ONE Development, the UAE’s leading AI-driven lifestyle developer, and global music icon Amr Diab have launched DO Hotels & Residences Dubai, the region’s first AI-powered, music-themed boutique hotel under the ONE/AD brand.

The project marks a flagship destination for a new hospitality concept that blends immersive soundscapes, cutting-edge technology, and bold design.

“DO Hotels & Residences Dubai is more than a hospitality project – it’s a symbol of what the future holds when innovation, art and technology come together,” said Ali Al Gebely, founder and chairman of ONE Development and vice chairman of ONE/AD.

“Partnering with Amr Diab to create an experience where guests can truly ‘Live the Beat’ reflects our commitment to shaping the next generation of lifestyle destinations, right here in the UAE,” he added.

“Every element of DO Hotels & Residences – Dubai Islands is thoughtfully crafted to appeal to adventurous travellers, connoisseurs of a soulful ambiance and those seeking a more permanent, immersive living experience, while enjoying the expansive panoramic sea, city and marina views,” he added.

Do Hotels & Residences: Highlights

The hotel and residences offer a range of experiences, from well appointed rooms to spacious, design-led living spaces.

Facilities include two fully equipped recording studios and a suite of world-class amenities.

“Every space is designed to be an extension of our guests’ aspirations: a place where music is not just heard, it permeates the very fabric of your life,” said Al Gebely.

Rooted in Amr Diab’s creative vision and his ethos of “Live the Beat,” the brand delivers AI-powered personalisation across luxury hospitality, wellness, and design.

Watch: ONE Development’s Ali Al Gebely is focused on innovation and technology across his projects

The UAE has recorded a 344 per cent year-over-year increase in Generative AI (GenAI) enrollments, significantly outpacing the MENA regional average of 128 per cent and the global average of 195 per cent. The findings are based on the Global Skills Report 2025 from Coursera, a leading online learning platform with over 170 million users worldwide.

Read-UAE ranks in top 10 nations with most AI firms per capita

The report highlights the UAE’s growing emphasis on future-ready talent, with 87 per cent of employers in the country prioritising technology literacy, AI, and big data skills. The country continues to lead the region in digital upskilling, with 13 per cent of the labor force actively engaging in online learning.

Workforce transformation driven by AI

Professional certificate enrollments rose by 41 per cent, including a 14 per cent increase in cybersecurity courses—demonstrating rising demand for job-relevant, tech-focused credentials. The report analyses skill trends and learner behavior across more than 100 countries.

The sharp increase in GenAI enrollments reflects the UAE’s broader strategy to cultivate a knowledge-based economy powered by Emirati talent, aligning with the national ‘We the UAE 2031’ vision.

UAE ranks first in Arab world on AI Maturity Index

A new feature in this year’s study is the AI Maturity Index, which evaluates national readiness for AI by combining learner engagement data with indicators from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the OECD.

The UAE ranks first in the Arab world and 32nd globally out of 109 countries.

This ranking is supported by national initiatives such as the planned 5GW AI Campus and the integration of AI into public school curricula. These efforts align with the UAE’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031, which aims to make AI a key contributor to over 20 per cent of the non-oil GDP by that year.

“The UAE is rapidly scaling AI learning and infrastructure to drive workforce transformation and regional innovation. Its strong performance on the AI Maturity Index, combined with high rankings in overall skills proficiency, demonstrates the country’s growing ability to close skill gaps, nurture future talent, and lead in AI readiness,” Kais Zribi, General Manager for the Middle East and Africa at Coursera, said.

Key challenges: Gender gap and skills shortage remain

Despite the UAE’s progress, challenges persist. The country ranks 38th globally in overall skills proficiency across business, technology, and data science, though it leads the Arab world. Notably, the UAE shows high proficiency in business skills (85 per cent), moderate strength in data science (59 per cent), and room for improvement in technology (52 per cent).

Among the 10.8 million learners in the MENA region, 1.3 million are based in the UAE, with a median age of 36.

Mobile learning continues to grow, with 41 per cent of users accessing content via mobile devices.

