Wellness Tourism Reshapes Gulf Executive Travel
Spa hotels across the Gulf are no longer a luxury add-on for business travelers. In 2026, recovery-focused stays are becoming a core part of how executives manage performance on the road.
Business & Deals
M&A, corporate strategy and major deals in the region
Wellness Tourism: The Gulf’s New Business Travel Edge
Luxury spa hotels across the Gulf are no longer just leisure destinations. In 2026, they have become calculated strategic tools for executive retreats, deal-making, and corporate hospitality at the highest level.
Qatar Business Setup 2026: Foreign Ownership, Costs, and the Fastest Route to Incorporation
Qatar has spent the post-World-Cup years rewiring its investment framework to compete with the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Foreign Investment Law No. 1 of 2019 dismantled the old 49% ownership ceiling, and the QFC and QFZ platforms give international founders common-law comfort and tax holidays.
UAE Economic Substance Regulations (ESR) in 2026: What Businesses Still Need to Know
The UAE’s Economic Substance Regulations (ESR) framework was one of the country’s most disruptive compliance regimes when it launched in 2019. Six years later, the rules have been formally withdrawn for recent financial years — but the historical…
UAE Trademark Registration 2026: Fees, Timeline, and MoET Procedure
The UAE Ministry of Economy & Tourism charges AED 6,500 per class over a 3-to-4-month process to register a trademark under Federal Law 36 of 2021. This guide covers fees, documents, the opposition window, and the 10-year renewal cycle.
UAE AML Compliance Guide 2026: Federal Decree-Law 10 of 2025 for DNFBPs
Federal Decree-Law 10 of 2025 replaced the UAE’s earlier AML regime on 14 October 2025 and raised corporate penalties to AED 100 million. This guide covers goAML registration, DNFBP obligations, VASP treatment, and the enforcement timeline.
UAE Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) Reporting: 2026 Filing Guide, Penalties and Register Rules
UAE mainland and non-financial free zone companies must disclose their beneficial owners. This 2026 guide covers the 25% threshold, three required registers, 60-day filing deadlines, and the AED 10,000-100,000 penalty ladder under Cabinet Decision 132/2023.
UAE Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL): Business Compliance Guide 2026
The UAE Personal Data Protection Law is Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021, the first federal data protection statute in the United Arab Emirates. It defines how personal data of UAE residents may be collected, processed, stored and transferred, and…
Best UAE Free Zone for E-Commerce in 2026: Complete Comparison Guide
A UAE e-commerce free zone is a federally or emirate-designated economic area where online sellers can register a company with 100% foreign ownership, hold a dedicated e-commerce trade licence and access customs-bonded warehousing without engaging a…
How to Start a Business in Dubai vs Abu Dhabi in 2026: A Complete Comparison
Dubai suits trading, e-commerce, retail, logistics, and consumer brands that value speed, breadth of free zones, and a dense international market. Abu Dhabi suits finance, energy, deep technology, and government-facing businesses that benefit from se