Dubai Picks Weekly — 03 Nov – 09 Nov 2025

Highlights

1. Visa and Mastercard Edge Closer to Resolving Merchant Dispute
2. Dubai’s Property Market Faces Growing Supply Mismatch
3. ONE Development and Amr Diab break ground on DO Dubai Islands
4. Dubai’s party scene now runs on caffeine, not cocktails
5. GCC Bond Market Sees Surge in Activity Amid Tight Borrowing Costs

More Reads

• ADNOC Global Trading Plans Expansion to Boost Operations 08 Nov — Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi National Oil Company is poised to significantly ramp up its global trading operations, with plans to increase the volume it handles by two-thirds over the next few years. This expansion is part of a broad...
• Top 10 Industries Hiring in Dubai Right Now 08 Nov — Dubai has become the destination of many job seekers who want to experience an international environment and reach a high-paying job. As a result, the majority of the city’s population are expats who work in different industries and at vari...
• IN PICTURES: InterContinental reveals first look at its 2027 Dubai World Islands hotel 08 Nov — First look at InterContinental Dubai – The Heart of Europe, the first InterContinental resort on the World Islands, as development on the archipelago accelerates The post IN PICTURES: InterContinental reveals first look at its 2027 Dubai W....
• UAE public holiday dates; Major Dubai liveability and transport plans; Passport-free airports, investment tips – 10 things you missed this w... 07 Nov — This week’s news: UAE public holiday dates, $46bn transport and liveability plans, Dubai passport-free travel and investment tips The post UAE public holiday dates; Major Dubai liveability and transport plans; Passport-free airports, inves....
• Dubai villa market forecast: top areas set for 20% gains and 5 key trends driving growth 07 Nov — Dubai villa market set for 2026 growth, with Al Barari, DAMAC Hills and Arabian Ranches leading 20% gains and five lifestyle trends The post Dubai villa market forecast: top areas set for 20% gains and 5 key trends driving growth appeared.....
• Empower rides Dubai’s real estate boom to record Q3 revenue 07 Nov — Revenue jumps 5.5% to $704.1mn and EBITDA to $318.3mn as the district cooling company signs 52 new contracts in Q3 for 56,000RT The post Empower rides Dubai’s real estate boom to record Q3 revenue appeared first on Arabian Business:.....
• Dubai and MrBeast launch world’s largest kindness campaign 07 Nov — MrBeast joins Dubai’s 1 Billion Followers Summit to launch ‘1 Billion Acts of Kindness’, a global social-impact campaign The post Dubai and MrBeast launch world’s largest kindness campaign appeared first on Arabian Business: Latest News on....
• Abu Dhabi and Dubai Energy authorities strengthen ties  07 Nov — Abu Dhabi Department of Energy and Dubai Supreme Council of Energy sign agreement to unify regulatory practices, enhance safety, and promote sustainability in the trade and transport of petroleum and diesel products across the UAE The post....
• Dubai Villa Market Shifts into Strategic Maturity 07 Nov — Arabian Post Staff -Dubai A forecast from global property and advisory firm BlackBrick indicates that villa communities in Dubai are entering a phase of measured growth, as end-users and investors increasingly favour data-driven decisions o...
• Middle-East-backed Fund Moves to Acquire Brighthouse Financial 07 Nov — Arabian Post Staff -Dubai A consortium led by the Abu Dhabi-supported investment firm Aquarian has agreed to acquire the U. S. life insurance and annuity provider Brighthouse Financial in an all-cash deal valued at approximately $4.1 billio...
• AD Ports and CMA CGM Strike Latakia Terminal Deal 07 Nov — Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi-headquartered AD Ports Group has reached a joint venture agreement with France’s CMA CGM Group to acquire a 20 per cent stake in the Latakia International Container Terminal in Syria for USD 22 mill...
• Dubai Airport Runway Turns Into CRANK Fitness Arena 06 Nov — Dubai International (DXB), the world’s leading international airport, has once again transformed its runway into a high-energy cycling arena as part of the Dubai Fitness Challenge (DFC). The extraordinary event, executed in collaboration wi...
• Carnival Night Lights Up Meydan Track 06 Nov — A field of 73 thoroughbreds are set to line up at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai for the opening evening of the 2025-26 Dubai Racing Carnival, with seven races and a total prize purse of AED 1.33 million. The fixture marks the beginning of a f....
• Air France-KLM to Overhaul KLM Model Amid Escalating Costs 06 Nov — Arabian Post Staff -Dubai The group led by Air France‑KLM has announced that its Dutch subsidiary KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is under significant pressure as rising charges at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport and broad inflation in th...
