Dubai , September 23, 2026 :The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) identified 377 cases of “fake Emiratisation” across 266 private-sector companies during the first half of 2026 through its field and digital monitoring systems.

Legal action was taken against the violating companies in accordance with applicable legislation and decisions, the Ministry said, stressing that the cases represent limited negative practices and do not constitute a widespread phenomenon in the UAE labour market.

MoHRE said it deals firmly with attempts to circumvent Emiratisation policies or unlawfully benefit from government incentives and benefits allocated to support the employment of Emirati citizens.

The measures were taken in accordance with Cabinet Decision No. 43 of 2025 concerning administrative violations and penalties related to initiatives and programmes of the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council.

The Ministry stressed that Emiratisation requires a genuine and productive employment relationship involving actual duties, responsibilities and a career path that develops Emirati employees’ skills and capabilities.

It warned that fake Emiratisation can distort labour market indicators, waste resources allocated to genuine employment, deprive Emiratis of real job and professional development opportunities, and disadvantage compliant companies investing in national talent.

MoHRE called on private-sector establishments to comply with the objectives of Emiratisation policies and urged Emirati citizens not to participate in arrangements involving employment registration without actual work.

The Ministry also called on citizens and community members to report suspected cases through its official channels, including the call centre on 600590000, its smart application or website.

MoHRE said it continues to develop monitoring and verification tools using digital systems and data analytics to detect irregular practices, protect Emirati employees and compliant establishments, and strengthen the integrity of the Emiratisation system.

Fake Emiratisation is defined as registering an Emirati citizen with an establishment and issuing a work permit and employment contract without a genuine employment relationship or actual job duties, whether to circumvent Emiratisation targets or improperly obtain government support and incentives.

Abudhabi , September 23, 2026 : The United Arab Emirates has recorded significant progress in the 2026 Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) Nuclear Security Index, ranking fourth among 48 countries assessed for protecting nuclear facilities against sabotage.

The result reflects the continued development of the UAE’s nuclear security framework and sustained efforts to strengthen the protection and resilience of its peaceful nuclear energy programme.

The UAE also ranked joint 15th among 154 countries and areas assessed for supporting global efforts against the theft of nuclear materials, achieving a score of 85 out of 100, an increase of two points compared with the recalculated 2023 baseline.

The 2026 NTI Nuclear Security Index is an independent assessment of nuclear security conditions worldwide. Developed by the Nuclear Threat Initiative in partnership with Economist Enterprise, the Index assesses countries and areas across a range of nuclear security measures, including security and control measures, international norms, domestic commitments and capacity, and the broader risk environment.

The 2026 Index highlighted significant progress in the UAE’s security and control measures. The UAE’s score in this category increased from 66 in 2023 to 86 in 2026.

These measures cover key elements of nuclear security, including physical protection, insider-threat prevention, response capabilities, cybersecurity and security culture.

NTI highlighted a number of developments contributing to the UAE’s progress, including strengthened requirements for nuclear facility protection, updated cybersecurity provisions, enhanced personnel vetting requirements and measures to strengthen preparedness and resilience.

Hamad Al Kaabi, Director-General of the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), said, “The UAE’s strong performance in the 2026 NTI Nuclear Security Index reflects our long-term commitment to maintaining a robust, sustainable and continuously improving nuclear security regime. It demonstrates the strength of the UAE’s regulatory framework, effective national coordination and our commitment to applying high standards of nuclear security.

“The nuclear security environment continues to evolve, requiring regulators, operators and relevant national entities to remain vigilant and prepared for emerging risks. The UAE will continue to strengthen its capabilities, learn from international experience and work closely with national and international partners to ensure the highest standards of nuclear security.”

Since its establishment, FANR has developed and continuously strengthened an integrated regulatory framework for nuclear security in accordance with national legislation and the UAE’s international obligations and commitments.

FANR regulates nuclear facilities and nuclear and radioactive materials, conducts inspections and oversees compliance with nuclear security requirements in coordination with relevant national entities.

