UAE rail plans unveiled, Saudi markets open and Dubai property holding firm – 10 things you missed this week

Across the UAE and Saudi Arabia, governments are moving aggressively on railways, real estate, financial markets and corporate regulation. Exclusive interviews and data-driven reports also shed light on changing investment trends, from luxury watches to real estate and ports.

Find the 10 biggest stories this week selected by Arabian business editors.

UAE passenger rail network: Etihad Rail unveils comprehensive national plan linking 11 cities ahead of 2026 launch

Etihad Rail has announced the full details of the UAE’s national passenger rail network, marking a milestone in the country’s transport and infrastructure development.

The project will deliver the UAE’s first fully integrated national passenger rail system, connecting 11 cities and regions through strategically located stations. The network is designed to strengthen connectivity across the Emirates and provide safe, reliable travel services for citizens, residents and visitors.

In early 2025, Etihad Rail announced the first four passenger stations in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Fujairah. The company has now confirmed the remaining planned stations in Al Sila’, Al Dhannah, Al Mirfa, Madinat Zayed, Mezaira’a, Al Faya and Al Dhaid. These stations will operate in phases.

EXCLUSIVE: Saudi Global Ports unveils $933m expansion to challenge UAE transshipment dominance

Saudi Global Ports is investing 3.5 billion dollars ($933 million) over the next five years as part of a strategy to try to capture cargo that often flows through Jebel Ali and Abu Dhabi.

The Dammam port operator is plowing funds into terminals, multi-purpose facilities and a new integrated transport hub to leverage geographic advantages over Emirati rivals as the kingdom’s non-oil economy grows.

CEO Rob Harrison told Arabian Business that the investment represents the third stage in the company’s evolution from a port operator to an ecosystem developer, positioning Saudi Global Ports to serve the kingdom’s 36 million consumers directly over trade-focused competitors.

Saudi Arabia will officially open the property market to foreigners as long-awaited legislation comes into effect this month

Saudi Arabia this month will officially open parts of its housing market to foreign buyers, bringing in a long-awaited law that allows non-Saudis to own properties in designated areas of the Kingdom.

The new Real Estate Ownership Law for non-Saudis, approved by royal decree last year and published in the official gazette in July 2025, came into effect on January 21 following a six-month transition period. This marks one of the most significant structural changes in the Kingdom’s property market in decades and is closely aligned with the government’s economic diversification agenda under Vision 2030.

Months before the law was officially approved, developers, investors and advisers have been closely tracking its progress, with expectations building that Saudi Arabia will eventually follow other Gulf markets in easing restrictions on foreign ownership. Although foreign investment in Saudi real estate has been permitted in limited ways since 2000, the new law replaces that old framework with clearer rules, broader eligibility and stronger enforcement.

Dubai real estate holds firm in 2025 as prices, rents and ROI rise: top destinations revealed

Dubai’s real estate sector remained firmly on a growth trajectory through 2025, supported by continued demand and increased supply, according to the Dubai Real Estate Market Annual Report released by dubizzle.

The report points to continued transaction activity and overall stability across key sectors, including ready properties, off-plan sales and short-term rentals, bolstering confidence across Dubai’s residential market.

Commenting on the findings, Haider Ali Khan, CEO of Bayut and dubizzle and CEO of Dubizzle Group MENA, said: “The real estate market in Dubai has continued to be strong throughout the year, with continued demand across the community. We have also seen the industry develop, supported by strict regulations, new partnerships and new emerging trends such as real estate that increase confidence, market depth.”

UAE Holidays 2026: How to get 45 days off in just 17 annual holidays, expected Eid dates revealed

The UAE started 2026 with a public and private sector holiday on Thursday, January 1.

The Gregorian New Year is just one of the many official public holidays declared in Cabinet Decision No. (27) of 2024 Regarding Public Holidays in the State of UAE. The decision identifies official holidays in the UAE that are celebrated throughout the country every year.

The UAE has announced the dates for Eid Al Fitr, Eid Al Adha, Islamic New Year and National Day in 2026. By booking annual leave in a systematic way, it will be possible to have 45 days off and many full weeks of vacation with just a few days of annual leave.

The UAE is revising the Companies Law with new ownership and transfer rules

The UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism has unveiled major amendments to the country’s Corporate Law, introducing far-reaching changes aimed at strengthening business flexibility, reducing costs and improving the country’s investment appeal.

In a press conference reviewing Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2025, amending Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021, officials confirmed that the changes cover 15 articles and introduce a new provision that regulates the transfer of the company’s registration to the commercial register while maintaining its legal identity.

Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism said the UAE continues to pursue a long-term, forward-looking vision of building an advanced and pioneering business environment for companies of all sizes, in line with global best practices and guided by the country’s leadership.

Saudi Arabia is opening its capital market fully to foreign investors from February 2026

Saudi Arabia will fully open its stock market to foreign investors from 1 February 2026, marking one of the most significant liberalization steps in the history of the Kingdom’s financial market.

The move removes long-standing restrictions on non-resident participation and is designed to deepen the economy and attract more international capital. The announcement was made by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) following the approval by the CMA Board of a new regulatory framework governing foreign investment in the Capital Market.

Under the new framework, the Saudi capital market will be accessible to all categories of foreign investors to participate directly in all its parts, starting from 1 February 2026.

EXCLUSIVE: Watches aren’t a ‘get-rich-quick’ investment but could be ‘better than gold or cash’ by 2026.

The global luxury watch market is at a crossroads as 2026 begins. After three years of correction following high post-pandemic projections, the industry is showing signs of recovery but the investment climate for watches has changed dramatically.

“Think of watches like stocks and like tangible wealth. They work better as a store of value that has the potential to appreciate over time, not as a get-rich-quick investment,” said Robertino Altiero, CEO of WatchGuys.com, in an exclusive interview with Arabian Business.

According to experts, the market now rewards choice over speculation and values ​​over hype. For investors in the Gulf region where wisdom and long-term wealth preservation have short-term benefits, the current environment presents both challenges and opportunities.

The UAE is restricting scholarships for citizens studying at British universities amid fears of radicalisation

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has put restrictions on government funding for its citizens who wish to study at British universities, according to a report by the Financial Times.

In June, the UAE’s higher education ministry published a list of international universities where scholarships will be approved and degrees guaranteed, as part of reforms that limit funding to top-performing institutions. The list included universities in the US, Australia, Israel and France, but did not include the UK, which is home to many of the world’s leading academic institutions.

The expulsions are linked to UAE concerns about what it sees as the risk of Islamist radicalization on UK campuses, according to three people familiar with the matter told the FT.

A new Gulf order? What the December conference in Bahrain tells us about the future of the GCC

On the surface, the Bahrain summit looked like any other Gulf summit. A typical family photo. The reception halls are decorated. A final thick report related to brotherhood and shared destiny. However, behind the choreography, there was something serious.

For the first time in years, all the moving parts of Gulf integration – customs, aviation, rail, security, even real estate control – were pulled to one side and given a deadline. Episode by episode, the conference revealed a block that finds its full rhythm – not by declaration, but by stability, the technical discipline of shared systems. The Executive Council’s statement of December 3 was clear on one point. The security of the GCC says it is “indivisible” and “any attack on one of them is an attack on all.”

This is clearly linked to the joint defense agreement and King Salman’s long-held vision of moving the bloc away from a loose partnership to something closer to a union. It also pushed ministers to complete the remaining measures of economic integration, from a transport union to a common market for services, and to report on a “defined timetable”.