The UAE's construction sector is moving beyond rapid expansion, with developers increasingly focused on project execution, sustainability and regulatory compliance, as construction output is forecast to reach $130.8 billion within the next three years, according to a report.
The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) has announced a significant increase in the number of beneficiaries of VAT Refund Scheme for Emirati nationals building new residences during the first half. A total of 4,000 refund applications were approved in H1 over 3,100 the same period last year.
Applus+ UAE has begun rig service operations in Somalia, supporting an offshore drilling exploration programme. The company is providing testing, inspection, and certification services to ensure equipment integrity, compliance, and operational readiness in a remote offshore environment.
The UAE has clarified the eligibility criteria for its five-year multiple-entry tourist visa, which allows visitors of all nationalities to enter the country repeatedly without requiring a local sponsor or host.
Enersol’s portfolio company Deep Well Services (DWS) has completed its first well in the UAE, marking the company’s first deployment in the country and the wider Middle East region. The operation used DWS’ Hydraulic Completion Unit (HCU) technology and achieved planned first-well performance targets.
Perk (formerly TravelPerk), an AI-native platform for travel and spend management, has announced the opening of its regional office at Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). The move formalises Perk's long-term commitment to the GCC region, targeting a tripling of business travel spend from UAE customers by 2028.
Airport Show 2026, taking place from October 12–14 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, will highlight biometric and passenger innovations, as Middle East airports accelerate digital identity adoption to improve efficiency, security, and travel flow amid projected 240 million passengers in 2026.
Dubai-based Prime Inspections & Snagging has announced the expansion of its home inspection services across all seven emirates. Its services cover new handover snagging, resale property, contractor work and complete building inspection as well as water leakage and pool inspection.
The UAE's non-oil foreign trade surged by 13% during the first half to hit nearly AED2 trillion ($527.5 billion), driven by a surge in exports, said a report. The country’s non-oil exports jumped 24% from a year to hit AED452.8 billion ($123.3 billion), accounting for 23.4% of total non-oil trade.
The UAE economy has shown remarkable resilience to the conflict in the Middle East, supported by strong buffers, timely and well-targeted policy response including by the government and the CBUAE Financial Institution Resilience Package, and the rerouting of oil and other trade flows, an International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission has said.
