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Across The UAE

Experts say the UAE is now applying the same model that transformed Dubai into a global hub — investing early in infrastructure before demand peaks — but this time the focus is on AI data centres, sovereign cloud systems and what industry leaders call “manufacturing intelligence” through token and agent factories. With a five-gigawatt AI campus under development in Abu Dhabi, strategic geographic access to nearly half the world’s population, and one of the world’s highest per capita AI adoption rates, the country aims to position itself as a major exporter of AI services and computing power. Supporters believe the UAE’s early investments, strong connectivity and unique healthcare and genomic datasets could give it a competitive edge, while others question whether AI exports can truly mirror the long-term economic impact once delivered by oil and trade infrastructure.

Non-Muslim expats in the UAE can register a will under the Civil Personal Status Law for non-Muslims through several recognised channels, including Dubai Courts, Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, Ministry of Justice notary services, DIFC Wills Service Centre, and ADGM Courts, or through their home country’s embassy or consulate if the service is offered; the will should clearly list executors, beneficiaries, guardians for minors (if any), and details of movable and immovable assets, and DIFC wills must meet specific format and witness requirements, typically in English and signed before authorised officials — making early legal guidance useful to ensure validity and smooth estate administration. Do you think more expats should be encouraged to register wills locally, or do most still rely on home-country arrangements?

Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi has directed the immediate implementation of a Dh300 million expansion project for University Hospital Sharjah, aimed at strengthening healthcare capacity in the emirate. The project will add a new building adjacent to the existing hospital, double the facility’s capacity, and introduce 300 additional parking spaces to support patients, visitors and staff. Located in University City and affiliated with University of Sharjah, the hospital serves as a major tertiary care teaching institution for Sharjah and the Northern Emirates. Established under an Amiri decree in 2007 and opened in 2011, the hospital combines specialised treatment, medical education and research, and the expansion is expected to support growing healthcare demand while strengthening Sharjah’s wider health and academic ecosystem. Do you think expanding hospital capacity should be one of the UAE’s top infrastructure priorities in the coming years?

Dubai has always moved quickly when technology becomes part of economic growth. From smart government services to advanced logistics, fintech, tourism, real estate, retail, and digital media, the city has built a reputation for turning innovation into practical infrastructure. Today, artificial intelligence is entering a new phase. It is no longer only about chatbots, automation, or data analysis. A growing part of AI adoption now involves multimodal systems that can understand and create across text, images, audio, and video. For Dubai’s business community, this shift could become especially important because the city’s economy depends heavily on speed, communication, global branding, and customer experience. As companies compete for attention in a fast-moving digital market, multimodal AI is becoming a practical tool for creating better content, improving workflows, and presenting ideas more clearly. Why Multimodal AI Matters for Dubai Businesses Traditional business communication often separates different types of content. A marketing team writes copy in one tool, creates visuals in another, edits video elsewhere, and then adapts everything for websites, social media, presentations, and advertising platforms. This process can be expensive and time-consuming, especially for startups and small businesses. Multimodal AI changes this workflow. Instead of treating text, images, video, and audio as separate tasks, it allows teams to work with them together. A company can begin with a written idea, add product photos, include brand references, describe a scene, and generate visual content that reflects the intended message. This is valuable in Dubai because businesses often operate across multilingual and multicultural audiences. A campaign may need to speak to residents, tourists, investors, partners, and international customers at the same time. Visual storytelling helps bridge that gap. From Smart City Vision to Smarter Content Dubai’s digital development has always been linked to practical outcomes. The goal is not technology for its own sake, but technology that improves services, strengthens competitiveness, and supports future industries. Multimodal AI fits naturally into this environment. It can support government communication, business marketing, tourism promotion, education, healthcare awareness, real estate presentations, retail campaigns, and events. For example, a tourism company can turn a simple itinerary into a short promotional video. A real estate agency can transform property images into lifestyle-focused visual stories. A restaurant can create seasonal campaign assets without organising a full video shoot. A training company can convert written material into visual learning content. A startup can explain a complex product through short, clear videos for investors and customers. These are not futuristic use cases. They are practical examples of how AI can reduce friction in everyday business communication. Helping SMEs Compete with Larger Brands Small and medium-sized enterprises are a major part of the UAE’s business environment. However, SMEs often face a common challenge: they need high-quality content but do not always have large creative teams or agency budgets. This is where AI-assisted content creation can make a real difference. A small company can test multiple campaign ideas before spending heavily on production. A founder can create a visual pitch for a new product. A local service provider can build professional-looking educational content. A retailer can generate product-focused visuals for different customer segments. Tools such as Gemini Omni represent this wider movement toward multimodal creation, where businesses can work with text, image, video, and creative direction in a more unified way. Instead of only generating isolated assets, these tools point toward a future where teams can move from idea to visual draft faster and then refine the result through natural language instructions. For Dubai’s SMEs, that speed can be a competitive advantage. The ability to create, test, and improve content quickly allows smaller companies to respond to market trends with more confidence. Real Estate, Tourism, and Retail: Three Key Sectors Some sectors in Dubai may benefit from multimodal AI faster than others. Real Estate Dubai’s real estate market is highly visual. Buyers and investors want to understand not only the property itself but also the lifestyle around it. AI video tools can help agencies turn images, floor plans, and written descriptions into engaging previews, neighbourhood guides, and project explainers. This does not replace professional photography or trusted property information. Instead, it adds another layer of presentation that can help clients imagine space, movement, atmosphere, and potential use. Tourism and Hospitality Dubai’s tourism sector depends on experience. Hotels, tour operators, entertainment venues, restaurants, and travel agencies need content that captures attention quickly. Multimodal AI can help create short-form videos, campaign variations, event previews, and social media assets for different audiences. A hotel could create different versions of a promotional clip for families, business travellers, and luxury tourists. A tour company could adapt one concept into multiple languages and formats. This kind of flexibility is useful in a global tourism hub. Retail and E-commerce Retailers need constant content for product launches, seasonal offers, influencer campaigns, and online stores. AI can help generate product videos, lifestyle visuals, ad concepts, and platform-specific variations. For e-commerce brands in Dubai, this can reduce the gap between product availability and campaign execution. The Human Role Remains Essential While AI can accelerate production, human judgment remains essential. Businesses still need to understand their audience, define their message, protect their brand identity, and review content for accuracy. This is especially important in sectors such as finance, healthcare, education, law, and government services, where misleading content can create serious problems. AI should assist communication, not replace responsibility. Good results depend on clear creative direction. A vague prompt will usually produce a vague output. A strong brand brief, clear audience profile, and specific business goal will produce better content. In this sense, AI rewards strategic thinking. Responsible AI Adoption As Dubai and the wider UAE continue to strengthen their AI ecosystem, responsible use will become increasingly important. Businesses should consider how generated content is labelled, how customer data is handled, and how brand assets are used. Companies should also create internal guidelines. These may include rules for reviewing AI-generated visuals, checking factual claims, protecting customer privacy, and ensuring that content reflects the company’s values. Responsible AI adoption is not a barrier to innovation. It is what allows innovation to scale with trust. A Practical Step Toward Future-Ready Business Multimodal AI is not just another content trend. It represents a broader shift in how companies communicate, train, sell, and explain ideas. For Dubai, a city built on ambition, global connectivity, and rapid execution, this technology aligns closely with the next stage of digital business growth. The companies that benefit most will not simply generate more content. They will use AI to communicate better. They will test ideas faster, personalise messages more effectively, and turn complex concepts into clear visual stories. Dubai’s business environment has always rewarded those who can move early, adapt quickly, and think globally. Multimodal AI gives companies another way to do exactly that.

