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Industry News

Stablecoins Reshape Cross-Border Settlement Across Middle East-Asia Financial Corridor

Financial institutions and payment networks are increasingly testing stablecoins to streamline cross-border payments and corporate treasury operations across the Middle East and Asia. Speakers at the FAB Middle East-Asia Summit in Singapore highlighted that early digital-asset regulations in the UAE and Singapore provide strong testing grounds for connecting regional financial systems. Industry leaders noted that digital currencies are evolving alongside conventional banks rather than replacing traditional financial infrastructure.

Policy & Legal Updates

Dubai Municipality Hosts First Construction Legathon and Partners with Sandbox Dubai

Dubai Municipality hosted its first Future of Construction Legathon on 24 September at Emirates Towers to address regulatory frameworks for modern building technologies. During the event, Dubai Municipality signed a partnership agreement with the Dubai Future Foundation to pilot innovative solutions under Sandbox Dubai. The initiative will initially focus on the Smart Built Environment sandbox group.

Industry News

Ohana Breaks Ground on $4 Billion Manchester City Yas Residences in Abu Dhabi

UAE developer Ohana Development has officially broken ground on the AED 15 billion ($4.08 billion) Manchester City Yas Residences along Yas Canal in Abu Dhabi. The 1.67 million-square-metre waterfront development will deliver more than 2,000 residential units and a sports training academy in phases by 2029. An on-site Experience Centre was also launched alongside the ground-breaking ceremony.

China–UAE News

Hong Kong Narrows Gap with Dubai in Ultra-Luxury Property Market in Q2

Dubai registered 131 sales of homes priced at US$10 million or above in Q2 2026, totaling US$2.17 billion, reflecting a 27 percent decline from the prior quarter. Knight Frank data reported by BriefAsia shows Hong Kong significantly narrowed the transaction gap with Dubai during the same period. The change comes as geopolitical tensions affect Middle East market sentiment and buyers diversify holdings into Asia.