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UAE News Today: 27 November 2025 Business Brief
Busy workday, tight calendar, but still want to stay on top of UAE news today?
Listen to our audio summary above for key insights from UAE News Today — Top Stories & Updates | 27 November 2025.
Here we give a clear snapshot of 27 November 2025 for UAE‑based owners, founders and professionals. We focus on the most relevant updates in business, the economy, technology, culture, mobility and lifestyle across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, all linked to the wider growth story around D33, AI, the digital economy, infrastructure and cultural tourism.
You can use these insights to plan budgets, campaigns, travel and partnerships. Then, when you are ready to act, you can turn to UAEThrive’s free UAE business directory to discover local partners and suppliers by sector, from F&B and travel to events, creative services and tech.
Top UAE business and economy news today (27 November 2025)
Dubai’s evening skyline reflecting economic growth and investor interest. Image created with AI.
Dubai Chambers and e& deal: what it means for SMEs and startups
Dubai Chambers has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with e& UAE to provide tailored telecom and digital solutions for small businesses and startups. The agreement is designed to give members smarter connectivity, bundled services and more support under a formal framework.
According to the official announcement, the partnership aims to build packages that match real SME needs, such as integrated calling, collaboration tools and business internet, at competitive price points. You can read the full details on the Dubai Government Media Office website here.
This move fits neatly into Dubai’s D33 agenda and the wider digital economy push, where the goal is to make it easier for smaller firms to go digital and scale.
For SMEs and startups, the practical takeaways are clear:
- Cheaper unified communications: Bundled telecom and digital tools can cut separate licence and subscription costs.
- Easier scaling: Standardised packages help firms add lines, users and branches without fresh negotiations every time.
- Access to programmes: Dubai Chambers is likely to route future digital support schemes, workshops and incentives through this framework.
- More predictable costs: Fixed business bundles can make it easier to budget cash flow over the year.
If your company relies on sales calls, remote teams or e‑commerce, this is a cue to revisit your telecom contracts in 2026 and compare them with any offers that appear through Dubai Chambers channels.
Sharjah’s new ‘postpaid’ government fees: cash‑flow relief for SMEs
The Sharjah Finance Department has partnered with buy‑now‑pay‑later provider Tabby to launch a Postpaid Payment Service for certain government fees. In simple terms, eligible residents and businesses can now pay some charges in instalments instead of a single lump sum.
For small firms, freelancers and early‑stage startups, this can ease pressure during licence renewals, new trade name registrations or expansion into new activities. Instead of delaying growth steps due to upfront costs, they can spread payments while keeping operations moving.
The move also shows how fintech is moving into public sector payments. BNPL started with retail and online shopping, then spread to travel and healthcare. Now we see it helping companies deal with official fees.
What this means in practice:
- Better cash‑flow planning during renewal season.
- More flexibility to upgrade licences, rent new space or hire talent.
- Clearer digital records of payments, which helps when you apply for finance.
If you run a Sharjah‑based business, it is worth checking which services qualify and how instalment terms work, then fitting that into your 2026 financial plan.
Real estate signals: Abu Dhabi rents and Dubai’s ultra‑prime market
On housing, the picture today is mixed but important for both residents and investors.
In Abu Dhabi, apartment rents have risen about 14.2% year‑on‑year, driven by strong expat demand and fewer new units than planned. Villa rents are also up, though at a slower pace. For tenants, this means higher renewal offers and tighter choice, especially in popular mid‑market areas.
For landlords and investors, the same trend translates into stronger yields and lower vacancy risk. Many are watching the project pipeline for 2026 to 2028 to see when fresh supply may cool price pressure.
In Dubai, attention sits at the very top of the market. A Palm Jumeirah plot of around 1.015 million square feet has sold for Dh1.86 billion, underlining ongoing appetite for ultra‑luxury waterfront projects. Research on the so‑called “Golden Triangle of Wealth” shows high concentration of Dh40 million‑plus villa deals in Palm Jumeirah, Emirates Hills and Mohammed bin Rashid City.
At the same time, Dubai Land Department’s push on data and smart valuation has made pricing more transparent and transaction processes faster. That mix of clarity and global demand positions Dubai as a stable luxury asset hub, while Abu Dhabi’s rental story highlights the need for careful budget planning by tenants in 2026.
Innovation, AI and tech events shaping the UAE’s next phase
AI and startup leaders gathering at a Dubai tech summit. Image created with AI.
Doers Summit and Machines Can Think: key AI and startup opportunities
Dubai Silicon Oasis is hosting the first Middle East edition of the Doers Summit, drawing more than 2,500 participants and over 150 speakers across AI, fintech, climate tech and digital infrastructure. For founders and tech professionals, it is a live marketplace for deals, pilots and partnerships.
