Disneyland Abu Dhabi Likely to Rise in North Yas
Opening Timeline and Current Impact
The mega attraction is expected to open mid-2030s, but so far, it hasn't driven up nightly rates or occupancy for short-term rentals like Airbnb. Experts say that could change as the opening date gets closer.
Property Market Already Heating Up
Even without premium pricing for theme park views, Yas Island property prices have jumped up to 20% over the past year. Demand spiked right after the May announcement, with villas outperforming apartments and Aldar projects leading gains.
Short-Term Rentals in Abu Dhabi
Short-term lets are regulated by the Department of Culture & Tourism, which requires a licence. Crompton says the process is simple, and professional operators are available to help.
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Arabian Business
4 hours ago
- 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
A longer winter break for UAE students, new visa-on-arrival rules in Kuwait, and record-breaking Dubai property sales made headlines in the Middle East this week. From landmark hotel launches to transformative transport projects there were also major changes in education, travel, real estate, and infrastructure across the UAE and GCC Catch up on the biggest news stories this week, as selected by Arabian Business editors. UAE school calendar for 2025-2026: Longer winter break and new mid-term holidays revealed The UAE has announced the academic calendar for public and private sector schools in the 2025-2026 academic year, introducing unified term dates, longer breaks, and new mid-term holidays. The UAE Ministry of Education (MoE) unveiled the new school calendar, which was approved by the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council. 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. Drawing on data from Property Monitor and its own transactions, the firm highlighted significant month-on-month gains in volumes, values, and rental activity. Average price per square foot: AED1,893 ($516), up 3.3 per cent from June Total transactions: 18,816, up 20.5 per cent month-on-month Total sales value: AED51.3bn ($13.96bn), a 10.6 per cent increase Off-plan sales: 65 per cent of transactions, up from 62 per cent in June Mandarin Oriental to open Dubai hotel and branded residences in Wasl Tower by October 2025 Mandarin Oriental is expanding its footprint in Dubai with the launch of its second property, Mandarin Oriental Downtown, Dubai, set to open in October 2025. Located within Wasl Tower, a striking new addition to the Sheikh Zayed Road skyline, the hotel will feature 259 rooms and suites and 224 private residences. A rooftop helipad will provide seamless VIP arrivals. 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.' Abu Dhabi to scrap road toll caps from September 1 under new rules Abu Dhabi's Integrated Transport Centre has announced major changes to the emirate's Road Toll Executive Regulations (DARB), aimed at improving traffic flow and easing congestion on main roads during peak hours. Effective Monday, September 1, 2025, the evening toll period will be brought forward to run from 3pm to 7pm, while the morning period remains unchanged at 7am to 9am, Monday to Saturday. Tolls will continue to be free on Sundays and public holidays.
The National
8 hours ago
- The National
How the UAE's seven emirates got their names – and what they mean
A gazelle leading settlers to water, palm fronds dotting coastlines - some of the names behind the UAE 's seven emirates draw on the country's landscape, commerce and cosmopolitan heritage. While some of the titles are not officially documented and come from history and local tradition, they reveal the tapestry of life and experiences and the connection between human activity and geography that shaped each emirate before they became a dynamic federation. Here are the stories behind the names of all seven emirates. Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi 's name is linked to the emirate's founding story. According to Visit Abu Dhabi, the name stems from how early settlers followed a gazelle to fresh water on the island. The name derives from Arabic toponyms, with Abu being an associative word rather than the literal meaning of father, and zaby (gazelle) for the animal, creating "father of the gazelle". Beyond its geographical roots, Abu Dhabi's name cements the emirate's cultural heritage: from a land where wildlife once guaranteed survival to one that has grown with the swiftness and grace of its namesake. Dubai Historical records cited by Visit Dubai show the earliest mention of the emirate in a geography text from 1095, followed by later references in pearl merchant records as "Dibei," while British historical accounts described the city as "Al Wasl". Popular theories describe Dubai stemming from the word daba, meaning "to creep" or "to flow slowly," perhaps referencing the movement of vessels in Dubai Creek, while other local traditions suggest the name connects to a historical souq once operating in the area. In many ways it doesn't matter – that confluence of stories and tapestry of human experience befits the cosmopolitan nature of the emirate. Sharjah The emirate's name derives from the trilateral root letters shin-ra-qaf, which in Arabic carries meanings related to the east, sunrise and rising. While often linked in popular accounts to an 'eastern' location, official