• Turkish Airlines secures GE Aerospace engine package 06 Nov — Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Turkish Airlines has finalised a landmark agreement with GE Aerospace to supply engines, spare engines and maintenance services for 75 Boeing 787-9 and -10 wide-body jets that the carrier has committed to acquiring...
• Dubai International Chamber attracts 261 new companies in 2025, up 65% year-on-year 06 Nov — Dubai International Chamber attracted 261 new companies in the first nine months of 2025, a 65 percent rise The post Dubai International Chamber attracts 261 new companies in 2025, up 65% year-on-year appeared first on Arabian Business: La....
• Binghatti lists $500 million green sukuk on Nasdaq Dubai 06 Nov — The sukuk, which matures in 2029, was oversubscribed 4.3 times, drawing more than $2.1 billion in orders from regional and international investors The post Binghatti lists $500 million green sukuk on Nasdaq Dubai appeared first on Arabian.....
• Hala expands to Fujairah in partnership with emirate’s transport corporation 06 Nov — Fujairah becomes the third emirate where Hala will operate after Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah; Will provide technology-driven e-hailing experience The post Hala expands to Fujairah in partnership with emirate’s transport corporation appeared f....
• Saudi Fund and JLL Commit to Real-Estate Push 06 Nov — Arabian Post Staff -Dubai The Public Investment Fund and Jones Lang LaSalle Saudi Arabia Company Limited announced a memorandum of understanding to deepen collaboration in Saudi Arabia’s real-estate sector. The agreement, inked during...
• EXCLUSIVE: Arton Capital, Dubai Sotheby’s partner as millionaire migration to UAE hits record levels 06 Nov — Firms aim to tap growing demand for UAE residency and Golden Visas as more wealthy investors relocate assets to Dubai The post EXCLUSIVE: Arton Capital, Dubai Sotheby’s partner as millionaire migration to UAE hits record levels appeared fi....
• Dubai’s Boutique Mall Venture Launches in Wadi Al Safa 05 Nov — A new community-centric retail development by KeyMavens Group is under construction in Wadi Al Safa 5 and is scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2026. The project, named The Villa Square, spans more than 124,000 square feet and posit....
• Dubai announces new taxi fares 05 Nov — RTA announces new Dubai taxi booking fares. What you need to know about new smart app booking fees The post Dubai announces new taxi fares appeared first on Arabian Business: Latest News on the Middle East, Real Estate, Finance, and More.
• Dubai announces new taxi fares 05 Nov — RTA announces new Dubai taxi booking fares. What you need to know about new smart app booking fees The post Dubai announces new taxi fares appeared first on Arabian Business: Latest News on the Middle East, Real Estate, Finance, and More.
• Dubai Pre-Owned Boat Show sees boats from $18,500 to $8.2m on display 05 Nov — Dubai Pre-Owned Boat Show 2025 showcased boats from $18,500 to $8.2m, drew 5,000 visitors, and achieved record sales The post Dubai Pre-Owned Boat Show sees boats from $18,500 to $8.2m on display appeared first on Arabian Business: Latest.....
• Dubai real estate: 50,000 homes sold and office rents soar 35% in Q3 05 Nov — Dubai sold over 50,000 homes in Q3 2025 as office rents jumped 35 per cent year-on-year, reflecting strong investor confidence The post Dubai real estate: 50,000 homes sold and office rents soar 35% in Q3 appeared first on Arabian Business....
• Dubai Chocolate: Fix Dessert Chocolatier announces pop-up store at Singapore’s Changi Airport 05 Nov — From November 3 to January 30, FIX chocolates will be available to passengers passing through Terminal 1 The post Dubai Chocolate: Fix Dessert Chocolatier announces pop-up store at Singapore’s Changi Airport appeared first on Arabian....
• Deyaar profit up 24% as Dubai real estate boom drives record demand 05 Nov — CEO Saeed Al Qatami tells Arabian Business the company has seen “great interest” in Dubai’s affordable housing market as it posts a 24% rise in net profit and plans to hand over 2,000 new units by early 2026 The post Deyaar profit up 24% a....
• Dubai Traders Onboards 2,400 New E-Commerce Businesses in Dubai 05 Nov — Strategic partnerships with Amazon and noon drive SME growth and digital adoption, strengthening Dubai’s position as a global e-commerce hub Dubai’s digital economy is accelerating at record pace as the Dubai Traders programme, led by the D...
• Sharjah Advances Natural Hydrogen Push with Major Energy Alliance 05 Nov — Arabian Post Staff -Dubai The governments of the northern United Arab Emirates have taken a bold step into natural-hydrogen exploration with the collaboration among the Sharjah National Oil Corporation, Siemens Energy and Decahydron to asse...
• Sovereign Fund ADIA Anchors Groww IPO Stake 05 Nov — Arabian Post Staff -Dubai The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority has secured a 4.7 per cent stake in the initial public offering of India’s investment-platform operator Groww, acquiring approximately 14 million shares via its India subsid...
