Weekly Highlights · UAE & Qatar | Dubai and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority will co-organize the 3rd Joint Climate Finance Conference; Qatar plans to build an electric vehicle factory, whose models are specially designed for the Gulf climate.
Dubai and Hong Kong Monetary Authority to Co-host the 3rd Joint Climate Finance Conference
According to WAM, the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) will jointly host the 3rd Climate Finance Conference in Hong Kong on September 10. The conference will bring together enterprises, investors and policymakers to discuss financing solutions, innovative models and cross-border cooperation required for the green transition. The two sides hope to leverage the roles of Dubai and Hong Kong, two major international financial centers, to channel capital into green transition projects and further connect the sustainable financial markets of Asia and the Middle East. (WAM)
Emirates NBD Partners with Dubai Future District Fund to Scale Up Fintech and AI Innovation
According to Fintech News, Emirates NBD announced the establishment of strategic cooperation with the Dubai Future District Fund (DFDF) to jointly explore, pilot and implement innovative solutions around fintech and artificial intelligence, so as to improve financial service efficiency and customer experience. Supported by the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), DFDF focuses on investing in early-stage fintech enterprises. Through the cooperation, Emirates NBD will connect with high-quality fintech and AI projects in DFDF's investment portfolio and promote their commercial application. (Fintech News)
Dubai Financial Regulator Expands Digital Asset Rules and Introduces Agentic AI
According to ZAWYA, the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) has launched a series of regulatory and technical upgrading measures to further improve digital asset regulation in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), and introduce Agentic AI into its internal operations. Data shows that the enterprise AI adoption rate in DIFC has risen from 33% in 2024 to 52% in 2025, of which 60% plan to further expand the application in 2026. (ZAWYA)
UAE Ministry of Finance Extends SME Tax Incentives to the End of 2029
According to ZAWYA, the UAE Ministry of Finance has issued Ministerial Decision No. 131 of 2026, extending the application period for the SME tax relief policy to December 31, 2029. Eligible resident tax entities with an annual income of no more than 3 million dirhams can continue to apply for this relief, and the current income threshold remains unchanged. The policy aims to reduce the tax compliance burden on small businesses and startups, support their business expansion and enhance the entrepreneurial ecosystem. (ZAWYA)
Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange Becomes the First to Open Real-time Market Data to AI Platforms Including ChatGPT
According to WAM, the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) has become the first exchange in the Middle East and North Africa to directly provide official real-time market data through generative AI platforms such as ChatGPT and Claude. Users can query market quotes in natural language without professional terminals or complex APIs. ADX said that this move aims to lower the threshold for accessing market data, improve transparency and financial inclusion, and support the development of fintech and AI investment tools. (WAM)
Sharjah Launches Office Support Program for Foreign Enterprises to Facilitate Foreign Investment Settlement
According to WAM, the Sharjah Economic Development Department and Al Teneiji Group have launched a joint program to provide office space for foreign enterprises that intend to invest in Sharjah and set up branches. This move aims to help enterprises reduce settlement costs, meet regulatory requirements, and concentrate resources to expand their business. In recent years, Sharjah has also launched measures such as online enterprise docking platforms, training courses and exhibition participation support to continuously improve the business environment for SMEs and entrepreneurs, and promote the diversification of income sources and the upgrading of economic structure by attracting foreign investment and fostering new economic sectors. (WAM)
DP World Reports H1 2026 Revenue of 12.7 Billion USD, Up 13.1% Year-on-Year
According to WAM, DP World posted a revenue of 12.7 billion USD in the first half of 2026, up 13.1% year-on-year. Amid disruptions to Middle East trade, growth in logistics, maritime services and international port and terminal operations effectively offset the decline in business at Jebel Ali Port. DP World stated that the results demonstrate the resilience of the group's diversified investment portfolio and integrated business model, and the company will continue to expand the integrated supply chain ecosystem at Jebel Ali Port to deliver greater logistics flexibility and supply chain resilience. (WAM)
Qatar Plans Electric Vehicle Factory with Models Specially Designed for Gulf Climate
According to The National, UK-based electric vehicle firm WATT EV and Doha-based JTA International Investment Holding have signed an agreement to build Qatar's first electric vehicle factory, jointly designing, developing and manufacturing a new generation of electric vehicles adapted to the extreme high temperature environment in the Gulf, with a focus on improving thermal management and battery performance at high temperatures. The factory will initially serve the Qatari market, then expand to the GCC and some international markets, and drive the development of local supply chains, R&D and advanced manufacturing talents. (The National)
Qatar's Construction Activities Accelerate in Q2, Building Permits Rise 26.1% Quarter-on-Quarter
According to The Peninsula, data from Qatar's Ministry of Municipality shows that construction and urban development activities warmed up significantly in the second quarter of 2026, with a total of 2240 building permits issued, up 26.1% from the first quarter; including 1703 permits for small projects and 91 for large projects. A total of 4017 building permits were issued nationwide in the first half of the year, reflecting that Qatar's construction industry remains active in all links including planning approval, construction and completion. (The Peninsula)
Third Phase of Qatar's Wasel Program Concludes, 10 Tech Enterprises Graduate and Fourth Phase Launches