However, 72 per cent of UAE employers still cite skills gaps as a major barrier—above the global average. Increasing women’s participation in emerging tech fields remains critical. Women currently make up 32 per cent of online learners in the UAE, with just 24 per cent enrolled in STEM courses and 21 per cent in GenAI, highlighting a significant opportunity for more inclusive growth.

Dubai South Properties has announced the launch of South Square, a new luxury residential development strategically located along Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road.

Read-At Dubai South, the future takes shape now: Khalifa Al Zaffin

The development is just minutes from the recently announced new terminal at Al Maktoum International Airport, a WAM report said.

The S4 Tower within the project was launched and completely sold out in just three hours.

South Square will offer 550 apartments, with completion scheduled for Q4 2028.

“In the past few years, we have witnessed a sharp increase in demand for residential options in Dubai South, driven by its strategic location, modern infrastructure, and exceptional connectivity to the rest of the city. South Square is our response to this momentum—offering spacious homes, wellness-focused amenities, and proximity to Al Maktoum International Airport and key roads,” said Nabil Al Kindi, CEO of Dubai South Properties.

With overall residential sales exceeding Dhs19 billion in 2024, Dubai South has quickly gained prominence among investors.

Dubai South

Dubai South—the largest single-urban master development focused on aviation, logistics, and real estate—concluded 2024 with remarkable achievements across its various districts.

In 2024, Dubai South welcomed 415 new companies, bringing the total number of operating businesses to 4,044, with a 94 per cent retention rate of existing firms.

At the Dubai South Business Park, 500,000 square feet of office space was leased, marking a 300 per cent increase from 2023.

Dubai South Properties successfully completed Phase 1 of The Pulse Beachfront, comprising over 200 units, with an additional 500 units from other phases set for completion by the end of H1 2025. To meet growing demand, South Living was launched and achieved a complete sell-out due to immense interest.

The Logistics District at Dubai South marked several milestones, reinforcing its role in the UAE’s expanding logistics sector. These included the inauguration of a state-of-the-art FedEx air and ground regional hub, the opening of Boston Scientific’s regional distribution centre at Hellmann Calipar Healthcare Logistics’ facility, and the groundbreaking of a new dnata Logistics facility.

Additionally, the first phase of the UAE’s autonomous vehicle trials—conducted in collaboration with Evocargo—was successfully completed.

“We are proud of the achievements made in 2024. Attracting new companies and maintaining an excellent retention rate demonstrates the trust and confidence businesses place in Dubai South. Our continued success in the aviation, logistics, and real estate sectors reinforces Dubai South’s pivotal role in supporting the government’s vision, economic diversification strategies, and future growth plans. We remain committed to fostering innovation, creating world-class infrastructure, and driving sustainable development to meet the evolving needs of dynamic business environments,” said Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai South.

British American Tobacco (BAT) is accelerating its transition towards a smokeless world — and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is playing a central role in that journey.

As it drives transformational change with the introduction of its smokeless products with reduced risk profile compared to cigarettes, BAT sees significant potential to make Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) a reality in the region, driven by science, regulation, and consumer readiness.

“With a 60-year heritage in the Middle East, our MENA cluster holds strategic importance for the firm at a global level and plays a crucial role in our transformation journey,” says Alexandre Ghanem, cluster manager for BAT in MENA.

“The opportunities in the MENA region are immense, and smokers are actively making a switch from smoking to less risky products. This consumer demand is aligned with our ambition to accelerate our THR journey in the region by offering adult smokers a wide range of high-quality, scientifically substantiated, reduced risk alternative nicotine products compared to cigarettes.”

Backed by science and regulation

According to Ghanem, BAT’s innovation strategy is underpinned by world-class science and is focused on building a comprehensive portfolio of non-combustible nicotine products to meet the evolving preferences of adult consumers.

“Aligned with our vision of creating ‘A Better Tomorrow’, we’re driving innovation through cutting-edge works led by over 1,750 R&D specialists at our global innovation centres around the world,” said Ghanem.

“By using our 9-step risk assessment framework, we are looking at the emissions, exposure, risk, and ultimately the harm of our smokeless products to establish the weight of evidence to scientifically substantiate their relative risk profiles compared to cigarette smoking.”

The company invests more than £300m annually in research and development. It recently introduced tobacco-free oral nicotine pouches under the VELO brand in the UAE.

