The UAE is moving into the National Day weekend with a full agenda. On 29 November 2025, we see stories that touch almost every part of business life, from export deals and startup funding to retail campaigns, traffic changes, housing support, and culture-led tourism.
Listen to our audio summary above for key insights from UAE News Today — Top Stories & Updates | 29 November 2025.
In this daily brief, we focus on the UAE business news that matters right now. We look at how trade missions, entrepreneurship programmes, clean energy deals, shopping promotions, mobility updates, and Union Day events affect real decisions for SMEs, corporates, and investors.
We group the main headlines by theme and emirate, and keep our eye on what they mean in practice. Whether you run a neighbourhood café in Sharjah, a logistics firm in Abu Dhabi, a creative studio in Dubai, or you are researching a move into the UAE market, these stories help us read customer behaviour, spot partnership opportunities, and plan the next step with more confidence.
The UAE continues to act as a bridge between regions. Today’s trade and startup stories show how Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi are working together as a connected hub for exports, innovation, and lower‑carbon industry.
Dubai Chamber of Commerce has wrapped up a trade mission to Phnom Penh, connecting Dubai companies with Cambodian partners through 189 B2B meetings and more than 357 participants. According to the Dubai Government Media Office coverage of the mission, the focus sat on sectors like aluminium, steel, beverages, furniture, and aviation parts.
For exporters based in Dubai, this is a signal that Cambodia is more than a niche market. The country is opening up in tourism, logistics, textiles, and infrastructure, and Dubai is positioning itself as a preferred gateway into the Gulf, Africa, and wider Asia.
Who should pay close attention?
You can treat missions like this as early market research. If you run a Dubai SME, you can start with small export orders, joint marketing campaigns, or shared warehousing. Over time, these first steps can grow into regional hubs or co‑investment in Cambodia’s tourism and infrastructure growth.
Sharjah is doubling down on its role as a startup city. Under the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (SEF) 2026 banner, a new global pitch competition is live, with a Dhs200,000 grant pool for high‑potential startups. The focus areas are clear:
Only 16 finalists will pitch live, which means the signal for quality will be strong. For founders, the prize is more than money. Winners gain funding, visibility, and access to regional investors who already understand the UAE market.
This matters for three groups in particular:
To stand out, startups need a clear value proposition, a simple story about customer impact, proof of traction, and a realistic scaling plan. As we often say on the UAEThrive blog, a strong profile is like a bright shopfront on a busy street; clarity wins attention.
In Abu Dhabi, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), TAQA, Dubal Holding, and EWEC have agreed a series of clean and renewable energy deals that could reshape power use in heavy industry. The plan is to acquire key power assets, expand solar capacity, and shift aluminium production towards low‑carbon electricity, with a target to cut 3.5 million tonnes of CO₂ a year by 2035.
For large industrial customers, this is not just an environmental story. Access to cleaner, grid‑based power can support long‑term price stability, more reliable supply, and stronger ESG scores when reporting to global clients. Over time, lower‑carbon aluminium and other materials can attract premium buyers in Europe and Asia.
SMEs in the supply chain, from maintenance contractors to logistics operators, should track these moves. Buyers are already asking for greener inputs and cleaner transport. Aligning with this shift, even in small ways, can make your bids stand out in tenders, especially when major clients are updating sustainability policies.
Retail, F&B, and services are heading into one of the busiest weekends of the year. Sharjah’s shopping promotions and Abu Dhabi’s traffic changes will shape when and how customers move, spend, and commute.
Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry has launched a new season of Sharjah Shopping Promotions, with a strong package of activations: raffles, family events, influencer coverage, and a roaming “Wall of Lockers” prize game that tours malls and key markets, especially in the Eastern Region.
For mall managers and high‑street retailers in Sharjah, this is a direct chance to lift footfall and average transaction value. Families are more likely to spend time in malls when they can mix shopping with children’s activities, prize draws, and social‑media‑friendly moments.
To make the most of this push, brands can:
For step‑by‑step planning advice on discounts, staffing, and mall activations, we have put together a practical guide to Sharjah Shopping Promotions 2025–2026 for UAE retailers.
If you run a café, salon, or service outlet near a participating mall, simple combo deals and “show your raffle ticket” discounts can turn casual visitors into repeat customers beyond the campaign period.
Abu Dhabi is easing movement for residents over the Eid Al Etihad and Union Day period. Mawaqif parking will be free for three days, and Darb toll gates will be suspended during the holiday, while public buses shift to holiday timetables with extra festival routes. At the same time, authorities are placing temporary restrictions on heavy vehicles and labour buses on key roads in Abu Dhabi Island, Saadiyat, Al Ain, and the E22, with trucks redirected via alternative routes such as ICAD Bridge.