According to QNA, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology of Qatar announced that 10 technology enterprises have completed the third phase of the "Wasel" program, and the fourth phase has been launched with 12 new enterprises participating. The first three phases have achieved remarkable results, with selected enterprises raising a total of about 13.8 million USD in financing, completing 388 B2B transactions, and achieving an average revenue growth of 32%. The selected enterprises cover diverse fields including industrial technology, health tech, media tech, agritech, e-commerce, enterprise technology and logistics. (QNA)
Qatar Revises Real Estate Lease Law to Reduce Registration Costs and Speed Up Dispute Resolution
According to ZAWYA, Law No. 8 of 2026 of Qatar revises the real estate lease system, unifying the lease contract registration fee from 0.5% of annual rent with a minimum of 250 riyals and a maximum of 2500 riyals to a flat 250 riyals; the settlement fee for some registration violations has been reduced from 5000 riyals to 1000 riyals. The new regulation will take effect on September 3, 2026, aiming to reduce transaction costs, increase registration rates and strengthen the protection of the rights and interests of lessors and lessees. (ZAWYA)
Qatar Strengthens AI Security Training to Enhance Digital Infrastructure Resilience
According to The Peninsula, Qatar's National Cybersecurity Agency held the 7th special training on artificial intelligence security applications to improve AI risk identification, data privacy protection and defense capabilities for the public and private sectors. The course focuses on security vulnerabilities in machine learning models, automated data pipelines and AI-driven architectures, and guides institutions to deploy AI systems safely in combination with domestic and foreign regulatory standards. (The Peninsula)
Recent Events
Dubai Business Forum · China Unveils Overseas Guest Lineup
On October 14, 2026, the 5th Dubai Business Forum will be held in Shenzhen, and the overseas guest lineup has been announced. This forum will bring together a number of important guests from Dubai government agencies, leading enterprises and investment fields. They have long been involved in Dubai's economic development, industrial planning, investment promotion and innovation ecosystem construction, and will share insights on Dubai's economic strategy, key industry trends and future cooperation directions. Up to now, 58 Dubai enterprises and institutions have confirmed their participation, covering key industries such as artificial intelligence, digital technology, advanced manufacturing, cross-border investment, consumer retail, logistics and supply chain. If you hope to gain in-depth insights into Dubai's industrial opportunities on site, or conduct business exchanges with senior executives of Dubai enterprises, investment institutions and government representatives, it is recommended that you submit your participation application as early as possible. Seats are limited, please scan the QR code below or click "Here" to submit your registration application.
Beyond Tokyo: Understand the Diverse Industrial Landscape of Japan
When it comes to the Japanese market, apart from Tokyo, a growing number of tech enterprises are turning their attention to local Japanese cities with distinctive industrial clusters. For example, Yokohama has formed a relatively complete industrial ecosystem in the field of new energy vehicles and mobility; Osaka has first-class urban infrastructure and is committed to strengthening cutting-edge technology and innovative industries; Fukuoka has attracted the attention of international startups with its favorable innovation and entrepreneurship environment and advantages in Asian talents. On August 27, 36Kr Global, together with JETRO, invites representatives from Yokohama, Osaka, Fukuoka and Chinese enterprises to share the development opportunities and local operation experience in different regions of Japan. If you hope to gain an in-depth understanding of the industrial characteristics of various regions in Japan and find the most suitable local development path for your own business, you are welcome to scan the QR code below or click "Here" to register for this event!
English Services
Service | KrASIA Launches Brand-new English Media Services for Chinese Enterprises Going Global
In the current complex global economic landscape, English reports are not only an important means to convey value propositions to overseas customers and consumers, but also a cognitive precipitation for enterprises in the global scope. KrASIA (kr-asia.com), an English-language media, is dedicated to introducing Chinese business and culture to the world. About 60% of the readers of its English website are business people in core Southeast Asian countries. With excellent search engine optimization, professional English content, reliable social media matrix, as well as inclusion in top global information data platforms such as Bloomberg Terminal and Dow Jones Factiva, KrASIA helps Chinese companies enhance their global brand. If your company has relevant demands for English communication, or hopes to cooperate with KrASIA to provide global expansion services, you are welcome to scan the QR code below or click "Here" to fill in the form to get the KrASIA media service rate card and the contact information of the staff.
Japanese Services
Service | 36Kr Japan Combines "Chinese Efficiency" and "Japanese Expression"
Japan is a relatively prudent business society for foreign brands. As a strategic partner of Nikkei, the authoritative Japanese media group, 36Kr Japan (https://36kr.jp) provides another path for Chinese enterprises to enter the Japanese market: relying on a vertical media platform that has been recognized by the local Japanese market and always adheres to localized operation, through the content matrix of mainstream Japanese channels such as Yahoo! News and SmartNews and a local business community network of more than 8000 people, it translates the technical language and business logic of Chinese enterprises into expressions that the Japanese business society can truly understand and accept, helping Chinese brands gain a firm foothold in the local market. If you are considering entering the Japanese market, or want to learn more about consultation and cooperation methods for local Japanese media communication, you are welcome to scan the QR code below to add the business consultation lead. We will provide corresponding content planning and implementation plans based on your global expansion stage and communication needs.
