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.
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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.
UAE Accounts for 80.9% of GCC M&A Deal Value in H1 2026: USD 52.6 Billion (AED 193.2 Billion) of USD 65.1 Billion and 131 of 192 Deals, Led by DAE’s USD 9 Billion Macquarie AirFinance Acquisition (Grant Thornton)
The UAE accounted for USD 52.6 billion (80.9%) of the GCC's USD 65.1 billion M&A deal value and 131 of 192 deals in H1 2026, led by DAE, AD Ports, Mubadala and e&.
Published September 6, 2026
UAE Listed Companies’ Q2 2026 Net Profit Rises 28.6% to USD 21.6 Billion (AED 79.2 Billion): Abu Dhabi Up 41.8%, Dubai Up 4.9%, First-Half Total USD 38.9 Billion, Banks and Real Estate Lead as GCC Earnings Hit a Record USD 74.8 Billion (Kamco Invest)
UAE listed companies earned USD 21.6 billion (AED 79.2 billion) in Q2 2026, up 28.6%: Abu Dhabi +41.8%, Dubai +4.9%, banks and real estate lead, GCC at a record.
Published September 6, 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
DP World Invests AED 4 Billion Across the Middle East, Europe and Africa in H1 2026: Regional Revenue Up 7.9% to AED 30.5 Billion, Jebel Ali Volumes Down 60% on the Strait of Hormuz Closure, Money Goes to Jebel Ali, Dubai Maritime City, London Gateway, Dakar, Banana Port and Jeddah
DP World invested AED 4 billion in the Middle East, Europe and Africa in H1 2026: regional revenue up 7.9% to AED 30.5 billion, Jebel Ali volumes down 60%.
Published September 6, 2026
UAE Attractions Industry Reaches USD 5.4 Billion in Revenue and 64 Million Visits in 2024: Family Entertainment Centres Up From 76 to 311, 69,100 Jobs, Harry Potter Land, Disney and Sphere Abu Dhabi Next on Yas Island
Oxford Economics study for IAAPA: UAE attractions revenue USD 5.4 billion in 2024 (+17.2%), 64 million visits, 311 entertainment centres, 69,100 jobs.
Published September 6, 2026
Dubai Hotel Rates Jump Up to 175% on September 2026 Exhibition Dates: Novotel DWTC From AED 300 to AED 825, Average of 15 Hotels Near the World Trade Centre Up 86%
Khaleej Times checked Booking.com for September 2026 event dates: Novotel DWTC AED 300 to AED 825 (+175%), ibis DWTC +165%, average of 15 hotels near DWTC up 86%.
Published September 6, 2026
Dubai Short-Term Rentals in 2026: Revenue per Listing Up 172% to AED 136,600, Occupancy 69% and 18,902 Active Units as Supply Shrinks 65.6% (AirDNA)
AirDNA data to August 2026: 18,902 short-term rentals in Dubai, 69% occupancy, USD 178 a night and AED 136,600 revenue per unit, up 172%, while listings fell 65.6%.
Published September 5, 2026
S&P Affirms the UAE at AA/A-1+ With a Stable Outlook: Net Government Assets at 147% of GDP, Growth to Average 6.2% a Year in 2027-2029 After 2.4% in 2026
S&P affirmed the UAE's AA/A-1+ rating with a stable outlook on 4 September 2026: net government assets 147% of GDP, growth 2.4% in 2026 and 6.2% a year in 2027-2029.
Published September 5, 2026
Network International Gives UAE Businesses One Integration to Accept Payments Across the GCC: Single Acquiring Platform With Centralised Reporting and Reconciliation for Retail, E-Commerce, Hospitality and Travel
Network International launched regional acquiring: UAE merchants accept payments across GCC markets via one integration, with centralised reporting and reconciliation.
Published September 4, 2026
Abu Dhabi Opens Mortgages on Off-Plan Homes: After 50% Is Paid, the Bank Funds the Remaining Instalments Before Handover, First Deal Completed by Aldar and ADCB
Abu Dhabi now registers mortgages on off-plan homes: a buyer who paid 50% gets bank funding for the remaining instalments before handover. First deal: Aldar and ADCB.
