UAE Business News

Daily business news from the UAE with the angle that matters to founders and companies: what changed, who it affects and what to do next. Company setup, banking, taxes, visas, trade and real estate - sorted by date, newest first.

How to use this news feed

Every item is checked against its primary source - government and emirate media offices, regulators, ministries, exchanges and company releases - and the source is named in the article. Use the topic buttons to narrow the feed to UAE Economy, Banking & Finance, Tax & Compliance, Visas & Residency, Trade & Customs, Real Estate or Company Setup.

For step-by-step procedures - how to open a company, a bank account or obtain a residency visa - see our UAE Business Guides. The news feed tells you what is changing; the guides tell you what to do.

All Banking & Finance Company Setup Real Estate Tax & Compliance Trade & Customs UAE Economy Visas & Residency

DIFC and Mizuho Open Dubai to Up to 6,000 Japanese Start-ups

DIFC and Mizuho signed a partnership giving up to 6,000 Japanese start-ups access to the DIFC Innovation Hub and Ignyte for market entry in Dubai and MEASA.

Published November 4, 2026

DIFC Records Over 2,200 New Companies in Nine Months of 2026, Up 26%

DIFC recorded more than 2,200 new active companies from January to September 2026, an all-time high and 26% more than a year earlier.

Published November 3, 2026

ADGM Publishes Crypto Mining Guidance: Commercial Licence Under Activity Code 7230

On 28 October 2026 ADGM published guidance treating crypto mining as a commercial activity under code 7230: an RA licence, no FSRA approval for own-account mining.

Published October 28, 2026

Ras Al Khaimah Issues 33.5% More New Business Licences in Q3 2026, Active Licences Reach 22,447

RAK-DED issued 33.5% more new business licences in Q3 2026 than in Q2, cancellations fell 15.9%, and active licences reached 22,447 with AED 11.96 billion capital.

Published October 27, 2026

UAE Leads UK Relocation Enquiries With 16.2%, and Nearly 60% of Them Are About Setting Up a Company

Sovereign PPG data: the UAE took 16.2% of UK-origin enquiries, nearly 60% about company setup. Saltus: 30% of wealthy Britons consider leaving the UK.

Published October 15, 2026

UAE Startups Raised USD 1.6 Billion in Nine Months of 2026, Up 17%

UAE startups raised USD 1.6 billion from January to September 2026, up 17% year on year and more than half of MENA venture funding, MAGNiTT data shows.

Published October 13, 2026

Dubai Doubles Oraseya Capital Fund to AED 1 Billion, up to USD 6 Million per Company

DIEZ doubled Oraseya Capital to AED 1 billion on 11 October 2026: up to USD 6 million per company, rounds beyond Series B, global companies eligible.

Published October 11, 2026

Abu Dhabi New Economic Licences Up 5% in H1 2026 as Freelancer Licences Jump 224%

ADRA: Abu Dhabi issued 5% more new economic licences in H1 2026. Freelancer licences rose 224%, crafts and occupational 136%, renewals 5%.

Published October 8, 2026

Dubai CommerCity to Invest AED 1.8 Billion in Phase Two, Adding 91,000 sqm

Dubai CommerCity will invest over AED 1.8 billion in Phase Two: 91,000+ sqm, six office buildings and The Hive logistics facility, delivered by Q4 2028.

Published October 4, 2026

Abu Dhabi Extends Tajer Licence: Another Year Without an Office

ADDED gives Tajer Abu Dhabi holders whose no premises period ends in 2026 one more year without a lease, extends Rowad industrial licences and waives fines for 7,823 firms.

Published September 24, 2026

DMCC Establishes Foundations Regulations for Private Wealth and Succession

DMCC established its Foundations Regulations on 23 September 2026: a legal entity separate from founder, council, guardian and beneficiaries, with initial assets from USD 100.

Published September 23, 2026

DMCC Chinese Companies Grow 9.4% to Over 1,000 as UAE-China Trade Hits USD 111.5 Billion

DMCC now hosts more than 1,000 Chinese companies after 9.4% growth in 12 months, with over 60% in energy, engineering, machinery and technology.

Published September 17, 2026

Arab Media Summit 2026 in Dubai Hosts the First Euronews Forum Outside Europe: 15 to 17 September, Eight Specialised Forums and a Network in 430 Million Households Across 166 Countries

Arab Media Summit 2026 in Dubai (15 to 17 September) hosts the Euronews Forum on 16 September, its first edition outside Europe; Euronews reaches 430 million households.

Published September 7, 2026

UAE Ranks First in the World for Entrepreneurship for the Fifth Year Running: Active SME Licences Up Over 900% Since 2000 and 140% Since 2020, SMEs Make Up 95% of Companies and 85% of Private-Sector Jobs, and the Council for Entrepreneurship Reviews the Startup Capital Campaign and an OECD-Backed National Strategy

UAE SME licences are up over 900% since 2000 and 140% since 2020, and the country is first in the world for entrepreneurship for a fifth year in GEM 2025/2026.

Published September 6, 2026

Dubai Issued 58,337 New Business Licences in H1 2026: Unified Licence Cuts Corporate Bank Account Opening to About 3 Days, Investor Register Next

DBLC: 58,337 new licences and 173,652 renewals in H1 2026. Invest in Dubai, the Unified Licence and a coming Investor Register cut bank account opening to about 3 days.

Published September 3, 2026

DMCC Gaming Centre Grows 30% to 165 Companies as DMCC and Serbian Games Association Open a Europe-Middle East Gaming Corridor at Gamescom 2026

DMCC Gaming Centre reaches 165 members, up 30% in a year, and signs a partnership with the Serbian Games Association at Gamescom 2026: soft-landing, co-working, events.

Published August 27, 2026

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