Kuwait's new 15-year Golden Residency explained — eligibility, KD5M investment thresholds, and what it means for foreign investors planning long-term in the Gulf.

The UAE has posted its strongest year yet for foreign direct investment (FDI), attracting a record of AED177.3 billion in inflows during 2025. That's a 6% rise on the previous year and the fourth consecutive record, lifting the country to ninth place globally among FDI destinations.

Dubai's Higher Committee for Future Technology Development and the Digital Economy has approved a new set of initiatives that collectively signal where the emirate is directing its digital economy ambitions.

The World Bank and the UAE Ministry of Investment signed a partnership framework to strengthen the UAE's investment climate, focused on transparency, predictability, and institutional reform.

Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement and AD Ports Group announced a partnership to develop the Al Selmiyyah Defence Industrial Free Zone in Abu Dhabi. The zone is being positioned as a dedicated environment for defence manufacturing, designed to attract international original equipment manufacturers and strengthen the UAE's domestic industrial base.

According to Ministerial Resolution No. 340 of 2026, the UAE’s updated Wage Protection System (WPS) rules will require all private sector employers to pay salaries on the first day of each month, starting June 1, 2026. Any payment made after that date will automatically be classified as delayed.

One of the most important decisions that business owners looking to set up a new business in the UAE have to make, is whether to establish their company in a free zone or on the mainland. Both options have advantages, but each serve a different strategic purpose that can impact company operations, market access, cost, and regulatory obligations. Careful consideration and an early-stage strategic assessment of the company’s business model, target market, and long-term growth objectives are therefore essential.