News related to
UAE News

Abu Dhabi has initiated a landmark pilot for self-driving delivery vehicles in Masdar City, with the Integrated Transport Centre collaborating with K2 and EMX under oversight from the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council. The operation includes the issuance of the emirate’s first licence plate for an autonomous delivery vehicle.

The vehicles, developed by K2’s Autogo subsidiary, are designed to travel urban routes and deliver orders without direct human control, using artificial intelligence and smart mobility systems. Officials say the trial is a stepping-stone toward broader commercial deployment across the emirate.

This pilot follows approved Level 4 autonomous vehicle trials in Masdar City, overseen by the Integrated Transport Centre in partnership with the smart mobility provider Solutions+, a Mubadala firm. Under these trials, vehicles are operating over a 2.4-kilometre geofenced route linking landmarks such as the Siemens building, Central Park, My City Centre Masdar mall, and others. Initially safety officers are onboard; remote control from a central operations hub is planned as trust and performance increase.

Regulators emphasise that safety, compliance, and adaptability are core to the initiative. Dr Abdulla Hamad AlGhfeli, Acting Director-General of the ITC, stated that the project marks a significant milestone in Abu Dhabi’s strategy to support innovation while ensuring legal and operational frameworks protect public welfare. Ahmed Baghoum, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar City, described the undertaking as a leap forward in autonomous mobility capabilities and aligned with the emirate’s vision of sustainable, technological integration.

Tariq Al Wahedi, Group CEO of 7X, said that through its logistics arm EMX, the company views this pilot as part of a broader last-mile delivery ecosystem. He indicated plans to expand coverage beyond Masdar City to areas such as Khalifa City and Dubai, with full commercial rollout expected within the next twelve months.

The moves align with Abu Dhabi’s goals under its smart mobility strategy, including the target that a quarter of all trips in the emirate use smart transport solutions by 2040. The ambitions also dovetail with the UAE’s broader sustainability framework, including its Net Zero by 2050 initiative.

Binghatti Holding Ltd, a Dubai-based developer, has initiated steps toward an initial public offering in the United Arab Emirates, as it looks to harness momentum from a strong real estate market climb. The company is in discussions with banks to assist in going public, according to persons with knowledge of the matter who spoke under condition of anonymity. A spokesperson declined to comment, calling the IPO talk “market rumour and speculation.”

Earnings performance is underpinning the move. For the first half of 2025, Binghatti reported a net profit of AED 1.82 billion, up 172 percent year-on-year. Total sales rose 60 percent to AED 8.8 billion, while revenue jumped about 189 percent to AED 6.3 billion. These figures reflect strong demand for its residential offerings.

Non-resident buyers are accounting for a growing share of Binghatti’s business, with about 61 percent of sales in H1 2025 coming from outside the UAE. That shift underscores Dubai’s continued appeal to international investors.

This potential IPO follows recent capital market activity by Binghatti. It issued a USD 500 million Sukuk under its USD 1.5 billion Trust Certificate Issuance Programme; the offering was oversubscribed by five times, with orders exceeding USD 2.5 billion from regional and global investors.

In June, Binghatti launched an asset management arm, Binghatti Capital, based in Dubai International Financial Centre and regulated by the DFSA. The new entity is targeting roughly USD 1 billion in assets under management, focused on Sharia-compliant real estate investment and private credit strategies.

Several analysts view the IPO bid as a strategic move to broaden funding sources beyond debt and sukuk, enable more institutional investment in the company, and leverage its rising profile. Real estate analysts note that the surge in demand—both domestic and foreign—is creating a favourable window for property players to tap equity markets. Oversupply concerns persist in some segments of Dubai’s housing market, but differentiated developers like Binghatti, known for branded luxury residences and fast construction delivery, appear well positioned.

Taraf, the real-estate arm of Yas Holding, has entered a joint venture with Masdar City to build a residential community covering 1.4 million square metres within Masdar City, Abu Dhabi’s flagship sustainable innovation hub. The development will offer over 1,000 homes, including two- to six-bedroom villas and townhouses, with freehold ownership options.