• Dubai Holding forms JV with Palantir to bring its proven technology to the UAE 05 Nov — Aither will serve as a platform to accelerate AI adoption across industries after exceptional results for Dubai Holding portfolios over last 18 months The post Dubai Holding forms JV with Palantir to bring its proven technology to the UAE.....
• Dubai’s real estate market isn’t crashing, it’s correcting – and that’s good news for investors 05 Nov — Dubai recorded over AED525 billion in property sales in the first 290 days of 2025, already surpassing the full-year total for 2024 The post Dubai’s real estate market isn’t crashing, it’s correcting – and that’s good news for investors ap....
• Who is Rama Duwaji, Dubai-raised wife of New York City’s first Muslim mayor Zohran Mamdani? 05 Nov — Syrian-American artist with family in Dubai carves out a creative identity of her own as her husband leads New York’s mayoral race The post Who is Rama Duwaji, Dubai-raised wife of New York City’s first Muslim mayor Zohran Mamdani? a....
• Emarat Unveils Dedicated EV Service Centre in Dubai 04 Nov — Dubai’s fuel-retail market marked a shift this week as Emirates Petroleum Company opened its 158th service station, the “Al Buhaira” site in Barsha South, incorporating what the company describes as the GCC’s first dedicated Electric Vehic....
• Etihad Expands With Four New Global Destinations 04 Nov — Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Etihad Airways has unveiled four new routes from its Abu Dhabi hub, linking the UAE capital with networks in North Africa and Asia in a major push to cement its global connectivity. The airline announced flights to...
• Dubai launches major plan to be the world’s most liveable city by 2033 – 310 new parks, 60 affordable schools, 15,000 aviation jobs 04 Nov — Dubai unveils initiatives including 310 parks, 60 affordable schools, and 15,000 aviation jobs to become world’s most liveable city The post Dubai launches major plan to be the world’s most liveable city by 2033 – 310 new parks, 60 afforda....
• Abu Dhabi giant signs long-term 1 mtpa LNG deal with Shell 04 Nov — Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi’s state energy company signed a 15-year sales and purchase agreement with a unit of British energy major for the delivery of up to 1 million tonnes per annum of liquefied natural gas. The contract r...
• Dubai Traders adds 2,400 new sellers in first year as Amazon and noon drive SME boom 04 Nov — Dubai Traders onboarded 2,400 sellers in its first year through Amazon and noon partnerships, boosting SME growth under D33 Agenda The post Dubai Traders adds 2,400 new sellers in first year as Amazon and noon drive SME boom appeared first....
• All In, All Forward: The WE Convention Celebrates Women Shaping Tomorrow 04 Nov — Dame Anna Wintour, Candace Bushnell, and other global icons join forces to discuss leadership, financial empowerment, and the future of women’s success. On November 1–2, Dubai once again became the epicenter of a global community of women l...
• Sabalenka and Kyrgios to clash in Dubai’s Battle of the Sexes 04 Nov — World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka will take on Australian star Nick Kyrgios in a high-profile exhibition at Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena this December The post Sabalenka and Kyrgios to clash in Dubai’s Battle of the Sexes appeared first on Arabian Bu....
• Dubai Chamber adds 53,800 new members as exports hit $72bn in 2025 04 Nov — Dubai Chamber of Commerce added 53,800 new members in 2025 as exports hit $70.8bn, reinforcing emirate’s business and trade growth The post Dubai Chamber adds 53,800 new members as exports hit $72bn in 2025 appeared first on Arabian Busine....
• Buddha-Bar to open its first branded hotel and floating homes on Dubai’s World Islands by 2027 04 Nov — The AED3 billion project joins a wave of new investments and hospitality ventures breathing life into Dubai’s long-dormant World Islands, as investor interest returns after years of stagnation The post Buddha-Bar to open its first branded.....
• Dubai property sales reach $12.6bn in October as off-plan deals hit 71% 04 Nov — Dubai real estate hit $12.6bn in deals during October as off-plan sales rose to 71 per cent and investor confidence remained high The post Dubai property sales reach $12.6bn in October as off-plan deals hit 71% appeared first on Arabian Bu....
• Dubai real estate: $4.1m luxury homes drive 737 sales in Q3 as wealthy eye Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Hills 04 Nov — Dubai real estate’s $4.1m homes drove 737 sales in Q3, with wealthy buyers targeting prime areas such as Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Hills The post Dubai real estate: $4.1m luxury homes drive 737 sales in Q3 as wealthy eye Palm Jumeirah and Du....
• Burj Al Arab unveils private island experience in Dubai’s World Islands 04 Nov — Experiences start at AED30,000 The post Burj Al Arab unveils private island experience in Dubai’s World Islands appeared first on Arabian Business: Latest News on the Middle East, Real Estate, Finance, and More.
