News

China–UAE News

UAE Federal National Council Participates in Legislators Forum in China

Members of the UAE Federal National Council took part in the 2026 Legislators Forum for Friendly Exchanges in Tianjin, China. UAE representative Sumaya Abdullah Al Suwaidi highlighted legislative frameworks for industrial and educational partnerships and showcased the Operation 300bn strategy. Discussions centered on advanced technologies, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and industry-academia cooperation.

Policy & Legal Updates

Sharjah Media City Launches AI-Powered Bedaya Business Setup Platform

Sharjah Media City (Shams) has launched 'Bedaya', an artificial intelligence-driven platform designed to streamline business setup for foreign and domestic investors. The system matches user proposals with authorized free zone activities and suggests corporate structures. It also generates trade names and automated fee schedules in Arabic and English.

Policy & Legal Updates

Kraken Parent Payward Wins Full Dubai Crypto License from VARA

Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority has granted Full Market Approval to Payward FZCO, the parent company entity of cryptocurrency exchange Kraken. The license authorizes Payward to provide broker-dealer, management, and investment services to retail, professional, and institutional clients. Kraken plans to launch UAE services in the coming weeks, featuring UAE dirham trading pairs and direct AED funding.

Policy & Legal Updates

Five Gulf Nations Pursue Schengen Visa Waiver Ahead of Riyadh EU-GCC Summit

Five Gulf Cooperation Council states are seeking a Schengen visa exemption for their citizens ahead of an upcoming bilateral summit in Riyadh. The Economic Times reports that the discussions apply exclusively to national passport holders rather than foreign residents living in the Gulf. The United Arab Emirates currently remains the only GCC member country with established visa-free Schengen access.