Software, telecommunications and digital infrastructure
Chinese autonomous driving firm Baidu Apollo launched its commercial driverless robotaxi service in Dubai on October 7, 2026. The launch marks the company's first operational commercial venture in the Middle East. The initiative supports Dubai's strategic objective of achieving 25 percent driverless transport by 2030.
The UAE fintech market is forecast to grow from roughly $3 billion in 2024 to more than $5 billion by 2029, with over 320 fintech companies active nationwide. Central Bank data shows the country has climbed to fourth globally on the Global FinTech Centre Index, with over 75 firms licensed or approved across six categories.
Asia-Pacific real assets manager ESR has announced an expansion into the Middle East, targeting a $10 billion development pipeline in logistics and digital infrastructure. The initiative initially targets the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia to develop scalable warehouses and data centres. ESR is currently negotiating with regional strategic partners and securing land positions.
Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum chaired a meeting of Dubai's Higher Committee for the Development of the Economic and Financial Sector to review key economic metrics. Dubai secured first place globally in FinTech in the September 2026 Global Financial Centres Index, while Dubai Financial Market capitalisation reached Dhs993.1 billion by the end of Q3 2026. Physical gold trading across the UAE reached 2,750 tonnes, highlighting Dubai's role as a trading conduit connecting global supply with demand markets including China.
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