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Regulation
New year, new rules: 2026 edition
The UAE’s 2026 rule changes span tax, invoicing, hiring, digital platforms, and banking
THIS MORNING: Rakbank is the latest to join the stablecoin party + Contract awards fell in 2025
Plus: Health and Prevention Ministry is drafting rules to cap salt levels in food
New rules for contracts, asset ownership, and buyer protections set under new federal decree laws
The laws introduce rules for disclosures of pre-contract negotiations, as well as managing assets as…
THIS MORNING: Fuel prices slashed for January + Minimum wage hiked for Emiratis
Plus: Major banks begin phasing out OTP texts
Legislation
The end of the “onshore-offshore” divide?
The amendments finally bring sophisticated tools like multi-class shares and drag-along rights into the mainland…
Brics’ NBD’s list USD 50 bn note program on Nasdaq Dubai + Several firms join new FIDA cluster in Abu Dhabi
ALSO- An agentic AI platform for lawyers raises pre-seed round
UAE overhauls commercial companies law
The decree pushes the mainland framework closer to common law practice
UAE raises ceiling for CBUAE fines
The decree allows fines of up to 10x the value of a violation or unjust…
Taxation
THIS MORNING: UAE launches strategic partnership talks with the EU + corporate tax credit refunds, explained
Plus: Will Gulf sovereigns continue backing Paramount Skydance’s hostile bid for Warner Bros Discovery?
THIS MORNING: Pax Silica Summit kicks off in the US with the UAE present + The Gulf is more involved in Paramount’s Warner Bros bid than meets the eye
Plus: Excise tax on sweetened beverages clarified
Delays in e-invoicing roll-out will be subject to fines
Fines of up to AED 5k per month will be slapped on those who fail…
FinMin introduces new amendments to tax procedures law
The ministry has also introduced amendments on selected provisions to the UAE VAT law
Customs
Mercantile & Maritime makes big SAF moves
Plus: Etihad + Condor to launch new Germany-UAE daily routes in 2026
THIS MORNING: G42 to launch sovereign AI cloud in France soon + Emirates NBD could get nod from Indian central bank for controlling stake in RBL
Plus: IEA expects supply glut in 2026
More trouble for Eshraq as Goldilocks loses value
PLUS: Invest Bank secures CBUAE license for Islamic banking window
Arabian Construction secures AED 2 bn contract for Design Quarter development from Meraas
Plus: Moody’s upgrades RAK Bank’s outlook
Mubadala was everywhere in 2025
The fund invested USD 4.9 bn in AI
Mubadala is now a joint owner of Romanian renewables player Rezolv
The Abu Dhabi sovereign investor committed EUR 300 mn to the firm
Adia doubles down on India’s ICICI Prudential, while Mubadala acquires a US building automation firm
Mubadala and Bain acquired Service Logic, a North Carolina-based HVAC and building automation firm
Mubadala pushes into real estate credit to fill a funding gap
The sovereign entity launched a USD 500 mn real estate debt JV with Barings
ADQ
ADQ secures massive USD 5 bn loan from banks across Greater China
The offering was 3x oversubscribed
Another acquisition for e&’s European arm, AD Ports expands in Pakistan, and Tecom launches a new phase in Dubai Internet City. Plus: ADQ, Gates to invest in AI education for Africa
e&’s acquisition pushes it further into bundled connectivity in Europe, where competition increasingly favors convergence…
ADQ secures indirect majority control of Egypt’s Alexandria Container & Cargo Handling Co
The group funded the acquisition through a mix of banknotes and debt
Adipec wraps after USD 46 bn in agreements, with T’aziz securing offtakers for petrochems products
T’aziz will supply more than 350k tonnes of EDC and VCM a year to India’s…
ADIA
Adia invests in Chinese USD 770 mn CV
The vehicle aims to acquire a portfolio of mid-large-cap assets, primarily focused on China
Adia going long on China AI?
