Hello reader,

In today’s newsletter:

Discover the latest stories from Arabian Business, compiled by our editorial team. Here's what you missed on Thursday:

The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has launched CAR Airspace Part Uspace, the region’s first national regulation for certifying air navigation service providers for unmanned aircraft. The regulation sets operational and safety requirements as drone operations in the country are expected to increase.

On the real estate front, Dubai’s residential real estate market continues to grow, with villa prices increasing 32.4 percent year-on-year. Demand from high-net-worth individuals and expatriate families has driven prices up by 147 percent over five years in prime locations.

In other news, Ripple has become the first blockchain-enabled payments provider licensed by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA). The company has received approval to offer regulated crypto payments and services in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

Aside from this, GCC capital markets have reached a collective market capitalisation of $2.3 trillion by the end of 2024. International investors are increasingly viewing the region as a long-term structural investment opportunity due to ongoing economic reforms.

Meanwhile, private islands in the Maldives are available for as little as $5 million. While foreign investment in island property is permitted, the Maldivian Constitution does not allow freehold ownership, requiring acquisitions to go through the Ministry of Tourism.

^{Until next time, Sharon Benjamin for Arabian Business}

THE LONGER READ:

The UAE’s banking sector, comprising 40% of its stock market, offers a buffer against tariff volatility, experts say

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