01 | Ant International secures key digital payment licences from the UAE Central Bank

As of 2026-10-15, businesses planning digital payment or cross-border account services in the UAE should map each product to the correct operating entity, licence scope and locally licensed partner. Ant International has secured a Retail Payment Services and Card Schemes (Category II) licence and a Stored Value Facilities licence from the Central Bank of the UAE.

The Retail Payment Services and Card Schemes licence will support Antom, an Ant International business, in offering merchant acquiring services in the UAE. Antom currently supports more than 300 payment methods, connects merchants with consumers in over 200 markets and handles more than 140 currencies. The Stored Value Facilities licence enables WorldFirst to provide digital cross-border financial services in the UAE.

Ant International also stated that Alipay+ already allows local merchants to accept cross-border digital wallet payments through partnerships with locally licensed UAE banks and acquirers. This existing arrangement operates independently of the newly granted licences. Market entry therefore does not follow a single licensing route: direct licences and partnerships with licensed institutions can serve different products and stages of expansion.

Source: financialcontent.com, 2026-10-14

02 | Attack on Saudi Aramco headquarters raises energy-infrastructure security risks

Damage to Saudi Aramco’s Dhahran headquarters in the 13 October attack shows why companies delivering energy engineering, equipment or logistics services in Saudi Arabia need to cover personnel safety, office continuity and cross-location backup in the same contingency plan, rather than focusing only on project sites.

Reuters cited people with direct knowledge as saying that the fire affected several floors, some employees were asked to work from home, and certain functions were moved to other global offices. Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry said the attack caused a limited fire and no injuries or deaths were reported. Operations at the Saudi Aramco complex continued normally. The Houthis claimed responsibility and said they would continue targeting airports and oil facilities in Saudi Arabia.

The first business effects of such incidents may appear in flight disruption, employee travel, insurance terms and the transfer of critical functions rather than an immediate project shutdown. Companies already operating in Saudi Arabia should check emergency contacts, alternative office locations and evacuation arrangements against their actual exposure.

Source: The Straits Times, 2026-10-14

03 | Saudi green hydrogen project reaches SAR 31.5 billion in total investment

Companies assessing Saudi green hydrogen opportunities should examine project financing structures and procurement schedules alongside potential equipment, engineering and operations contracts. The National Development Fund, the Saudi Industrial Development Fund, and local and international financial institutions have jointly participated in financing a green hydrogen project with total investment of SAR 31.5 billion. The figure represents total project investment, not financing provided by any single fund.

National Development Fund Governor Abdulaziz Al-Arifi said 12 development funds and banks under the fund’s umbrella work together to support projects, investment opportunities and national talent development. The published information shows that major green hydrogen projects depend on participation from both development funds and commercial financial institutions.

Source: Saudi Gazette, 2026-10-14

04 | UAE operator du and ZTE commercially launch Upper 6GHz technology

Telecom equipment and enterprise-connectivity providers should track the specific requirements emerging from UAE operator network upgrades, including high-capacity coverage, equipment compatibility and deployment coordination. UAE operator du and ZTE have commercially launched Upper 6GHz technology.

The band is attracting interest for its potential to support higher-capacity wireless networks and the evolution of 5G and future connectivity. This commercial launch shows that spectrum innovation in the UAE has moved into deployment. The announcement did not disclose coverage, network performance or expansion plans, so any commercial opportunity should be assessed against the project scope published by the operator.

Source: TechAfrica News, 2026-10-14

05 | UAE plans to localise production of more than 5,000 products

Companies considering UAE manufacturing capacity should test their plans against priority sectors, industrial procurement demand and local supply-chain gaps before committing capital. The UAE plans to localise production of more than 5,000 products over the next decade and has established the National Industry Resilience Fund to help smaller manufacturers strengthen their supply chains.

The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology has identified 12 priority industrial sectors and announced an AED 180 billion industrial procurement and offtake package in May 2026. The National Industry Resilience Fund is an AED 1 billion initiative. Before building capacity, companies should check whether their products fit the localisation list, applicable technical standards and certification requirements, and the needs of prospective buyers.

Transport options are changing as well. Etihad Rail Freight said the rail network has connected major ports, including Fujairah and Khorfakkan in Sharjah, since 2023. During a nine-day period in March, the company operated more than 100 freight train trips, carrying over 459,000 tonnes of cargo and 7,900 containers. Port, rail and multimodal capacity are becoming practical variables in manufacturing site selection and inventory planning.

Source: ZAWYA, 2026-10-14

06 | UAE Central Bank introduces a new remuneration regime for banks and insurers

The UAE Central Bank’s new remuneration regime brings pay arrangements into the governance and risk frameworks of regulated financial institutions. Banks and insurance companies must implement the regime within 15 months of its effective date. They must also assess their existing remuneration frameworks within 180 days of that date and report their findings and implementation plans to the Central Bank.

