This week, the UAE and Saudi Arabia unveiled landmark decisions shaping travel, trade, and investment. Dubai launched new permits and megaprojects, while Riyadh pushed ahead with Vision 2030 milestones.
Catch up on 10 of the biggest news stories this week as selected by Arabian Business editors.
Saudi Arabia announces major Umrah visa update
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah now allows holders of all visa types to perform Umrah while in the Kingdom, expanding access and simplifying procedures in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
The ministry said the decision supports its broader efforts to streamline services for Umrah performers and facilitate their spiritual journey within the Hajj and Umrah system. The initiative helps Muslims worldwide visit the Two Holy Mosques and perform their rituals in a safe and serene environment.
According to the ministry, eligible visa categories include personal and family visit visas, electronic tourist visas, transit visas, work visas, and other types of entry permits.
UK must emulate UAE or go bust, says Reform UK’s Richard Tice
Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice has warned Britain is facing a severe near-term economic crisis and should look to the UAE for lessons in ambition, work ethic, energy policy and economic discipline.
Speaking to Arabian Business during a visit to Dubai, Tice said: “Every time I come here, you just see a sense of growth, of change and ambition. Things work.” He added the contrast between the UAE’s dynamism and the UK’s stagnation was now impossible to ignore.
On the UK’s immigration woes, Tice said: “It’s gone into a pretty bad place where you’ve got millions of people from overseas being paid to sit on their backsides, not contributing, not learning the lingo, and not integrating. That’s a disaster. But in the UAE, you’ve got people from all over the world integrating well, and working.”
Dubai opens new Sheikh Zayed Road bridge to Mall of the Emirates, cutting travel time from 10 to 1 minute
It is designed to accommodate up to 900 vehicles per hour, providing direct access to Mall of the Emirates car parks for motorists arriving from Abu Dhabi and Jebel Ali.
The bridge is part of a broader infrastructure upgrade around the mall, including expanded entrances, improved intersections, enhanced pedestrian walkways, and new cycling tracks — all aimed at improving traffic flow and accessibility for residents and visitors.
UK to ‘feel the loss’ as high-profile entertainers, athletes flock to UAE amid Britain’s unfavourable tax conditions
The UK is experiencing an unprecedented exodus of high-earning athletes and entertainers, driven by taxation policies that are fundamentally reshaping the global landscape of sport and entertainment talent.
UK-US tax strategist Oriana Morrison, advisor to world-class figures including Anthony Joshua and FIFA World Cup talent reported that 100 per cent of her clients “have gone or are planning to leave if things don’t change.”
In an exclusive interview with Arabian Business, Morrison revealed that the massive departure represents what she describes as a “massive haemorrhage of income to the UK government” that threatens to permanently damage Britain’s status as a global hub for sporting and entertainment excellence.
Majid Al Futtaim has announced plans to launch a new mall in Dubai.
Ghaf Woods Mall will become the Group’s new flagship mall and the first-of-its-kind forest-integrated retail space in the region and complement the developer’s AED15.4bn ($4.19bn) Ghaf Woods residential community. When completed, the mall will offer an immersive, experience-led environment blending retail, dining, and entertainment with biophilic design that connects visitors with nature.
Ahmed El Shamy, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Development, said: “Ghaf Woods Mall is set to mark a bold new era in retail and community placemaking; an unprecedented landmark nestled within a forested landscape and a new Majid Al Futtaim flagship shopping destination in Dubai”.
Dubai launches new permit giving 10,000 free zone firms access to mainland markets
Dubai has launched the Free Zone Mainland Operating Permit, a new framework that allows free zone companies to operate in the emirate’s mainland through a structured permit system — marking another milestone in Dubai’s economic diversification strategy.
The initiative, introduced by the Dubai Business Registration and Licensing Corporation (DBLC) in collaboration with the Dubai Free Zone Council, creates a cost-effective, low-risk pathway for businesses to engage in domestic trade and government contracts. It supports both small and large enterprises while reinforcing Dubai’s position as a global investment hub.
Launched under Dubai Executive Council Decision No. 11 of 2025, the permit aligns with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to double the emirate’s economy by 2033. Eligible free zone companies holding a Dubai Unified Licence (DUL) can apply digitally via the Invest in Dubai platform.
Dubai property sales surge 15% to $36.6bn in Q3 2025 as mid-market boom drives record growth
The figures represent a 15.3 per cent year-on-year rise in sales value from AED116.7bn ($31.8bn) in Q3 2024, alongside a 14.8 per cent increase in transaction volumes from 47,049 a year earlier.
Compared to Q2 2025, transaction numbers grew 9.4 per cent, while values stabilised — a sign of healthy diversification into more mid-market launches.
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 faces its credit ceiling as foreign funding rises – Moody’s
According to a series of sectoral reviews published by Moody’s Investors Service this week, the country’s push to diversify away from hydrocarbons is colliding with mounting borrowing needs across state-linked firms, commercial banks and private sector participants.
Together, they are stretching the financial system beyond its traditional funding base, the reports found.
Etihad Rail passenger service on track for 2026 launch after Dubai–Fujairah test
The Etihad Rail passenger service has completed a successful pre-launch test journey from Dubai to Fujairah, bringing the UAE one step closer to launching its first intercity passenger rail network in 2026.
Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, joined Shadi Malak, CEO of Etihad Rail, and a senior delegation of officials for the milestone trip, which covered the first phase of the route from Al Qudra in Dubai to Fujairah.
Once operational, the service will connect 11 cities across the UAE, from Al Sila in the west to Fujairah on the east coast, marking a major leap in national connectivity and mobility.
Dubai awards Golden Visas to 223 exceptional educators under Sheikh Hamdan’s directives
Dubai authorities have awarded Golden Visas to more than 200 outstanding educators from early childhood centres, schools, and universities across the emirate, under the directives of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai.
The initiative, first announced by Sheikh Hamdan on World Teachers’ Day last year, celebrates the dedication and impact of Dubai’s teachers and education professionals.
Sheikh Hamdan said: “Teachers and educators are the ones who light the way forward. They inspire, guide, and give our children the skills and confidence to succeed. On World Teachers’ Day, we recognise their dedication and affirm that supporting them is the best investment we can make in the future of Dubai.