• LEOS Developments launches AED5bn master community in partnership with Dubai Holding 04 Nov — The project is located in Wadi Al Safa 5 near Dubai Outlet Mall and spans a prime site between Dubai-Al Ain Road and Emirates Road The post LEOS Developments launches AED5bn master community in partnership with Dubai Holding appeared first....
• Dubai Duty Free Posts AED805.6 m October Sales Record 04 Nov — Dubai Duty Free has announced October sales totalling AED805.6 million, setting a new monthly high and delivering its eighth months-on-year record in 2025. This figure surpasses the previous October benchmark of AED692 million achieved in.....
• Parkin to introduce smart parking solutions at Dubai’s Al Aweer Market 04 Nov — Hourly parking tariff of AED2 will apply, for all 24 hours every day, to light goods vehicles, with a digital permit model applicable to trucks The post Parkin to introduce smart parking solutions at Dubai’s Al Aweer Market appeared first.....
• Archer Charts Bold Path in Urban Air Mobility 04 Nov — Arabian Post Staff -Dubai California-based Archer Aviation has signalled accelerated ambition in the electric air taxi sector with its CEO, Adam Goldstein, stating the company anticipates its first commercial flights within the next year ac...
• Microsoft Pledges $15 Billion for UAE AI Expansion 04 Nov — Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Microsoft has announced a commitment to invest approximately $15.2 billion in the United Arab Emirates by the end of 2029, while securing U. S. export licences to ship advanced AI chips to the Gulf state. The inves...
• UAE Emerges as Global Smart-Energy Hub 04 Nov — Arabian Post Staff -Dubai The United Arab Emirates has established itself as a leading hub for innovation and the deployment of advanced technology in the energy sector, according to George Bou Mitri, President of Honeywell for the Middle E...
• Turkish Airlines Secures US$412 Million Chinese Loan 03 Nov — Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Istanbul flagged-carrier Turkish Airlines has completed a five-year financing agreement worth 2.9 billion yuan with Bank of China, under the coordination of its Türkiye unit and Macau branch. The deal position...
• From Vision to Reality, OMNIYAT Celebrates 20 Years of Imagining the Impossible 03 Nov — OMNIYAT, Dubai’s leading ultra-luxury developer, marks its 20th anniversary this year with the launch of a celebration marking two decades of visionary design and architectural excellence. At the heart of the celebration is a personal messa...
• Dubai freezone DMCC brews $300bn global tea boom in 2025 03 Nov — Dubai freezone DMCC brews a $300bn global tea boom as demand for premium and organic teas surges — putting the UAE at heart of world trade The post Dubai freezone DMCC brews $300bn global tea boom in 2025 appeared first on Arabian Business....
• Dubai real estate: Refine reveals $5bn pipeline of 3,000 homes 03 Nov — Refine unveils a $5bn Dubai real estate pipeline of 3,000 homes and a Business Bay landmark, expanding development-as-a-service portfolio The post Dubai real estate: Refine reveals $5bn pipeline of 3,000 homes appeared first on Arabian Bus....
• Dubai goes ‘passport-free’: Emirates invests $23.1m in 200 biometric cameras 03 Nov — Dubai Airport passengers can now travel ‘passport-free’ as Emirates installs 200 biometric cameras in $23.1m DXB upgrade The post Dubai goes ‘passport-free’: Emirates invests $23.1m in 200 biometric cameras appeared first on Arabian Busine....
• Dubai real estate breaks all records with $152.3bn in 2025 sales; top areas and projects revealed 03 Nov — Dubai real estate market hit record $152.3bn in 2025 sales as apartment deals led, with JVC, Business Bay and DAMAC projects topping charts The post Dubai real estate breaks all records with $152.3bn in 2025 sales; top areas and projects r....
• Emaar, DWTC unveil next phase of Expo City housing as post-Expo redevelopment gathers pace 03 Nov — Terra Gardens marks the second phase of the Expo Living masterplan, part of a broader effort to turn the Expo 2020 Dubai site into a long-term residential and commercial hub The post Emaar, DWTC unveil next phase of Expo City housing as po....
• Dubai’s Emirates adds fifth daily flight to Cairo 03 Nov — Cairo will become the most served city on Emirates’ African network The post Dubai’s Emirates adds fifth daily flight to Cairo appeared first on Arabian Business: Latest News on the Middle East, Real Estate, Finance, and More.
• UAE AI Market Set to Hit Dh170 Billion by 2030 03 Nov — Arabian Post Staff -Dubai The United Arab Emirates is poised to become a major global hub for artificial intelligence, with its AI market projected to reach around Dh170 billion by 2030, according to a new study by market-research firm Gran...