The event reinforces DSO’s role as a base for innovation‑focused companies that want access to both funding and customers. In one place, you get investors, corporates, public entities and startups speaking the same language.
Looking ahead, Abu Dhabi will host the Machines Can Think 2026 summit early next year. The focus will be AI in life sciences, national AI infrastructure and how senior executives can deploy AI at scale inside their organisations. The summit supports the UAE’s ambition to add around $100 billion to GDP through AI by 2030.
For UAE companies, the signal is simple. AI is no longer a side topic. It sits at board level, with clear pressure to move from pilots to real deployments in healthcare, energy, transport, education and beyond.
Media, data and AI skills: how Dubai and Sharjah are upgrading talent
In Dubai, the latest meeting of the Dubai Media Council, chaired by Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed, laid out a clear target. The media sector’s GDP contribution should rise from 1.4% to 3% by 2033, with a strong push on digital transformation.
That means more support for streaming, gaming, film production, influencers and digital news platforms. For media agencies, PR firms and content creators, it points to growing demand for high‑quality Arabic and English content that speaks to both local and global audiences.
Up the road in Sharjah, the Digital Department has honoured the first 15 graduates of its Data and AI Mastery Programme, run with PwC Academy. Their projects tackle themes like social development, infrastructure and security, all built on analytics and AI tools.
Put together, these moves create real demand for:
- Data analysts and AI specialists.
- Storytellers who can turn complex issues into clear content.
- Tech providers who can build dashboards, apps and content tools for public entities and media brands.
If your agency or tech firm serves government or media clients, this is a good time to sharpen your data, content and AI training plans.
Smart homes, green tech and future mobility: how innovation reaches daily life
Innovation is not just happening in conference halls. It is starting to show up at home and on the road.
Samsung has staged an “AI Home Experience” in a Dubai villa, showcasing how its Bespoke AI, Vision AI, Galaxy AI and SmartThings can connect appliances, screens and devices. Guests saw how AI can support cooking, sleep, fitness and gaming in one integrated home.
At the same time, Dubai has opened a Green and Innovation Cooperation Exhibition with CCPIT Middle East, featuring 38 Chinese firms in new energy, electric vehicles, medical devices and consumer tech. For local distributors and investors, this is a place to source new products and explore joint projects around cleaner technology.
On mobility, Dubai’s work on flying taxis continues. Under a new GCAA framework, eVTOL aircraft and helicopters will be able to share infrastructure, and more than 120 existing heliports could be adapted into vertiports over time. Developers are already planning rooftop pads in future residential and commercial projects.
For residents and businesses, the long‑term picture is clear: more connected homes, cleaner tech options and a new premium layer of urban transport in the decade ahead.
Lifestyle, culture and tourism highlights across the Emirates
From #HattaWinter to Malath: seasonal platforms for homegrown brands
Brand Dubai is launching the second edition of #HattaWinter from 5 December 2025 to 31 January 2026. The season will feature six festivals across culture, food, sport and family activities, with key spots like Leem Lake and Hatta Wadi Hub acting as anchors.
Around 30 projects from the “Proudly from Dubai” initiative will be showcased, giving homegrown F&B, retail and tourism ventures a strong winter platform. Hatta’s cooler climate and mountain scenery make it a natural weekend escape for residents from Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.
In Sharjah, Alef Group is reviving the Malath pop‑up at Al Mamsha from 28 November to 1 December, hosting more than 60 fashion, beauty and lifestyle brands under a “Winter Nights” theme. The evening format, combined with influencer attention, usually brings healthy footfall for local creators.
For small businesses, some simple moves can turn these seasons into revenue:
- Design limited‑time menus or products tied to winter and National Day themes.
- Arrange pop‑ups or collaborations with brands already exhibiting in Hatta or Al Mamsha.
- Prepare social content and ads that target residents searching for weekend trips and markets.
National Day and winter events: what residents and businesses should watch
With UAE National Day (Eid Al Etihad) around the corner, Abu Dhabi has released a packed schedule. Fireworks at Yas Island and Emirates Palace, the MOTN festival, the reopening of Al Ain Museum and activities at Al Mugheirah Bay give families options across the emirate.
A separate nationwide guide on Eid Al Etihad celebrations lists official ceremonies, parades, concerts, fireworks and drone shows across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the northern emirates. Residents can use it as a master planner for the long weekend.
In Sharjah, the SDPW’s internal National Day celebration, with cultural performances, crafts and a mobile museum, gives HR teams a helpful model. Culture‑led events, rather than simple office decorations, tend to build stronger engagement and pride.