Designed around a neighbourhood cluster model, the community emphasises human-centred amenities: shaded walkways, cycling routes linked to Al Masar Park, numerous parks, and extensive open spaces for wellbeing and active lifestyles. The layout will also include family-friendly infrastructure: dedicated clubs, safe environments for children, and walkable areas throughout.

Low Ping, Group CEO of Yas Holding, said that this project reflects Taraf’s strategy of building “design-led communities that inspire modern living where sustainability and innovation come together,” and that it aligns with Abu Dhabi’s Falcon Economy Vision for dynamic, connected growth. Ahmed Baghoum, CEO of Masdar City, emphasised the intention for the development to combine Taraf’s design focus with Masdar’s sustainability framework, creating a place “where people can live, work, learn, and innovate” under low-carbon principles.

This project represents a growing trend in the UAE towards full-community developments built on sustainable, low-carbon design and green infrastructure. Masdar City has already established itself as a leader in eco-innovation, hosting many businesses, research centres and incubation hubs under strict environmental standards. The inclusion of freehold ownership is relatively rare in developments of this nature in Masdar City, potentially making the homes attractive to investors and owners seeking long-term assets.

Investors and urban planners are likely to monitor how the community balances high design and sustainable living with affordability and infrastructure delivery. Ensuring that walkable, shaded and bike-friendly pathways are effectively integrated, as well as ensuring accessibility of services such as schools, healthcare and public transport, will be critical to the success of the development.

Regulatory and market conditions in Abu Dhabi have been increasingly favourable to sustainable urban development, with government policy pushing for low-carbon goals, renewable energy adoption, and integrated infrastructure. Abu Dhabi’s Falcon Economy Vision is central to this, aiming for economic diversification and environmental sustainability together.

Gold in Dubai opened trading on Tuesday with the 22K grade touching Dh408 per gram, setting a fresh all-time high and elevating investor and shopper concerns alike. The 24K variety climbed to Dh440.5, while 21K inched ever closer to the key Dh400 level, trading at Dh391.0 per gram.

Global and regional market dynamics are fueling this surge. The international spot price of gold has consistently pushed new heights, recently nearing $3,600 per ounce, with August seeing an approximate 31 per cent year-to-date gain. In part, this reflects growing expectations of US Federal Reserve rate cuts, which traditionally support gold’s safe-haven appeal.

Experts caution that the Dh408 per gram summit for 22K gold may not mark a plateau. Elevated global demand, festival-season jewellery purchases, and sustained investor appetite are converging. Yet there is also speculation about a pullback. Some analysts interpret current levels as ripe for partial profit-taking, while others expect continued momentum if support holds.

The 상승 in gold prices is reshaping shopper sentiment. With Dubai gold surges; 22K at Dh408 now firmly established, affordability becomes a pressing issue for consumers, particularly those buying for weddings, gifts, or as long-term stores of value. Jewellery retailers, in turn, are adapting by promoting lighter ornament designs and gold savings schemes to manage demand amid elevated prices.

Buyers may face a strategic dilemma: delay purchases in hopes of a correction, or lock in gold at historically high prices before potential further rises. The combination of geopolitical tensions, inflationary pressures, and currency fluctuations continues to bolster gold’s attractiveness.

As the UAE moves deeper into its peak gold-buying season, Dubai gold surges; 22K at Dh408 encapsulates the shifting dynamics at play: strong upward trajectory, global economic tension, and consumer caution all intersecting in a market where every dirham counts.

Passenger traffic at airports across the UAE surpassed one billion between 2015 and 2024, with aircraft movements exceeding 6.4 million during the same interval, driven by strategic planning and expansion across the aviation sector, the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre reported. The country also emerged as the global leader in air transport quality and ranked among the top ten worldwide across five additional air performance indicators, underlining its position as a premier aviation hub.

Data from the Centre reveal that annual passenger numbers climbed from 114.8 million in 2015 to 147.8 million in 2024, marking the underlying foundation for cumulative traffic exceeding one billion passengers. Meanwhile, aircraft movements rose sharply, culminating in more than 800,000 operations in 2024 and taking the ten-year total past 6.4 million flights.

