Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has crossed the milestone of 100 registered hedge fund managers, cementing its position as one of the world’s top five hubs for the industry, the centre said in a statement.

The total number of hedge fund managers at DIFC has more than doubled from 50 at the start of 2024, with 81 of them managing assets of $1bn or more.

Recent entrants include Oak Hill Advisors, which manages $108 billion in assets, alongside AIP and Varenne, pushing the centre beyond the 100-manager mark.

They join established global firms already operating from DIFC, including BlackRock, Millennium, Balyasny, Brevan Howard, Blue Owl, Dymon Asia, Hudson Bay, Qube Research and Technologies and Verition.

During 2025, additional managers setting up in the centre included Baron Capital Management, BlueCrest Capital, Naya Capital Management, Nine Masts Capital, North Rock Capital, Pearl Diver Capital, Select Equity Group, Strategic Investment Group, Silver Point Capital, Squarepoint Capital and Welwing Capital Group.

DIFC said hedge fund managers are being drawn by its legal and regulatory framework, access to talent and ability to manage capital across Asian, European and US markets from a single base. Managers are also tapping capital from ultra-high-net-worth individuals, family offices and sovereign wealth funds in the region.

The DIFC Funds Centre supports fund managers

“Becoming a leading hedge funds centre reflects the maturity of the DIFC platform as well as the confidence of its participants,” Arif Amiri, chief executive officer of DIFC Authority, said in a statement. He added that client focus, industry partnerships and product innovation continue to drive growth.

As part of its push to attract asset managers, the centre has developed the DIFC Funds Centre, a co-working model designed to allow fund managers to establish operations quickly and scale efficiently. More than 85 per cent of hedge fund managers based in the centre are able to raise and manage private and sovereign capital from DIFC, it said.

Momentum in alternative investments is expected to continue. A recent report by the centre found that technological innovation, regulatory reforms and broader investor access are accelerating flows into alternatives, which are increasingly becoming core components of diversified portfolios.

Allocations by high-net-worth individuals and family offices have doubled since 2008 to about 15 per cent.

The centre’s wider wealth and asset management sector now includes more than 470 firms, supported by what DIFC describes as the Middle East’s highest concentration of private wealth.

More than 1,250 family-related business entities are based in the centre, while the UAE’s role as a global destination for wealth migration is adding to the ecosystem.

Consultancy Henley & Partners projects that 9,800 millionaires will have relocated to the UAE by the end of 2025.

Read: DIFC report highlights Dubai’s rise as a global hub for alternative investments

China’s factory output growth slowed to a 15-month low, while retail sales posted their worst performance since the country abruptly ended its draconian “zero-COVID” curbs, highlighting the urgent need for new growth drivers heading into 2026.

With Beijing’s consumer trade-in subsidies fading, a drawn-out property crisis weighing on household spending and industrial investment risking further deflation, officials have leaned on exports to support growth.

That strategy now looks increasingly unsustainable as trading partners around the world bristle at China’s $1tr trade surplus and look to erect import barriers.

Industrial output rose 4.8 per cent year-on-year, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data showed on Monday, the weakest pace since August 2024, slowing from 4.9 per cent in October. It missed a 5.0 per cent increase forecast in a Reuters poll.

Retail sales, a gauge of consumption, grew 1.3 per cent, their weakest pace since December 2022, when the world’s second-largest economy ended pandemic restrictions, well below 2.9 per cent in October and forecasts for a 2.8 per cent gain.

“Strong exports limited the need to turbocharge domestic demand this year, and the trade-in subsidies have started to run out,” said Xu Tianchen, senior economist at the Economist Intelligence Unit.

“I think policymakers have turned their attention to 2026, since the around 5 per cent growth target seems within reach for this year, so there’s little additional motivation for further stimulus.”

The weak data weighed on Chinese stocks, which were also hit by fresh real estate worries as property developer China Vanke scrambled to avoid debt default.

Beijing struggling for fresh ideas

Economists say the economy has passed the point at which further stimulus would provide an effective fix.

The International Monetary Fund last week urged Beijing to speed up structural reform and take action over the property sector, with some 70 per cent of Chinese household wealth tied up in real estate.

Fixing the property pains within the next three years will cost the equivalent of 5 per cent of GDP, the IMF estimates.

More needs to be done to boost household consumer confidence, Fu Linghui, a spokesperson for China’s customs administration, told a news conference after the data release.

China’s new home prices fell further in November.

Fu added that an annual 2.6 per cent decline in fixed asset investment in January-November had largely been driven by a 15.9 per cent drop in property investment over the same period. Developers are struggling to convince investors there are buyers for their apartments, which remain unsold even at discounted prices.

Vanke, one of China’s largest real estate developers, plans to convene a second bondholder meeting this week as it battles to avert default, after investors rejected a plan by the state-backed lender to push back repayment by a year.

The property sector once made up a quarter of China’s gross domestic product.

In a sign of further strain, annual car sales slumped 8.5 per cent, the steepest decline in 10 months, dimming hopes of a year-end rebound in an industry that typically sees strong sales in the final two months of a year.