The UAE also continues to work closely with the International Atomic Energy Agency and international partners to exchange expertise, strengthen national capabilities and contribute to international efforts to enhance nuclear security.

In its 2026 assessment, NTI identified the UAE among 12 countries that have emerged as a new driving force for global nuclear security progress, recognising countries that have sustained domestic improvements, supported other governments and strengthened engagement with international institutions.

The UAE’s performance in the 2026 NTI Nuclear Security Index reflects its commitment to continuous improvement and to maintaining a nuclear security regime capable of responding to evolving risks while contributing to the strengthening of the global nuclear security architecture.

Dubai , September 23, 2026 : During the first half of 2026, the Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE) underwent a significant transformation in its regulatory performance, driven by the integration of evaluation, marketing authorisation, inspection, pharmacovigilance and drug safety, risk management and supply sustainability functions. At the same time, it continued to support local manufacturing, research and development, and the use of advanced technologies across the pharmaceutical sector.

Official data show that EDE carried out 2,030 inspection and regulatory visits to warehouses, marketing offices and local manufacturing facilities across the UAE by June 30, 2026, including 288 visits in June alone.

The visits covered a wide range of facilities under EDE’s supervision in the pharmaceutical, agricultural and veterinary sectors. They also included monitoring the disposal of medical products and inspections related to good practices.

The findings were also integrated into digital and analytical systems that support decision-making and improve the efficiency of follow-up.

In advertising oversight, EDE identified 828 non-compliant advertisements during the first half of the year, including 113 in June.

The first half of 2026 also saw further development of the sector’s legislative and regulatory framework, with Federal Decree by Law No. (21) of 2025 Regarding Veterinary Medical Products and Veterinary Pharmaceutical Establishments coming into force on January 1, 2026.

The Chairman of EDE also issued six legislative decisions covering the regulation of semi-controlled medical substances and products, administrative violations and penalties, good pharmacovigilance practices, updates to schedules of narcotic and psychotropic substances, the regulation of foot-and-mouth disease vaccines, and the adoption of the national list of essential veterinary medical products.

Regulatory activity also included 20 decisions on the pricing of medical products, including price adjustments and reductions, as well as 38 circulars covering precautionary, voluntary and urgent product recalls, regulatory warnings, and measures related to import procedures, customs clearance, supply continuity and pharmacovigilance.

In February, EDE approved a mechanism requiring pharmaceutical companies to appoint more than one importer for each medical product marketed in the UAE.

EDE also formed a national task force bringing together 16 entities from the pharmaceutical and logistics sectors to coordinate responses to emerging challenges, share operational data and technical expertise, and enhance planning and inventory management.

During the first half of 2026, 942 products were approved. These included 420 Conventional & Biological pharmaceutical products, among them 63 innovator products, as well as 376 healthcare products and 146 medical devices.

Local manufacturing accounted for 247 UAE-made products, representing more than a quarter of the total. These comprised 200 conventional pharmaceutical products, 40 healthcare products and seven medical devices.

Among the products approved were Inpefa® (sotagliflozin) for heart failure and Foundayo (orforglipron), making the UAE the second country in the world to approve each treatment.

EDE also approved EURneffy®, the region’s first epinephrine nasal spray for the emergency treatment of severe allergic reactions, and Baxfendy (baxdrostat) for uncontrolled high blood pressure, making the UAE the first country in the world to approve the latter. MIEBO, a treatment for dry eye disease, was also approved, making the UAE the third country globally to authorise the therapy.

EDE announced that a research team at Insilico Medicine had developed ISM0387. The candidate is designed to target tumours associated with MTAP deletion. ISM0387 was developed using Insilico Medicine’s Chemistry42 generative chemistry platform.

During the first half of the year, EDE carried out a series of field visits to UAE-based pharmaceutical and medical supplies manufacturers. The visits focused on production capacity, quality systems, expansion plans and the localisation of advanced therapeutic technologies.

Working within an integrated national ecosystem that brings together regulatory, economic and logistics authorities, EDE has helped create an attractive environment for pharmaceutical investment and international partnerships.

