For years, the UAE’s aspiring musicians, producers, and songwriters have had to look abroad to turn their creative spark into a formal qualification. That changes this year.

In a major boost to the country’s growing creative economy, SAE University College Dubai is set to launch the city’s first accredited, three-year Bachelor of Music programme this September, blending hands-on studio craft with rigorous academic and industry training. 

With admissions now open and scholarships worth up to Dh50,000 up for grabs, the move marks a pivotal moment for grassroots talent looking to make noise on the global stage.

What will the degree cover?

The full-time programme has been designed around the skills needed in today’s rapidly changing music industry.

Students will study a range of creative and technical subjects, including:

• Songwriting and composition
• Electronic music production
• Studio recording and production
• Live performance
• Stagecraft
• Creative musicianship
• Music business
• Entrepreneurship

Rather than focusing solely on classroom-based learning, the course will combine practical assignments with industry projects.

Students will also complete a major project before graduation, allowing them to develop a professional portfolio that can support their entry into the music industry.

Students will get access to professional studios

As part of the programme, students will have access to professional-standard recording facilities, music equipment and specialist software at SAE University College Dubai.

They will also work with academics and industry professionals throughout their studies.

The university has developed the programme alongside industry partners including Melody House, Muzikminds and Hungarian-American songwriter and music producer Miklos Malek.

What jobs can graduates pursue?

The degree is aimed at students who want to build careers across both the music business and the wider creative economy.

Potential career paths include:

• Music producer
• Songwriter or composer
• Audio engineer
• Performing artist
• Artist development professional
• Music supervisor
• Entertainment professional
• Content creator
• Music entrepreneur

The programme also places significant emphasis on business and entrepreneurship, reflecting the growing need for musicians to understand both the creative and commercial sides of the industry.

Why Dubai is investing in music education

The launch comes as the UAE seeks to expand its creative industries and increase their contribution to the national economy.

Under the UAE National Strategy for Cultural and Creative Industries, the country has set a target for the sector to contribute 5 per cent of GDP by 2031.

The regional music market is also expanding. According to figures cited by SAE University College, recorded music revenues across the Middle East and North Africa grew by 15.2 per cent in 2025.

The new degree therefore arrives at a time when opportunities across music, entertainment, digital content and other creative fields are growing across the region.

Applications are open

Students interested in joining the new Bachelor of Music programme can apply for the September 2026 intake if they meet the university’s admission requirements.

Those unable to join in September will have further opportunities, with intakes scheduled for February and May 2027.

Scholarships of up to Dh50,000 are available to eligible applicants.

Paying a year’s rent upfront could soon become a thing of the past for some Dubai tenants.

A new Rent Now, Pay Later service is expected to launch in Dubai in September, giving eligible renters the option of spreading their annual housing costs across up to 12 months with zero interest.

The initiative is being developed by the Dubai Land Department (DLD) in partnership with a local bank and is aimed at giving residents more flexibility when managing one of their biggest monthly expenses.

How will the Rent Now, Pay Later service work?

Under the proposed arrangement, a tenant would select a residential property as usual.

The participating bank would then pay the landlord the full annual rent upfront.

Instead of paying the entire amount at once, the tenant would repay the bank through flexible, interest-free instalments over a period of up to 12 months.

The model could effectively turn an annual rent commitment into a monthly payment arrangement, potentially making it easier for residents to manage their cash flow.

However, the scheme is still being developed, so several important details have yet to be announced.

Who will be eligible?

DLD and its banking partner have not yet released the full eligibility criteria.

Details covering applications, qualifying tenants and properties, repayment arrangements and how landlords will participate are expected to be announced when the service officially launches.

Until those rules are published, tenants should not assume that every Dubai rental property or resident will automatically qualify.

When will the new scheme launch?

The Rent Now, Pay Later service is expected to be introduced in September.

If implemented as planned, the initiative could make Dubai the first city to introduce this type of rental payment model as part of its residential rental market.

The scheme also builds on Dubai’s wider push to give tenants more flexibility in how they pay for housing.

Flexible rent payments

The new service follows DLD’s Flexi Rent initiative, announced in June.

That programme was designed to give tenants alternatives to traditional rental payment arrangements, including the ability to pay rent monthly, quarterly or twice a year.

During its first phase, DLD partnered with 12 real estate companies to provide more flexible arrangements for tenants.

Depending on the participating company and agreement, options included:

• Monthly rental payments
• Instalment plans extending up to 12 months
• Grace periods
• Adjusted payment schedules
• In some cases, waivers on rental increases

The Flexi Rent initiative was made available to both new and existing tenants.

Could monthly rent become the new normal?

Dubai’s rental market has traditionally involved tenants paying rent through a limited number of large payments, making the timing of rental cheques a significant financial consideration for residents.

The combination of Flexi Rent and the proposed Rent Now, Pay Later service could give tenants more ways to spread those costs throughout the year.