“The economy slowed across the board in November, and weak retail sales were particularly noteworthy,” said Zhang Zhiwei, chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management. “The recent contraction in investment and the continued decline in the property market have been transmitted to consumer confidence.”

Even the Singles’ Day shopping festival – which stretched to five weeks this year – failed to excite consumers.

Growing trade headwinds

Government advisers and analysts say China is likely to pursue its current annual growth target of around 5 per cent next year, as it seeks to kick-start a new five-year plan on a strong footing.

But that could prove challenging, with both the World Bank and the IMF offering more conservative outlooks for China’s growth trajectory.

At a key economic meeting last week outlining next year’s policy agenda, Chinese leaders promised to maintain a “proactive” fiscal policy to spur consumption and investment, while acknowledging a “prominent” contradiction between strong domestic supply and weak demand.

Yet the dual focus on consumption and investment cements concerns that Beijing is not yet ready to ditch a production-driven economic model in favour of one that leans more on household spending.

World leaders look to be lining up to put the brakes on China’s exports.

French President Emmanuel Macron threatened Beijing with tariffs during his visit to China and called on the country to correct “unsustainable” global trade imbalances.

Mexico last week approved tariff hikes of up to 50 per cent next year on imports from China and several other Asian countries, aiming to bolster local industry.

Chinese producers may struggle to find new domestic buyers if exports dry up.

“November data point to a broad-based weakness in domestic activity, largely due to a pull-back in fiscal spending,” said Zichun Huang, China economist at Capital Economics.

“Policy support should help drive a partial recovery in the coming months, but this probably won’t avert China’s growth from remaining weak across 2026 as a whole.”

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has awarded the contract for the development of the Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street intersection with Al Awir Road and Al Manama Street, marking a significant step in the emirate’s long-term road infrastructure expansion strategy.

The project, according to a WAM report, includes the construction of 2,300 metres of bridges, the expansion of traffic lanes, and the paving of service roads along Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street and Al Awir Road in both directions. It will also feature the provision of new entrances and exits serving residential and development areas located along the corridor.

Read more-Dubai’s roads get a redesign: Bridges, tunnels and a new urban identity take shape

Once completed, the project is expected to dramatically enhance traffic capacity and reduce congestion on one of Dubai’s key arterial routes.

The development will increase the street’s capacity from 5,200 vehicles per hour in both directions to 14,400 vehicles per hour, representing a 176 per cent increase. Travel times along the corridor are also expected to improve significantly, dropping from approximately 20 minutes to just five minutes.

Construction is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2028, aligning with RTA’s broader timeline for major transport network upgrades across the emirate.

Supporting urban growth and mobility

Mattar Al Tayer, director general and chairman of the board of executive directors of the Roads and Transport Authority, said the project forms a core component of RTA’s master plan to enhance Dubai’s road network.

“Undertaking this project is part of RTA’s master plan to develop the roads, bridges, crossings, and tunnels network to accommodate growing traffic volumes, enhance mobility, and ensure smoother traffic flow across Dubai,” Al Tayer said.

He added that the initiative supports the city’s ongoing urban expansion and population growth, noting that the project serves residential and development areas with a combined population of residents and visitors exceeding 600,000.

Al Tayer explained that the works include converting the existing roundabout into a grade-separated intersection, allowing free-flowing traffic movements in all directions. The project involves constructing main bridges on Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street with four lanes in each direction.

In addition, ramps will be built to support both right- and left-turn movements, with each ramp comprising two lanes. These changes are designed to reduce bottlenecks and improve overall network efficiency at one of the corridor’s most critical junctions.

Expanded connectivity to key routes

The project also includes constructing a bridge at the intersection of Al Awir Road with Emirates Road to serve traffic heading towards Al Awir and Sharjah. Parallel service roads will be developed along Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street and Al Awir Road in both directions, providing safe and efficient access to surrounding development areas.

Further upgrades will be carried out at the intersection of Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street with Al Manama Street. These works include widening the street from two to four lanes in each direction and enhancing the signalised surface intersection to improve operational efficiency and traffic capacity.

The improvement of Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street forms part of RTA’s wider development efforts, which began with extending the street over a 25-kilometre stretch from its intersection with Dubai–Al Ain Road to the roundabout on Al Yalayis Street. That phase included the construction of a four-lane road in each direction and the upgrading of several intersections across the surrounding road network.

Among the completed works are a grade-separated interchange at the intersection with Latifa bint Hamdan Street near the Global Village entrance for traffic inbound from Emirates Road, a signalised roundabout at Al Qudra Street, and a signalised surface intersection at Hessa Street. These measures serve as interim solutions that will be further enhanced in future development phases.

Dubai Silicon Oasis and Academic City enhancements

Additional improvements were delivered along a three-kilometre section extending from Dubai–Al Ain Road to the Academic City roundabout. This phase included the construction of two 120-metre bridges at the Dubai Silicon Oasis intersection, each providing four lanes in both directions and a combined capacity of 14,400 vehicles per hour.

