UAE

8 New Rules Taking Effect from January 2026

As the clock strikes midnight, the new year will bring more than just celebrations. From January 1, 2026, a number of major policy changes will come into effect across the UAE, with several taking effect from the very first day.

While January 1, 2026 is a public holiday for both private and public sector workers, it also marks the start of important updates that could affect daily life for residents. Here’s a clear breakdown of what’s changing, when it starts, and who it impacts.

1. UAE schools to end Fridays early as prayer time changes

Most private schools in Dubai will finish much earlier on Fridays from 2026, following changes to the nationwide Friday prayer schedule.

On December 18, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) announced that private schools and early childhood centres in Dubai must end their school day no later than 11.30am on Fridays , starting January 9, 2026.

The move follows a nationwide change that sets Friday prayer at 12.45pm, giving Muslim students and staff enough time to return home before congregational prayers begin.

KHDA said the decision was made after consultations with schools across the emirate and is designed to balance learning needs with religious obligations.

2. Friday sermon and prayer time to be standardised nationwide

The change in school timings comes alongside a nationwide update to Friday prayer schedules.

From January 2, 2026 , the Friday sermon and prayer will be held at 12.45pm across the UAE, the General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat has confirmed.

Authorities said the decision aims to standardise prayer times nationwide, improve organisation and ensure consistency for worshippers.

Worshippers have been advised to arrive early at mosques to avoid missing the sermon and to ensure they receive the full religious reward.

3. Sugar-sweetened drinks to be taxed differently from 2026

Sugary drinks in the UAE will be taxed under a new system starting next year, potentially affecting prices.

In October, the Ministry of Finance confirmed that updates to the UAE’s excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages will take legal effect on January 1, 2026.

What’s changing?

The UAE will move away from the current flat 50 per cent tax on all sugar-sweetened drinks. Instead, a tiered tax system will be introduced, where the amount of tax depends on how much sugar or sweetener a drink contains.

The update aligns the UAE with a GCC-wide volumetric model, aimed at making the tax system more precise, efficient and consistent across the region.

The changes are also part of broader efforts to reduce sugar consumption and improve public health outcomes.

4. Dubai Airport’s Red Carpet service expanding to arriving passengers

Arriving at Dubai International Airport could soon be much faster for some passengers.

Dubai Airports announced in November that its Red Carpet service, currently available for Business Class departures, will be extended to arriving passengers at Terminal 3 in the next two months (rollout expected by January 2026).

At the same time, the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai began a trial phase of the service for arrivals, following its successful launch on the departures side earlier this year.

How the Red Carpet service works

As passengers walk across the red carpet, advanced cameras capture their biometric data, which is instantly matched with GDRFA records using AI-powered systems.

Travellers must complete a one-time registration at passport control on arrival, linking their passport details with their biometric profile. Once registered, they can use smart gates and corridors during future visits to Dubai, significantly reducing processing time.

5. UAE to expand ban on single-use plastics in 2026

The UAE’s plastic restrictions will widen again next year as part of its national sustainability strategy.

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment confirmed that from January 1, 2026, the country will expand its ban on single-use plastic products under the second phase of Ministerial Decision No. 380 of 2022.

Plastic items to be banned nationwide

The import, manufacture and trade of the following single-use plastic items will be prohibited:

Beverage cups and lids
Cutlery, including forks, spoons, knives and chopsticks
Plates
Straws and drink stirrers
Food containers and boxes made from Styrofoam

The move is aimed at reducing waste, protecting marine and land ecosystems, and supporting the transition to a circular economy.

6. Dubai enters final phase of single-use plastic ban

Dubai will implement the final phase of its single-use plastic ban from January 1, 2026, further tightening restrictions across the emirate.

The phase will restrict items such as plastic plates, cutlery (including chopsticks), beverage cups and lids.

Dubai Municipality has prepared a detailed awareness guide to help businesses and affected entities transition to approved alternative materials that comply with the regulations.

What’s already been banned

Earlier phases of the ban included:

Single-use plastic bags (from January 1, 2024)
All single-use bags (from June 1, 2024)
Polystyrene cups, plates and containers
Plastic stirrers, cotton buds, table covers and straws (banned in 2025)

7. Another Dubai neighbourhood to introduce paid parking

Residents in Discovery Gardens will soon need to adjust to regulated parking.

