Dubai Airports has entered the winter travel season with one of the most expansive and resilient networks in its history, as Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central–Al Maktoum International (DWC) welcome new airlines, expanded routes and rising capacity to meet seasonal demand.

Direct traffic has emerged as a defining feature of DXB’s winter performance, accounting for 55 per cent of total passenger demand. The increase follows a familiar seasonal pattern driven by Dubai’s cooler climate, a full calendar of international business, sports and entertainment events, and heightened travel by residents heading abroad for holidays or family visits. The trend is further supported by the steady inflow of people choosing Dubai as a long- or medium-term home, according to a WAM report.

Read more-DXB to welcome over 10m passengers between Nov 27 to Dec 31

Europe and Central Asia are delivering notable growth this winter, with several airlines expanding services or returning to the market. FlyArystan joined DXB’s network on November 29, with twice-weekly flights from Aktau in Kazakhstan, while Austrian Airlines resumed operations on 2nd December with five weekly services from Vienna. Capacity from European carriers continues to rise as airlines respond to sustained travel demand.

Virgin Atlantic has upgraded its Dubai route with the A350-1000 aircraft, increasing seat capacity by 52 per cent, while British Airways has restored its A380 services from London Heathrow. Together, these developments point to strong confidence from European markets heading into the festive season.

Regional routes reinforce point-to-point demand

Seasonal demand from South Asia and the wider Middle East is also strengthening DXB’s connectivity. Varesh Airline launched twice-weekly flights from Sari in Iran on 30th October, while Fly Jinnah added twice-weekly services from Lahore on November 2. These routes reinforce point-to-point travel from regional markets where winter demand to and from Dubai traditionally intensifies.

Saudi Arabia remains one of the strongest contributors to traffic growth. Already DXB’s second-largest country market, Saudi Arabia accounts for 7.8 per cent of total passengers year-to-date as of October. Combined passenger traffic from the kingdom reached 6.3 million across DXB and DWC, marking a 1.3 per cent year-on-year increase.

DWC is playing an increasingly visible role in Dubai’s aviation ecosystem as airlines leverage its available capacity to complement DXB services. The airport welcomed 1.1 million passengers in the first 10 months of the year, representing a 36.6 per cent increase supported by demand from CIS, GCC and Western European markets. Cargo volumes and aircraft movements have also continued to grow, reinforcing DWC’s strategic momentum.

One of the key contributors to this expansion is Eurowings, which has launched a new daily DXB service from Stuttgart, introduced three weekly flights from Düsseldorf to DWC, and increased frequencies to Berlin, Cologne and Hannover. The airline has also deployed its Premium Bizclass product on the Berlin route.

Confidence in Dubai’s long-term aviation growth

Robert Whitehouse, vice president of Research at Dubai Airports, said winter remains a pivotal period for the sector, with this season’s breadth of connectivity highlighting how demand continues to evolve. He noted that the growth in direct traffic reflects a balanced mix of inbound visitors, outbound resident travel and people choosing Dubai as their home, underscoring the resilience and diversity of the city’s aviation network.

Overall, this winter’s schedule enhancements signal strong confidence from airline partners in Dubai’s travel demand. They reinforce the city’s appeal to visitors, business travellers and residents alike, supporting sustained growth in direct traffic and cementing Dubai’s position as one of the world’s most dynamic aviation markets.

The UAE is set to experience several days of unstable weather, with rainfall, strong winds and rough sea conditions expected to affect parts of the country through the weekend, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM).

In its latest forecast, the NCM said conditions will turn partly cloudy to cloudy at times, with convective cloud formation bringing rainfall over islands and extending to coastal, northern and eastern areas. Businesses operating in logistics, construction, marine services and outdoor operations have been advised to factor in potential disruptions, particularly due to reduced visibility and rough sea conditions.

For today, moderate to fresh winds are expected to strengthen at times, causing blowing dust and sand and a deterioration in horizontal visibility. Sea conditions will range from moderate to rough in both the Arabian Gulf and the Oman Sea, especially during periods of cloud activity.

On Thursday, December 18, weather conditions are expected to become more unstable, with scattered rainfall of varying intensity across the country. The NCM has warned that thunderstorms, lightning and hail may occur in limited areas. Southeasterly winds are forecast to shift northwesterly, reaching speeds of up to 60 km/h, with rough to very rough seas in the Arabian Gulf and rough conditions in the Oman Sea.