sources and local reports link Sharjah 's name to poetic descriptions as a place of culture and inspiration. Ajman The name comes from the Arabic word Ajam, used historically to refer to foreigners – those who spoke in an "unclear tongue" or non-Arabs. While a direct origin of the emirate is unclear, Ali Al Matrooshi, former director of Ajman Museum, wrote in a 2005 column for Emirati newspaper Al Bayan citing old Emirati traditions that said Ajman 's name was initially in reference to the "Persian traders" formerly residing in the emirate's ports. While the contemporary usage of the word Ajam has evolved, the emirate's name seems to stem from a particular time of its early settlement. Ras Al Khaimah Meaning "head of the tent," Ras Al Khaimah 's name comes from a direct translation from classical Arabic. Another common interpretation links it to the emirate's geographic position as the northern point of the tent-shaped UAE. But historians say the name goes deeper than its founding, with ras referring to the peninsula forming the emirate while khaimah (tent) alluded to tightly-knit palm frond houses dotting the land between the sea and the creek. Umm Al Quwain According to the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism, the name derives from a phrase referring to its "two powers," in reference to its mastery of both land and water. The geography aligns with the meaning, with Umm Al Quwain home to archaeological sites and Al Sinniyah Island, one of the UAE's largest islands and a natural reserve for migratory birds during its relatively warm winters. Fujairah No official meaning exists, but according to Al Matrooshi, the name is linked to the words "mafjar" or "fajrah," meaning a "water springs that gush forth from under the mountains there," he wrote. The meaning is also backed by the emirate 's standing as the only UAE emirate with a coastline solely on the Gulf of Oman.
The National
8 hours ago
- The National
After a decade under lights, Amna Al Qubaisi steers her career in a new direction
Emirati racing driver Amna Al Qubaisi didn't realise the impact of her story until she saw it through the eyes of others. From the day she first took the driver's seat at 14, her dream was to finish what her father, Khaled Al Qubaisi – the first Emirati to reach a podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France – had started. She wanted to win, to hear the UAE's national anthem play where it had never been heard before. 'I was always just trying to represent my country in a really good manner,' she tells The National. 'I was focused only on results. I wanted to prove to the world that we were not there just to participate – but to win.' In those early days, as she began turning heads on the track, she was unaware of the effect she was having. 'When I was 14, my dad was very strict with my social media. He took full control – I barely even had a phone. And I'm glad he did, because of him I thought everything was normal.' It wasn't until years later, when she began running her own accounts, that she realised she had both changed perceptions of what a racing driver could look like – and of what an Emirati woman could be. 'A lot of girls were messaging me,' she says. 'One thing that really caught my eye was when they told me their bond with their father became much better because they saw my dad supporting me. 'They told me, 'Our father is now supporting us because we showed them: look, her dad's supporting her in motorsports, he's always there for her.' Now they're getting the same reciprocation from their dads.' Starring in Netflix's F1: The Academy Since then, Al Qubaisi has grown increasingly aware of the effect that her story can have. In May, along with her younger sister Hamda, she was one of the central stars of the Netflix docuseries F1: The Academy, which chronicled her final season racing for Red Bull in the all-female F1 Academy championship. 'We were really happy that we were a part of it,' says Al Qubaisi. 'We got to share our personality, our side of our story, and how seriously we and our dad take this.' At the same time, she was disappointed that her family was portrayed, from her point of view, as the wealthy upstarts compared to the seemingly more humble European drivers – even though virtually everyone gets there as the result of massive financial investment into their talent. Al Qubaisi explains: 'When we say we're Emirati, automatically, people think we have a mansion made of gold and an endless fleet of cars. But racing is very expensive and those costs apply to all racing drivers. Anyone who's joining in motorsport has the money. 'The way they made the other drivers look like they were selling stuff to be able to race is completely inaccurate. It's kind of sad that they singled us out and made it look like we were the only ones who had it easy.' She believes, whether on screen or off, that the deck was stacked against her through the second year of her F1 Academy experience – in which she dropped to 15th in the standings a year after she had placed sixth overall, collecting two wins in her first season. 'The first year was less political, as it was the first championship to be held. My sister and I finished very strong. In the second year, it felt like they didn't want a Middle Eastern person to win. I got an engine that was around seven to 10 kilometres slower down the straights and I couldn't do much about it. I talked to Red Bull about it, and they told me, 'just deal with it'.' When she realised winning was near-impossible, she started paying more attention to the Netflix cameras following their every move – and grew more involved in how her story was being told. 