Software, telecommunications and digital infrastructure
The UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism reviewed Cabinet Resolution No. 136 of 2026 granting industrial property fee exemptions. Implemented on 14 September 2026, the resolution provides full fee waivers for 29 specific industrial property services. Additional exemptions apply to student inventors and People of Determination across select patent and design procedures.
The UAE introduced and updated several key regulations in October covering electronic invoicing, shared housing, food standards, child photography, and penalties law amendments. Notable measures include Ministry of Finance accreditation requirements for e-invoicing providers and strict room occupancy rules under Dubai's Law No. 4 of 2026. Violations across these domains carry severe sanctions, including fines of up to Dh1 million, business suspensions, and licence cancellations.
Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala plans to maintain an annual investment scale of 39 billion US dollars, targeting expanded asset allocation in China, South Korea, India, and Japan. Simultaneously, the UAE and Qatar have launched major commercial and technology initiatives, including a 1.8 billion AED expansion at Dubai CommerCity and preparations for Doha to host the World Investment Forum.
Chinese technology investments in the Gulf Arab states are increasingly intersecting with American technology footprints, particularly across the UAE and Saudi Arabia. While China supplies cloud services, 5G networks, and smart-city systems, the US provides advanced graphics processing units and leading foundation models. Both regional governments are simultaneously pursuing sovereign computing capabilities while balancing partnerships across both ecosystems.
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