Eid Al Fitr Holidays In The GCC; Dubais 100 Most Influential People; UAE Petrol Prices To Change; Royal Baby Announced – 10 Things You Missed This Week

Elsewhere this week countries across the GCC revealed details of Eid Al Fitr holidays, the UAE prepared to announce new petrol prices, Dubai Police shared a security warning as fraudsters scam UAE Pass users, a new royal baby was named and more.

Catch up on 10 of the biggest stories this week, as selected by Arabian Business editors. 

The Dubai 100: The most influential people in the emirate 2025

The Dubai 100 is Arabian Business’s definitive ranking of the people driving that future — from business and government to tech and culture.

This year’s list is powered by a reimagined, nine-factor methodology that looks beyond financial success to measure real influence, impact and inspiration.

So, who’s defining Dubai in 2025? Who’s rising, who’s holding steady — and who’s reshaping the city’s power landscape?

Eid Al Fitr 2025: UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain announce holidays

Eid Al Fitr holidays have been announced across the GCC, with government departments and authorities revealing dates and durations of extended breaks.

The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait will all see holidays for workers of between four and 11 days.

Eid Al Fitr marks the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan and is celebrated by Muslims around the world.

Dubai Police issue UAE Pass warning

Dubai Police have issued a security warning following the arrest of members of a fraud gang in the emirate. The Anti-Fraud Centre at the General Department of Criminal Investigation in Dubai Police has issued a warning to the public against responding to phone calls from individuals falsely claiming to represent official authorities.

These callers typically request that victims update their details on digital identity platforms or share confidential banking information, including bank card numbers, CVV codes, and one-time passwords (OTPs). Dubai Police stressed that anyone requesting such sensitive information is a fraudster attempting to access the victim’s bank account.

This warning follows the arrest of a criminal gang that specialises in impersonating employees of the Consumer Rights Protection Department. The suspects had contacted several citizens and residents, claiming to represent an official authority and urging them to log into the UAE PASS app to update their personal details.

New Dubai parking fees to begin on April 4

Dubai parking fees will change from April 4, following the Eid Al Fitr holidays.

Parkin, the largest operator of paid parking services in Dubai, confirmed the changes and revealed prices and operating hours in a disclosure to the DFM.

The parking operator identified peak times for car parking fees in the city and gave a detailed breakdown of applicable fees, depending on the zone.

UAE petrol prices to change for April 2025

The UAE is set to announce petrol prices for April 2025 after the next few days.

Petrol prices fell slightly in March, following an increase in February, making it cheaper for motorists filling up on Super 98, Special 95, E-Plus 91 and diesel.

It is currently cheaper to fill up a tank than year ago, with all categories becoming more affordable, despite prices fluctuating throughout the past 12 months.

Dubai Royal baby: Sheikh Hamdan announces 4th child

Dubai’s Crown Prince has welcomed a fourth child and announced the birth of a baby daughter.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence of the UAE, revealed the happy news in a statement on social media.

The baby girl will be named Hind bint Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum.

Dubai announces Great Online Sale; launches virtual mall with 95% discounts

Dubai’s Great Online Sale is set to return for its third edition from March 27 to 30, offering discounts of up to 95 per cent across numerous brands.

Organised by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), this year’s sale introduces a new immersive virtual shopping experience allowing customers to explore participating retailers digitally.

The four-day event—extended by one day compared to previous years—coincides with the Ramadan and Eid shopping period.

Dubai real estate: Palm Jebel Ali v Palm Jumeirah – property prices, investment potential and payment plans compared

Palm Jebel Ali is emerging as one of the most exciting real estate opportunities in the world, offering global investors a chance to secure prime waterfront assets at early-stage prices, according to a market report from fäm Properties.

It says the iconic Palm Jebel Ali development is making significant progress after being revived two years ago and is poised to replicate the success of its predecessor, Palm Jumeirah.

The fäm Properties study showcases Palm Jebel Ali as a more affordable and expansive alternative to its neighbour along the coast, with a combination of cheaper villa entry prices, bigger plots, and lower prices per square foot for homes and land, creating unavoidable investor appeal.

UAE announces new Dirham symbol

The UAE has officially approved a symbol to represent the Dirham currency unit.

The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has unveiled the new symbol for the UAE’s national currency, the “Dirham”.

It means the Dirham now has a symbol like the dollar’s $ or the euro €.

UAE launches new AED100 note

The Central Bank of the UAE has launched a new AED100 banknote. The new AED100 banknote is part of the CBUAE’s Third Issuance of the National Currency Project.

The distinctive red note maintains the colour characteristics of the current denomination to make it easy to recognise. The front of the new banknote features the Um Al Quwain National Fort, a historical and cultural monument. This fort also serves as a national attraction, bridging the past with the present.

The reverse side features Port of Fujairah, one of the country’s largest ports and a major shipping and maritime transport centre.

Additionally, it showcases the Etihad Rail, a railway network that connects the seven Emirates and extends to the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.