaji, the Dubai-raised Syrian-American artist and illustrator who has quietly carved out her personal legacy past politics.
Born in Houston, Texas, to Syrian Muslim mother and father from Damascus, Duwaji moved to Dubai when she was 9 and spent the rest of her childhood dwelling throughout the Gulf.
UAE residents can now spend money on government-backed Sukuk from simply $1,089
UAE residents and residents can now make investments instantly in government-backed Islamic Treasury Sukuk by a brand new digital platform launched below the Ministry of Finance’s Retail Sukuk initiative — ranging from simply AED4,000 ($1,089).
The transfer marks the primary time particular person traders within the UAE should buy into Sharia-compliant Treasury Sukuk in smaller denominations by taking part banks.
The initiative goals to broaden entry to secure, low-risk funding choices whereas selling a tradition of saving and monetary inclusion nationwide.
Dubai launches main plan to be the world’s most habitable metropolis by 2033 – 310 new parks, 60 inexpensive faculties, 15,000 aviation jobs
Dubai has unveiled a sweeping new plan to turn out to be the world’s most habitable and healthiest metropolis by 2033, with main initiatives throughout city greenery, schooling, aviation, healthcare, sports activities, and finance.
The initiatives purpose to advance Dubai’s fame as a world mannequin for sustainability, wellbeing, and alternative — integrating financial and social progress whereas enhancing well being, high quality of life, and concrete resilience.
The Public Parks and Greenery Technique will see the rollout of over 800 tasks, together with:
- 310 new parks and enhancements to 322 current ones
- 120 new open areas and 14 technology-led tasks
- Over 70 roads’ rights-of-way to attach communities
Dubai actual property breaks all data with $152.3bn in 2025 gross sales; prime areas and tasks revealed
The Dubai actual property market has hit a brand new all-time excessive, with property transactions for 2025 reaching AED559.4bn ($152.3bn), surpassing the emirate’s earlier full-year file two months earlier than year-end.
The newest market report from fäm Properties exhibits that in October 2025 alone, Dubai recorded 19,875 property transactions price AED59.4bn ($16.2bn).
This lifted the overall variety of offers within the first ten months of the yr to 178,244, already exceeding the 180,900 transactions valued at AED522.1bn ($141.9bn) recorded for all of 2024.
UAE declares $46.3bn transport plan: 12-lane Etihad Street improve, Emirates Street enlargement, main new 120 km freeway mulled
The UAE Ministry of Vitality and Infrastructure has introduced a AED170bn ($46.3bn) package deal of nationwide transport and highway tasks to be applied by 2030, geared toward easing visitors congestion, increasing main highways, and enhancing mobility throughout the nation.
The tasks kind a part of a complete nationwide technique to develop transport infrastructure that retains tempo with inhabitants and financial progress, whereas enhancing the standard of life for residents and residents.
Asserting the plan throughout his keynote on the UAE Authorities Annual Conferences in Abu Dhabi, Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Vitality and Infrastructure, stated the ministry will improve federal highway effectivity by 73 per cent over the following 5 years.
Dubai goes ‘passport-free’: Emirates invests $23.1m in 200 biometric cameras
Dubai has taken a serious step towards a completely passport-free airport expertise, with Emirates investing AED85m ($23.1m) to put in greater than 200 biometric cameras throughout Terminal 3 at Dubai Worldwide Airport (DXB).
The know-how — developed in partnership with the Normal Directorate of Id and Foreigner Affairs – Dubai (GDRFAD) — permits passengers to move by Examine-In, Immigration, Lounges, Boarding Gates, and plane boarding utilizing solely facial recognition.
By eliminating the necessity to present a passport or boarding move at a number of airport touchpoints, the brand new system considerably cuts processing instances. Every biometric digital camera can recognise a passenger’s face from as much as one metre away, permitting them to stroll easily by areas that when required doc checks.
EXCLUSIVE: Claims disgraced British royal Andrew Windsor is transferring to UAE ‘not true’ – supply near household
Experiences suggesting Andrew Mountbatten Windsor is making ready to swap Sandringham for a palace in Abu Dhabi are “not true,” a supply near the household has instructed Arabian Enterprise.
James Henderson, longtime PR adviser to Andrew’s ex-wife Sarah Ferguson stated he doesn’t imagine the royal, who’s eighth in line to the British throne, is relocating to the United Arab Emirates, opposite to current claims revealed in The Solar and different UK tabloid media.
“These tales are merely not correct,” Henderson, who’s UAE-based, instructed Arabian Enterprise. “I don’t suppose that is the case.” He clarified that whereas he advises Ferguson, he doesn’t symbolize Andrew, however is “talking as a good friend of the household.”
Saudia launches first totally internet-enabled flight with free high-speed WiFi for all passengers
Saudia Airways has launched its first totally internet-enabled flight, marking a key milestone within the service’s digital transformation technique and Saudi Arabia’s broader aviation know-how ambitions.
The trial flight, a part of an ongoing pilot section, goals to check the brand new onboard WiFi system and collect suggestions from passengers and customers earlier than a full rollout throughout the fleet.
The initiative underscores Saudia’s dedication to enhancing the passenger expertise by complete, high-efficiency digital connectivity.
ADNOC awards $14.7bn in UAE contracts, unveils $24.5 native manufacturing plan
Abu Dhabi Nationwide Oil Firm (ADNOC) has awarded AED54bn ($14.7bn) in contracts to UAE-based suppliers through the second half of 2025, reinforcing its place as a serious driver of nationwide financial progress and industrial improvement.
The announcement got here through the ninth version of the Enterprise Partnership Discussion board, held on the sidelines of ADIPEC 2025, the place ADNOC additionally outlined new procurement alternatives for 2026–2027 below the theme “From Outlook to End result – Partnering for Nationwide Progress.”
The contracts cowl strategic companies, drilling, upkeep, logistics, digital options, and main tasks throughout the ADNOC Group, supporting ADNOC’s dedication to strengthen provide chain effectivity, improve native market competitiveness, and drive sustainable financial progress throughout the UAE.
