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Here's what we're tracking today
Fuel prices rise by up to 70% for April in light of the war
Stimulus package to boost confidence | Vara is introducing derivatives | Emirates NBD defies credit freeze.
Wednesday, 1 April 2026
Fuel price hike
As energy markets reel from the war, the UAE hiked fuel prices by up to 70% for April. We dive into this, Dubai's recent stimulus package and Vara's latest regulations in today's issue.
Today at a glance
Editor's choice
M&A Watch
FINANCE
Universal registers UAE’s first USD-backed stablecoin
The move positions USDU as the only registered foreign payment…
THIS MORNING: Emirates is securing war-risk cover + Al Ain offers tax rebate for hospitality upgrades
BUT- The number of cyberattacks has been ticking up as the war drags on
Newsmakers
How Google keeps AI in check in the age of deepfakes
From a global signals exchange to the importance of provenance, Google’s director of trust and safety breaks down how it’s battling…
My morning routine
Zayed National Museum picks up a global stamp of approval months after opening
Abu Dhabi’s newest museum landed on Time’s World’s Greatest Places 2026
Moves
Regulation
Legislation Watch
New golf venues coming to the UAE + Dubai issues law governing gov’t outsourcing
The AED 1 bn golf push from XRange and Akcel…
Regulation Watch
UAE overhauls pharma distribution rules
The move replaces the long-standing single-distributor model, under which global…
Cabinet Watch
The UAE’s next phase: Scaling space, reshaping healthcare, and tightening food policy
New national strategies set hard targets to scale space output,…
CBUAE
Could CBUAE’s resilience package help insulate local banks from potential outflows?
Markets closed in the green for the second consecutive day…
Startup watch
Credit scoring platform zypl.ai secures USD 5.5 mn in new funding round
The startup plans to use the funds to expand into new markets
MENA AI funding hits USD 858 mn in 2025, led by the UAE and Saudi Arabia
AI-native firms secured USD 589 mn, amounting to 69% of all AI funding
New fintech player lands in Dubai, Aster plans expansion, fresh capital for fresh produce, and new spare parts hub to launch in Jafza
India-based fintech Juspay set up its regional HQ in Dubai, while global VC firm…