The regime took effect on 14 April 2026. It requires boards to approve and oversee remuneration frameworks, establish remuneration committees and review remuneration arrangements annually. Institutions must also identify employees whose activities materially affect their risk profile, with the list subject to annual board approval.

Deferred remuneration is a specific implementation requirement. At least 40% of variable remuneration for Material Risk Takers must be deferred for a minimum of three years, while at least 60% for Senior Material Risk Takers must be deferred for a minimum of five years. Where appropriate, at least 50% of variable remuneration for Material Risk Takers must be delivered in shares, share-linked instruments or equivalent non-cash instruments. Affected institutions need a coordinated review of employment contracts, bonus structures, malus and clawback arrangements, and annual disclosure requirements, subject to the latest official publication from the Central Bank of the UAE.

Source: Morgan Lewis, 2026-10-14

Other updates

  • 08 | UAE and Chinese central banks discuss closer bilateral cooperation: The two central bank governors met in Bangkok to discuss stronger bilateral relations and financial and banking cooperation. UAE-China non-oil trade reached approximately AED 410 billion in 2025, up 24.5% year on year. (Source: Central Bank of the UAE)
  • 09 | Microsoft UAE and G42’s Inception examine agent-operated business models: At the Sharjah Investment Forum 2026, the companies discussed businesses led by people and operated by AI agents. Inception described the use of AI to test investment proposals, with people reviewing the analysis. (Source: Microsoft UAE and Inception, 2026-10-14)
  • 10 | Abu Dhabi clarifies the route for novel food tastings and advances fermentation plans: New guidelines allow developers to conduct controlled tasting and sensory evaluations before securing full UAE market authorisation, covering cultivated foods, precision fermentation and biomass fermentation products. (Source: Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority)
  • 11 | Saudi Arabia issues 438 industrial licences worth $1.28 billion in July: Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources data show that 438 new industrial licences representing approximately SAR 4.82 billion in investment were issued in July 2026, while 189 factories began actual production during the same month. (Source: Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, 2026-10-14)
  • 13 | Oman highlights health investment and digital transformation at a regional meeting: At the 73rd session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean, Oman’s Ministry of Health stressed continued investment in resilient health systems, primary healthcare and universal health coverage. (Source: Oman Ministry of Health)
  • 14 | Abu Dhabi Biobank and Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi partner on cancer research: The partners have launched an oncology collaboration to collect and preserve cancer-related samples for disease research and the development of more personalised treatments. (Source: Abu Dhabi Biobank, 2026-10-13)
  • 15 | Standard Chartered opens direct Bitcoin and ether trading to affluent UAE clients: Eligible professional investors can trade Bitcoin and ether through their existing bank accounts under a closed-loop model regulated by Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority. (Source: Standard Chartered, 2026-10-14)
  • 16 | AIM Intelligence and UAE cybersecurity company CPX target the Middle East AI security market: The companies signed a strategic memorandum of understanding covering technology demonstrations for UAE enterprises and public institutions and joint development of AI cybersecurity solutions. (Source: AIM Intelligence and CPX, 2026-10-13)
  • 17 | Aramex and GMR Airports sign an agreement to strengthen express and freight logistics: The memorandum of understanding is intended to improve access to international express and freight services for businesses, including SMEs, and support the movement of goods. (Source: Aramex, 2026-10-14)
  • 19 | Majid Al Futtaim says AI now influences 9% of customer transactions: The company said AI agents participate in 9% of customer transactions by recommending products, influencing choices or directing purchases. (Source: Majid Al Futtaim, 2026-10-14)
  • 20 | Aldar’s international unit plans to deliver 9,000 homes in five years: London Square plans to deliver 9,000 homes across 30 London sites, including 3,575 affordable homes and 1,538 build-to-rent homes. (Source: Aldar Properties, 2026-10-14)
  • 22 | Diriyah masterplan places historical heritage at the centre of development: Diriyah Company said its plans are organised around local historical and cultural assets, with hospitality, dining, retail and cultural activities complementing heritage landmarks. The destination has recorded more than 5.3 million visits since December 2022. (Source: Diriyah Company)
  • 23 | Cycls launches four AI agents for Saudi Arabia: The products cover general research, Saudi law, marketing and Saudi stock-market analysis, with an emphasis on Saudi laws, markets, language and culture. (Source: Cycls, 2026-10-14)
  • 24 | Qatar takes part in a GCC food security meeting: The meeting discussed plans for strategic GCC storage zones for food, medicine and other essential supplies, as well as mechanisms to strengthen regional food and pharmaceutical security systems. (Source: Qatar Ministry of Municipality, 2026-10-13)

Last updated: October 2026. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice.