Singapore

Industry News

UAE Builds AI Capability Through Compute Infrastructure and Talent, Stanford Data Shows

The UAE is advancing its artificial intelligence sector through large-scale compute infrastructure and workforce training despite its smaller population compared to global superpowers. Abu Dhabi is developing the 1-gigawatt Stargate UAE computing cluster, while Stanford data recorded a 121 percent rise in the country's AI talent concentration between 2019 and 2025. The UAE federal government is also partnering with MBZUAI to provide agentic AI training across 80,000 public sector workers.

Industry News

UAE and Singapore Lead Global Generative AI Adoption in 2026, Report Shows

A report from Microsoft's Institute for AI Economy shows that the UAE leads global generative AI adoption with a 73.3% usage rate among its working-age population in Q2 2026. Singapore ranked second at 64.3%, while the worldwide average stood at 18.8%. The rankings measure adoption among working-age adults rather than investment volume or company counts.

China–UAE News

Luckin Coffee Appoints Abu Dhabi Mubadala Executive to Board of Directors

Luckin Coffee appointed Philip Yifei Bao of Abu Dhabi's Mubadala Investment Company to its board on October 8, 2026. The move follows Mubadala's participation alongside Centurium Capital in an investment valued at approximately $1 billion. The Chinese coffee company has reached 100 outlets in Singapore and is evaluating expansion into the Gulf region.

Policy & Legal Updates

Asia Transfer Pricing Brief Highlights Q2 2026 Updates in UAE, Singapore, and Vietnam

China Briefing reported key transfer pricing updates across Asia and the Middle East for the second quarter of 2026. In the UAE, Ministerial Decision No. 96 of 2026 adopted the latest OECD Pillar Two guidance, while Singapore clarified rules for share-based compensation and Vietnam issued Decree No. 255/2026/ND-CP. Foreign-invested enterprises are advised to review existing intercompany pricing policies against the revised frameworks.