For SMEs this mix is important. Customers may find it easier to drive into the city centre, but delivery schedules for goods and staff may need tweaking. It makes sense to:
Well‑timed National Day offers in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, combined with clear communication on access and timings, can turn the long weekend into a strong trading period instead of a logistics headache.
Union Day is about pride, but it is also about economic activity. Culture, sport, and community events draw visitors into malls, hotels, parks, and waterfronts, giving brands more chances to connect with residents and tourists in a natural way.
In Dubai, Expo City will host the all‑women Firdaus Orchestra for a special “Zayed and Rashid” concert at the House of Arts as part of the 54th Eid Al Etihad celebrations. The performance blends Emirati heritage with global musical styles and reinforces Dubai’s image as a creative hub.
In Abu Dhabi, the Heritage Authority is staging a major 40‑foot traditional rowing race on 3 December, with 68 boats, over 1,100 sailors, and AED 2.4 million in prizes, running from Reem Island past Saadiyat’s cultural landmarks. The Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority announcement highlights its role in celebrating maritime heritage and the wider cultural district.
Across the country, cities are lit up under the “United” theme, with upgraded parks, beaches, walking tracks, and a “Safe Outing” campaign that promotes safe celebrations. For hotels, F&B operators, transport firms, and family entertainment venues, these events drive demand for:
Planning early, strengthening bookings, and listing offers on platforms like the UAEThrive business directory can help us capture this extra demand while keeping operations smooth.
Sharjah is taking its maritime heritage to Qatar through a pavilion at the Katara Dhow Festival in Doha. The stand includes traditional dhows, fishing and diving tools, live craft demonstrations, and promotion of modern marine sports.
This sort of cultural diplomacy builds soft power and tourist flows in both directions. Travel agencies, heritage tour operators, and marine sports brands in Sharjah, Dubai, and Ras Al Khaimah can use it as a springboard to design joint Gulf heritage packages that combine dhow experiences, museums, and beach stays.
For hospitality groups, cross‑border partnerships with Qatari operators can lead to twin‑city offers that appeal to GCC families and European visitors who want to see more than one destination in a single trip.
Three community‑driven stories stand out today.
First, a Beary community group of 1,600 Indian expats carried a 30‑metre UAE flag during Dubai Run, featured in Sheikh Hamdan’s viral video with over 10 million views. Second, the Dubai Fitness Challenge is closing with Dubai Yoga, a large free sunset yoga session at Zabeel Park by Dubai Frame, open to all ages and levels with family and ladies‑only areas. Third, Sri Lankan expats in the UAE are coordinating transparent channels to send aid and support to flood victims back home.
These stories remind us that people respond strongly to:
Brands that want to engage should do so with respect and humility. That might mean sponsoring water stations or mats at fitness events, supporting verified charity partners, or co‑creating activities with community groups rather than placing logos everywhere. When you match your values to the right cause, visibility follows naturally.
Beyond big headlines, several practical decisions will affect daily life, finances, and planning, especially for young drivers and Emirati families looking at housing.
Sharjah Police will dedicate 1–2 December, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., to give priority for vehicle inspections, registrations, and driving licences to university students and National Service members across multiple centres.
For young residents juggling studies and service, this reduces friction. They can complete key tasks in one visit instead of facing long queues later in the month. Driving schools and auto service centres may see a short‑term spike in demand for test preparation, inspections, and minor repairs as students get vehicles ready.
Insurance providers can also use this window to promote student‑friendly motor policies, especially if they are listed on platforms where young drivers already search for services. Speed and clarity will be key selling points.
In Abu Dhabi, the Crown Prince has approved a Dh4 billion housing package that benefits 3,310 Emirati citizens through housing loans, land and ready‑home grants, and loan exemptions or reductions. This is the third package in 2025, bringing total housing support this year to Dh15.384 billion for 10,718 citizens.
For Emirati families, this means more security and choice about where and how they live. For business, it points to steady demand in:
If you operate in any of these sectors, it makes sense to plan capacity and hiring around expected handover periods. Clear, Arabic‑friendly marketing and easy‑to‑find profiles on directories like UAEThrive can help us reach new homeowners as they search for trusted suppliers near their new communities.
Today’s UAE news shows a clear pattern. Outward trade moves, such as the Dubai–Cambodia mission, sit alongside startup funding in Sharjah and long‑term clean energy deals in Abu Dhabi. At the same time, Sharjah’s shopping promotions, Abu Dhabi’s parking and traffic changes, and packed National Day cultural events are shaping how customers move, spend, and celebrate across all seven emirates.
For SMEs, founders, and investors, the message is simple. Stay close to these trends, align offers with real‑world campaigns and holidays, and build partnerships that cross emirates and borders.
If you want more local customers to find us during busy periods such as Union Day or major shopping campaigns, we also need to be visible where they search. That is why we encourage UAE businesses to claim a free listing on UAEThrive.
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