Public holidays; Major Dubai Liveability and travel plans; Airports with Passports, Investment Advice – 10 things to remember this week

UAE citizens are looking forward to the next public holiday, and Dubai has announced a Bold 2033 Liveability Push and an AED170BN ($46.3BN) National Transport Upgrade.

Meanwhile, retail investors get new access to Sukuk – Dubai Property Set new records, Emirates threatened with 200 biometric cameras on DXB flights and Saudia tested fully functional Internet planes with free WiFi.

Catch up on 10 of the biggest headlines this week, as selected by Arabian business editors.

National Day 2025: When to expect your next public holiday

UAE citizens can look forward to one more public holiday in 2025 as the country prepares to mark EID Al Etihad, a national holiday known as UAE national day.

The holiday is expected on Tuesday, December 2 and Wednesday, December 3, giving residents two days to commemorate the formation of the UAE in 1971.

While these are expected dates, the Cabinet may still make it an official holiday to create a long weekend.

Who is Rama Duwaji, Melimane’s first wife from New York City?

As New York isfers its first Muslim Mayor, all eyes are on Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old Democratic congressman from Peweens whose campaign is at stake.

But the newly elected Mayor represents a woman who has a story that goes to the continents of the continent and to the creative places: Rama Duwaji, a Syrian – American artist and Artist who has quietly removed his political case.

Born in Houston, Texas, to Syrian Muslim parents from Damascus, Duwaji moved to Dubai when he was nine and spent his childhood living in the Gulf.

UAE citizens can now invest in government-backed Sukuk from $1,089

UAE citizens and residents can now invest directly in Islamic Sukuki backed by a digital Treasury launched under the Ministry of Finance – starting from AED4,000 ($1,089).

The move marks the first time certain investors in the UAE can purchase Shareria – Treasury Sukuk in small denominations through participating banks.

This initiative aims to increase access to safe, low-cost investment options while promoting the culture of saving and financial inclusion across the country.

Dubai unveils massive plan to become world’s healthiest city by 2033 – 310 new parks, 60 affordable schools, 15,000 airport jobs

Dubai has unveiled a new plan to become the healthiest and healthiest city in the world by 2033, with major initiatives in Urban Greenery, education, aviation, health care, finance and finance.

The initiatives aim to advance Dubai’s reputation as a global model of sustainability, wellness, and opportunity – combining economic and social growth while improving health, quality of life, and resilience.

The public parks and green plan will see the rollout of more than 800 projects, including:

• 310 new parks and improvements to 322 existing parks
• 120 new open spaces and 14 technology projects
• More than 70 rights ‘rights way to connect communities

Dubai Real Estate breaks all records with $152.3bn in sales by 2025; top locations and featured projects

The Dubai Real Estate Market has hit a new all-time high, with 2025 property transactions reaching AED559.4BN ($152.3bn), surpassing the Emirate’s previous record two months before the end of the year.

The latest market report from Fäm Properties shows that in October 2025 alone, Dubai recorded 19,875 commercial properties worth AED59.4bn ($16.2bn).

This raised the total number of deals in the first ten months of the year to 178,244, surpassing the 180 transactions 9.1bn ($ 141.9bn ($ 141.9bn) recorded throughout 2024).

UAE announces $46.3bn Transport plan

The UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure has announced AED170BN ($ 46.3BN) Nationwide Transportation projects and projects to be implemented in 2030, aimed at reducing traffic, and improving travel throughout the country.

The projects form part of a comprehensive national plan to develop transport infrastructure in line with population and economic growth, while improving the quality of life of citizens and residents.

Announcing the plan during the UAE Government meetings in Abu Dhabi, Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of History and Infrastructure, said the service will improve the efficiency of roads in five years.

Dubai goes ‘Passport-free’: Emirates Invests $23.1m in 200 biometric cameras

Dubai has taken a big step towards a passport-free airport experience, with Emirates investing AED85M ($23.1m) to install more than 200 biometric cameras in terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport (DXB).

Technology – Developed in collaboration with the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners – Dubai (Gdrfad) – Allows passengers to pass through check-in, immigration, lounges, boarding gates using only facial recognition.

By eliminating the need to show a passport or boarding pass at multiple airport touchpoints, the new system significantly cuts processing times. Each biometric camera can see a passenger’s face from up to one meter away, allowing them to navigate through areas that once required document checks.

Exclusive: Britain’s disgraced Rostish Andrew Windsor claims moving to UAE ‘not true’ – source close to family

Reports suggesting Andrew Mountbatten Windsor is preparing to exchange Sandringham for the palace in Abu Dhabi are “not true,” a source close to the family has told Arabian business.

James Henderson, a long-time PR consultant at Aregrew’s Ex-wife Sarah Ferguson said that he does not believe in the Royal, the eighth in line to the British throne, is at odds with the United Arab Emirates, contradicting recent claims published in the Sun and other UK media.

“These stories are not accurate,” Henderson, a UAE-based founder, told Arabian Business. “I don’t think this is the case.” He clarified that while advising Ferguson, he is not representing Andrew, but ‘speaking as a family friend.’

Saudia is launching the first fully Internet-enabled flight with free high-speed WiFi for all passengers

Saudia Airlines has launched its first Internet-enabled flight, marking a milestone in the group’s digital and technological ambitions for Saudi Arabia.

The Test Flight, part of the ongoing pilot phase, aims to test the new Onboard WiFi system and gather feedback from passengers and users before full rollout on ships.

The initiative underscores Saudia’s commitment to improving the passenger experience through comprehensive digital communications.

Adnoc Advs $14.7bn in UAE contracts, reveals plan for $24.5

The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has awarded AED54BN ($14.7BN) in contracts to UAE suppliers based on the second half of 2025, underscoring their position as a major driver of economic and industrial development.

This announcement came during the ninth edition of the Business Partnership Forum, held at Stelines of Adipec 2025, where Adnoc explained the new procurement opportunities in 2026-2027 under the theme “from Outlook.”

The contracts cover strategic, drilling, maintenance, reclamation, digital solutions, and major projects across the adnoc group, improve local market competitiveness, and drive sustainable economic growth across the UAE.