These gains coincide with the UAE’s top global ranking in air transport quality and inclusion among the top ten in five further air-related indicators, as noted in the Centre’s analysis.

The escalation of aviation activity reflects the UAE’s broader aviation transformation. The General Civil Aviation Authority emphasises that the UAE now operates a dense, globally connected network, with twelve certified airports, 100 heliports, and a web of bilateral air agreements linking to over 300 destinations worldwide. In 2024 alone, the UAE recorded over one million air traffic movements and continued to lead globally in international passenger traffic and seat capacity.

Dubai International Airport remained the busiest airport globally for international passengers in 2024, registering more than 92 million passengers and 440,000 aircraft movements, and handling 2.2 million tonnes of cargo.

Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport, renamed in February 2024, handled nearly 29.5 million passengers and recorded 249,747 aircraft movements, reinforcing the dominance of UAE airports in the regional aviation landscape.

These milestones underscore how UAE aviation achieves unprecedented growth, advancing capacity, connectivity and performance standards to global leadership.

The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre attributes these successes to forward-looking directives and investment, positioning the aviation sector as a cornerstone of economic sustainability. The enhancements bolster not only passenger and cargo mobility but also broader economic diversification goals, tourism development, and the UAE’s growing prominence as a global transport hub.

Schneider Electric has declared its newly inaugurated Dubai office, The NEST, carbon neutral just three months after opening, marking a bold leap in sustainable workplace design and operational innovation.

The NEST, spanning over 10,000 sqm and accommodating more than 1,000 staff, forms the vanguard of the company’s global Impact Buildings Program. Within this smart facility—now carbon-neutral in three months—EcoStruxure™ technologies interlock digital energy management, automation, and operational analytics to deliver exceptional environmental and user performance.

The building reduces energy consumption by 37 percent relative to Schneider Electric’s previous Dubai location, yielding annual cuts of approximately 572 metric tons of CO₂—equivalent to the yearly electricity usage of some 77 homes.

In recognition of its digital and sustainable credentials, The NEST earned a perfect WiredScore SmartScore Platinum rating, with top marks in user functionality, technological foundation, and innovation. It stands poised to achieve LEED ID+C Platinum and WELL Equity certifications.

Designed around four guiding principles—sustainability, resilience, efficiency, and a people-centric ethos—the facility integrates a micro-grid, digital twin systems, AI-driven HVAC and occupancy analytics, a cybersecure edge data centre, and abundant daylighting and indoor air-quality features.

The NEST also houses Dubai’s first Schneider Electric Global Innovation Hub and a dedicated Training Centre to upskill regional professionals and youth in clean energy and smart building solutions.

“This building exemplifies how digitisation and electrification can uplift sustainability in the built environment,” said the company’s Zone President for the Middle East and Africa, underscoring how The NEST is more than a building… it is a living example of smart infrastructure in action.

The achievement reflects alignment with broader national ambitions such as the UAE Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative and Dubai’s Economic Agenda D33, reinforcing The NEST’s status as a blueprint for high-performance, low-carbon commercial environments.

Plans are in motion to expand the Impact Buildings Program globally—encompassing new constructions and retrofitting existing facilities over the next 18 months—to replicate the model of adaptive, people-centred, low-carbon buildings across Schneider Electric’s commercial real estate portfolio.

du has unveiled its Envision 2025 agenda, signalling a decisive push towards an AI-first future. The event is scheduled for 9 September 2025 at Atlantis, The Royal, and is designed to mobilise public and private sector leaders around AI-enabled smart communities and sovereign digital innovation.

The Envision 2025 blueprint brings together a distinguished roster of sponsors and partners. Oracle is confirmed as Host Sponsor, contributing expertise in cloud and sovereign AI capabilities. Cisco, as Platinum Partner, reinforces commitments to digital advancement. Gold Partners include HPE, Huawei, Akamai Technologies and CyberKnight, while Silver Partners—Dell Technologies, Fortinet, Accenture, Hexaware and Palo Alto Networks—support AI and cybersecurity resilience. Equinix and Joy Smart Technologies join as Bronze Partners, emphasising a collaborative approach to transformation. du charts AI-first future with Envision 2025 echoes this collaborative vision, emphasising alignment between leadership and technological innovation.

