BCD Global, the international expansion platform of Indian-founded real estate developer BCD Group, has entered the Middle East, naming Dubai as its regional headquarters as it pursues its next phase of global growth.

The move marks the first Middle East expansion for the 70-year-old group, which has delivered more than 155 million square feet of real estate across over 300 residential, mixed-use and large-scale developments in seven countries.

BCD Global said it chose Dubai due to the emirate’s economic stability, access to global capital, regulatory clarity and long-term urban planning framework.

“Dubai represents the convergence of global capital, governance and long-term urban vision,” Amit Puri, CEO of BCD Global, said in a statement.

Founded in India in 1952, BCD Group has developed projects across infrastructure-led asset classes, including healthcare, senior living, hospitality, co-living and urban infrastructure. BCD Global will spearhead the group’s international expansion from the UAE, with a focus on institutional governance and long-term asset creation.

The expansion follows a strategic restructuring under chairman Angad Singh Bedi, who has overseen the group’s transition to a zero-debt, vertically integrated operating model.

“The Middle East is one of the defining growth corridors of the next decade, and Dubai stands at its centre,” Bedi said, adding that the group’s entry into the region was intended as a long-term expansion rather than a short-term market play.

BCD Global’s entry comes as the UAE’s real estate sector continues to benefit from population growth, infrastructure investment and sustained inflows of international capital. The UAE’s population is projected to reach around 11 million by 2030, supporting demand for large-scale, institutional-quality developments.

From Dubai, BCD Global will oversee its Middle East and Africa operations, with the wider Gulf region, including Saudi Arabia, identified as a key growth market over time.

The UAE has rolled out two new federal decree laws that will reshape how its financial markets are regulated, and if you invest, save or use financial services, this affects you.

The changes strengthen the powers of the Capital Market Authority (CMA), boost investor protection and align the UAE more closely with global financial standards, reinforcing its position as a leading financial hub.

Stronger oversight of financial firms

Under the new laws, the CMA gets wider authority to supervise stock exchanges, investment firms and licensed financial institutions. This means tighter monitoring of market risks and quicker intervention if a company shows signs of financial trouble, helping protect investors before problems escalate.

The regulator can now demand recovery plans, higher capital buffers, management changes, or, in extreme cases, oversee mergers or closures to safeguard clients and market stability.

Better protection for consumers

Investor protection is a key focus. Financial firms will be required to offer fairer, more accessible services, including digital and fintech solutions. Existing safeguards, such as linking credit limits to income and preventing irresponsible lending, are reinforced, while financial awareness programmes will continue nationwide.

Tougher penalties for misconduct

The new legislation introduces heavier fines for violations, with penalties potentially reaching up to 10 times the profits gained through misconduct. The CMA can also publicly name offenders and settle cases before court rulings, increasing transparency and accountability.

Why it matters

For consumers, the reforms mean safer investments, stronger rights and greater confidence in the UAE’s financial system, with tighter checks on risky or unethical behaviour.

The UAE has officially lowered the age of majority from 21 to 18 under a sweeping new Civil Transactions Law, a move that significantly reshapes how young people engage with contracts, finances and legal responsibilities across the country.

Under the updated law, anyone aged 18 is now considered a legal adult, aligning the UAE with international standards and removing long-standing practical challenges linked to age-based legal capacity. Previously, individuals were only considered legally competent at 21 lunar years.

The change is part of the largest federal legislative update in the UAE, designed to modernise civil law, simplify legal references and eliminate overlap with newer special laws.

More control for younger residents

One of the most notable updates empowers younger individuals to manage their own financial affairs earlier. While minors previously needed to be 18 to seek court authorisation to manage assets, the new law lowers that threshold to 15, provided judicial approval is granted.

The shift is intended to support youth entrepreneurship, early financial literacy and responsible asset management, especially for young people involved in business, inheritance matters or investments.

Why the law matters

The Civil Transactions Law serves as the backbone of most federal legislation in the UAE. It governs contracts, obligations, legal acts and civil rights between individuals and entities, making these changes far-reaching for residents, families and businesses alike.

The new framework adopts clearer legal language, practical interpretations and unified time references by moving fully to the Gregorian calendar, replacing lunar-year calculations that often caused confusion.

Stronger protections, clearer contracts

Beyond age-related changes, the law introduces provisions that strengthen legal certainty and reduce disputes. These include clearer rules on contracts, pre-contractual negotiations and disclosure obligations, requiring parties to share essential information before agreements are signed.

Judges are also granted broader discretion when applying Sharia principles, allowing greater flexibility in achieving justice rather than being confined to a single school of jurisprudence.

Compensation, companies and insurance updates

The law allows courts to combine blood money or assessed compensation with additional damages where material or moral harm is not fully covered. It also establishes updated legal frameworks for nonprofit and professional companies, supporting sustainable development and modern business practices.

Insurance regulations, including takaful, have been refined, while rules governing real estate sales, disputed rights and works contracts have been updated to better balance interests and reflect real-world transactions.

Lowering the age of majority to 18 signals a major shift in how the UAE views youth, marking a new chapter for the country’s next generation.