Business

The UAE's GDP growth forecast has been upgraded to 5% for 2026, as the Ministry of Economy confirms the total number of active companies has surpassed 1.4 million — a 118.7% increase since 2021 — with 250,000 new businesses registered in 2025 alone.

UAE crypto regulation in 2026 under VARA is the most developed in the GCC, with stablecoin adoption accelerating across the banking system, MGX's $2 billion Binance investment cementing Abu Dhabi's digital asset ambitions, and Saudi Arabia and Bahrain building competing frameworks.

The IMF confirmed a 3.5% GDP growth forecast for Oman in 2026, supported by 1.7% inflation, public debt declining to 33% of GDP, and a 7.5% current account surplus, as the Future Fund Oman signs over AED 1.8 billion in new deals across logistics, renewable energy and technology.

Saudi Arabia's real GDP expanded 3% year-on-year in Q1 2026, with financial services registering the highest sector growth at 5.4% and manufacturing rising 4%, as Vision 2030's economic diversification continues to outperform expectations.

Abu Dhabi real estate in 2026 is outperforming Dubai's property market on four key metrics: transaction volume growth of 39 per cent year-on-year, lower supply overhang, government-backed mega-development projects, and rising population supported by new visa categories driving sustained demand.

Off-plan property, buying a unit before it is built, directly from the developer, has been one of the most consistent wealth-creation strategies for Dubai...

GCC stock markets in 2026 present a tale of sharp divergence: Dubai's DFM rose 17.2 per cent in 2025 and Abu Dhabi's ADX gained 6 per cent, while Saudi Arabia's Tadawul fell 13 per cent — its worst annual performance in a decade — creating contrasting opportunities for investors across the region.

Bahrain's economy in 2026 has achieved a milestone that few Gulf states can claim: non-oil sectors now account for 85 per cent of GDP, with financial services contributing 17 per cent and a fintech ecosystem that has evolved from a regulatory sandbox into a system-building powerhouse.

Abu Dhabi's AI investment push — led by MGX, Mubadala, and ADIA — has committed more than $100 billion toward artificial intelligence infrastructure, with co-led investments in Anthropic, OpenAI, xAI, and Binance making the emirate one of the most consequential AI investors on the planet.

GITEX Global 2026 runs from December 7 to 11 at a new venue: the Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai, marking the first...

Dubai rent prices in June 2026 have softened by an average of 6.7 per cent emirate-wide, with premium areas like Downtown Dubai and Palm Jumeirah seeing drops of up to 15 per cent, as 120,000 new units entering the market shift negotiating power firmly toward tenants.

UAE corporate tax 2026 brings critical new filing obligations, free zone qualifying income rules, and a September 30 deadline — here is everything businesses and free zone companies need to know to stay compliant and protect the 0% tax rate.