Read: Stormy outlook: UAE faces days of rain, strong winds

Friday, December 19, is expected to see a continuation of unstable weather, accompanied by a noticeable drop in temperatures. Rainfall, thunderstorms and hail remain possible in isolated areas, while wind speeds could reach up to 65 km/h. Sea conditions are forecast to remain rough to very rough in the Arabian Gulf, posing challenges for marine transport and offshore operations.

By Saturday, December 20, weather conditions are expected to gradually ease, though partly cloudy skies and convective cloud formation may still bring rainfall to northern and eastern regions. Winds will remain moderate to fresh, strengthening over the sea, with rough conditions continuing in the Arabian Gulf.

On Sunday, December 21, conditions are forecast to improve further, with generally partly cloudy skies and a chance of light rainfall over islands, coastal and western areas. Humidity levels are expected to rise overnight and into Monday morning across some internal western regions, while sea conditions are predicted to moderate.

Mintiply Capital has been appointed to lead an Dhs1.2bn investment opportunity tied to the strategic exit of one of the GCC’s fastest-growing food and beverage groups, as regional investor appetite for scalable consumer platforms continues to accelerate.

The investment banking advisory firm is advising on the full exit process for the diversified F&B group, providing end-to-end support spanning valuation, deal structuring, investor onboarding and regulatory coordination. Mintiply Capital is positioning the asset for acquisition by engaging qualified regional and international investors, with the objective of ensuring a smooth ownership transition while maximising value for all stakeholders.

The opportunity centres on a fully integrated F&B and e-commerce ecosystem that spans multiple verticals, including supermarkets, cafés, bakeries, catering services and digital food delivery. Over more than a decade, the group has evolved from a niche retail concept into a multi-brand platform comprising multiple physical outlets, café concepts and a proprietary online delivery channel.

“This initiative represents a landmark opportunity for investors to participate in a truly integrated F&B and e-commerce ecosystem in the GCC,” said Noel Hatem, chief operating officer at Mintiply Capital. Hatem added: “Beyond strong financial returns, this project offers regional investors access to a high-growth, diversified business with proven scalability, a robust operational model, and the potential to shape the future of the F&B and e-commerce landscape in the region.”

“The market is evolving rapidly, and we are offering a structured, high-potential investment that combines strong fundamentals with clear growth and scalability across the region,” Hatem concluded.

A differentiated model

Positioned between premium gourmet retailers and value-driven supermarkets, the group has built a differentiated model that combines quality offerings with competitive pricing. This approach has enabled it to capture a broad consumer base, double its market alpha within two years and expand its portfolio of branded and private-label products.

A fast-scaling e-commerce platform forms a core pillar of the business, supporting consistent growth across both physical and digital channels while strengthening customer engagement and retention.

As part of the transaction, Mintiply Capital is also advising on the structuring of the acquisition framework for incoming investors, including the design of the investment vehicle, cross-jurisdictional regulatory compliance, and operational, financial and commercial due diligence. The firm is supporting the development of a comprehensive deal structure that enables investors to acquire the group’s full ecosystem seamlessly.

The transaction comes against the backdrop of strong M&A momentum in the Gulf. Regional deal activity is expected to surpass $115bn in 2025, with EY’s MENA M&A Insights 9M 2025 report showing a 23 per cent increase in deal volumes during the first nine months of the year. Cross-border transactions accounted for 54 per cent of deal volume and 76 per cent of total deal value, marking the highest level in five years.

By curating this investment opportunity, Mintiply Capital reinforces its role in connecting global capital with high-performing regional businesses positioned for strategic ownership transitions and long-term growth.

Saudi Arabia’s Midad Energy has emerged as one of the leading contenders to buy Russian oil major Lukoil’s LKOH.MM international assets, leveraging deep political ties with Moscow and Washington, three people familiar with the matter said.

The assets, valued at about $22bn and spanning oilfields, refineries and thousands of fuel stations worldwide, have drawn bids from about a dozen investors, including US oil majors Exxon MobilXOM.N and Chevron CVX.N and private equity firm Carlyle, sources have said.

Lukoil is looking to sell its foreign operations after they were crippled by sweeping US sanctions imposed in October aimed at pressuring Russia to end its war in Ukraine.

