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Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates turns 20: Inside its Dhs5bn redevelopment

To commemorate its 20-year legacy, Mall of the Emirates has rolled out an exciting calendar of activations throughout September

Nida Sohail
Nida Sohail

12 September, 2025

Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates turns 20: Inside its Dhs5bn redevelopment
Image credit: Supplied

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As it celebrates two decades of redefining retail in the region, Mall of the Emirates is preparing to enter a bold new phase of transformation. Marking its 20th anniversary this September, the iconic destination is unveiling an ambitious Dhs5bn reinvention under the banner of “Mall of New Possibilities”, all while its parent company, Majid Al Futtaim, reports a solid first half of 2025, showcasing resilience, profitability, and strategic evolution.

Since opening its doors in 2005, Mall of the Emirates has become far more than a shopping mall. It’s a landmark that combines culture, commerce, entertainment, and community under one roof. With world-first attractions like Ski Dubai, and the region’s top fashion, lifestyle, and culinary brands, it has long set the gold standard for lifestyle destinations in the Middle East.

Read more-30 new stores across GCC: Inside of Majid Al Futtaim’s expansion

Image credit: Supplied

Now, 20 years later, Majid Al Futtaim is looking ahead.

The newly announced Dhs5bn redevelopment of the Mall of the Emirates will introduce 20,000 sqm of additional retail space, 100 new stores, and a reinvigorated mix of cultural, wellness, and experiential offerings. Among the planned features:

  • New Covent Garden-inspired district, anchored by a 600-seat theatre
  • A next-generation wellness precinct
  • A new indoor-outdoor retail and leisure zone
  • Immersive entertainment experiences tailored to evolving consumer demands

“The launch of a landmark Dhs5bn investment in our flagship destination, Mall of the Emirates, demonstrates our dedication to setting new standards in world-class retail and lifestyle experiences,” said Ahmed Galal Ismail, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Holding.

Month-long 20th anniversary celebration

To commemorate its 20-year legacy, Mall of the Emirates has rolled out an exciting calendar of activations throughout September:

  • September 13: Global Runway Under the FASHION DOME – Featuring the debut of the Fall/Winter 2025 collection at THAT Concept Store, with a live DJ, juice bar, and curated fashion experience from 4pm to 6pm.
  • September 17 – 29: AllSaints Customisation Lab – A complimentary personalisation experience, where visitors can add custom logos or their own flair to AllSaints apparel.
  • September 20:
    • Bandaloop Aerial Performance – The acclaimed vertical dance troupe will perform awe-inspiring aerial shows at 5pm and 6pm.
    • Exclusive SHARE Rewards – Shoppers can earn 20x SHARE points for 24 hours only.

These experiences underscore the mall’s evolving role as a place where community, creativity, and commerce intersect.

Image credit: Supplied

Strong financials back bold vision

The anniversary and transformation plans come on the back of a solid financial performance by Majid Al Futtaim for the first half of 2025. According to the Group’s H1 report, the company recorded:

  • Consolidated revenue of Dhs3bn, up 3 per cent year-on-year
  • EBITDA growth of 9 per cent, reaching Dhs2.3bn
  • Net profit of Dhs5bn
  • Net profit (excluding valuation and tax) up 23 per cent YoY to Dhs1.3bn from Dhs1.0bn
  • Free cash flow of Dhs1bn
  • Reduction in net debt to Dhs4bn, with net debt to equity improving to 38 per cent

These results reflect not only robust core business performance but also the company’s commitment to prudent capital allocation and strategic expansion.

Strategic growth across sectors

Chairman Fadel Abdulbaqi Al Ali attributed the success to long-term thinking and focused execution. “Majid Al Futtaim’s first half financial performance highlights both the strength of its strategic direction and the Group’s commitment to delivering long-term value creation for all stakeholders.”

CEO Ahmed Galal Ismail echoed the sentiment, adding: “Our strong half-year results reaffirm the group’s profitable growth trajectory and are a testament to the group’s steady progress on strategic investments and transformation across our core sectors.”