Changing perceptions through education

According to Ghanem, “misperceptions around nicotine and smokeless products remain a significant obstacle not only in the region but globally, with many believing that all smokeless alternatives are just as harmful or even more harmful than traditional tobacco.

A global Ipsos survey of 27,000 smokers across 28 countries found that 74 per cent believe vaping is at least as harmful as smoking”. This disconnect persists, despite clear endorsements from respected public health authorities such as the NHS UK, which stated that while “nicotine vaping is not risk-free, it is less harmful than smoking.”

A smokeless Middle East

BAT says its commitment to the region is clear – it is to create A Better Tomorrow by building A Smokeless World. BAT MENA aims to do this not only through its smokeless product offerings but also in its ongoing efforts to develop local talent in alignment with government visions, as Ghanem described.

Speaking about the MENA cluster, he said: “As a global company, committed to contributing to the economic growth and talent development within the Middle East & North Africa, the Group chose Dubai as the location for our regional headquarters covering ‘Asia Pacific Middle East and Africa – West’ regions, recognising the city’s strategic importance and its status as a leading hub for innovation and business.”

BAT’s operational growth in the GCC aligns with rising consumer demand of the smokeless products, as more adult smokers are found to be actively seeking to switch to less harmful alternatives.

Local research from Kantar showed that 7.8 per cent of UAE consumers currently use non-combustible products— while a much sizable pool of 83 per cent of the respondents are open to making the switch to these products from smoking.

Aldar Education and the UK’s King’s College School Wimbledon will open the institution’s first regional campus on Abu Dhabi’s Fahid Island.

Set to open in September 2028, subject to regulatory approvals from the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK), the new K-12 super-premium school aims to elevate the emirate’s world-class educational landscape by offering a direct pathway to top global universities.

Located within the master-planned community of Fahid Island, the new campus will span 50,000 square metres and serve up to 2,220 students.

The school will integrate state-of-the-art educational facilities, extensive sports infrastructure, and a strong emphasis on student wellbeing, aligning with the island’s broader vision to promote balanced, nature-integrated lifestyles.

King’s College School Wimbledon among UK’s top educational institutions

King’s College School Wimbledon, consistently ranked among the UK’s most prestigious independent institutions, is known for its rigorous academic standards and holistic approach to education.

The school’s comprehensive programme combines academic excellence with character development, preparing students for success at elite universities and beyond.

“We are proud to announce the first King’s College School Wimbledon to Abu Dhabi, a milestone that reflects Aldar’s fast-growing education portfolio and commitment to educational excellence,” said Talal Al Dhiyebi, Group Chief Executive Officer at Aldar. “With King’s longstanding legacy of academic distinction and its proven track record of preparing students for the world’s top universities, this new school at the heart of Fahid Island will further strengthen Abu Dhabi’s position as a premier destination for world-class education and a global centre for talent development.”

Sahar Cooper, CEO of Aldar Education, noted that King’s would bring a unique, value-driven dimension to the group’s existing education offerings: “The school’s holistic approach to education, anchored in strong values, rich co-curricular programmes, and personalised pastoral care, will add a new dimension to Aldar Education’s offering and further support Abu Dhabi’s vision to become a regional hub for excellence in education.”

Karl Gross, director of International Schools at King’s College School Wimbledon, said the Abu Dhabi school represents a major step in the institution’s global expansion. “Bringing an authentic King’s College School Wimbledon education to the region marks an exciting milestone in our ambition to build a global family of world-class international schools,” he said.

“Building on the success of our school in Wimbledon and our existing overseas campuses, this new partnership offers a unique and inspiring opportunity for students in Abu Dhabi to experience the transformational impact of a King’s education, preparing them to thrive in the world beyond school,” he added.

The project marks the first phase of Aldar’s broader educational strategy for Fahid Island, with future plans for additional institutions to meet growing demand for high-quality schooling.

Across its network, Aldar Education will add more than 4,000 student seats by the 2028–2029 academic year across existing locations in Yas Island, Khalifa City, and Saadiyat Island.

Read: Dubai’s higher education sector sees nearly 20% rise in enrollment