Looking ahead to New Year’s Eve, Dubai’s RTA has announced special packages for Dubai Ferry, abras and water taxis. Departures between 10 pm and 10.30 pm will give passengers front‑row views of fireworks at Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab, Atlantis and JBR, while avoiding road congestion.
For hotels, malls, restaurants and travel planners, the message is to align promotions, staffing and transport support with these known crowd peaks. For families, it is time to book early and avoid last‑minute stress.
Art, books, coffee and ‘affordable luxury’: rising cultural demand
Sharjah Art Foundation has unveiled its 2026 spring programme, including major solo exhibitions, the March Meeting 2026 conference and the reopening of Al Majarrah Park as a redesigned public art space. Details are available via Sharjah24.
For residents, that means more free or low‑cost exhibitions, photography shows and outdoor installations across Sharjah. For galleries, tour operators and creative businesses, it provides a clear cultural calendar to build packages and events around.
In Dubai, the 2026 Emirates Airline Festival of Literature will host more than 200 writers from 40 countries at Dubai Festival City. Schools, publishers and sponsors can see it as a flagship moment to reach readers and position brands in the knowledge space.
The food and drink scene continues to grow fast. World of Coffee Dubai 2026 will bring rare microlot auctions and global roasters to the city, in a market already worth more than AED 3.5 billion and on track to reach AED 4.5 billion by 2029. At the same time, guides to “secretly cheap” luxury‑style experiences and takeaway turkeys under AED 500 show strong demand for premium‑feeling moments at accessible price points.
For cafés, bookstores, tour companies and lifestyle brands, the picture is encouraging. There is healthy appetite for culture, good coffee and special experiences, from budget‑friendly abra rides to high‑end mall walks and staycations. The real opportunity lies in packaging these in smart, targeted offers for 2026.
Public safety, mobility and social updates residents need to know
Traffic, roads and fines: how new rules and projects affect daily commutes
Sharjah Police have reported a significant drop in road accident fatalities. The improvement is linked to more patrols on key routes, wider radar and camera coverage and continuous awareness campaigns in schools, workplaces and communities.
To support safer driving, Sharjah has also announced a National Day offer to remove all traffic black points for violations committed before 1 December 2025, if fines are settled by 10 January 2026. Standard discounts on fines, such as 35% within 60 days, continue for most offences.
At the same time, the emirate has approved two major road projects. These include a 5‑kilometre upgrade to the Ring Road near Etihad Rail and the expansion of University City Bridge, plus a new Dh60 million bridge linking Mleiha Road to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road. Over the next few years, these upgrades should ease congestion and shorten travel times for commuters and logistics fleets.
In Dubai, Police have fined more than 8,000 delivery riders since 1 November for using prohibited fast lanes. Motorcycles must stay in the right‑side lanes based on road design, to cut the risk of serious crashes. There is also an ongoing campaign to reduce unnecessary honking, with a Dh400 fine and four black points already in place for misuse.
For residents, delivery companies and fleet operators, the message is consistent: observe lane rules, treat fines and discounts as a chance to reset driving behaviour and plan for smoother, safer journeys ahead.
Women’s protection and community wellbeing in Sharjah
Sharjah’s Women’s Protection Centre has renewed its call to protect women from violence, using Global Anti‑Violence Day to raise awareness across the emirate. The centre offers legal advice, psychological support and shelter services, and works closely with courts, police and social agencies.
The core message is that safeguarding women is a shared social duty. It is not only the job of government entities. Families, schools, employers and community groups all have a role.
Practical steps include:
- Clear workplace policies on harassment and abuse.
- Training for teachers and HR teams on spotting warning signs.
- Easy, trusted channels for reporting concerns.
For community leaders and business owners, supporting such efforts helps build safer, more stable neighbourhoods and workplaces, which benefits everyone in the long run.
Conclusion
The news on 27 November 2025 paints a consistent picture. The UAE is pushing ahead with digital and AI‑driven growth, backing SMEs through smarter telecom packages and flexible government payments, while real estate in Abu Dhabi and Dubai continues to send strong signals to investors.
At the same time, cultural calendars in Dubai and Sharjah are filling with art, books, coffee and winter experiences, supported by major National Day and New Year events across all emirates. On the social side, road‑safety campaigns, new infrastructure and renewed focus on women’s protection show ongoing investment in quality of life.
For SMEs, investors and professionals, today’s updates are not just headlines. They are practical inputs for 2026 planning, from cash‑flow and hiring to marketing, location choices and partnership strategies.
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