Novo Nordisk’s decision to establish a regional distribution centre in the UAE will be one of three global centres managing the distribution of the company’s products worldwide. The facility is expected to serve up to 70 countries across the Gulf, Africa and Central Asia.

EDE participated in the World Health Expo 2026 and Make it in the Emirates 2026, promoting the UAE’s position in pharmaceutical regulation, scientific research and health technologies.

EDE’s performance during the first half of 2026 demonstrates the breadth of its role across regulation, evaluation, marketing authorisations, inspection, supply, manufacturing and research.

The two firms have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to bring institutional-grade digital asset management to investors across the region — built in one of the world’s leading regulated financial centres.

Abudhabi , September 23, 2026 :

Vertix Holdings, the Abu Dhabi-based investment group, and Iqana Technologies, the MiCA-regulated quantitative digital asset manager, today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a digital asset investment management partnership in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). The partnership is intended, subject to regulatory authorisation in ADGM, to give family offices, professional investors and asset managers across the region access to institutional-grade, systematic digital asset strategies, built to the safeguarding and governance standards they expect.

WHY ABU DHABI
Known as the “capital of capital”, Abu Dhabi is one of the world’s foremost international financial centres, and through ADGM was among the first jurisdictions globally to introduce a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets. For a partnership built on trust and transparency, it is the natural home — at a time when regional demand for professionally managed digital asset exposure continues to accelerate.

WHY VERTIX HOLDINGS
For Vertix, the partnership marks a strategic move into one of the fastest-growing areas of global finance, extending the group’s governance-first model beyond real estate, facility management, auditing, investment and F&B. Investor protection sits at its core: under a non-custodial model, client assets remain in investors’ own accounts and are never commingled with the partnership’s operations — the same audit-ready discipline applied across every company in the group.

WHY IQANA TECHNOLOGIES
Iqana brings the discipline of a regulated European asset manager. It is the first crypto asset manager authorised by Spain’s CNMV under the EU’s MiCA framework for discretionary portfolio management, and it never takes custody of client assets: its strategies run on clients’ own accounts through trade-only access. Iqana will contribute the technology, systematic investment strategies and risk-management framework at the heart of the partnership.

“With this venture, Vertix enters digital assets on the terms that define us: governed, transparent, and built to protect the investor. Establishing it in ADGM, alongside a regulated manager whose model keeps client assets in the client’s own hands, is exactly how a market this important should be approached.”
Amer Al Ahbabi, Chairman, Vertix Holdings

“For institutional investors, digital assets have long lacked what every other asset class takes for granted: regulated management, transparent processes and the certainty that their assets remain under their control. That is what Iqana was built to provide in Europe, and Abu Dhabi, one of the region’s leading financial hubs, is the natural place to explore bringing this model. In Vertix we have found a partner that shares our conviction: that digital assets have earned their place in institutional portfolios, and that governance is not a constraint on this market, but the condition for it to grow.”
Quim Allard, Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder, Iqana Technologies

The parties will now work to finalise the partnership’s structure and scope, subject to definitive agreements and regulatory authorisation.

Sharjah , September 21 , 2026 : The ninth Sharjah Investment Forum (SIF 2026) will take place on 14th and 15th October at Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre under the theme “Building Adaptive Economies”, with an agenda centred on four key strategic pillars: regulatory competitiveness and economic adaptability; AI, technology and industrial transformation; smart capital flows and supply-chain resilience; and future living and economic growth.

Organised by the Sharjah FDI Office (Invest in Sharjah) in collaboration with the Ministry of Investment, this year’s forum will bring together policymakers, government officials, leading global and regional CEOs, business and financial leaders, and investors.

The forum’s agenda responds to rapid geopolitical and economic changes and structural shifts in the global economy, from the reshaping of investment policies and capital flows to the rise of advanced technologies and changes in value and supply chains, as well as transformations reshaping the future of cities, productive sectors and consumer behaviour.

