
Sharjah to Close Key Roads for the Etihad Rail Project
The closure follows a similar two-month restriction earlier in the summer, from July 1 to August 30, which affected the same route to accommodate ongoing rail construction. During that period, SRTA urged motorists to plan and use alternative routes to mitigate traffic delays.
The road closure is instrumental in facilitating the construction of the future Sharjah passenger station, located near University City, a strategically chosen hub owing to its proximity to Sharjah International Airport, numerous educational institutions, and vital urban infrastructure.
Upon completion, the Etihad Rail network will transform connectivity across the UAE, offering high-speed travel and easing congestion between key emirates such as Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Fujairah
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Arabian Business
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- Arabian Business
New UAE school holidays; GCC visa rules; Dubai property boom; Etihad Rail real estate forecast; Abu Dhabi road tolls – 10 things you missed this week
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The updated schedule will take effect from August 25, 2025, aligning with the country's 'Year of Community' goals to strengthen family cohesion and create a balanced learning environment. See key dates for UAE school year 2025-2026 here. Kuwait announces new visa for expats in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman Kuwait has announced new visa on arrival rules for expat residents living in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman. The new visa was announced by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al Yousef Al Sabah. The tourist visit visa is offered to residents of GCC countries and is designed to boost tourism from neighbouring countries. Where Dubai rents rose and fell in first half of 2025 Dubai's rental market delivered mixed performance during the first half of 2025, with luxury waterfront communities posting steep increases whilst budget-friendly neighbourhoods experienced significant declines, according to industry experts and market data. The biggest winners were prime areas like Business Bay and Dubai Marina, where rental rates surged driven by young professionals seeking proximity to Dubai's financial districts. Meanwhile, areas like International City and Discovery Gardens saw rents tumble as regulatory crackdowns and increased competition took their toll. 'Business Bay saw rental rates increase in H1, driven by high demand from young professionals and its proximity to Downtown Dubai and DIFC,' said Ronan Arthur, Director and Head of Residential Valuation at Cavendish Maxwell. UAE real estate: Etihad Rail to boost property market and create new trade and investment corridors Etihad Rail will transform real estate, investment and trade across the UAE, according to a property CEO in the country. A UAE property expert says the benefits delivered by Etihad Rail will extend far beyond real estate, creating new corridors for living, trade, and investment across the Emirates. Firas Al Msaddi, CEO of fäm Properties, believes the Etihad Rail network will transform the UAE's economic landscape by boosting connectivity, reducing travel times, and driving genuine demand in emerging markets. UAE announces major new passport rule UAE citizens will now be able to renew their passports up to one year before the expiry date, following a new decision by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP). Previously, the renewal period was limited to six months before expiry. The updated rule — announced by ICP Chairman Ali Mohammed Al Shamsi — comes into effect Monday, August 18, 2025, and will be available via the Authority's smart services platform. Al Shamsi said the move will improve citizens' quality of life by allowing them to plan international travel further in advance, complete official transactions without delays, and increase the use of secure digital documents. Dubai Smart Rental Index bears fruit as landlords recalibrate pricing strategies Tenants are successfully using Dubai's Smart Rental Index to challenge unjustified rent hikes, leading to fairer rental agreements and reduced conflicts with landlords, as the regulatory tool delivers on its promise to moderate extreme rental increases seven months after its introduction. The Index, launched by the Dubai Land Department (DLD) in January 2025, has shifted bargaining power towards tenants and created what brokers describe as a more balanced rental market, with data from the first half of 2025 revealing divergent trends across different price segments and neighbourhoods. Landlords are recalibrating their pricing strategies in response to the artificial intelligence-powered tool, which uses multiple data points including rental contract values, area averages, and building classifications to determine fair rental adjustments whilst requiring landlords to provide 90 days' notice for increases. Dubai property sales hit $14bn in July as off-plan demand and rents surge, top developers revealed Dubai's residential real estate market continued its upward trajectory in July 2025, with Betterhomes reporting strong growth in both sales and leasing, driven by robust off-plan demand and an influx of new tenants. 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The tower itself is set to become a design landmark, boasting the region's tallest ceramic façade and a distinctive twisting form. Dubai real estate insights 2025: What are GCC property investors prioritising in H2? Dubai real estate investors are looking for off-plan properties, high rental yields, and long-term lifestyle investments, according to analysis by brokerage and development firm Asico. Asico has identified key trends shaping GCC buyer preferences for the second half of 2025 based on detailed market analysis and direct client feedback. Wail Abualhamail, Director of Real Estate at Asico, said: 'We've seen a significant increase in enquiries from GCC clients, especially those seeking a blend of capital appreciation and lifestyle value. Our clients are not just looking for property, they're making long-term decisions tied to family life, income generation, and future stability in the UAE.' 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The National