Dubai Holding Community Management has informed residents that paid parking will be introduced across Discovery Gardens from Thursday, January 15, 2026.

The system will be implemented by Parkonic, with parking zone signage scheduled to be installed ahead of the launch.

What residents need to know

Each residential unit without existing parking facilities will receive one complimentary parking permit
Residents with more than one vehicle will need to purchase a paid parking subscription for additional cars

For more details, residents can visit the Parkonic website or contact 800 PARKONIC (72756642), which operates 24/7.

8. UAE’s content creator licence deadline

Content creators and influencers who earn money from promotional posts must obtain an official permit by January 31, 2026.

The UAE Media Council announced in October that it had extended the deadline for content creators and advertisers to apply for the Advertiser Licence until this date. The licence, introduced in July, is aimed at regulating advertising activity across social media platforms.

The permit can be applied for through the UAE Media Council’s official website and is valid for one year, with the option to renew. As a form of support, the permit is free for the first three years for UAE citizens and residents.

Who can apply?

To qualify for the permit, applicants must:

Be 18 years or older (exceptions may be granted by the Council)
Have no previous media content violations
Hold a valid electronic media trade licence issued by the relevant authority (for UAE citizens and residents)

Who does not need the permit?

The Mu’lin Advertiser Permit is not required for:

Individuals promoting their own products or services through personal social media accounts, or those of their own company
Minors under 18 producing educational, cultural, sports or awareness content, provided it complies with existing age classification laws.

Story by Gulf News

Business

UAE President to Begin Working Visit to India

UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan will begin a working visit to the Republic of India tomorrow.

During the visit, His Highness will hold talks with His Excellency Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, to explore opportunities to strengthen bilateral cooperation, reflecting the longstanding ties and Comprehensive Strategic and Economic Partnerships between the two countries.

WAM

Business

UAE records key gains in energy, infrastructure, housing in 2025

The United Arab Emirates reported significant growth across its energy, infrastructure, maritime transport, housing and digital transformation sectors in 2025, underscoring its ability to pair long-term planning with execution on the ground.

The achievements reflect a government approach built on innovation, operational efficiency and improving quality of life, demonstrating the ability to translate national strategies into tangible results that strengthen the country’s competitiveness.

In the housing sector, the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure issued 3,567 housing support decisions with a total value of AED2.546 billion. These decisions included housing grants, loans, and housing financing solutions.

These efforts contributed to an unprecedented achievement, as the homeownership rate among UAE citizens rose to 91 percent, one of the highest rates globally. The UAE also won, for the first time, the presidency of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) General Assembly and secured membership on its Executive Council.

As for the energy sector, 2025 marked the launch of the Global Energy Efficiency Alliance, which attracted the participation of more than 40 countries and international organisations—an initiative that underscores the UAE’s advanced role in leading global dialogues on reducing consumption and enhancing efficiency.

The year also witnessed the publication of the State of Energy Report 2025, the election of the UAE as a member of the Water Council of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the launch of a guidance manual for supporting domestic workers in eight languages to raise community awareness of responsible consumption practices.

The implementation of the National Energy and Water Demand Management Programme 2050 further reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to reducing energy demand by 42 percent–45 percent by 2050, through a comprehensive portfolio of projects and initiatives spanning the industrial, agricultural, built environment, and transport sectors.

In the infrastructure and transport sectors, the Ministry worked on developing the National Agenda for Addressing Traffic Congestion, which includes a portfolio of national transport and road projects valued at over AED170 billion through 2030.

The Ministry’s plan targets a 73 percent improvement in the efficiency of federal roads over the next five years, through the implementation of the Emirates Road upgrading and capacity enhancement project, with an investment of AED750 million. The plan also includes increasing the capacity of Al Ittihad Road by 60 percent and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road by 45 percent.

Additionally, the plan includes a feasibility study for the construction of the Fourth Federal Road, extending 120 kilometres with a capacity of up to 360,000 trips per day.

Moreover, the Ministry completed five major transformational projects, which are the humanisation of buildings and their transformation into healthy, well-being–supportive environments, the development of the Green Recycling Yards Project, the advancement of green industrial transformation, the implementation of the Sustainable Farm Irrigation Project, and the recycling of electric and hybrid vehicle batteries.