The threefold Envision platform will host both an exhibition and a conference, spotlighting cutting-edge domains: AI Data Centres, Sovereign Cloud, Generative and Agentic AI, GPU-as-a-Service, Industry 4.0, Advanced Robotics, and Cloud Computing. It seeks to provoke strategic alliances and stimulate discourse aligned with the UAE’s National AI Strategy and National Digital Government Strategy 2025.

Fahad Al Hassawi, Chief Executive Officer of du, underscored the alignment with national vision, referencing the leadership of H. H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who asserted that “future is not something we wait for, but something we make.” Al Hassawi emphasised that converging leadership with advanced technology will underpin the creation of a scalable, secure, and AI-first UAE.

Jasim Al Awadi, Chief ICT Officer at du, described Envision 2025 as more than a technology event—but as a national platform uniting future shapers to align vision, innovation and execution. He stressed that the collaborators are vital to delivering secure, scalable, sovereign digital solutions that enhance smart communities, economic growth and quality of life.

Miguel Vega, Senior Vice President for Database Platform & Cloud Infrastructure at Oracle for the Middle East, Turkey and Africa, said Oracle’s participation will centre on advancing sovereign AI and cloud functions, aiming to help public and private sectors unlock greater levels of innovation, security and efficiency.

Abu Dhabi will host the BRIDGE Summit from 8 to 10 December 2025 at the ADNEC Centre, uniting heads of state, media executives, policymakers, technologists and content creators in an ambitious bid to redefine the global media landscape. Announced in Washington by Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, chairman of the National Media Office, alongside Dr Jamal Mohammed Obaid Al Kaabi, director-general of the NMO, the summit pledges to foster dialogue, innovation and sustainable growth across the sector. Attendance is expected to exceed 5,000 participants, underpinning its status as a global media landmark.

Preparatory efforts have extended worldwide. In June, a roundtable in London convened Al Hamed and Al Kaabi with media experts during London Tech Week to reinforce the summit’s commitment to transparency, accountability and cross-sector collaboration in an increasingly digital era. In Asia, the BRIDGE roadshow landed in Shanghai, following stops in New York, London and Osaka, each event contributing insights to shape the summit’s agenda. A mission to Seoul in August further advanced partnerships with technology and media firms, including I-ON Communications on AI and data storytelling; Dentons on regulatory frameworks; Lotte Caliverse on immersive media; and SM Entertainment on cultural collaboration. These discussions cemented shared goals around content credibility, technology ethics and investment in creative startups.

The BRIDGE Summit is embedded within a broader ecosystem spearheaded by the National Media Office. Alongside the summit lies the BRIDGE Foundation, a non-profit body dedicated to empowering media professionals, funding research and supporting startups. This aligns with the UAE’s pursuit of media as a force for societal development and economic progress. A recently published fact sheet outlines the summit’s six thematic zones—Academy, Diplomacy, Forum, Marketplace, Impact and Spotlight—designed to foster skills, policy engagement, tech innovation, social impact and cultural exchange across a three-day programme.

AI and ethics feature prominently among the summit’s themes. Organisers emphasise human values in storytelling amid accelerating digital disruption and algorithmic influence. Al Hamed has characterised media as a humanitarian force that must uphold integrity and cohesion, not merely chase clicks. The summit will address responsible AI’s potential and pitfalls, ethical journalism, and media business models fit for the digital age.

Beyond content and tech, BRIDGE seeks to bridge policy and practice. With roundtables and forums designed to foster international dialogue, policymakers, creators and academics will collaborate on frameworks that safeguard credibility while embracing innovation.

The summit’s global scope is reflected in its steady itinerary of international engagements. From Washington to London, Shanghai to Seoul, each stop has contributed regional perspectives and partnerships that will inform the summit’s structure, themes and participant networks.