The key difference is that the upcoming bank-backed scheme would allow the landlord to receive the annual rent upfront, while the tenant repays the bank over time.

That could offer a different solution to the traditional monthly-rent model.

More details to come

The proposed service remains under development, meaning the final terms could change before launch.

Tenants will need to wait for DLD and its banking partner to confirm the precise requirements, participating properties, application process and repayment conditions.

For now, however, the headline proposal is straightforward: Dubai renters could soon have the option to spread an annual rent bill over as many as 12 months without interest.

Planning to travel on Etihad Rail’s Abu Dhabi–Fujairah passenger service? The ticket you choose could make a big difference if your plans change.

Etihad Rail offers three fare categories, Saver, Value and Flexible, across both Comfort and Premium classes. Each comes with its own rules covering ticket changes, cancellations, refunds, transfers and seat selection.

With bookings now exceeding 70,000, here’s what passengers need to know before choosing their fare.

Saver ticket: Cheapest, but least flexible

The Saver fare is aimed at passengers who are confident about their travel plans.

Once booked, the ticket cannot be changed, refunded or transferred to another passenger.

Seat selection is available, but passengers will need to pay an additional fee if they want to choose a specific seat.

Otherwise, the system will automatically allocate a seat 24 hours before departure.

In short, Saver may suit passengers who want the lower fare and don’t expect their plans to change.

Value ticket: More flexibility before departure

The Value fare offers a middle ground for passengers who want some flexibility without paying for the most flexible option.

Passengers can make unlimited changes free of charge up to 72 hours before the scheduled departure time.

If a change is made within 72 hours of departure, a Dh20 change fee applies, along with any difference between the original and new fares.

Seat selection is included at no extra cost.

However, Value tickets cannot be refunded or transferred to another passenger.

Flexible ticket: Maximum flexibility

As its name suggests, the Flexible fare gives passengers the greatest freedom to adjust their plans.

Changes can be made without a change fee before departure, and passengers can also make changes for up to 30 minutes after the scheduled departure time.

The ticket can be transferred to another passenger before boarding, providing an additional option for travellers whose plans change.

Cancellation rules are also more generous.

Passengers who cancel at least 24 hours before departure can receive a full refund. If the ticket is cancelled on the day of travel, a 30% cancellation fee applies.

All changes remain subject to availability and the conditions attached to the relevant fare.

How can you change an Etihad Rail ticket?

Passengers have several ways to modify their bookings.

Tickets can be changed through:

However, passengers cannot change their itinerary itself. This means the departure or arrival station cannot be changed, regardless of the ticket category.

Any requested change must also comply with the applicable fare rules and deadlines.

If the new ticket costs more than the original, the passenger must pay the difference in fare, along with any applicable change fee.

If the new fare is cheaper, Etihad Rail says the difference will not be refunded.

Once the new ticket has been issued, the original ticket becomes invalid.

How do Etihad Rail refunds work?

Passengers who can no longer travel can request a cancellation through the My Bookings section of the Etihad Rail website or app.

Cancellations are also possible through station ticket vending machines or the call centre.

The call centre operates daily from 5am to 11pm.

It’s important to cancel before departure if you are not going to travel.

Passengers who simply fail to show up without cancelling their booking are classified as no-shows. Their tickets become invalid, and no refund is provided.

Saver and Value tickets are non-refundable, while Flexible tickets qualify for refunds according to the applicable cancellation rules.

How much do Etihad Rail tickets cost?

Introductory fares on the Abu Dhabi–Fujairah route start from:

• Dh55 in Comfort Class
• Dh120 in Premium Class

The final fare depends on the selected ticket category and class.

Comfort vs Premium: What’s included?

Etihad Rail currently offers two passenger classes: Comfort and Premium.

Premium Class

Premium passengers receive around 39–40 inches of legroom, along with seats featuring extra legroom and reclining backrests with padded headrests.

Other features include:

• USB charging ports
• Free Wi-Fi
• Complimentary light refreshments and beverages
• Additional food and drink available for purchase

Comfort Class

Comfort Class provides around 37–38 inches of legroom and comfortable seating.

Passengers also receive:

• Free Wi-Fi
• A power outlet and USB charging point at every seat
• Hospitality trolley service available for purchase

Which Etihad Rail ticket should you choose?

The best fare depends largely on how certain you are about your travel plans.

Saver makes the most sense if your schedule is fixed and you want to prioritise the fare price.

Value is a better option if you want the ability to change your journey without paying a fee, provided you make those changes more than 72 hours before departure.

Flexible is the strongest choice if your plans could change at short notice, particularly if you want the option of transferring the ticket or receiving a refund.

Before booking, it’s worth comparing the fare conditions rather than looking only at the headline ticket price. A slightly more expensive ticket could prove better value if there’s a chance you’ll need to change your plans.