The UAE is set to launch its first dirham-backed stablecoin in a joint initiative by IHC, ADQ, and First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), with full regulation from the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE). Once approved, the stablecoin will support seamless digital transactions across the UAE and beyond.
Events and festivals are a major catalyst of socio-economic growth, according to experts speaking on day one of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025 that has opened at the Dubai World Trade Centre and will conclude on May 1 2025.
Dubai is set to become the launchpad for a new AI trade and investment hub, following a strategic partnership between the Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence (DCAI) and the South African Artificial Intelligence Association (SAAIA). The initiative aims to boost cross-border collaboration and create fresh opportunities for AI startups and investors across EMEA.
Real estate activity across the GCC surged in the first quarter of 2025, with total transactions reaching an estimated $78.2bn. This is a year-on-year increase of over 20%, according to new data from leading proptech firm Sakan.
Dubai Chamber of Commerce has hosted a roundtable discussion to outline the key objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33) for the business councils operating under its umbrella.
The UAE’s total foreign trade soared to $1.42tr in 2024, marking a 49% increase from $952.9bn in 2021, according to the World Trade Organisation’s latest World Trade Outlook and Statistics report.
Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism is aiming for the tourism sector to contribute $24.5bn to the emirate’s non-oil GDP by 2030. The sector is projected to generate $16.9bn in 2025, a 13% increase on 2024.
Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company has announced a $600m investment in Nord Anglia Education, securing a minority stake in the global private school network. The move sees Mubadala join an international consortium led by investment firm EQT, alongside partners including Neuberger Berman, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, Corporación Financiera Alba, and Dubai Holding.
Dubai’s real estate sector posted its strongest first-quarter performance in over a decade. Both transaction volume and value reached historic levels according to Property Finder’s Q1 2025 Insights.
The first-ever Dubai AI Week will run from 21–25 April. The event will bring together more than 10,000 participants from over 100 countries for a landmark exploration of AI’s impact on business and society.
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