Commenting on the agenda, Mohamed Juma Al Musharrkh, CEO of IIS, said, “The pace of change across global markets is challenging governments and businesses to continually rethink how they compete, invest and grow. This year’s agenda responds directly to that reality, bringing together the policy, technology and investment questions that will influence where capital moves, how industries develop and how economies strengthen their competitiveness.”

He added, “Building adaptive economies requires the ability to anticipate where opportunities are emerging and create the conditions for businesses and investment to respond. Through SIF 2026, we are bringing public- and private-sector leaders together to consider how policy, capital and innovation can support economic growth through periods of rapid change.”

The forum’s first pillar, “Regulatory Competitiveness and Economic Adaptability,” will examine how policy, business conditions and corporate leadership can adapt as markets, technology and investment patterns change.

“Thriving in the Age of Constant Disruption” will explore how entrepreneurial thinking, agility and experimentation can help businesses respond to technological, economic and market shifts. “The CEO Playbook: Leading Through Constant Change” will focus on navigating volatility, assessing structural change and capital allocation.

Government policy will be the focus of “Where Policy Meets Pace: Frameworks Ahead of the Curve.” The session will discuss how coordinated policy can respond to changing capital and trade flows, support emerging industries and provide stability and predictability for investors.

According to UNCTAD’s World Investment Report 2026, governments adopted 229 new investment policy measures worldwide in 2025, with growing attention to growth, resilience, technological progress and economic security.

“Beyond Ease of Doing Business: Building Economies Where Businesses Grow” will turn to investor retention and expansion, including government services, data, digital transformation, and coordination across Sharjah’s business ecosystem.

The second pillar, “AI, Technology and Industrial Transformation,” will explore how AI, automation and emerging technologies are changing industry, investment and how businesses operate and scale.

“Powering Adaptive Economies with Agentic AI” will deliberate how agentic AI can transform government and investor services and complex processes, alongside the requirements for responsible deployment at scale, while “The Next Industrial Frontier: Innovation, Technology and Growth” session will highlight the innovations driving the next industrial era and their practical application across operations, in addition to the workforce and skills needed to accommodate the transformation.

According to UNCTAD’s World Investment Report 2026, AI infrastructure, advanced technologies, semiconductors and other strategic sectors accounted for 44 percent of the value of greenfield FDI projects worldwide in 2025, up from 16 percent in 2020.

“The Future Is Now: Investing in What Comes Next” will explore rapid technological change, including new models of work, entrepreneurship and value creation. Meanwhile, “From Vision to Vitality: Sharjah’s Fast Track to Healthcare Breakthroughs”” will connect how science, research and practical innovation, can cause impact.

The “Smart Capital Flows and Supply-Chain Resilience” pillar will examine how shifting capital flows and pressures on global supply chains are reshaping investment, trade, and economic resilience.

Changing investor appetite, high-growth financing, cross-border expansion and emerging asset classes will be explored in “Capital Without Borders: Where Smart Money Is Moving Next.” Meanwhile, “Supply Chains Under Pressure: Strengthening Resilience Against Global Shocks” will shed light on how geopolitical and trade disruptions are driving investment in connectivity, infrastructure and more diversified supply networks.

UNCTAD data show that global foreign direct investment flows rose by 6 percent in 2025 to $1.6 trillion, with more than 80 percent concentrated in the 20 largest recipient economies. The figures add context to the forum’s discussion of what determines where capital moves and which markets are best positioned to attract it.

The fourth pillar, “Future Living & Economic Growth,” will examine how development, environmental pressures and changing consumer behaviour are shaping investment and future demand.

“Partners in Growth: Agreements Shaping Tomorrow’s Trade” will bring together ambassadors from the UAE’s CEPA partner countries to explore how these agreements are opening new markets, strengthening trade and creating opportunities for investment and growth.

“From Buildings to Destinations: Driving Economic Growth,” focusing on how infrastructure, sustainable communities, tourism and commercial activity can attract residents, businesses, visitors and investment to Sharjah.

