Weekly News · UAE & Qatar | Abu Dhabi Masdar City Free Zone has newly set up representative offices in Shanghai and Shenzhen; Qatar promulgates new laws on drone management.
RoboSense Signs Strategic Cooperation Agreement with UAE's Origen to Co-develop Embodied Intelligence
According to financial news, RoboSense signed a strategic cooperation agreement with UAE-based AI-native technology company Origen during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference. The two sides will integrate RoboSense's advantages in 3D perception technology and large-scale mass production with Origen's AI solutions and industrial resources in the Middle East, to carry out long-term collaboration around the embodied intelligence and spatial intelligence ecosystem, and accelerate the implementation of robots, sensors and automated platforms in real scenarios. (Financial News)
Masdar City Free Zone in Abu Dhabi Opens New Representative Offices in Shanghai and Shenzhen
According to ZAWYA, Masdar City Free Zone in Abu Dhabi has opened new representative offices in Shanghai and Shenzhen, expanding its presence in China to three locations: Shanghai, Shenzhen and Suzhou. Since the Suzhou office was launched in December 2025, more than 15 Chinese enterprises have registered and settled in. The new offices will target industries such as clean energy, artificial intelligence, smart mobility, life sciences and aerospace, to provide Chinese enterprises with Chinese-language consultation, registration and settlement support for investing in Abu Dhabi. (ZAWYA)
DP World Expands UAE Port Network
According to WAM, DP World and the Fujairah Port Authority have signed a 50-year concession agreement to develop the Rugaylat Container Port and the Dibba-Fujairah Port in phases. The two new ports will be connected to Jebel Ali Port and its inland logistics network, further enhancing the UAE's supply chain efficiency, port interconnection capabilities and trade hub competitiveness, while driving investment, employment and regional economic development. (WAM)
Khalifa Fund Upgrades Financing System to Support Enterprise Development
According to Gulf Today, the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development (KFED) announced an upgrade to its financing ecosystem, aiming to support national entrepreneurship and accelerate the development of startups and SMEs. The new system includes seven comprehensive financing plans, covering the needs of enterprises from establishment, expansion to innovation and development. KFED stated that this move is designed to direct capital precisely to high-value sectors, deepen economic diversification and enhance the country's long-term competitiveness. (Gulf Today)
Abu Dhabi's H1 Real Estate Transaction Volume Hits $31.9 Billion, Surges 112% YoY
According to ARAB NEWS, official data shows that Abu Dhabi's real estate sector achieved strong growth in the first half of this year, with transaction volume reaching 117 billion dirhams (about $31.9 billion), up 112% year-on-year, and transaction volume rising 61.7%. Foreign direct investment performed particularly prominently, reaching 13.8 billion dirhams in the first half of the year, a surge of 309%, exceeding the total for the whole of 2025. It involves non-resident investors from 116 countries and regions, with source countries mainly the United Kingdom, China, Russia, the United States, Germany and France. (ARAB NEWS)
Dubai Issues Approximately $800 in Cultural Tourism Vouchers to Boost Tourism
According to View News, Dubai, UAE recently introduced economic incentives to distribute cultural tourism vouchers worth over 3,000 dirhams (about $800) to local residents and their visiting relatives and friends, in order to boost the tourism industry. The "Dubai Invitation" campaign launched by Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism started on July 20 and will last until October 31. The campaign advocates residents to act as "tourism ambassadors", and both the inviter and the invitee will receive comprehensive subsidies covering hotels, restaurants and attraction tickets after registration. (View News)
Qatar Promulgates New Drone Regulation Law
According to ZAWYA, Qatar recently promulgated Law No. 10 of 2026 on the Regulation of Drones, establishing a legal framework for the use of drones, aiming to balance technological innovation and aviation safety. Under this law, the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority is responsible for coordinating the regulation of drone operations, including issuing and renewing licenses, determining permitted models, delineating flight areas and altitudes, regulating import and export, supervising compliance and formulating environmental protection measures. (ZAWYA)
Qatar's Real Estate Transaction Volume in June Reaches 1.69 Billion Riyals
According to Gulf Times, data from the Ministry of Justice of Qatar shows that the real estate transaction volume in Qatar in June 2026 was 1.692 billion riyals, with a total of 541 transactions. During the same period, Qatar registered 109 real estate mortgage transactions with a total value of 3.078 billion riyals. The Ministry of Justice stated that active investment and business activities, as well as the improvement of regulations in real estate brokerage, registration, property rights and usufruct, are continuously driving market development. (Gulf Times)
Qatar's Ministry of Transport and Qatar Engineers Association Sign MOU on Land Transport Cooperation
According to QNA, Qatar's Ministry of Transport and the Qatar Engineers Association signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of land transport today, aiming to strengthen cooperation in intelligent transportation R&D, road safety and related laws and regulations. The MOU will promote strategic collaboration between the two sides in the field of transportation innovation, and enhance the professional capabilities of local talents in road transportation by organizing professional training, seminars and educational courses. (QNA)
Qatar's Startup Ecosystem Enters a New Growth Phase
According to Gulf Times, the "Qatar Startup Ecosystem Research Report" jointly released by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the U.S.-Qatar Business Council shows that Qatar's startups have entered a new growth phase. Supported by huge national investment and scientific research capabilities, Qatar's startup sector is moving into a new growth stage. The report points out that Qatar has accelerated enterprise establishment through various policy adjustments, with 22 public incubators and accelerators providing support, and the entrepreneurship willingness rate has risen from 47.4% to 60.8%. (Gulf Times)
Recent Events
"Dubai Business Forum · China" to Debut in Shenzhen in October, Registration Now Open
The 5th "Dubai Business Forum · China" will be held in Shenzhen on October 14, 2026. With the theme of "Gathering Momentum for Far-sighted Development, Winning a New Journey Together", the forum will introduce the diversified development opportunities brought by the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33) to the Chinese business community, and explore new paths for bilateral cooperation and strategic investment. As a high-end platform to promote strategic economic collaboration between Chinese and Dubai business leaders, the Dubai Business Forum · China brings together core representatives of China's top multinational enterprises, unicorn companies, high-growth technology enterprises, venture capital institutions and family businesses; the Dubai Chamber of Commerce will lead a top delegation composed of local core enterprises, well-known family offices, leading investment institutions and key government departments to attend the forum. If you are interested in this year's Dubai Business Forum · China, please scan the QR code below, orclick "Here" to fill in the registration form and apply for a conference seat.
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In the current complex global economic landscape, English reporting is not only an important means to convey value propositions to overseas customers and consumers, but also a way for enterprises to build global awareness. English media KrASIA (kr-asia.com) is dedicated to introducing Chinese business and culture to the world. About 60% of the readers on its English website are business people from core Southeast Asian countries. KrASIA helps Chinese companies enhance their global brand presence through excellent search engine optimization, professional English content, reliable social media matrices, as well as external inclusion platforms such as Bloomberg Terminal and Dow Jones Factiva, the world's top information and data platforms. If your company has relevant needs for English communication, or hopes to cooperate with KrASIA to provide global expansion services, please scan the QR code below or click "Here" to fill in the form to get the KrASIA media service price list and contact information of the staff.
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