The UAE news today, 10 December 2025, brings a full mix of tourism highs, property signals, safety updates and new chances in tech and media. We see strong activity in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, with knock‑on effects for Ajman and the Northern Emirates.
In this daily brief, we focus on what the headlines mean in practice for residents, SMEs, investors and professionals. This update is part of UAEThrive’s ongoing effort to share trusted local news alongside our UAE business directory, so we can all make better, local decisions.
Listen to our audio summary above for key insights from UAE News Today — Top Stories & Updates | 10 December 2025.
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Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism has reported 15.7 million international visitors in the first ten months of 2025, with hotel occupancy close to 80%. At the latest city briefing, officials highlighted a strong 2026 strategy, a Hotel Incentive Programme, and more attention on newer districts away from traditional hotspots. This gives hotels, holiday homes, travel agents and tour operators a clear signal that demand is not slowing.
On top of this, a citywide one‑time biometric hotel check‑in has been approved, allowing guests to register once and then use facial recognition or mobile for future stays. According to the Dubai Media Office, this digital hotel check‑in initiative should reduce queues, cut front desk workload and lift guest satisfaction. For SMEs in hospitality and travel services, that means more repeat bookings, smoother arrivals and more time to upsell tours, dining and experiences.
The recent 3 Day Super Sale, stretched to five days across Dubai, delivered heavy footfall and double‑digit spending growth in fashion, electronics and dining. The first 24‑hour sale at Dubai Festival City Mall turned the property into a night‑time magnet for families and visitors, filling restaurants and entertainment zones. At the same time, Dubai Duty Free crossing AED 8 billion in annual sales underlines strong travel retail at DXB, helped by busy winter traffic.
For SMEs in retail, e‑commerce and services, these events are more than marketing noise. They give useful dates to plan extra staff, adjust stock levels and fine‑tune online ads around peak days. Local salons, clinics and service providers can also ride the wave with short‑term bundles targeting shoppers who are already in a spending mood.
Dubai’s Tahbib Festival, intimate evenings like Bhuwin’s Baithak, and Sharjah’s Focal Point art and print fair are filling calendars this week. Looking ahead to 2026, big shows such as Mo Gilligan’s night at Dubai Opera will draw regional visitors and residents to Downtown. These cultural moments might look niche, but together they raise hotel bookings, taxi trips and F&B spend across Dubai and Sharjah.
For media, events and creative agencies, the message is simple: the more diverse the calendar, the more room for content, sponsorship and production work. SMEs can highlight their role in this scene by updating their UAEThrive listings with seasonal offers, event‑linked menus or late‑night opening hours.
Dubai Land Department and Dubai Holding have agreed a three‑year fixed community service fee model for Palm Jumeirah through the Mollak system. This gives villa and apartment owners a clear view of costs and helps facility managers lock in longer contracts with service providers. For residents, it means fewer surprises and better planning around service charges.
Analysts argue that Dubai’s housing market is now more end‑user and community‑led, with buyers looking for schools, parks and long‑term liveability rather than quick flips. For SMEs in maintenance, landscaping and community services, stable fees and longer stays create steady demand instead of short bursts of work.
In Abu Dhabi, the waterfront Bashayer community on Hudayriyat Island sold out in around 24 hours, generating close to AED 3 billion in sales. The project adds villas, apartments and a long promenade, turning the island into a lifestyle address rather than a pure leisure spot. That kind of response shows deep demand for high‑quality waterfront homes in the capital.
At the same time, Mubadala and Aldar have confirmed an AED 60 billion plus expansion of Al Maryah Island’s financial district, adding Grade A offices, 3,000 new homes, retail, hospitality and a convention centre. This will strengthen Abu Dhabi Global Market as a regional finance hub and create room for more professional services, events and high‑value jobs.
Sharjah’s new Aqari platform has now pulled most rental services into one digital system. Tenants and landlords can log in with UAE Pass, manage contracts online and process most steps automatically, with links to SEWA for utilities. This cuts paperwork for property managers and speeds up move‑ins, which is helpful for families and SMEs relocating staff.
Alongside this, the Clean UAE 2025 campaign stop in Sharjah brought almost 2,000 volunteers together to clear and sort waste. The drive supports greener branding for participating companies and gives staff a clear way to volunteer. For businesses, combining digital efficiency in rentals with visible CSR work can strengthen both their balance sheet and public image.
Masdar City Free Zone has been named the country’s fastest‑growing free zone, with over 2,000 tenants across AI, agritech, life sciences and smart mobility. Its mix of green buildings, flexible licensing and shared labs is attractive for founders who want a base in Abu Dhabi with strong sustainability credentials. Youth‑focused deals, such as the Abu Dhabi Youth Business Council and Hub71 partnership, add mentoring and investor access on top.
