The UAE is positioning itself as a global Islamic finance and Halal industry hub through a government-approved strategy running from 2025 to 2031, with the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) coordinating the effort across federal and local entities.
Emirates NBD has entered a strategic partnership with the Dubai Future District Fund (DFDF) to source, pilot and potentially commercialise AI and FinTech solutions developed by startups within the fund's portfolio.
talabat has lifted its full-year 2026 guidance across all key metrics after first-half performance exceeded its own expectations, even as Q2 net income fell 18% year-on-year to AED 367.25 million amid sustained investment in groceries, loyalty and its everyday app strategy.
Dubai Investments reported a 28% year-on-year rise in net profit attributable to shareholders to AED 642.4 million for the first half of 2026, driven by strong performance across its real estate and manufacturing segments.
Saudi Arabia's stock of foreign direct investment reached approximately SR 1,122.8 billion (USD 299 billion) by the end of Q1 2026, a 12% year-on-year increase.
Emaar Development posted a 43% year-on-year rise in net profit after tax to AED 6.7 billion in H1 2026, as property sales across its Dubai communities reached AED 22.4 billion.
Dubai-based fintech KamelPay has obtained Stored Value Facilities (SVF) and Retail Payment Services (RPS) licenses from the Central Bank of the UAE, marking a significant regulatory milestone for the payroll and corporate payments firm founded in 2021.
Dubai's rental market is tracking toward an all-time annual high, with 214,445 contracts registered in the first seven months of 2026 – a 1.9% year-on-year increase – putting the emirate on pace to surpass last year's record of 377,660 contracts.
Dubai's office market generated AED 15.8 billion in sales during the first half of 2026, a near-200% year-on-year surge and double the value recorded in H2 2025.
The UAE Ministry of Finance has extended its Small Business Relief scheme for corporate tax purposes by three years, allowing eligible businesses to continue claiming the benefit through tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2029.
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