7 hours ago
- The National
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Khaleej Times
14 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
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That changed after a visit to the DMCC Coffee Centre in Jebel Ali, arranged by his friend Ahmed Bin Sulayem, CEO of Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC). The state-of-the-art facility, which houses everything from temperature-controlled green coffee storage to precision roasting and cupping labs, left a lasting impression on him. 'Driving back home that day, I called my sister and said: 'I'm starting a coffee company,'' AlNaqbi says. 'The idea just wouldn't let go. Coffee is the most consumed beverage in the world after water. And I thought, why not?' First brew Fortunately, entrepreneurship wasn't new to him. 'When I was a kid, I started a small neighbourhood grocery,' he says with a grin. 'Later, barely out of my teens, I set up a business manufacturing fireproof doors.' That early experience, along with Dubai's ease of doing business, made the transition smooth. 'Getting my trade licence took no more than 10 minutes,' he says. 'That's the beauty of Dubai.' He named the company Harvester, inspired by a photograph of African women hand-picking coffee cherries. 'It was a tribute to the roots of coffee,' he explains. 'To the women, the farmers, the communities behind every cup.' With little more than a YouTube education in roasting and packaging, AlNaqbi ordered his first batch; 600 kilos each of Brazilian and Colombian beans. He roasted them himself, labelled each bag by hand, and drove them across the city to cafes and clients. Harvester began with a simple idea to serve better coffee. Today, we're building a brand that represents innovation, heritage, and pride" Abdel Aziz Alnaqbi 'They sold out in no time,' he says. 'And then came the Guava Banana craze.' One of Harvester's most talked-about products is its so-called Guava Banana coffee, a name born from a linguistic mix-up. The beans, sourced from a Colombian farm surrounded by guanábana trees (also known as soursop), carried a subtle, fruity aroma. 'Legend has it, the Americans misheard guanábana as 'guava banana', and the name stuck,' AlNaqbi chuckles. 'Whatever you call it, people love it. Some even showed up at DMCC asking if it had been banned!' As orders grew, he knew he couldn't continue operating from home. That's when aviation colleague and friend Bakhita Al Mheiri, one of the UAE's youngest female commercial pilots, came on board. 'Bakhita brought amazing energy,' says AlNaqbi. 'She's a pilot, a trailblazer, and someone who truly understands the power of representation.' Together, they opened The Warehouse in 2021 — a modest space in Al Quoz originally intended to serve as an office. But it quickly evolved into much more. The Warehouse's industrial skeleton — iron beams and bare walls — was offset by a large crystal chandelier, which was installed to elevate the space. But something still felt missing. 'Bakhita said, 'Let's put a rock under it,'' AlNaqbi recalls. 'At first I laughed. A rock? But she said, 'We've got metal, we've got crystal, let's bring in something organic.' And it worked. It grounded the space.' Since then, The Warehouse has become one of Dubai's most eclectic venues, home to private dinners, pop-ups, exhibitions, and collaborations. It has hosted art shows by embassies, including Japanese and Turkish, and become a creative playground for artists and coffee lovers alike. 'We believe in creating a space where community thrives,' says AlNaqbi. 'It's welcoming and inclusive, and Emirati at heart.' Harvester's rise comes at a time when the Middle East and North Africa coffee market is expanding fast, with Dubai as a key hub. The sector is projected to reach $11.5 billion (Dh42.2 billion) in 2025, and the UAE alone consumes an average of 3.5kg of coffee per person each year. With more than 4,000 coffee shops and specialty cafés, Dubai is one of the most competitive coffee markets in the region. This year, Harvester was named one of the UAE's 'Future 50' companies, an initiative by the Ministry of Economy and the Government Development and the Future Office, which spotlights Emirati-led ventures in high-potential sectors. For AlNaqbi, the honour is both humbling and motivating. 'Harvester began with a simple idea to serve better coffee,' he says. 'Today, we're building a brand that represents innovation, heritage, and pride.' Bin Sulayem sees its success as part of a broader shift. 'Harvester reflects a nation's evolving palate, a pilot's entrepreneurial spirit, and a growing culture of innovation in the UAE,' he says. AlNaqbi keeps the focus grounded. 'Coffee has always been part of our hospitality and our gatherings. We're just presenting it in a way that speaks to today's world.'