Media and content innovation is also in focus. BRIDGE Summit 2025 in Abu Dhabi gathered tens of thousands of guests to talk about AI, gaming, creator economy and media trust. We have covered its impact in more depth in our BRIDGE Summit 2025 feature on UAEThrive. For founders and investors, the clear next steps are to visit these hubs, join community programmes and use UAEThrive listings to signal sector focus and services.
ADIB and Majid Al Futtaim have launched new Sharia‑compliant SHARE covered cards that reward everyday spending in malls, supermarkets and leisure outlets with points. For families who already shop and dine at these destinations, this turns regular spending into extra value within a halal finance product. Mall‑based retailers can expect stronger loyalty and more frequent visits from cardholders.
On the investment side, regulators continue to warn residents about dealing with unlicensed brokers. For SMEs and individuals, the safest approach is to work only with firms listed on the Securities and Commodities Authority’s official registers and to review any existing relationships in light of these alerts.
Sharjah Chamber’s talks with chambers from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq focus on trade, energy, logistics and arbitration services. Using Sharjah as a re‑export hub, Kurdish goods can reach wider markets, and UAE products can move into northern Iraq more smoothly. Legal and consulting firms in the UAE are well placed to support these cross‑border deals.
In Abu Dhabi, high‑level meetings with EU officials underline the growing economic and political ties between the UAE and Europe. For exporters, shipping firms and professional services providers, this points to a long‑term rise in demand for compliance, advisory and dispute resolution work.
Ajman Government Media Office has signed an MoU with LinkedIn to strengthen official communication, verification and content skills for local entities. This should lead to clearer, more active government pages on LinkedIn, which helps residents and professionals get reliable information and contact points. SMEs can also use these channels to follow tenders, events and partnership calls.
At federal level, the UAE Media Council is working with selected local partners to streamline permits for visiting content creators. The goal is to make it easier for brands, agencies and influencers to work together within clear, consistent rules. For marketing teams, that means less guesswork around permits and more time to focus on storytelling and measurement.
Dubai Police have adopted three new road safety strategies, together with the RTA, to move toward zero road fatalities by 2033. They are investing in smart monitoring, unified violation systems and stronger awareness campaigns. The Dubai Media Office summary of the new road safety strategies highlights closer tracking of driver behaviour, especially for high‑risk fleets.
RTA is also working on stricter rules for e‑scooters and delivery bikes, and recent Dubai–Sharjah incidents have led to fresh lane discipline warnings. For daily commuters and fleet managers, the action points are clear: schedule extra time on busy routes, train drivers on lane use and safe distances, use telematics where possible, and review insurance and compliance policies before fines climb.
From January 2026, most UAE schools are expected to close earlier on Fridays, as standardised Friday prayers move to 12:45 pm. Education authorities are working with schools to adjust timetables while protecting teaching hours. Parents will need to rethink Friday childcare, pick‑up plans and after‑school activities, especially in households where both adults work full‑time.
On the travel front, Emirates has cancelled Dubai–Lisbon flights on 11 December due to a national strike in Portugal. It is a timely reminder that overseas strikes, weather or air traffic issues can affect UAE trips with little warning. Families, HR teams and SME owners may want backup travel dates, flexible tickets where possible and clear internal rules on how to handle delays.
Sharjah’s Aqari rental platform, mentioned earlier, is part of a wider national pattern of digital public services. Residents and SMEs are handling more of their daily admin online, from rentals to company licensing, which cuts queues and paperwork. This shift suits busy founders and professionals who would rather track documents on their phones than carry files between offices.
At the same time, the UAE has pledged a large sum to the UN’s 2026 humanitarian plan and continues to support campaigns such as Clean UAE. For companies, this is a gentle prompt to review CSR policies, staff volunteering days and supplier choices. Choosing partners who support social and environmental goals can strengthen both brand reputation and team morale.
The picture from 10 December 2025 is clear: tourism and retail are strong, real estate and infrastructure in Dubai and Abu Dhabi keep expanding, and the country is doubling down on safety, digital government and innovation. For SMEs and professionals across all emirates, this mix creates a wide field of opportunity, from tourism services and proptech to clean‑tech, content creation and cross‑border trade.
Staying informed at this level helps us decide where to open the next branch, which community to target and how to plan staff and marketing around peak seasons and policy shifts. When we combine trusted news with practical tools, we give our businesses the best chance to grow steadily in a fast‑moving region.
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