The company’s core verticals, from retail and entertainment to real estate and digital, are seeing significant investment:

  • The Carrefour Now platform continues to anchor its omnichannel retail strategy.
  • Its AI-driven marketing unit, Precision Media, is gaining traction as a new revenue stream.
  • The company is expanding into the Saudi luxury market, part of its plan to bring global lifestyle brands to the region.
Image credit: Supplied

Future-proofing through innovation and experience

Majid Al Futtaim’s sustained performance is bolstered by its innovation-driven culture. From introducing digitally native business models to pioneering experiences in cinema and entertainment, the group is positioning itself for long-term scalability.

“Our performance is a testimony to the values-led efforts of our MAFers and the collective drive to create shared value for our stakeholders,” said Ismail. “We are building future-ready capabilities that position us for the next phase of sustainable, scalable growth.”

With the Mall of the Emirates’ transformation on the horizon and continued momentum across sectors, the company is doubling down on its vision of blending lifestyle, community, and innovation, all while remaining firmly anchored in financial discipline.

Dubai Taxi Company partners with EVS to maintain electric fleet

EVS, the UAE’s first specialised EV maintenance centre, services brands including Tesla, Lucid, Polestar, Rivian and BYD

Gulf Business
Gulf Business

12 September, 2025

Dubai Taxi Company partners with EVS to maintain electric fleet
Image: Dubai Taxi Company

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Dubai Taxi Company (DTC) signed an agreement with Electric Vehicle Services (EVS) to provide end-to-end maintenance for its fleet of electric taxis and limousines, in a move that supports the emirate’s clean mobility goals.

The agreement covers 440 electric vehicles across multiple brands and includes high-voltage battery diagnostics, motor servicing, thermal management systems, software updates and drivetrain recalibration, the companies said in a joint statement.

The deal was signed by Ammar Albreiki, chief operating officer of DTC, and Saeed Al Junaibi, chief executive of EVS, at DTC’s headquarters in the presence of senior officials.

“A robust and reliable maintenance framework is essential for extending vehicle lifespan and increasing operational efficiency,” Albreiki said, adding the partnership will keep DTC’s electric fleet “at peak performance” as the company accelerates its transition to clean mobility.

Driving Dubai’s Green Future DTC and EVS Join Forces to Power Net Zero Mobility

EVS’ service model to support future-ready transport infrastructure

Al Junaibi said EVS’ service model, designed exclusively for electric vehicles, “combines technical precision, safety, and sustainability”, and will contribute to Dubai’s “future-ready transport infrastructure”.

The partnership aligns with Dubai’s Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 target, aiming to reduce carbon emissions while ensuring long-term fleet resilience.

EVS, the UAE’s first specialised EV maintenance centre, services brands including Tesla, Lucid, Polestar, Rivian and BYD. The company said its collaboration with DTC sets a new benchmark for fleet partnerships focused on innovation and sustainability.

Read: Dubai Taxi Company Q2 profit jumps 33% as trips, e-hailing boost revenue

pX launches as GCC’s first AI-powered real estate decision platform

The launch coincides with the announcement of an exclusive partnership with REalyse, the UK’s leading real estate intelligence provider

Rajiv Pillai
Rajiv Pillai

12 September, 2025

pX launches as GCC’s first AI-powered real estate decision platform
Image: Supplied

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The Gulf region has officially welcomed a new player in property intelligence with the launch of pX, the first AI-powered, institutional-grade decision infrastructure designed specifically for real estate. The platform promises to move beyond static dashboards, offering actionable insights and decision-ready narratives for investors, developers, and governments.

The launch coincides with the announcement of an exclusive partnership with REalyse, the UK’s leading real estate intelligence provider. Through the agreement, pX becomes the only platform in the GCC with access to REalyse’s proprietary technology, currently used by global institutions such as CBRE, Invesco, and several UK government agencies.

Since its soft launch in August 2024, pX has worked to adapt the technology to the Gulf’s unique environment—from the UAE’s complex regulatory frameworks to Saudi Arabia’s giga-project scale.

“This isn’t just a tech partnership — it’s a response to a structural gap,” said Guelane Mansour, co-founder and CEO of pX. “Global institutional capital is flooding into the Gulf, but the infrastructure hasn’t kept up. There’s vision, there’s capital, but no system built for the pace, scale, and precision that sophisticated investors demand. That’s what we’re building at pX: the decision backbone this region has been missing.”

