Gulf Briefing

Learn how to send money from UAE in 2026: compare banks, exchange houses like Al Ansari and LuLu, and apps like Wise for the best rates and lowest fees.

UAE schools reopen in late August 2026 for the new 2026–27 academic year. This guide covers KHDA and ADEK fee ranges across British, American, IB and Indian curriculum schools in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, enrolment deadlines, waiting list timelines and everything UAE families need to know before September.

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund has grown to USD 925 billion in assets under management in 2026, on track to reach USD 1 trillion by 2027, with the fund's portfolio spanning Saudi gigaprojects, global technology stakes, sports entertainment, renewable energy and infrastructure across 30+ countries.

Dubai's real estate market recorded AED 120 billion in property transactions in Q1 2026 — a new quarterly record — as off-plan sales continued to dominate, prices per square foot in premium areas exceeded AED 3,000, and international investors from India, Russia, China, the UK and Europe maintained elevated purchasing activity.

Bahrain's Economic Development Board attracted a record USD 3.5 billion in Foreign Direct Investment during 2025, with the Kingdom's financial services, ICT, manufacturing and logistics sectors all recording new entrants as Bahrain leverages its strategic Saudi gateway position, competitive costs and regulatory excellence to compete for Gulf FDI.

Gulf Cooperation Council sovereign wealth funds have collectively crossed USD 4 trillion in assets under management in 2026, with Abu Dhabi's ADIA, Saudi Arabia's PIF, Kuwait's KIA, Qatar's QIA, Mubadala and ADQ among the world's most active investors reshaping global real estate, technology, infrastructure and private equity markets.

ADNOC is expanding its LNG production capacity toward 15 million tonnes per year as Abu Dhabi develops a parallel gas export strategy alongside Qatar, targeting European markets seeking alternatives to Russian pipeline gas and Asian buyers seeking supply security for their energy transitions through 2050.

Riyadh Air launches its Riyadh–Dubai route today, June 18, 2026 — introducing a new competitor on the Gulf's most heavily-trafficked aviation corridor and giving UAE-based travellers a new direct option to the Saudi capital with a full-service premium cabin at competitive fares alongside Saudia, flydubai and Air Arabia.

Doha's Hamad International Airport has completed Phase A of its expansion programme, increasing annual passenger capacity to 70 million and adding a landmark central zone with new lounges, retail and a tropical indoor garden — as Qatar Airways' network growth drives HIA toward becoming the Middle East's largest airport hub by 2030.

Kuwait's Al Zour Refinery has reached its full designed production capacity of 615,000 barrels per day in 2026, making it the Gulf's largest refinery and one of the world's ten most productive, with output primarily targeting export markets in Asia and Europe and reducing Kuwait's dependence on imported petroleum products.

The Red Sea Project has opened five luxury resort properties on Saudi Arabia's virgin Red Sea coastline in 2026, marking the transition of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's signature tourism development from construction to commercial operation and bringing AMAALA and Shura Island's world-class dive sites within reach of international visitors.

Dubai welcomed over 5.5 million international overnight visitors in Q1 2026 — a record for the quarter — placing the city firmly on track to exceed 10 million for the full year, with hotel revenues, average daily rates and occupancy all at historic highs driven by MICE, luxury and sports tourism.