Arabian Post Staff -Dubai L’Oréal Middle East has signed the UAE Climate-Responsible Companies Pledge, placing the beauty group’s regional operations under a national framework that asks private companies to measure emissions, set reduction plans and align business decisions with the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 pathway. The pledge was announced at the third L’Oréal For the Future Summit in Dubai, where the company positioned climate action, refillable […]
Dubai’s property market is set for one of its largest new supply commitments as Emaar Properties prepares to unveil a Dhs200bn master-planned district designed for nearly 150,000 residents in the heart of the emirate. The project, valued at about $54.5bn, will span more than 4.5 million square metres of gross floor area and combine residential towers, villas, mansions, offices, retail centres, hotels and civic amenities. Emaar has […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai has established the Dubai Longevity Authority under Law No. 17 of 2026, setting up a dedicated regulator to oversee one of the fastest-growing areas of healthcare, wellness and life sciences as the emirate seeks to build a global hub for advanced medicine and healthy ageing. The law was issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai President Donald Trump said the United States and Iran could sign a peace agreement as early as this weekend to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but Tehran pushed back against his claim, saying no final decision had been made on any settlement. The competing statements left diplomacy in a delicate phase on Friday, with Washington presenting the outline of a breakthrough while Iran […]
A UAE-focused tourism session in Moscow drew one of the largest audiences at the Let’s Travel International Tourism Forum, underscoring the expanding role of travel in the broader economic relationship between the Emirates and Russia. The panel, titled “UAE-Russia Tourism Dialogue: Successful Stories”, was organised by the Russia-UAE Business Council in cooperation with the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in the Russian Federation. Held during the […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Hafeet Rail has completed 40 per cent of the Oman-UAE railway link, moving the Gulf’s first cross-border rail connection into a more advanced construction phase as work accelerates across tunnels, bridges, earthworks and logistics facilities along the corridor. The company, a joint venture between Etihad Rail, Oman Rail and Mubadala Investment Company, said the milestone covers civil works and major structures on the […]
AHS Properties has acquired the Shangri-La Dubai hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road for Dh1.1 billion, deepening the luxury developer’s hold on one of the city’s most tightly held real estate corridors and signalling renewed confidence in prime mixed-use assets. The deal places a long-established hospitality landmark under the control of Abbas Sajwani’s company at a time when Dubai’s luxury property market continues to draw large-ticket capital into […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai US forces struck military targets across Iran overnight, widening an air campaign that has pushed Washington and Tehran closer to open conflict as President Donald Trump warned that further attacks would follow unless a peace deal is secured. Central Command said the operation was completed about four hours after it began, shortly after midnight in Tehran, with strikes aimed at military surveillance assets, […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited’s Dubai branch is marketing dual-currency green bonds, offering investors a dollar floating-rate tranche and a renminbi fixed-rate tranche as sustainable debt issuance continues to gain traction across Gulf capital markets. The proposed three-year dollar notes carry initial price guidance at the Secured Overnight Financing Rate plus 90 basis points, while the three-year offshore renminbi tranche is […]
Golden Bridge Real Estate is proud to announce its highly anticipated Back to Business summer event, unveiling an exclusive collection of summer offers for The Caden by Prescott, located in one of the most in-demand locations of Dubai – Meydan Horizon community. The event is designed to bring together Dubai’s brokers and investors under one roof, marking one of the most compelling real estate offers of the […]
Dubai’s push to turn long-term tenants into homeowners has crossed Dh5 billion in residential transactions, with more than 3,200 residents buying their first homes through the First-Time Home Buyer Programme since its launch in July 2025. The scheme, run by Dubai Land Department and the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, has drawn nearly 45,000 registrations in less than a year, underlining strong demand among residents seeking […]
Dubai has moved to shorten the waiting time for tourist entry permits, with 30-day and 60-day single-entry visas now expected to be processed within 48 hours through approved channels, sharpening the emirate’s appeal as peak summer and year-end travel planning gathers pace. The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai has indicated that the service applies to single-entry tourist visas issued for visits of either […]
Visitor arrivals from the six GCC countries reached 55,924 in 2025, up 25.2 per cent from the previous year, outpacing Japan’s wider inbound tourism growth. The increase came as total international arrivals hit 42.683 million, a record annual figure and a 15.8 per cent rise from 2024, when Japan had already surpassed its pre-pandemic high.
The Gulf performance remains small in absolute numbers compared with Japan’s biggest source markets in East Asia, North America and Europe, but the pace of growth has drawn attention from travel operators because GCC visitors tend to favour premium hotels, private tours, family travel, shopping, wellness experiences and multi-city itineraries. Demand has been supported by stronger aviation links through Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, easier visa processes for several categories of travellers, and sustained interest in Japan’s seasonal attractions.
The rise also reflects a broader shift in Gulf outbound travel. Travellers from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman are looking beyond traditional European summer destinations, especially as Japan promotes cooler regions, countryside routes and immersive cultural experiences. Hokkaido has gained visibility among Gulf families seeking milder summer weather, scenic drives and nature resorts, while Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka continue to dominate first-time travel plans.
Japan’s appeal has been reinforced by the weak yen, which has made shopping, dining and accommodation more attractive for visitors with dollar-linked Gulf currencies. Luxury retail, department stores, theme parks, Michelin-listed restaurants, ryokan stays and private guides have benefited from the spending power of long-haul visitors. Travel agencies across the Gulf have also reported growing demand for tailor-made trips covering cherry blossom viewing, autumn foliage, ski resorts and Japanese pop culture.
Tourism spending has become a major pillar of Japan’s post-pandemic services economy. International visitor expenditure rose to about ¥9.5 trillion in 2025, up 16.4 per cent from the previous year, while average spending per visitor was roughly ¥229,000. The figures underline why Japan is targeting higher-value tourism rather than only volume growth, especially as pressure mounts on crowded destinations such as Kyoto, Mount Fuji viewing spots and central Tokyo districts.
Japan’s national tourism strategy aims to draw 60 million visitors annually by 2030, but policymakers and local authorities are increasingly balancing that target with concerns over overtourism. Measures have included crowd controls, higher accommodation taxes in some areas, visitor-management rules at popular sites and campaigns encouraging travellers to explore regional destinations. For GCC visitors, that strategy fits with demand for quieter, curated experiences outside the standard Golden Route of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.
JNTO’s Dubai office has intensified destination marketing across the Gulf, with campaigns highlighting Hokkaido, Setouchi and other regions suited to repeat visitors. Promotional activity has focused on travel trade partners, digital media, luxury travel networks and family-oriented itineraries, reflecting the region’s preference for planned holidays with strong service standards. Japan’s participation in major Gulf travel events has also helped place the country more firmly in tour operators’ premium Asia portfolios.
Air connectivity remains a decisive factor. Gulf hubs provide one-stop access to several Japanese gateways for travellers from across the region, while Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways have helped keep Japan visible in high-yield leisure and business travel channels. Doha, Dubai and Abu Dhabi also act as connecting points for travellers from wider Middle East markets, strengthening Japan’s ability to attract visitors beyond its traditional Asian feeder markets.
Visa facilitation has added momentum. UAE nationals continue to benefit from visa-free short stays, while Qatari citizens have access to similar arrangements after completing required registration. Travellers from Saudi Arabia and other GCC states have increasingly been able to use electronic visa channels for tourism, reducing friction for families and first-time visitors. Expatriate residents in Gulf countries remain subject to nationality-based rules, but online processing has improved access for many applicants.
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai The OPEC Fund for International Development has mandated a no-grow €500 million five-year fixed-rate benchmark bond, returning to Europe’s public debt market as highly rated supranational borrowers continue to draw demand from investors seeking secure income. Initial price thoughts for the Regulation S senior unsecured issue have been set at mid-swaps plus 29 basis points. The expected issue rating is aligned with the […]
Canadian University Dubai and FINTECH. TV have inaugurated a live broadcast studio at the university’s City Walk campus, creating a direct media and education link between Dubai and the New York Stock Exchange. The Global Markets Studio, opened on 1 June and announced publicly this week, is being positioned as a hands-on platform for students to produce financial news segments, podcasts, interviews and market-focused programming while engaging […]
Dubai Islamic Bank has raised $1 billion through a perpetual non-call six-year Additional Tier 1 sukuk, reinforcing investor appetite for Gulf bank capital instruments despite a higher-for-longer global rates environment and periodic volatility across emerging-market debt. The benchmark Regulation S transaction was priced with a 6.250 per cent profit rate after initial price thoughts were circulated in the 6.625 per cent area. The orderbook rose above $1.85 […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Washington carried out overnight strikes on Iranian military sites near the Strait of Hormuz after President Donald Trump said Tehran had shot down a US Army Apache helicopter patrolling the strategic waterway. US Central Command said the operation was launched on Trump’s orders and described the action as self-defence. The strikes targeted air defence systems, ground control stations and surveillance radar sites positioned […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Oman is moving to convert fiscal repair and regulatory reform into a stronger claim on international capital, positioning the International Financial Centre of Oman as the centrepiece of a drive to attract financial institutions, fund managers and professional services firms. The push comes as Muscat benefits from a restored investment-grade profile after several years of debt reduction, spending restraint and higher policy credibility […]
Matein Khalid Only after I tried to read the 277-page SpaceX IPO filing did I grasp the truth of Winston Churchill’s observation that his sceptred isle and America were two countries separated by a common language. For my Brit friends and editors, SpaceX is a rocket launch, satellite and AI business. In the legal gobbledygook of SEC/Wall Street, American lingo, SpaceX is history’s first “orbital infrastructure conglomerate”. […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Saudi Arabia’s Arabian Dyar has put its planned Tadawul initial public offering on hold, becoming the latest issuer to step back from the Kingdom’s listings pipeline as volatile trading conditions and weaker investor appetite complicate efforts to bring larger private companies to market. The real estate and construction company, formally known as Aldyar Alarabiya Real Estate Development Company, had faced a June deadline […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Emirates Global Aluminium has built new STEM laboratories in schools and universities across the UAE, expanding an education-industry programme aimed at preparing students for technical careers in manufacturing, engineering and advanced industrial sectors. The facilities have been developed with Al Samha School, Al Rahba School, Al Falahiya School, Dubai National School, Zayed University and the Higher Colleges of Technology. More than 2,600 students […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai UAE nationals building new private homes can claim VAT refunds on a wider range of construction-related expenses under a Federal Tax Authority initiative that broadens relief for citizens at a time of elevated residential building costs. The initiative, now active, applies to eligible refund claims submitted on or after 1 January 2026 and is expected to lift the value of approved homebuilding VAT […]
Dubai has launched a new phase of its Content Creators Programme to train emerging talent in cultural storytelling, digital production and responsible online communication, placing the initiative at the centre of the emirate’s push to expand its creative economy. The programme, led by Dubai Press Club in partnership with Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, focuses on helping creators produce cultural and creative content that reflects Dubai’s identity, […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Wizz Air will introduce Starlink-powered internet across its fleet from 2027, making one of Europe’s most cost-focused airlines the first ultra-low-cost carrier on the continent to commit to satellite connectivity at scale and raising fresh questions over how far budget aviation can stretch beyond its bare-fare model. The Hungary-based airline plans to install the SpaceX service on its next-generation aircraft, offering passengers high-speed, […]