Guelane Mansour, co-founder and CEO of pX
Guelane Mansour, co-founder and CEO of pX

Addressing a market gap

With investment appetite surging, many GCC projects still rely on slow market reports and fragmented data. pX was created to close this gap, combining AI with market expertise to deliver clarity in underwriting, master plan assessments, zoning decisions, and investment feasibility.

“It’s about giving decision-makers a new kind of superpower — clarity,” Mansour added. “From developers and governments to banks and consultants, everyone is struggling with data overload and insight scarcity. We built pX to flip that equation.”

Gavriel Merkado, founder and CEO of REalyse, said: “We’re excited to partner with pX in bringing this advanced capability to the GCC, which will enable institutional investors, developers and governments to make faster and more accurate decisions with greater confidence in the dynamic and rapidly expanding GCC market. The pX team brings excellent technical capabilities, innovative approaches and deep local market knowledge to bear and we’re proud to partner with them.”

Localising global expertise

While REalyse has long supported major Western institutions, pX is the first to bring its capabilities to the GCC. The platform has been tailored to integrate the UAE’s fragmented regulatory and ownership structures, as well as Saudi Arabia’s national priorities and project pipelines, into a unified intelligence layer.

The result is a platform designed not just to visualise data, but to provide the infrastructure governments, developers, and investors need to execute faster, more precise, and sustainable real estate strategies.

Scaling up

With operations live and early pilots underway with both private and public sector partners, pX is preparing for its next phase of growth. Strategic collaborations with municipalities, developers, and investment firms are expected to be announced in Q4 2025.

“The region is ready for this,” Mansour said. “There’s vision, there’s capital, and now, finally, there’s infrastructure. pX is here to unlock it.”

Luxury travel: Dubai South debuts ‘VIP Terminal Boulevard’

The boulevard is expected to become a hub for elite aviation businesses, offering them an unmatched opportunity to establish in a thriving region

Gulf Business
Gulf Business

11 September, 2025

Luxury travel: Dubai South debuts ‘VIP Terminal Boulevard’
Image credit: WAM/Website

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To meet the surging demand for aviation-related services, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub (MBRAH) at Dubai South has announced the launch of ‘The VIP Terminal Boulevard’, a cutting-edge development aimed at attracting leading aviation companies and luxury retailers from around the globe.

Strategically located adjacent to the VIP Terminal, which has recorded sustained growth in business aviation movements, the boulevard stretches 769 metres and features 16 premium buildings.

Read more-1 billion passengers and counting: UAE aviation marks major milestone

These will offer modern facilities and high-end retail spaces spread across a 204,000 square metre area. The project is part of MBRAH’s integrated aviation ecosystem and will be delivered in phases starting in 2026, a WAM report said.

Aviation One: A modern beacon of design and functionality

Construction is already underway on Aviation One, a six-storey flagship building within the boulevard. Designed with contemporary architecture and advanced functional layouts, the building reflects MBRAH’s commitment to innovation and operational excellence.

The boulevard is expected to become a hub for elite aviation businesses, offering them an unmatched opportunity to establish and expand in a thriving region.

Leadership vision and global aspirations

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, chairman of Dubai Airports, and chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline and Group, underscored the significance of the initiative.

“Aviation has always been one of the fundamental pillars of Dubai’s economy. The growing demand for aviation services in the emirate is a direct reflection of the vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the advanced ecosystem in MBR Aerospace Hub which is beyond the aviation industry’s expectations,” he said.

He further added: “The VIP Terminal Boulevard is a significant addition to the world-class facilities at Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub. It will open new opportunities for leading aviation companies and luxury brands to flourish, while further strengthening Dubai’s position as a premier destination for companies and a key player on the global aviation map.”

MBRAH’s role in Dubai’s aviation ambitions

MBRAH offers global aerospace leaders access to a robust free-zone ecosystem with high-level connectivity. It is home to world-renowned airlines, private jet companies, MROs, and educational institutions. Developed by Dubai South, MBRAH aims to solidify Dubai’s vision of becoming a top-tier global aviation hub.

Envision 2025: du puts AI at the heart of UAE’s digital future

du CEO Fahad Al Hassawi underscored Dubai’s standing among the world’s top five cities for AI adoption during his keynote address

Gulf Business
Gulf Business

11 September, 2025

Envision 2025: du puts AI at the heart of UAE’s digital future
Image: Supplied

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Dubai hosted a glimpse of tomorrow at Envision 2025, du Tech’s flagship technology forum, where artificial intelligence, cloud, robotics, and advanced computing took center stage.