A signalised surface intersection beneath the bridges was also developed, featuring 20 lanes with a total capacity of 8,000 vehicles per hour. These enhancements were designed to ensure smoother traffic flow towards Dubai Silicon Oasis and Zayed University, while improving movement at the Academic City roundabout.

Dubai’s Maritime Authority said it will implement a mandatory marine traffic management plan during the 2026 New Year’s Eve celebrations to ensure safety and orderly movement across the emirate’s waterways.

The plan will be enforced during peak hours from 10 pm on December 31 to 2 am on January 1, 2026, the Dubai Maritime Authority (DMA), part of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, said in a statement.

Sheikh Dr Saeed bin Ahmed Al Maktoum, executive director of the DMA, said the authority is committed to implementing an integrated marine traffic management plan during periods of heightened activity, particularly at the start and end of the calendar year, to safeguard visitors and those attending fireworks displays held over Dubai’s waters.

He called on vessel owners, agents, marinas and yacht clubs to brief crews and passengers in advance, stressing the importance of adhering to designated routes and maintaining safe distances while navigating.

The authority has issued a comprehensive guide alongside its navigational warning, including maps, timings and organisational instructions for marine movements on New Year’s Eve.

Dubai’s Maritime Authority has a comprehensive plan in place

With marine activity expected to increase, the DMA said it has developed a comprehensive plan based on a one-way traffic system, scheduled departure and return times according to vessel size, and specific arrangements for each marina.

The measures are designed to reduce congestion, limit collision risks and ensure smooth traffic flow in key locations, including Dubai Marina, Dubai Harbour Marina, the east and west marinas of Palm Jumeirah and the entrances to the Dubai Water Canal.

The authority said all marine vessels must comply fully with issued guidance and marina instructions and plan trips carefully in line with designated routes, weather conditions and vessel capabilities.

Navigational safety and adherence to collision-prevention regulations remain top priorities during the period, it added.

Sheikh Dr Saeed said that monitoring teams working with strategic partners will be deployed at key locations to ensure compliance. Vessel movements will be tracked using AIS systems, cameras and maritime patrols.

Violations will be subject to penalties under Dubai’s executive regulations governing vessel licensing, including potential suspension of vessel licences, captains or crew members.

He added that no accidents were recorded during previous New Year’s Eve celebrations, maintaining a zero incident rate.

The authority aims to preserve this record, reflecting Dubai’s capacity to manage large-scale events while ensuring the safety of residents and visitors on land and at sea.

The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) has forecast partially cloudy to occasionally cloudy weather across the UAE, with a chance of rainfall over some coastal and northern areas as unsettled conditions continue to impact the country. Winds are expected to remain light to moderate, becoming active at times, according to official forecasts.

In a statement, the NCM said winds will blow from southeasterly to northeasterly directions at speeds ranging between 10 and 25 km/hr, with gusts reaching up to 40km/hr at times. Sea conditions in the Arabian Gulf are expected to be slight to moderate, becoming rough during nighttime hours, according to a report by WAM.

Read more-UAE weather update: Dubai Police issue public safety alert

The first high tide in the Arabian Gulf will occur at 09:38am, followed by a second at 23:00. Low tides are expected at 5:08pm and 03:15am. In the Sea of Oman, waves will remain slight to moderate, with high tides forecast at 8:10pm and 06:21am, and low tides at 1:02pm and 01:24am.

Low-pressure systems drive multi-day weather disruptions

Looking beyond the immediate forecast, the NCM has warned that unsettled weather conditions are expected to persist across the UAE over the coming days. The country remains under the influence of a surface low-pressure system extending into the region, accompanied by an upper-air low-pressure system. This weather pattern is likely to sustain partly cloudy to cloudy skies, intermittent rainfall, and a noticeable drop in temperatures, particularly in coastal and northern areas.

From Monday, December 15, skies are expected to remain partly cloudy to cloudy at times, with continued chances of rainfall. Winds will be light to moderate, becoming fresh at times. Sea conditions in the Arabian Gulf are forecast to remain slight to moderate before turning rough by night and into early Tuesday, while conditions in the Sea of Oman will stay slight to moderate.

Stronger winds and rough seas expected midweek

On Tuesday, December 16, convective cloud activity is forecast to increase, bringing rainfall to scattered areas across the country. Winds are expected to strengthen, blowing from southeasterly to northeasterly directions at moderate to fresh speeds, and may become strong at times. Wind speeds could reach up to 45 km/hr, potentially causing blowing dust and sand. Sea conditions are expected to be moderate to rough in the Arabian Gulf and may become rough at times in the Sea of Oman.

Similar weather patterns are expected to continue through Wednesday and Thursday, with partly cloudy to cloudy skies and intermittent rainfall, especially over coastal areas. Winds are forecast to shift from southeasterly to northwesterly and may reach speeds of up to 50 km/h, contributing to dusty conditions. Sea conditions in both the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman are expected to remain moderate to rough.

Authorities have advised residents and marine users to exercise caution during periods of strong winds, reduced visibility, and rough seas, and to remain informed through official weather bulletins.