The UAE also continued to strengthen its global maritime presence by hosting the World Maritime Day Parallel Event and launching the National Maritime Navigation Centre, in addition to being re-elected for the fifth consecutive term to Category “B” membership of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

The Ministry also won 41 local, regional, and international awards and obtained 19 ISO certifications, underscoring the maturity of its administrative systems and the quality of its operational processes.

In support of enhanced community engagement, the Ministry held 30 customer council meetings across the Emirates and signed 26 agreements and memoranda of understanding to expand partnerships, knowledge exchange, and amplify the impact of national projects. The year also witnessed the launch of the first fully integrated digital government services centre in Fujairah.

“The year 2025 represents an important milestone in the development journey of the energy, infrastructure, transport, and housing sectors in the UAE,” said Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure. “We witnessed tangible progress in the implementation of strategic projects that reflect the vision of our wise leadership in building an integrated, more efficient, and sustainable ecosystem capable of supporting economic growth and enhancing quality of life.”

“Our efforts have focused on strengthening the readiness of federal infrastructure, improving the efficiency of the energy system, and developing advanced housing solutions that align with the needs of citizens and their future aspirations,” he said.

Al Mazrouei added that the achievements realised in 2025 confirm the Ministry’s ability to translate national plans into concrete, data-driven results by adopting a work model based on effective governance, efficient resource management, and the expansion of local, regional, and international partnerships.”

“We commence 2026 confidently, building on clear results and solid foundations, while reaffirming our commitment to supporting the objectives of the ‘We the UAE 2031’ Vision, on the path toward the UAE Centennial 2071. The Ministry will continue its work to ensure advanced infrastructure, a sustainable energy sector, and flexible housing solutions that collectively enhance the country’s competitiveness and leadership at both the regional and global levels,” he noted.

WAM

UAE

The Giving Tree by Bâoli Dubai unveiled

This festive season, Bâoli Dubai presents ‘The Giving Tree by Bâoli Dubai’, a bespoke sculptural installation conceived, commissioned and crafted as both a design statement and a charitable initiative. Installed prominently within the venue and developed in partnership with Dubai Cares, a UAE-based global philanthropic organization, the tree has been produced as a vessel for giving, inviting guests to engage with the season through a refined silent auction. The initiative transforms Bâoli’s festive centrerpiece into an opportunity for meaningful contribution, with proceeds supporting Dubai Cares’ mission of empowering underprivileged children and youth globally with access to quality education.

A festive emblem crafted with intent

Designed exclusively for the venue by Signature Line, The Giving Tree by Bâoli Dubai becomes the first point of encounter for guests as they arrive,taking the form of both a sculptural artwork and a traditional festive emblem. Rising more than three metres in height, the installation has been crafted from cast resin and composed of approximately 1,500 individually formed leaves, each created separately before being assembled by hand onto a central structure. The result is a form that feels considered and organic, defined as much by its detail as by its scale.

The making of the tree is deliberately tactile. Each leaf carries its own subtle variation, introducing depth and a sense of movement across the surface. As the installation comes together, its character unfolds gradually, responding to changes in light and atmosphere, revealing new dimensions from day through to evening.

Assembled in multiple sections, the installation rests on a custom metallic base that anchors the piece within its surroundings. Discreet lighting has been integrated to preserve the purity of the design, allowing the tree to remain visually uninterrupted by cables or visible fixtures, and ensuring that the focus remains firmly on form, texture and presence.

Partnership with Dubai Cares

At the core of The Giving Tree by Bâoli Dubai is an official partnership with Dubai Cares, a philanthropic organization committed to transforming children’s lives and empowering communities by removing barriers to education through its impactful global programmes. Through this collaboration, the installation serves as a platform for meaningful engagement, allowing guests to participate in a charitable initiative that extends beyond the venue and into communities around the world. The Giving Tree by Bâoli Dubai will be offered through a silent auction, with participation facilitated via a digital platform accessed through QR code, allowing guests to engage privately and at their own pace. Developed with transparency and care, the process includes formal bidder registration, verification measures, and direct fund transfer to Dubai Cares, ensuring a clear and trusted framework throughout. The funds raised will support Dubai Cares’ global education programmes. Interested bidders can participate in the auction by filling in the information at the dedicated form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1i0cUcq-0FbtrU-qUVGZik27ir2Ve3wHTT02wnnTWusQ/edit