'In the first few rounds, I would tell them, 'I don't want to do anything. I'm too focused. But then I thought I might as well just take advantage of it and try to give myself some exposure for future sponsors. I said, 'I've got nothing to lose', and I gave them full access.' That strategy, which made her one of the show's most visible stars, proved emotionally challenging as her struggles mounted. 'We were still there to win,' she explains. 'So having them film me at my most vulnerable, and at my worst, was hard. I didn't want the world to know. It was a big fear of mine. But now that it's out there, I think people can relate. 'And if there's criticism against my driving ability, I don't mind. My sister takes it more personally than I do. I have a fan account that I created that I will use to start roasting them back,' Al Qubaisi laughs. Why she moved to endurance racing In the wake of her F1 Academy experience, Al Qubaisi, who had previously raced in Formula 4, has decided to give up on her Formula One dreams. Instead, she's charting a new course in endurance racing that has allowed her to rediscover what she loved about racing in the first place. Moreso than in Formula racing, endurance racing tests the durability of equipment and participants. Teams of multiple drivers using the same car in shifts attempt to cover a large distance in a single event. 'When it comes to Formula racing, it's too expensive. Because of our budget, we were constantly behind the pack. 'So this year, we decided to move into endurance racing, where it's much cheaper and the costs are split between drivers. When I moved into endurance racing, it was the first time I felt like I was actually enjoying driving in a long time.' In some ways, her path to endurance racing mirrors the fictional journey of Brad Pitt's Sonny Hayes in F1 The Movie, in which Hayes finds himself constantly at the back of the pack and has to figure out a way to turn that to his advantage. 'In F1 Academy, I was always starting from the back and I took that as practice for overtaking,' Al Qubaisi explains. 'I learnt to get through traffic and find a gap. Now, in endurance, I'm always catching up to the guys up front, because I know how it's done. 'In endurance racing, you have to really plan – you have tyre management, fuel consumption and overtaking through traffic – because you're racing with different categories. 'It's so much more enjoyable. In single seaters, you're just praying and hoping for something to happen. But in endurance racing, anything can happen. Someone can be leading a race and then have a problem and you have a whole hour to strategise.' Al Qubaisi and her sister will continue their new path towards endurance racing on August 22 and 23 the Spa – Francorchamps Heat as part of the 2025 Ligier European Series. The series marks the third tier on the endurance racing ladder of Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO), the company behind the 24 Hours of Le Mans race. 'Sharing a car, we work together and help each other. We go through data together and strategise together. Having each other makes this decision easier, as we're both really good and we know each other, so we have an advantage.' What is the future of women in F1? Back in Formula racing, Al Qubaisi is rooting for the many young women working towards a spot in F1 but believes the sport as not a level playing field. 'It's very difficult to have a female in Formula One, no matter how good she is, no matter how big her achievements are. The Formula One teams need to have really big trust in those female drivers. 'They will need to invest in women drivers from a young age. I think they just need to start trusting women more to be able to reach that point too. 'Because now, all the girls who are working so hard in single seaters, who've made it to the top 10, who won races, nothing is done for them. No opportunity is provided and then they end up on the sidelines as a development driver or reserve driver, which isn't enough. If it was a male competitor, he would immediately have support, a test drive in a Formula One car.' Basic engineering was also an issue. Al Qubaisi faced difficulty with singer-seater cars that were built only for male bodies – 'we can't fit in that car' – which caused her and other women drivers to complain to the FIA regulatory body to ensure cars were built for both men and women. That issue was fixed, but Al Qubaisi feels it's symbolic of the inequality that exists in the sport. Telling her own story As she sets off on a new racing journey with her sister, Al Qubaisi feels that every bump along the way has prepared her for the difficulties ahead – not just as a racing driver, but as a public figure. She will rely less on how others tell her story and start to take an even greater hand in telling her own. 'I have a cameraman and we're doing our own YouTube docuseries for the racing championship. Every race weekend we show everything from our perspective and it's very authentic and very natural,' she says. 'I've learnt that I don't need anything polished and professional. These days, I just have to be real.'
