In a city that thrives on bold ambition and global connection, a new landmark has quietly taken its place at the heart of Dubai’s business future.
DMCC has officially opened The Plaza at Uptown Dubai, a 21,000 square metre open-air destination designed to host everything from high-level corporate summits to large-scale concerts and community gatherings.
For UAE residents and business leaders alike, this isn’t just another development announcement. It’s a signal that Uptown Dubai is stepping into a new era.
A new gathering space in town
Strategically positioned at the centre of Uptown Dubai, The Plaza physically connects the iconic Uptown Tower with the district’s wider commercial and residential community.
Designed to accommodate up to 4,000 guests, the venue features advanced staging, lighting and digital display infrastructure, enabling year-round programming and rapid event turnover.
For Dubai’s fast-moving corporate ecosystem, that means seamless hosting of:
Global trade conferences
Finance and technology forums
Industry expos
Cultural performances
Community celebrations
In a city known for world-class event venues, The Plaza adds something different: scale, accessibility and integration within a thriving business district.
For UAE residents, the venue offers more opportunities for networking, collaboration and global visibility without leaving the city.
Next business hub taking shape
The Plaza’s launch comes as Uptown Dubai moves into its next development phase.
Currently under construction:
Two commercial towers (23 and 17 storeys)
62,000 square metres of additional Grade A commercial and retail space
Once complete, the full district will deliver:
538,000 square metres total gross floor area
232,000 square metres dedicated to Grade A commercial office space
What’s in it for residents
For professionals, it means:
More international events are hosted locally
Increased networking and industry exposure
Expanded commercial opportunities
For residents, it offers:
Open-air concerts and cultural events
Community experiences within a premium urban setting
With over 35 years of experience in journalism, copywriting, and PR, Michael Gomes is a seasoned media professional deeply rooted in the UAE’s print and digital landscape.
Small businesses in the UAE with annual revenues of up to Dh3 million will continue to be eligible for Small Business Relief under the corporate tax regime until the end of 2029.
The Ministry of Finance said on Friday that Ministerial Decision No. 131 extends the period during which eligible businesses can benefit from Small Business Relief to cover tax periods ending on or before December 31, 2029.
The relief was introduced to help reduce the corporate tax compliance burden for smaller businesses and start-ups that meet the eligibility requirements.
Dh3 million threshold remains unchanged
The existing annual revenue threshold of Dh3 million, set under Ministerial Decision No. 73 of 2023, will continue to apply.
The relief applies to tax periods beginning on or after June 1, 2023 and, following the latest amendment, will remain available for subsequent tax periods ending on or before December 31, 2029.
Eligible taxable persons with annual revenue of up to Dh3 million can claim Small Business Relief, subject to meeting the conditions and requirements outlined in the corporate tax legislation.
The relief enables qualifying businesses to benefit from simplified corporate tax compliance requirements.
More time for small businesses
The extension provides eligible small businesses and start-ups with additional tax periods to benefit from the relief while continuing to meet the Dh3 million revenue threshold.
The Ministry said the decision is part of its efforts to support smaller companies and entrepreneurs, strengthen the business environment, and encourage sustainable growth and expansion.
UAE motorists will pay more at the pump from Saturday after the UAE Fuel Price Committee announced higher petrol and diesel prices for August 2026.
The revised rates, which take effect from August 1, are:
Super 98: Dh3.60 per litre (up from Dh3.40)
Special 95: Dh3.49 per litre (up from Dh3.29)
E-Plus 91: Dh3.41 per litre (up from Dh3.21)
Diesel: Dh3.80 per litre (up from Dh3.60)
The increase reverses July’s price reduction and comes after volatility in global oil markets during the past month.
The UAE Fuel Price Committee reviews retail fuel prices at the end of each month, with rates determined in line with movements in international oil markets.
The new prices will remain in effect throughout August 2026.
Online shopping with the UAE’s Jaywan card just got a major upgrade.
Network International has announced that Jaywan cardholders can now use their cards to pay on thousands of online stores connected to its payment gateway, expanding the domestic payment scheme beyond in-store purchases.
The move is expected to make online payments faster and more convenient while supporting the UAE’s push towards a cashless economy.
What is Jaywan?
Launched by Al Etihad Payments, a subsidiary of the Central Bank of the UAE, Jaywan is the country’s domestic payment card scheme.
It was introduced to provide a secure local payment option, reduce transaction costs and strengthen the UAE’s digital payments ecosystem.
Until now, Jaywan cards were mainly accepted for in-store purchases. With the latest expansion, cardholders can also use them for online shopping across thousands of merchants powered by Network International.
What this means for shoppers
For UAE residents, the update means more flexibility when shopping online.
Whether you’re ordering groceries, booking services or buying products online, you’ll be able to use your Jaywan card anywhere that supports Network International’s payment gateway.
The company says the integration offers secure, fast and seamless online payments, while merchants won’t face additional charges for Jaywan transactions processed through its platform.
A step towards a cashless UAE
The expansion is part of the UAE’s broader strategy to accelerate digital payments and reduce reliance on cash.
By making Jaywan available both in stores and online, payment providers are helping create a more connected digital payment ecosystem for businesses and consumers alike.
As more banks, merchants and payment providers adopt the scheme, residents can expect to see Jaywan accepted across even more everyday payment services in the future.