Published September 4, 2026
AIM Congress 2026 Opens at Dubai World Trade Centre on 7 September: 15th Edition, Three Pillars and a Record AED 177.3 Billion of FDI Behind It
AIM Congress 2026 opens at Dubai World Trade Centre on 7 September: 15th edition, three pillars and a record AED 177.3 billion of UAE FDI in 2025 behind it.
Published September 4, 2026
Nasdaq Dubai Lists ICBC’s USD 713 Million Dual-Currency Green Bonds: USD 300 Million at SOFR Plus 35 bp and CNH 2.8 Billion Under the China-Arab States Renewable Energy Theme
On 3 September 2026 Nasdaq Dubai listed USD 713 million of ICBC dual-currency green bonds: USD 300 million at SOFR plus 35 bp and CNH 2.8 billion for renewable energy.
Published September 4, 2026
ROX Starts ADAMAS Production in Abu Dhabi: First Made in the Emirates Cars Roll Off the Line at a 10,000 sq m AI Manufacturing Centre in KEZAD, 20,000 Vehicles in 2027 and 300,000 a Year by 2030
ROX is building ADAMAS SUVs at a 10,000 sq m AI manufacturing centre in KEZAD, Abu Dhabi: first Made in the Emirates cars, 20,000 in 2027 and 300,000 a year by 2030.
Published September 4, 2026
Dubai Land Department Launches the AI-Powered Initial Registration Platform: Developer Transactions in Under 5 Minutes Instead of 30, Manual Data Entry Cut by up to 80%, More Than 1,500 Developers to Migrate in Phases
DLD's AI platform Initial Registration, launched 3 September 2026, registers developer deals in under 5 minutes instead of 30 and cuts manual data entry by up to 80%.
Published September 4, 2026
Standard Chartered Launches Institutional Bitcoin and Ether Spot Trading in the UAE Through DIFC: First G-SIB With Crypto Spot Trading in the Region, Settlement to the Custodian of the Client’s Choice
Standard Chartered launched institutional Bitcoin and Ether spot trading in the UAE on 3 September 2026 via its DIFC branch, a first for a G-SIB in the region.
Published September 4, 2026
UAE Cabinet Launches AI Advisor of 32 Assistants and Approves AI Curriculum for All Public and Private Schools: 22,000 Teachers to Be Trained, 308 Million Digital Transactions in 2025
On 2 September 2026 the UAE Cabinet launched the Cabinet AI Advisor of 32 AI assistants, approved an AI curriculum for all schools and AI training for 22,000 teachers.
Published September 3, 2026
UAE Approves Federal Rules for Self-Driving Cars: One Regime for Registration, Licensing and Testing Across All Seven Emirates
On 2 September 2026 the UAE Cabinet approved federal rules for autonomous vehicles: inspection, registration, licensing and testing for all seven emirates.
Published September 3, 2026
UAE Non-Oil Business Activity at a 20-Month High: PMI Rises to 55.3 in August 2026, Dubai PMI Climbs to 54.1
S&P Global UAE PMI climbed to 55.3 in August 2026, the fastest improvement since December 2024; Dubai PMI 54.1. Orders, exports, inventories, costs and hiring in detail.
Published September 3, 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
UAE Corporate Tax Deadline: FTA Reminds Companies With a 31 December 2025 Year-End to File and Pay by 30 September 2026, Small Business Relief Filers Included
FTA: companies with a financial year ended 31 December 2025 must file the Corporate Tax return and pay by 30 September 2026, Small Business Relief filers included.
Published September 2, 2026
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Several items a day, on the day the source publishes them. Older items stay in the feed and can be filtered by topic.
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Only from primary sources: UAE government and emirate media offices, regulators, ministries, exchanges and company releases. The source is named in each article.
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No. News describes what changed. For your own case, start with the guides or book a consultation.