The UAE Ministry of Finance has extended the corporate tax Small Business Relief regime through 31 December 2029 under Ministerial Decision No. 131 of 2026. Resident businesses with annual revenue up to AED 3 million remain eligible for nil taxable income treatment. Businesses electing the relief must still register with the Federal Tax Authority and file annual returns.
International and regional airlines have extended flight cancellations across Saudi Arabia amid security concerns and recent strikes on airports, according to Condé Nast Traveller Middle East. Carriers including Emirates, Etihad, flydubai, and Air Arabia face ongoing disruptions affecting Riyadh, Dammam, and other cities. Passengers are urged to check flight statuses directly with operators as suspension windows stretch into November.
Intercontinental Exchange has launched new freight derivatives, including the first tanker freight futures on the TD34 route from the Gulf of Oman to China. The contracts are cash-settled based on Baltic Exchange assessments to help market participants hedge freight risk amid shipping disruptions. Average daily trading volume across ICE freight markets grew 33 percent year-to-date.
Chinese autonomous driving firms, including Baidu Apollo Go, Momenta, and WeRide, are broadening operations in the UAE. The expansion is supported by over 14,500 Chinese commercial licenses in the Emirates and more than $15 billion in bilateral investment. The initiatives focus on integrating autonomous fleets and AI navigation into smart transport grids.
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