Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Galva Hub Metal Coating is moving towards commissioning one of the UAE’s biggest hot-dip galvanising facilities after receiving 825 tonnes of zinc at its plant within Metal Park in Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi. The zinc delivery represents a key step before the large galvanising kettle can enter commercial operation. The metal will be melted inside the facility’s main processing bath, allowing Galva […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Strong occupier demand and limited availability of high-quality warehouses continued to support the UAE’s industrial property market during the second quarter of 2026, even as the pace of rental increases eased from earlier highs. Dubai industrial rents rose 6.8% year on year and 2.3% from the previous quarter. Abu Dhabi recorded annual growth of 5%, reflecting continued demand from logistics providers, manufacturers, technology […]
Etihad Rail will open passenger stations in Dubai and Al Dhaid on September 30 as the UAE’s national railway operator accelerates a phased expansion supported by strong early demand.The two openings will mark the formal launch of the wider passenger network, three months after introductory services began between Mohamed bin Zayed City in Abu Dhabi and Fujairah on June 30. More than 70,000 tickets have been sold […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai Islamic Bank has launched its Jaywan Debit Card for current and savings account customers, widening access to the UAE’s national card scheme through the country’s largest Islamic bank. The rollout connects DIB’s broad retail banking base to a locally developed payments network intended to strengthen domestic transaction processing, improve infrastructure resilience and keep sensitive payment data within the UAE. Existing current and […]
Abu Dhabi Festival has announced its full 2026 programme, bringing leading orchestras, opera singers, ballet companies, jazz musicians and contemporary artists to the capital for a season running from October 10 to December 19. The festival’s 23rd edition will be presented under the theme “The Wisdom of Culture”, with performances staged at Etihad Arena, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, the Cultural Foundation, Sorbonne University Abu […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Aldar has launched Marsa Al Saadiyat, a Dh100 billion mixed-use waterfront development completing the final phase of Saadiyat Island’s masterplan and expanding Abu Dhabi’s luxury property, tourism and cultural offering. The development will cover 6.4 million square metres and accommodate more than 58,000 residents. It will include Abu Dhabi’s largest marina, luxury hotels, branded residences, private mansions, villas, apartments, schools, healthcare facilities and […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Ras Al Khaimah is preparing for one of the largest residential supply expansions in its history, with 25,600 new homes expected to be delivered by 2030 as developers accelerate launches around waterfront districts, branded residences and lifestyle-led communities. The new supply pipeline, tracked by Cavendish Maxwell, is heavily weighted towards apartments, which account for 97 per cent of planned stock. The figure underlines […]
The UAE’s first Etihad Rail passenger service has begun carrying travellers between Fujairah and Abu Dhabi, opening a new phase in the country’s transport infrastructure and giving residents a rail alternative to long inter-emirate road journeys. The inaugural service left Fujairah’s Al Hilal City station at 5.34am on June 30 and arrived at Mohamed bin Zayed City station in Abu Dhabi at 7am, ahead of its scheduled […]
Etihad Rail has opened passenger journeys between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah, giving travellers a new way to cross the country with online booking, discounted launch fares and a travel time of about one hour and 45 minutes. The first public phase of the UAE’s national passenger rail service began on June 30, connecting Abu Dhabi Station in Mohammed bin Zayed City with Fujairah Station in Al Hilal. […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has opened the prequalification stage for contractors and consortiums seeking to build the Dubai Metro Gold Line, moving the Dh34 billion project from planning into the procurement phase. The authority has issued requests for qualification for the fully underground line, with interested contractors required to submit qualification documents by 17 August. The process follows an expression-of-interest stage launched […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Hafeet Rail has begun laying tracks on the planned UAE-Oman railway, moving the Gulf’s first cross-border rail link from heavy civil construction into a more visible phase of delivery as the two countries seek to deepen trade, tourism and logistics ties. The 238-kilometre railway, being developed by Hafeet Rail, will connect Sohar Port with Abu Dhabi through Al Ain and Al Buraimi, linking […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Passenger rail travel in the UAE will enter a new stage on 30 June 2026 when Etihad Rail begins an introductory operational phase between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah, reducing the journey to one hour and 45 minutes and opening the first public route on the country’s national passenger network. The service will start from Mohamed bin Zayed City Passenger Train Station in Abu […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Botim Money has launched IBAN-enabled wallets in the UAE, allowing eligible users to receive salaries, direct deposits and domestic bank transfers directly inside the Botim app. The service gives qualifying customers a Virtual IBAN in their own name, extending regulated account access to segments of the population that have often relied on cash wages, exchange houses or limited-purpose wallets. The rollout has been […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Riyadh Air has secured US permission to operate flights to and from the United States, clearing a key regulatory hurdle for the PIF-owned carrier as it accelerates its challenge to established Gulf aviation rivals. The US Department of Transportation approved the airline’s authority after Riyadh Air applied last month for a foreign air carrier permit and exemption authority covering scheduled and charter services […]
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 […]
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 Riyadh Air has opened ticket sales for daily flights between Dubai and Riyadh from 18 June, adding a new premium operator to one of the Gulf’s busiest business and leisure corridors as Saudi Arabia accelerates plans to turn its capital into a global aviation hub. Flights will operate between Dubai International Airport and King Khalid International Airport using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, placing wide-body […]
Global airlines are facing a sharp downgrade in earnings expectations for 2026, with industry profit forecasts almost halved as the Middle East war drives up fuel costs, disrupts Gulf air corridors and weakens demand across one of the world’s most strategically placed aviation regions. The International Air Transport Association’s latest financial outlook puts combined airline net profit at about $23 billion this year, down from an earlier […]
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Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Etihad Airways is ordering more widebody aircraft as the Abu Dhabi carrier moves to restore momentum across long-haul markets and lift flying by about 8 per cent from year-earlier levels by 15 June. Chief executive Antonoaldo Neves said the airline was buying widebody planes in double digits, though he declined to identify the manufacturer, aircraft type or exact number. The remarks, made on […]
Abu Dhabi will add a Sphere entertainment venue to Yas Island by the end of 2029, placing a $1.7 billion immersive arena beside some of the emirate’s biggest visitor attractions and intensifying its drive to become a global leisure and live-events hub. The project, announced by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and Sphere Entertainment Co., will be the first Sphere venue outside the […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Etihad Rail has unveiled the official uniforms for its passenger-facing teams, offering the clearest sign yet that preparations for the UAE’s first national passenger rail service are moving into their final operational phase. The new look, built around a contemporary grey palette with bold red accents, will be worn by onboard hosts, station staff and other customer-facing employees across the passenger network. The […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Fujairah has become the first completed passenger station on Etihad Rail’s national network, marking a significant step towards the phased start of UAE passenger train operations later this year. The station, located in Madinat Al Hilal, spans 51,900 square metres and places the east coast emirate at the centre of the opening stage linking Fujairah with Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Adhraa Al Mansoori, […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Etihad Airways has signed a codeshare agreement with Uzbekistan Airways, opening eight destinations across Uzbekistan to its global passengers and giving travellers from Tashkent access to Abu Dhabi through a single-ticket arrangement. The agreement takes effect from 15 May 2026 and is designed to connect Etihad’s international network with Uzbekistan Airways’ domestic reach through Tashkent, the largest city in Central Asia. Bookings are […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi’s Jassem Mohamed Bu Ataba Al Zaabi has moved from a largely behind-the-scenes fiscal role into the centre of global dealmaking, taking charge of L’IMAD Holding as the emirate reshapes its sovereign investment network and pushes deeper into infrastructure, technology, finance and strategic industries. Al Zaabi, long associated with the emirate’s Department of Finance and its investment oversight bodies, was named managing […]