MiniMax is among the few survivors of China’s generative-AI shakeout and is positioning itself as…
Indian tech firm Cyient acquires Abu Dhabi tech consulting firm in a push into the region. Plus: Adia backs ICICI Prudential
ADGCE mainly works with energy firms
THIS MORNING: Abu Dhabi investor backs Paramount’s hostile bid for Warner Bros + Abu Dhabi gets fintech, insurance, digital assets cluster
Plus: Plenary sets up infrastructure investment platform in ADGM
ICD
ICD-backed Alec taps banks ahead of planned IPO
Alec appointed Emirates NBD Capital and JPMorgan Chase as advisors
Dubai Holding now holds a minority stake in Emirates NBD
ICD transferred over 900 mn shares to Dubai Holding
EIA
Mubadala earns third highest score in Global SWF’s governance, sustainability, and resilience ranking
The SWF also came in second globally in terms of capital deployed over the past…
Central Bank of the UAE
FAB participates in Hong Kong’s RMB Business Facility + joins open finance framework
PLUS: Beltone folds Chimera regional assets into its balance sheet in USD 1 acquisition
FAB participates in Hong Kong’s RMB Business Facility + joins open finance framework
PLUS: Beltone folds Chimera regional assets into its balance sheet in USD 1 acquisition
The digital AED, explained
What to expect from the CBUAE’s digital AED rollout before year’s end
Top 10 banks post 4.3% q-o-q rise in net income in 3Q 2025, rebounding from a flat 2Q
Growth was boosted by stronger net interest and fee incomes
Securities and Commodities Authority
UAE capital markets entered their mature era in 2025
Despite the UAE seeing only three listings in 2025, the rise in follow-ons has signaled…
US-listed ETFs land on ADX, and KKR makes a Gulf investment
The ADX is now the first exchange in the Arab region to cross-list US-domiciled ETFs
ADCB wraps biggest-ever ADX rights issue
The lender said all 592.2 mn new shares were fully subscribed at AED 10.3 each
Bank of China lists another USD 500 mn on Nasdaq Dubai
Plus: Investcorp Capital acquires US fire and life safety services provider
DFM
UAE capital markets entered their mature era in 2025
Despite the UAE seeing only three listings in 2025, the rise in follow-ons has signaled…
THIS MORNING: Fuel prices slashed for January + Minimum wage hiked for Emiratis
Plus: Major banks begin phasing out OTP texts
Dubai Residential REIT posts solid 9M performance
The REIT’s revenues are up 10% y-o-y
Dubai, Abu Dhabi lead 3Q earnings growth in the GCC
Dubai-listed firms’ net income jumped 29.7% y-o-y, while Abu Dhabi companies posted a 17% increase
ADX
ADX launches region’s first high-dividend index
The new index offers investors a gateway to the market’s strongest dividend-generating companies
Dubai, Abu Dhabi lead 3Q earnings growth in the GCC
Dubai-listed firms’ net income jumped 29.7% y-o-y, while Abu Dhabi companies posted a 17% increase
Lunate launched its second AI-linked ADX-bound ETF
The fund, set to trade under the ticker AIPOWR, will be listed on the ADX…
THIS MORNING: Alpha Dhabi to sell stake in Aldar? + We’re paying less at the pump in November
Plus: Opec+ to bump production in December before pausing hikes in 1Q 2026
Courts
UAE establishes dedicated bankruptcy court for financial disputes
The court will oversee all disputes and applications related to the federal insolvency and financial…
Dubai’s Hatta Hydro plant to begin clean energy exports in April 2025
The 250 MW plant, designed with 1.5k MWh of storage and an 80-year life span
Sharjah to get public prosecution, judicial department
The council will have financial and administrative autonomy
ADIA-backed Lake Shore lines up USD 143 mn green loan
Plus: Mastercard to roll out biometric checkout authentication with Noon, replacing one-time passwords
Public policy
Sharjah 2026 budget set at new high
The budget allocates the majority share to the infrastructure sector at 35%
The UAE took major steps towards rolling out its gaming framework this year, but gray zones remain amid cultural sensitivities
Cultural sensitivities will impact how gaming resorts approach Emiratization and process revenues, and emirate-level enforcement…
THIS MORNING: December will be a busy month for travel + Non-Emiratis can now foster children under new amendments
Plus: Ripple stablecoin gets ADGM approval
Dubai introduces tighter regulations for trading petroleum products
The Dubai Supreme Council of Energy will oversee petroleum products trading
Diplomacy
THIS MORNING: Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week kicks off, with several African leaders in attendance
Plus: Hessa Street should get a little less busy
UAE to join US-led tech supply chain initiative Pax Silica
The UAE should be onboarded on Thursday
THIS MORNING: Open finance enters go-live phase + President to land in Pakistan tomorrow for trade, investment talks