Yes — the Central Bank has instructed banks to cancel the previous minimum salary rule (typically around Dh5,000), allowing each bank to set its own criteria so that lower-income workers, youth, and labour-sector employees can qualify for personal financing; residents will also be able to open bank accounts linked to the Wage Protection System, enabling automatic deduction of loan instalments and supporting wider financial inclusion across the UAE. What’s your take — will this boost access to essential banking services, or increase the risk of people taking on loans they can’t afford?

The UAE has introduced several important visa updates in 2026, making travel and residency more accessible while tightening certain health-related entry rules. Key changes include the expansion of the visa-on-arrival programme to eligible nationals of six additional countries, Dubai's new 48-hour tourist visa processing, revised two-year property residency visa rules that remove the previous Dh750,000 minimum property value requirement for sole owners, a 30-day grace period until July 9 for eligible visitors affected by earlier flight disruptions to regularise their visa status, plans to introduce a smart medical visa that integrates healthcare and immigration services for medical tourists, and the temporary suspension of new visas for nationals of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan as a precaution against Ebola. Which of these visa changes do you think will have the biggest impact on travellers, residents, or property investors in the UAE?

Several updates are rolling out this month, led by new traffic, retail, and digital banking changes. In Abu Dhabi, two new Darb toll gates—Ghantoot and Al Qurm—will begin operating 24/7, increasing the total number of toll points and aiming to ease congestion on key roads like Sheikh Zayed Street. Meanwhile, in Dubai, retail expansion continues with a third Primark store opening at Mall of the Emirates. On the employment front, authorities have introduced an AI-powered system to screen work permit applicants, aligning talent with market needs. At the same time, banks are moving away from WhatsApp-based services to enhance security, signaling a shift toward safer digital channels. With rising temperatures and the approach of Eid al-Adha, the month also brings seasonal lifestyle changes as residents prepare for summer and upcoming holidays. Which of these changes will impact you the most—new toll gates, job market updates, or banking changes?

The rest of 2026 is expected to bring several developments that could shape daily life across the UAE, including the expansion of Etihad Rail passenger services with new stations opening in Dubai, Al Dhaid, and Al Dhafra, improving connectivity between emirates. Residents can also look forward to two remaining public holidays, including Prophet Mohammed’s (PBUH) birthday and UAE National Day, subject to official announcements. In addition, new attractions, including a museum and other leisure experiences, are expected to open, offering more entertainment and cultural opportunities. What are your views? Which upcoming development are you most excited about, and how do you think these changes will improve life in the UAE?

Despite the tuition fee freeze announced by Knowledge and Human Development Authority for the 2026–27 academic year, education experts say parents should still carefully review re-enrolment terms, transport fees, uniforms, extracurricular costs, device charges, and payment plans before the new school year begins. Schools may continue charging registration and administrative fees separately, while many institutions are also offering flexible instalment options through fintech platforms such as Tabby, Postpay, and Zip. Educators welcomed the freeze as relief for families facing cost-of-living pressures, but also stressed the importance of long-term financial planning and disciplined repayment when using buy-now-pay-later services. What do you think — will the fee freeze significantly ease pressure on UAE families, or are additional school-related expenses still becoming too costly for parents?