Food security, including climate change and water scarcity, will be featured in “Growing a Sustainable Future: Where Agriculture Meets Sustainability,” alongside clean energy, resource efficiency, and agricultural technology. “The Consumer of 2035” will look at how AI, demographic change and digital lifestyles are reshaping consumer behaviour and how businesses can anticipate changing demand and expectations.

The previous edition, held alongside the World Investment Conference in 2025, attracted more than 12,000 participants from 142 countries and featured more than 130 ministers and international leaders.

Dubai , September 21 , 2026 : Dubai South, the largest urban master development focused on aviation, logistics and real estate, has marked the official inauguration of Dior’s new Regional Distribution Centre for the Middle East, at EZDubai Logistics Hub. The new facility further strengthens the district’s position as a preferred destination for leading international companies seeking advanced logistics and supply chain solutions in Dubai.

The inauguration was attended by Khalifa Alzaffin, Executive Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai South, Nabil Alkindi, Group CEO of Dubai South, Mohsen Ahmad, CEO of EZDubai Logistics Hub, Pierre De Maigret, President Middle East at Dior, Anne Borde, Worldwide Supply Chain & Logistics Director at Dior, Eymeric Joussen, Head of Supply Chain & Logistics Middle East at Dior; and other senior officials from both entities.

Spanning 7,200 square metres across two levels, the facility has been established to support Dior’s operations across the Middle East. It manages inventory, order fulfilment and boutique replenishment, while also supporting Dior’s growing e-commerce activities in the UAE.

By positioning inventory closer to its regional markets, the new Regional Distribution Centre will enhance product availability and accelerate replenishment across Dior’s boutique network, enabling greater responsiveness to client demand and a more seamless and consistent client experience.

Nabil Alkindi, Group CEO of Dubai South, said, “We are pleased to inaugurate Dior’s new Regional Distribution Centre at Dubai South and welcome another globally renowned brand to our growing logistics ecosystem. The establishment of Dior’s regional distribution centre reflects the confidence international companies continue to place in Dubai as a strategic base for their regional operations. At Dubai South, our mandate is to provide an integrated and efficient environment that enables businesses to optimise their supply chains, enhance connectivity to key markets and support their long-term growth.”

The facility has also been designed with sustainability at the core of its operations and has been awarded LEED Gold certification. Dior’s facility and supply chain teams are implementing measures aimed at reducing the environmental footprint of logistics activities, including optimising transportation flows, eliminating single-use plastic from packaging, and increasing the use of sea freight whenever possible.

Sharjah , September 21 , 2026 : Alef Group, the Sharjah-based real estate developer shaping modern, integrated communities and destinations, has announced the complete sell-out of all 2,683 homes across the five residential towers at Linar, its AED4 billion waterfront development in Al Mamzar, Sharjah.

The project has sold out after all units in the final two towers were sold as part of Phase 2, following strong demand for the first three towers. Alef has confirmed that construction is scheduled to commence this year.

Demand has come from a broad buyer base spanning the domestic market, international business owners and executives, and overseas investors. The diversity of buyers reflects Linar’s appeal across different market segments, and also reinforces Sharjah’s growing position as a destination for high-quality living and long-term real estate investment.

Linar’s sales performance reflects a wider shift in the way buyers assess residential developments. Location and the specifications of an individual home remain important, but buyers are placing increasing value on how well a development supports everyday life: whether essential needs are brought closer, routine tasks require less effort and the overall environment allows more time for the people and experiences that matter.

Positioned at the eastern edge of Al Mamzar Beach, Linar brings direct waterfront living together with health, wellness and fitness amenities, co-working spaces, restaurants and cafés, landscaped gardens, social areas and children’s play spaces. By placing these different aspects of daily life within one connected environment, the development is designed to make residents’ routines simpler and more fluid. Residents will enjoy UAE’s quintessential highrise living at the Sky Social Floor, situated on the 47th floor of the fifth tower. Flanked by panoramic views of the city’s skyline and the beach, the space has been designed by Alef to offer relaxation and connection in a stylish, modern setting.

