Eid Al Fitr In The UAE; Visa-free Travel Ideas; Dubai Villa Sales Surge; Sheikh Mohammed Reveals $65bn Investment Plan – 10 Things You Missed This Week

Also making the headlines this week have been the rise of investments in the Maldives, the growth of luxury villas in Dubai, a massive new investment strategy in the UAE and more.

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

UAE Eid Al Fitr 2025 expected dates and how to maximise time off

Eid Al Fitr in the UAE is coming soon, with a long weekend holiday for public and private sector workers in the country.

Eid Al Fitr is a holiday following the Holy Month of Ramadan and begins with the month of Shawwal. The holiday marks the end of the Ramadan fast and UAE legislation has confirmed the duration of the break.

Find out expected dates and how to make the most of the upcoming holiday.

UAE visa-free travel for Eid Al Fitr 2025

UAE residents are already looking ahead to Eid Al Fitr holidays and planning vacations.

Depending on moon-sighting confirmation, workers in the city will look forward to a four or five-day break including weekend. Using a small amount of annual leave can transform this public and private sector holiday into a nine-day break with strategic vacation planning.

With travel experts reporting that the price of flights and hotels surging by as much as 15 to 30 per cent over the holiday, residents need to plan travel in advance. Taking this into account, consider these travel destinations where UAE residents can take a holiday without needing a visa:

How to get ultra-rare new AED100 coin in the UAE

The UAE has issued an ultra-rare AED100 coin with a limited-edition run of just 1,000 pieces.

The Central Bank of the UAE, in collaboration with the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation, issued silver commemorative coins to mark the 100th anniversary of the poet Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais (1925-2025).

The issuance of the commemorative coin aligns with UNESCO’s celebration of centenary of Emirati poet Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais, who is widely regarded as one of the most prominent poetic voices in the UAE and the Gulf region.

VFS Global relocates Dubai visa centre, advises early application during peak season

VFS Global will relocate its visa application centres in Dubai’s Wafi Mall to a new location within the same premises, effective March 17, 2025, the company announced.

The centres, currently in Wafi Mall Phase 2, will move to the first floor of Phase 5-Horus in Umm Hurrair 2, Dubai. Applicants with scheduled appointments are advised to verify their appointment details to ensure they visit the correct location.

Ahead of the upcoming summer travel season, VFS Global is encouraging travellers to plan their visa applications well in advance, based on increased demand during the Eid break and school holidays.

EXCLUSIVE: UAE developers pour billions into Maldives as luxury island market heats up

UAE developers are investing more than $3bn in Maldivian luxury real estate projects through 2030, according to investors and industry insiders familiar with the market.

This $3 billion pipeline is set to transform the island nation from a tourism-only destination into a second-home market for the ultra-wealthy with returns of up to 20 per cent, experts told Arabian Business.

“I can tell you over $3 billion in the pipeline,” said Mohamed Ali Janah, Chairman of Hotels and Resorts Investment Maldives Pvt Ltd (HARIM) and one of the Maldives’ biggest investors, in an exclusive interview. “UAE will be holding the largest portfolio in the next five years.”

Dubai real estate: Villa market soars as luxury demand outpaces supply, off-plan properties surge

Dubai’s residential real estate market continues its upward trajectory, with luxury villas experiencing increasing demand amid rising demand from high-net-worth individuals and expatriate families seeking exclusive living spaces in the city.

The post-pandemic shift toward spacious, private residences has accelerated, driving villa prices up 32.4 per cent year-on-year in 2024, according to industry data. In prime locations, prices have surged over 147 per cent over the past five years, establishing Dubai’s luxury villa segment as a premier investment destination for global elite buyers.

“Dubai’s real estate market is experiencing strong demand for villas, driven by HNWIs seeking privacy, space, and exclusivity,” said Kareem Fahmy, Founder and CEO of Innovate Living in an exclusive interview with Arabian Business.

UAE approves massive new investment strategy as it targets $65.4bn inflows; Cabinet approves Remote Work from overseas

The UAE has approved a massive new national investment strategy as it looks to more than double FDI inflows.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, chaired the UAE Cabinet meeting held at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi.

Sheikh Mohammed said: “Today, I chaired a UAE Cabinet meeting at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi, we approved our National Investment Strategy for the next six years. Our goal is to increase annual foreign investment inflows from AED112bn ($30.5bn) in 2023 to AED240bn ($65.4bn) by 2031 and grow the UAE’s total foreign investment stock from AED800bn ($218bn) to AED2.2tn ($600bn) over the coming years.

Dubai announces plans to build over 17,000 affordable homes; approves independent legal consultant project

Dubai has announced plans to create more than 17,000 affordable homes in the city.

The news came following a meeting of the Executive Council, which approved land for the affordable residence project, while also announcing updated legal frameworks and boosting Arabic education in the city.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, approved a series of policies and initiatives aimed at expanding affordable housing, enhancing education outcomes and supporting independent legal professionals in Dubai.

Saudi Arabia issues warning over fake sick leave, announces $26,670 fine and jail for violators

Saudi Arabia has issued a warning over fake sick leaves and falsified health reports in the Kingdom.

The Ministry of Health issued the warning, saying that issuance of false medical reports can lead toa fine of SR100,000 ($26,670) and up to one year jail time. The statement came following a reported increase in social media accounts promoting unauthorised medical leave approvals.

In a statement on social media platform X, the Ministry of Health emphasised that the source of false sick leaves, the beneficiary or anybody involved with the issuance exposes themselves to the fines. The Ministry further added that the responsibility for granting sick leave lies with a treating physician and can only be issued through the Sehhaty platform.

Dubai real estate firm reveals 91 agents have earned over $1m in commission, seeks new recruits

A Dubai real estate firm is looking to recruit new agents after reporting almost 100 agents have earned $1m in commission payments selling property in the city.

Metropolitan Group announced that 177 of its agents have achieved AED-millionaire status, since joining the Dubai-based group.

Among them, four agents surpassed AED37m ($10m) in earnings, 40 agents achieved commissions of AED10m ($2.7m) or more and a further 91 agents joined the exclusive million-dollar club earning over AED 3.67m ($1m) in Dubai.