Midad Energy and Lukoil declined to comment. The US Treasury did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Midad Energy CEO Abdulelah Al-Aiban is the brother of powerful Saudi national security adviser Musaed Al-Aiban, who took part in US-Russia peace talks in Saudi Arabia in February. Their father, Mohamed Al-Aiban, was the kingdom’s first intelligence chief.

Midad Energy’s bid comes against the backdrop of booming economic cooperation between the US and Saudi Arabia under US President Donald Trump, building on decades of energy and security ties. In 2025 alone, Riyadh and Washington signed deals spanning defence, energy and technology, with Saudi Arabia pledging investments of up to $1tr.

Midad Energy has an ambitious expansion strategy, underscored by a $5.4bn deal with Algeria in October.

Midad Energy plans an all-cash offer for Lukoil’s assets, with funds to be held in escrow until sanctions on the Russian company are lifted, the sources said. The deal could involve U.S. companies, one of the sources added.

The US Treasury has already blocked two other bidders – Gunvor and US bank Xtellus Partners – from buying Lukoil assets, highlighting geopolitical hurdles.

Washington’s sanctions, which were also imposed on fellow Russian oil major Rosneft ROSN.MM, bar US citizens from dealing with the firms, freeze their US-based interests and cut off key sources of finance.

Lukoil has until January 17 to sell the assets, under the latest deadline set by the Treasury.

DMCC has signed a strategic partnership with Crypto.com aimed at accelerating the adoption of tokenisation across the global commodities market and laying the foundations for next-generation trade infrastructure.

Announced under a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the collaboration will explore how blockchain technology can modernise commodities trading by reducing settlement friction, enhancing price transparency and expanding market access across key sectors including precious metals, diamonds, energy and agri-commodities.

As part of the agreement, DMCC and Crypto.com will assess the feasibility of listing tokenised commodities on the Crypto.com Exchange, subject to regulatory approvals and compliance with listing requirements. The partnership will also examine custody frameworks, liquidity facilitation models and the potential use of digital-asset payments across DMCC’s digital platforms and selected member use cases.

Ahmed Bin Sulayem, executive chairman and CEO, DMCC said: “The rapid ascent of tokenisation is a structural opportunity to modernise how commodities are financed, traded and settled, bringing greater transparency and widening access to global markets. For a sector that still relies on legacy systems and slow settlement cycles, the ability to move real assets on-chain is a practical step toward a more efficient trading environment. By partnering with Crypto.com, we will explore high-value applications ranging from the secure issuance and management of tokenised commodities to new models for custody, liquidity and digital asset payments, reinforcing the foundations for the next evolution of global trade. This work positions Dubai firmly at the centre of that transition.”

The collaboration also includes a strong focus on ecosystem development and education. Crypto.com will work with the DMCC Crypto Centre to deliver educational and technical initiatives designed to support responsible innovation and institutional adoption across Dubai’s growing Web3 sector. Planned initiatives include workshops, hackathons and capability-building programmes for businesses exploring tokenised asset models.

Eric Anziani, president and chief operating officer, Crypto.com, said: “Tokenised real-world assets represent one of the most significant advancements in the digital economy. Working with DMCC – a global leader in trade facilitation and an established hub for innovation – provides an exceptional platform to explore these opportunities responsibly and at scale. Together, we aim to advance infrastructure that supports the next chapter of tokenisation, global trade and digital financial services.”

Mohammed Al Hakim, president and general manager MEA of Crypto.com, said: “It is an honour to be working with DMCC to enhance Dubai’s digital asset ecosystem and introduce innovative ways blockchain technology can integrate and interact with traditional financial infrastructure. DMCC is the key institution in the development and enhancement of Dubai’s business sector and we are proud to help this community thrive.”

The agreement builds on DMCC’s broader digital asset strategy, including its recent partnership with the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), aimed at developing compliant, globally scalable infrastructure for tokenised commodities. Together, these initiatives strengthen Dubai’s position as a global hub for regulated digital assets and real-world asset tokenisation.

Home to more than 26,000 companies across energy, precious metals, diamonds, agri-commodities and technology, DMCC continues to play a central role in global trade flows. Its technology ecosystem alone comprises over 3,400 firms, creating a powerful platform for cross-sector innovation and real-world blockchain applications.