The towers will be connected directly to the beach by a pedestrian bridge. The development will also include retail and service offerings, alongside a dedicated delivery and parcel management centre designed to reduce the time and effort associated with everyday logistics.

Raed Kajoor Al Nuaimi, CEO of Alef Group, said, “The complete sell-out of Linar’s five residential towers, and the demand generated by the second phase within such a short period, demonstrate how buyer expectations and the very definition of real estate value are evolving. Purchasing decisions today extend beyond the specifications of an individual home. Buyers are looking at how the development works as a whole: whether it makes everyday life easier, reduces the effort required by daily routines and gives people more time for the things that matter to them.”

Dubai , September 21, 2026 : The Dubai Sports Council, in partnership with the New Economy Academy, launched the ‘Sports Entrepreneurship Programme’, which aims to qualify and empower Emiratis to lead pioneering investment projects in the sports business field.

The programme is part of the national campaign ‘UAE: Capital of Entrepreneurship in the World’ and aims to train and qualify 1,000 young Emirati men and women who aspire to enhance their knowledge and expertise in managing, organising and establishing sports-related businesses. The initiative falls under the broader ‘Entrepreneurship’ programme, which targets Emirati entrepreneurs and aims to train 10,000 citizens.

During a lecture delivered as part of the programme, Qais Al Dhalai, President of the Asian Rugby Federation, emphasised the key principles and foundations for successful investment in the sports sector, noting that the UAE’s sports sector offers numerous promising investment opportunities and attracts a growing number of participants in various sports annually.

Dr. Laila Faridoun, CEO of the New Economy Academy, said that the sports sector is undergoing rapid transformations, making it a key driver of the modern economy and opening up vast opportunities for entrepreneurs and innovators to develop new solutions and projects with economic and social value.

She said the Sports Entrepreneurship Programme represents a significant step towards building a new generation of entrepreneurs capable of transforming innovative sports ideas into sustainable projects. She added that the Academy, in collaboration with its partners, is committed to designing training programmes that combine specialised knowledge with practical application, enabling participants to acquire the necessary tools and expertise to establish successful sports projects that contribute to enhancing the competitiveness of the sports economy and supporting the UAE’s sustainable economic development goals.

For his part, Issa Sharif, Director of Sports Events at the Dubai Sports Council, praised the strategic partnership with the New Economy Academy, emphasising that the initiative contributes to empowering national talent and enhancing their contributions to the comprehensive development process.

He explained that the programme provides participants with advanced academic knowledge and expertise and opens direct communication channels with a select group of investors and entrepreneurs who have achieved success in the sports sector.

Sharjah , September 21, 2026 : Sharjah Safari opens its fifth season , offering visitors new wildlife experiences, educational programmes and behind-the-scenes animal care tours.

The new season builds on Sharjah Safari’s breeding and animal care programmes, which recorded 186 births during the second quarter of 2026.

The births included South African giraffes, elephants, lions, oryx, blue wildebeest, impala, nyala and zebra.

Sharjah Safari also recently welcomed six critically endangered radiated tortoise hatchlings, supporting its efforts in species conservation and biodiversity.

Aisha Rashid Deemas, Chairperson of the Environment and Protected Areas Authority in Sharjah (EPAA), said the fifth season represents another step in developing Sharjah Safari’s role in wildlife conservation while providing visitors with an educational and engaging experience.

She said the Safari aims to deepen visitors’ understanding of wildlife and the importance of conservation through programmes that combine observation, education and direct engagement.

The fifth season will introduce exclusive behind-the-scenes tours during selected periods, offering visitors insight into daily animal care and the specialised expertise involved in maintaining the Safari’s wildlife.

Educational and recreational activities will also continue throughout the season, giving visitors opportunities to observe animals across expansive environments designed to reflect their natural habitats.

The new season further strengthens Sharjah Safari’s role as an eco-tourism destination combining conservation, education and entertainment.

Sharjah Safari will welcome visitors daily from 08:30 to 18:00 starting Monday, 21st September.