The Central Bank of the UAE has instructed financial institutions across the country to strengthen fraud prevention systems and tighten customer authentication procedures as digital banking scams continue evolving globally.

The move comes as the UAE expands its efforts to protect consumers and strengthen confidence in the country’s financial system amid growing use of online banking and digital payment services.

According to the Central Bank, banks and financial institutions are now required to improve how they verify transactions and avoid depending on a single authentication method, such as SMS alerts or one-time passwords (OTPs), which fraudsters increasingly target through sophisticated cyber scams.

Real-time fraud monitoring

The regulator also confirmed it has started building a new Anti-Fraud Operations Centre known as CAFOC, which will act as a central platform for monitoring suspicious activity in real time and coordinating rapid responses across the banking sector.

The new centre is expected to combine advanced tracking systems, analytical tools and data-driven fraud detection capabilities designed to identify emerging threats faster and improve coordination between banks and government authorities.

The Central Bank added that the anti-fraud framework will also help collect and analyse fraud trends and behavioural patterns, allowing regulators to develop more targeted supervisory policies and interventions.

The latest measures arrive as financial fraud risks continue rising worldwide alongside rapid digital transformation and increased reliance on mobile banking, online transactions and electronic payment systems.

Authorities said ongoing engagement with banks and licensed financial institutions has helped strengthen implementation of the updated requirements and improve the sector’s readiness to deal with increasingly complex fraud threats.

Cybersecurity and financial fraud prevention have become major priorities for regulators globally, with many countries introducing stricter digital authentication standards as online scams become more advanced.

The UAE is set for another hot day on Friday before weather conditions begin to shift over the weekend, bringing dust, stronger winds, and slightly cooler temperatures across parts of the country.

According to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), Friday’s weather will remain generally fair, although temperatures are expected to rise slightly in several areas.

Inland regions could see temperatures climb between 40°C and 46°C, while coastal and island areas are forecast to reach between 36°C and 42°C. Mountainous areas will remain comparatively cooler, with temperatures ranging from 27°C to 32°C.

Winds are expected to stay light to moderate during the day but may strengthen at times, reaching speeds of up to 40 km/h and creating rougher sea conditions in the Arabian Gulf later at night. The Oman Sea is expected to remain slight to moderate.

The weather is then forecast to change on Saturday, with dust and blowing sand likely to affect parts of the UAE as winds become more active. Temperatures are also expected to ease slightly compared to Friday.

By Sunday, skies could turn partly cloudy, especially in eastern areas, while humidity levels are expected to increase overnight and into Monday morning across some coastal and internal regions. Forecasters also warned of possible mist formation in western areas during the early morning hours.

Looking ahead to Monday and Tuesday, temperatures are expected to rise again gradually, with generally fair to partly cloudy weather continuing across the country. Sea conditions are also forecast to improve, becoming calmer in both the Arabian Gulf and Oman Sea by early next week.

The shifting conditions come as the UAE moves deeper into the summer season, with residents already experiencing rising temperatures and occasional dusty weather patterns across several emirates.

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Dubai motorists are set to see a noticeable change in how they pay for parking and toll services from June 1, after both Parkin and Salik confirmed that a 5 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) will officially apply to several services across the city.

The update means drivers using public parking, toll gates and related services will now pay slightly more as part of the UAE’s tax regulations.

According to Parkin, VAT will apply to on-street and off-street parking, seasonal parking cards, permits and reservation services. Meanwhile, Salik confirmed the same tax will also be added to toll gate charges and Salik tag activation fees starting from the same date.

The companies said the collected VAT will be transferred to the UAE’s Federal Tax Authority in line with existing tax laws.

But the changes do not stop there.

Fully cashless payment

In another major shift, Dubai is also moving one step closer towards becoming a fully cashless city. Parkin confirmed that cash payments at parking meters across Dubai will be phased out from June 1 as part of the emirate’s wider digital transformation strategy.

Drivers will still be able to pay for parking using several digital methods, including:

• The Parkin app
• SMS parking payments
• Dubai Now app
• RTA app
• Nol cards

The move is expected to make parking payments faster and more streamlined, while reducing the need for cash transactions across the city.

For many motorists, the changes may slightly increase day-to-day driving costs, especially for residents who regularly use paid parking zones and Salik gates during daily commutes.

Dubai has increasingly been expanding smart mobility and cashless services in recent years, with digital transport systems, app-based payments and AI-powered parking technology becoming a larger part of the city’s infrastructure.

Parkin has advised customers to follow its official channels for additional updates and guidance as the new system rolls out.