Themed “AI progress begins when leaders and technology align” the third edition of the annual event brought together government leaders, global tech executives, and innovators to chart the UAE’s digital transformation journey.

Opening the conference, du CEO Fahad Al Hassawi underscored Dubai’s standing among the world’s top five cities for AI adoption, even ahead of San Francisco. “Technology without leadership is merely code, and leadership without technology is just ambition,” he said, highlighting the event’s theme. “But when they come together — that’s when magic happens.”

Al Hassawi tied du’s strategy directly to national priorities, noting that AI is projected to contribute $320bn to the UAE’s GDP by 2030. He framed the numbers as more than statistics, calling them “the future of our children” and evidence of the courage of local businesses — 42 per cent of which have already deployed AI solutions.

du showcases five tech pillars at Envision

The event showcased five technological pillars driving this future: generative AI applications, sovereign cloud infrastructure, advanced robotics for Industry 4.0, GPU-as-a-Service and Mining-as-a-Service for high-performance computing, and national hyperscaler cloud solutions.

Each was presented as a practical enabler for key sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, education, smart cities, and utilities.

Industry voices added weight to the vision. Investor and entrepreneur Randi Zuckerberg spoke on AI’s creative potential, while executives from Oracle, IBM, Microsoft, Huawei, Dell, Fortinet, Nokia, and Equinix highlighted how partnerships are powering transformation. du’s Chief ICT Officer Jasim Al Awadi called the platform a catalyst for “building smarter, more sustainable communities aligned with the UAE’s visionary leadership.”

Al Hassawi urged participants to see themselves not as attendees but as “ambassadors for change.” He closed by reminding them that the UAE has always been a nation of builders, first turning sand into cities, and now shaping the digital future with algorithms and intelligence.

With policymakers, industry leaders, and technologists in the same room, the event reinforced du’s role not just as a telecom operator but as a digital enabler helping shape the nation’s AI-powered economy.

Read: du announces Dhs2bn hyperscale data centre deal with Microsoft

Oracle nears $1tn valuation, Ellison edges toward richest-person title

Co-founder Ellison saw his net worth rise by nearly $100bn to $392.6bn, largely due to his 41 per cent stake in Oracle

Reuters
Reuters

11 September, 2025

Oracle nears $1tn valuation, Ellison edges toward richest-person title
Image: Getty Images

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Oracle‘s shares rose on Thursday, extending a record run from the previous session and boosting stocks across the tech sector, as the company moves closer to the trillion-dollar club on soaring gains from its AI cloud business.

The enterprise software maker’s remarkable rise, fuelled by a wave of multi-billion-dollar cloud deals, highlights the scramble for computing power as companies pour billions into becoming leaders in the AI race.

The stock’s gains also position Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison on track to surpass Elon Musk, currently the world’s richest man.

“Oracle lit a fire under the rekindled AI trade,” said Richard Hunter, head of markets at Interactive Investor, noting that the company’s multi-billion-dollar demand outlook has triggered a “ripple effect” for AI-related stocks.

OpenAI signs deal with Oracle

The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that OpenAI has signed a $300bn deal with Oracle for computing power, one of the largest contracts in history, likely accounting for the bulk of the new revenue Oracle outlined on Tuesday.

Oracle’s shares were last up 1.5 per cent in premarket trading after climbing as much as 35.9 per cent on Wednesday, lifting the company’s market valuation to a record $933bn at the last close.

The stock has nearly doubled in value this year, making it one of the top performers in the S&P 500 and outpacing gains by the so-called Magnificent Seven stocks.

Co-founder Ellison saw his net worth rise by nearly $100bn to $392.6bn, largely due to his 41 per cent stake in Oracle, compared with Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s $439.9bn fortune, which still tops Forbes’ global wealth rankings.

Oracle’s shares are trading Oracle’s shares are trading at a premium compared to its cloud services peers, with a 12-month forward price-to-earnings multiple of 45.3, versus Amazon’s 31.3 and Microsoft’s 31.

Read: Oracle pledges $14bn investment in Saudi Arabia

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