From game-changing actual property tendencies to main authorities updates throughout the UAE and Saudi Arabia, this week’s prime tales are shaping the area’s enterprise and life-style panorama.
Whether or not you’re planning your subsequent vacation, exploring funding alternatives, or monitoring coverage adjustments, we’ve acquired you lined.
Atone for 10 of the largest information tales this week, as chosen by Arabian Enterprise editors.
UAE Nationwide Day 2025: Will there be a five-day weekend? Anticipated dates revealed
UAE residents could possibly sit up for one other lengthy weekend in December 2025 as Nationwide Day approaches.
UAE Nationwide Day is formally marked on December 2 and three annually. In 2025, these dates fall on a Tuesday and Wednesday.
Whereas the UAE authorities has not but confirmed any prolonged break, residents could anticipate Monday, December 1 to be a further day without work, making it a five-day weekend.
Fee-free apps problem Dubai actual property brokers as direct buyer-seller fashions rise
Dubai’s property market is going through a shift as new digital platforms permitting direct buyer-seller connections threaten to make conventional actual property brokers out of date, consultants informed Arabian Enterprise.
This shift mirrors how on-line reserving companies disrupted the journey company trade over a decade in the past. Some imagine the true property trade is now going through its journey company second.
“We’re not approaching disruption, we’re already in it,” mentioned Ainsley Duncombe, founding father of Off Market Itemizing Dubai and a 17-year veteran of the emirate’s property scene. “Suppose again to the journey trade. How typically do individuals nonetheless use conventional journey brokers? That very same transformation is already underway in actual property.”
UAE summer season 2025: Visa-free journey locations for Indian passport holders from Dubai
Indian passport holders residing within the UAE have entry to a variety of visa-free, visa-on-arrival, and e-visa locations in summer season 2025.
Click on right here to see a number of nations and areas open for journey and not using a pre-approved visa or visa-on-arrival for Indian passport holders from Dubai.
Indian passport holders in Dubai are suggested to substantiate entry necessities with official embassy or consulate sources earlier than reserving journey, as visa guidelines could change with out prior discover.
Dubai actual property: Buyers can quickly purchase, promote property below new DLD, Crypto.com deal
Dubai actual property buyers could quickly be capable to purchase and promote property utilizing digital currencies like Bitcoin, following a brand new partnership between Dubai Land Division (DLD) and Crypto.com.
DLD, in partnership with Crypto.com, will develop a digital funding surroundings for digital actual property property and discover blockchain applied sciences and digital currencies throughout the sector.
The settlement follows the Dubai Authorities’s announcement of plans to allow fee of presidency charges utilizing digital currencies, representing a step ahead in integrating expertise with public companies and reinforcing the emirate’s management in authorities innovation.
Saudi Arabia publicizes new work allow system for expats
Saudi Arabia‘s Ministry of Human Assets and Social Improvement has applied a brand new system for expat work permits.
The brand new classification system divides expat employees within the kingdom into three talent classes: high-skill, expert, and primary.
Minister Ahmed Al-Rajhi introduced the choice, which goals to reinforce employee efficiency and appeal to world expertise to switch experience and expertise to the Saudi labour market.
Dubai actual property costs climb in H1 2025 as villas surge as much as 11% and ROI hits 11% in key communities
Dubai’s residential actual property market maintained sturdy momentum within the first half of 2025, with rising costs, excessive rental yields, and elevated investor confidence throughout each prepared and off-plan segments.
In line with a market report from Bayut and dubizzle, the emirate’s actual property sector is getting into a extra mature, data-driven section, the place long-term worth, transparency, and trusted insights are shaping purchaser and vendor choices.
Within the prepared gross sales phase, villa costs in Dubailand surged by as much as 10.4 per cent, pushed by demand for bigger, reasonably priced houses. Different high-performing communities included Dubai South, DAMAC Hills 2, and Dubai Sports activities Metropolis.
Saudi cupboard approves legislation on property possession by non-citizens
The Saudi Arabian Cupboard, chaired by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, authorised an up to date legislation regulating property possession by non-Saudis. The legislation goals to develop the true property sector and encourage overseas direct funding.
The brand new legislation permits possession within the Holy Cities of Makkah and Madinah, albeit with particular necessities, and comes into impact from January 2026.
The cupboard choice mandates the Actual Property Normal Authority with the duty for proposing the areas inside which non-Saudis could personal actual property or purchase different property rights. The authority will publish the chief laws of the legislation on the Istitaa public survey platform and search viewpoints and strategies of the general public inside 180 days of its publication within the official Umm Al-Qura Gazette.
Dubai’s RTA launches trials for driverless autos
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Pony.ai, an organization specialising in autonomous driving applied sciences, to start pilot trials of autonomous autos within the emirate.
The trials are scheduled to start later this yr, with plans to launch a completely driverless industrial service in 2026.
Pony.ai not too long ago unveiled the seventh technology of its autonomous autos, developed collectively with automotive producers together with Toyota, GAC, and BAIC. The corporate’s autos characteristic synthetic intelligence algorithms and sensors, together with lidars, radars, and cameras, designed to make sure navigation and security throughout street and climate circumstances.
UAE denies lifetime Golden Visa claims
The UAE has denied rumours it’s granting lifetime Golden Visas to residents of sure nationalities.
The Federal Authority for Id, Citizenship, Customs and Port Safety (ICP) denied the accuracy of rumours circulated by some native and worldwide media retailers and web sites relating to the granting of lifetime Golden Visas to sure nationalities.
ICP clarified that the classes, circumstances, and laws of the Golden Visa are clearly outlined in accordance with official legal guidelines, legislations, and ministerial choices.
UAE flight cancellations: Emirates publicizes journey replace
Dubai-based service Emirates has introduced up to date flight cancellations, extending its suspension of Iran flights.
Till July 17, Emirates is not going to fly to and from Tehran citing “operational causes” in its newest journey replace.
The airline introduced the extension on July 8, marking the newest in a collection of suspensions which have affected the route since mid-June as a result of regional tensions.
