The UAE has made its new e-invoicing regime easier to live with for internationally structured businesses. On 19 October 2026, the Ministry of Finance issued Ministerial Decision No. 197 of 2026, amending the rules ahead of the January 2027 go-live. The changes took effect from 1 October 2026.

Abu Dhabi is changing the way it measures business competitiveness. Rather than looking only at how quickly a single government transaction is processed, the emirate is focusing on the full investor journey: the time between a decision to invest and the start of actual operations. The stated aim is for Abu Dhabi to become the global reference point for that measure.

According to Arabian Business, a new direct maritime route between southern China and the UAE has opened, connecting Xiaomo International Logistics Port in Shenzhen with Khorfakkan Port in Sharjah. The link promises to shorten shipping times and give Chinese manufacturers a more dependable gateway into the Gulf region.

Guangzhou-based autonomous driving company WeRide plans to scale its Saudi robotaxi fleet to between 7,000 and 10,000 vehicles by the end of the decade.

Oman's OPAZ and China's Hainan Province held talks on deeper investment cooperation across Oman's special economic zones, free zones, and industrial cities.

Qatar's Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) reported QR248.44 billion ($68.25 billion) in cumulative industrial investment by the second quarter of 2026, alongside increases in business registrations, foreign company formation, and private-sector exports.