In a major move to enhance governance and transparency in the construction and contracting sector, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has issued Law No. (7) of 2025 regulating contracting activities across the emirate.

The new legislation introduces a unified regulatory framework aimed at standardising contractor classification, improving oversight, and reinforcing accountability across the sector. It is designed to align with Dubai’s strategic vision for sustainable development and global best practices in urban planning and infrastructure.

Oversight Committee to Lead Sector Reform

A central provision of the law is the establishment of a new Contracting Activities Regulation and Development Committee, which a representative from Dubai Municipality will chair. The committee will include members from various government entities involved in the sector.

The committee will be tasked with:

• Approving and supervising contracting activities
• Defining regulatory responsibilities across entities
• Proposing new policies and legislative updates
• Resolving jurisdictional conflicts
• Establishing a sector-wide code of ethics
• Coordinating with public and private stakeholders

Digital Transformation of Contractor Registry

Dubai Municipality has been appointed as the lead authority to manage the sector’s transformation. It will establish and operate a fully integrated electronic platform for all contracting activities in the emirate. The platform will be linked to the existing Invest in Dubai portal and serve as the official contractor registry.

The Municipality is also responsible for:

• Issuing professional competency certificates
• Creating a code of conduct for the industry
• Classifying contractors in construction, building, and demolition
• Enforcing compliance with approved classification and operating capacity

Law Applies Across Zones, with Specific Exemptions

The law applies to all contractors operating in Dubai, including those in free zones and special development zones, such as the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). However, contracting activities related to airport infrastructure and other exceptions approved by the Executive Council are excluded.

Penalties and Compliance Deadlines

The law imposes strict penalties for non-compliance:

• Fines ranging from Dh1,000 to Dh100,000
• Repeat violations may result in doubled fines up to Dh200,000
• Additional measures include license suspension, contractor downgrading, and removal from the registry

Contractors currently operating in Dubai must regularise their status within one year of the law’s implementation. This deadline may be extended by the committee for an additional year if necessary. Contractors with expiring registrations during this period can renew them by submitting a pledge to comply with the law.

Law Effective in Six Months

The new law will take effect six months after its publication in the Official Gazette, and any conflicting legislation will be annulled.

This initiative marks a significant step in reinforcing Dubai’s position as a global hub for world-class infrastructure, while ensuring higher levels of efficiency, transparency, and professionalism in the contracting industry.

Etihad Airways has announced the addition of seven new destinations across Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East, marking a strategic expansion of its network aimed at strengthening Abu Dhabi’s position as a global aviation hub.

Starting from March 2026, Etihad will launch scheduled services to Almaty (Kazakhstan), Baku (Azerbaijan), Bucharest (Romania), Tbilisi (Georgia), Tashkent (Uzbekistan), and Yerevan (Armenia). Flights to Madina (Saudi Arabia) will commence earlier, in November 2025.

Tickets for the new routes will go on sale in the coming days, with the airline positioning the expansion as a key component of its point-to-point connectivity strategy.

The seven additions bring the total number of new destinations announced by Etihad for 2025 to 27, reinforcing the airline’s ambitious growth trajectory, which is underpinned by fleet optimisation and route profitability.

“Our goal is clear: we want to bring more people directly to Abu Dhabi. These new routes connect us to fast-growing, culturally rich regions and will help stimulate demand for tourism and trade in the UAE’s capital,” said Antonoaldo Neves, Etihad’s chief executive officer.

So far this year, Etihad has launched operations to Prague, Warsaw, Sochi, and Atlanta, with 13 more routes set to begin before the end of 2025. The airline also recently revealed its 2026 seasonal summer schedule, which will include flights to Kraków (Poland), Salalah (Oman), and Kazan (Russia) during peak travel months.

Neves added, “With these seven additions, Etihad will have launched 27 new routes in a single year, a remarkable milestone that reflects our ambition and commitment to Abu Dhabi’s growth.”

The expansion aligns with Abu Dhabi’s long-term tourism strategy and the emirate’s goal of positioning itself as a premier destination for business and leisure travellers. It also complements recent infrastructure upgrades at Abu Dhabi International Airport and the broader UAE aviation ecosystem.

Low-cost carrier Wizz Air said on Monday it was quitting its Abu Dhabi operation after six years to focus on its main European market, citing geopolitical instability and limited market access.

Wizz, which originally focused on central and eastern Europe but expanded into Britain, Italy and Austria, said in future it would concentrate on its much more profitable European business.

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Shares in the London-listed airline rose 1.5% in early trading. The stock is down about 62% over the last two years, hit by issues with Pratt & Whitney GTF engines, which led to the grounding of some of its aircraft.

Wizz said the geopolitical instability had led to repeated airspace closures around Abu Dhabi, hitting demand, while the impact of the hot environment in the Middle East had hurt engine efficiency, making it hard to operate its low-cost model.

Failure to secure the flying rights for certain routes had also meant it was unable to grow in the region as it had hoped, the airline said.

“They just couldn’t make money out of the Middle East,” Davy analyst Stephen Furlong said.

Wizz said it will stop local flights from September 1, 2025 and would be contacting customers regarding refunds.

“Supply chain constraints, geopolitical instability, and limited market access have made it increasingly difficult to sustain our original ambitions,” Wizz Air CEO Jozsef Varadi said in a statement.

“While this was a difficult decision, it is the right one given the circumstances,” he added.