Plus: Galvanized wire from the UAE will face anti-dumping duties in Morocco
UAE and Ecuador boost economic ties
Three agreements were signed focusing on investment ties, digital economy, and labor mobility
Abu Dhabi
ADFD to mobilize USD 2 bn for water projects in developing countries
ADFD will itself allocate an initial USD 1 bn for deployment through 2030
Ethmar, GB Media develop multi-mn-USD media-focused fund in Abu Dhabi
The fund is co-led by two GB Media founders with extensive backgrounds in Hollywood and…
Modon awards massive construction contract, EGA invests USD 170 mn in German facility, and Depa closes its rights issue
Modon awarded a AED 5 bn contract for Nawayef East and Nawayef West on Hudayriyat…
Archeo Futurus + Daywalker Global to pour USD 200 mn into Abu Dhabi’s tech and media sectors
They also launched the world’s first compute-securitized bond to support this investment plan
Dubai
A VTOL hub for Abu Dhabi, a solar plant for Sharjah, and another Indian real estate player in Dubai
Qatar-based smart mobility Barq Group and US-based autonomous aircraft developer Elroy are setting up a…
THIS MORNING: F1 Grand Prix kicks off in Abu Dhabi + Sharjah’s getting ultra-fast DC EV chargers
Plus: Abu Dhabi Finance Week kicks off next week
Mashreq rolls out Mashreq Neo Pakistan
Plus: Dar invests in Austrian proptech + Adia, IDC back VC fund by Fireside Ventures
Keeta is now in Sharjah
Plus: Sharjah is getting a new bridge
Sharjah
Real estate sales rise to near AED 1 tn mark in Dubai amid strong demand for ultra-prime homes
The number of new resident investors was up 23% y-o-y, and foreign investors accounted for…
Armani wagers on Dubai for its next hotel chapter
Headquartered in Milan and Dubai, the JV holds exclusive global rights to develop all future…
THIS MORNING: New seven stations announced for Etihad Rail + Apollo Go gets driverless trial permit in Dubai
Plus: Philippines and the UAE to sign comprehensive economic partnership agreement next week
THIS MORNING: Health Ministry transfers licensing, meds registration services to Emirates Drug Establishment + Emirates SkyCargo eyes boosting capacity in 2026
Plus: Gulf Islamic Investments (GII) is looking to triple its assets to USD 10 bn…
Ras Al Khaimah
London hotel goes to Abu Dhabi real estate magnate, USD 1.1 bn Arrowpoint comes to town, and hotels make headway in Al Marjan
Arrowpoint joins the ranks of global hedge funds establishing a presence in the emirate
Dubai developers still bank on branding even as doubts grow over its value
Karl Lagerfeld has signed a partnership with Aark Developers on a USD 1.4 bn beachfront…
S&P affirms Ras Al Khaimah’s credit rating at A/A-1 with “stable” outlook
The emirate’s real GDP growth is projected to exceed 4% by 2027-28
NMDC Energy, Easy Lease look east with new offices, partnerships
Plus: Invictus Investment secures new financing from MCB
Ajman
THIS MORNING: ADQ could be vying for Sicily’s Catania Airport + Etihad Airways plans USD 15 bn investment over seven years; but no firm IPO timeline
Plus: Space42 ships first domestically assembled SAR satellites to US
THIS MORNING: Gems Education eyes Saudi school operator + Air taxis to hit Ras al Khaimah’s skies in 2027
Plus: Abu Dhabi earmarks AED 42 bn for livability strategy
THIS MORNING: Newly launched PE firm BlueFive Capital to set up China-focused PE fund with CICC
Plus: Long weekend for Prophet Muhammad’s birthday confirmed
THIS MORNING: G42 in line for compute from Northern Data? + Dubai Land Department eyes wider rollout of tokenization program this fall
Plus: New working group to bring investment to Ajman
Umm Al Quwain
BitOasis expands to Bahrain
Plus: Landmark to develop USD 1.4 bn Skyscraper in Dubai
Umm Al Quwain gets new sprawling “downtown” coastal development
Dragon Oil inks slew of agreements at Gotech 2025
Shelf Drilling taps Arabian Drilling rigs in new global offshore expansion pact
The partnership is aimed at expanding their offshore drilling operations worldwide
The UAE’s first pilot vertiport will be at the Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal
Tech startup incubator Soul launched in Umm Al Quwain FreeTrade Zone
Fujairah
Holcim launches project to mineralize CO2 underground in Fujairah
The facility will capture five tons of CO2 per day from Holcim’s cement plant
Adipec day three: Movement on petrochems, oil and gas, and SAF projects in the UAE
Ta’ziz, Brooge, Mubadala Energy, and others advance key projects
THIS MORNING: Emirates NBD’s push in India could move ahead as Indian regulators mull raising foreign investment cap + Are Emirates NBD and FAB eyeing expansions in Egypt?
Plus: CBUAE drafts telemarketing regs for banks and financial institutions
Fujairah fires up F3 gas plant
The plant has a total output capacity of 2.4 GW.