The Public Investment Fund (PIF) has once again been named the world’s most valuable sovereign wealth fund (SWF) brand, according to the latest rankings by Brand Finance, a leading independent brand valuation consultancy.

In its 2025 edition of The Asset Management and Sovereign Wealth Fund 50, released on July 28, Brand Finance valued PIF’s brand at $1.2bn, an 11 per cent increase from 2024. This marks the second consecutive year PIF has claimed the top spot globally, a PIF report said.

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With an A+ brand strength rating and a brand strength index score of 62.9 out of 100, up from the previous year, PIF continues to outperform global peers in both reputation and performance. Its brand strength surpasses the average for SWFs worldwide, reinforcing its leadership in the sector.

Sports partnerships fuel visibility

PIF was the only SWF to appear in the top 10 rankings for brand value to assets under management (AuM) ratio, placing seventh among all asset management and SWF brands. The fund’s AuM has seen strong growth, attributed to robust returns from key portfolio companies and long-term investments nearing maturity.

Brand Finance highlighted PIF’s expanding portfolio of high-profile sports sponsorships, including partnerships with ATP and WTA tennis, Formula E, Extreme E, and ownership of LIV Golf, as key drivers of its brand value. These initiatives fall under the fund’s E360 sports investment platform.

“Formula 1 and football are powerful ways for sovereign wealth funds to elevate their global profile,” said David Haigh, chairman and CEO of Brand Finance. “PIF’s investments continue to enhance awareness and strengthen its international reputation.”

Dubai International (DXB) recorded its busiest first half on record, welcoming 46 million guests in the first six months of 2025, marking a 2.3 per cent year-on-year increase.

This growth was achieved despite temporary regional airspace disruptions in May and June, underscoring DXB’s operational agility and its vital role in global connectivity.

In Q2 alone, DXB served 22.5 million passengers, up 3.1 per cent from the same period last year.

April was the busiest month of the quarter and the most active April on record, with 8 million guests.

Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, stated, “DXB’s continued growth through a period of regional challenges highlights the strength of Dubai and the UAE, the agility of our operations, and the commitment of our airport community.”

He added that the airport expects annual traffic to reach 96 million this year, nearing the symbolic 100 million milestone.

Average monthly traffic in H1 stood at approximately 7.7 million, with daily volumes averaging 254,000. January was the busiest month of the period, setting a new monthly record with 8.5 million guests.

DXB H1 highlights

DXB handled 222,000 total flights in the first half of the year, achieving a load factor of 76 per cent. A total of 41.8 million bags were processed, with 91 per cent delivered within 45 minutes on arrival.

The mishandled baggage rate remained low at 2 bags per 1,000 guests, significantly outperforming the 2024 industry average of 6.3 reported by SITA. The airport is projected to process over 85 million bags by year-end.

Efficiency at key guest touchpoints remained high, with 99.2 per cent of guests clearing departure passport control in under 10 minutes, 98.4 per cent clearing arrivals in under 15 minutes, and 98.7 per cent passing through security checks in under five minutes.

India remained DXB largest country market

India remained DXB’s largest country market in H1 with 5.9 million passengers, followed by Saudi Arabia (3.6 million), the UK (3 million), Pakistan (2.1 million), and the US (1.6 million).

London was the busiest city destination with 1.8 million passengers, followed by Riyadh (1.5 million), Mumbai (1.2 million), Jeddah and New Delhi (1.1 million each), and Istanbul (982,000).

DXB processed just over one million tonnes of cargo in H1 2025, a marginal increase of 0.1 per cent year-on-year. The airport is connected to over 269 destinations in more than 107 countries, served by over 92 international carriers.

With the second half underway, DXB anticipates intensified travel activity, including the late-summer peak and a winter season with high-profile events such as the Dubai Airshow 2025.

WeRide‘s Robotaxi was granted Saudi Arabia’s first Robotaxi autonomous driving permit, making it the world’s only technology company with products holding autonomous driving permits in six countries: Saudi Arabia, China, the UAE, Singapore, France, and the US.

With this permit, WeRide is authorised to operate an autonomous vehicle (AV) business and deploy Robotaxis nationwide in Saudi Arabia, starting with its pilot operations in Riyadh with Uber and local partner Ai Driver.

Launched earlier this month, the pilot covers King Khalid International Airport and several key locations throughout Riyadh, including major highways and selected city center destinations.

A full-scale commercial Robotaxi service is expected to launch by end-2025 through a partnership between WeRide and Uber.

WeRide‘s Robotaxi was granted the permit at an official ceremony last week, attended by Engineer Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, Minister of Transport and Logistics Services and chairman of the Transport General Authority (TGA); Jennifer Li, CFO and head of International at WeRide; and other senior Saudi government officials.

WeRide’s Robotaxi completes TGA’s Regulatory Sandbox for AV Piloting in Saudi Arabia

WeRide is the first AV technology company whose Robotaxi has completed the TGA’s Regulatory Sandbox for AV Piloting in Saudi Arabia. The approval process, conducted in coordination with multiple government agencies, includes rigorous testing, assessments, and technology validation to secure the Robotaxi autonomous driving permit, to ensure the highest standards of safety and performance.

“This permit marks a major step in our global expansion, enabling us to scale Robotaxi services and unlock new commercial opportunities in Saudi Arabia. It drives large-scale deployment, unlocks new revenue streams, and reinforces our commitment to making autonomous mobility a reality worldwide. We thank the TGA for supporting our vision for safer, smarter transportation at scale,” said Jennifer Li, CFO and head of International at WeRide.

The announcement follows WeRide’s entry into Saudi Arabia in May.

In addition to its Robotaxi plans, WeRide has been testing and operating its Robobus in key locations including King Fahad Medical City, Aramco residential communities, AlUla, and the Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh.

Its Robosweeper S1 is also in operation at King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh Second Health Cluster, marking the first monetised autonomous sanitation project in both Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East.

Beyond Saudi Arabia, WeRidehas been rapidly expanding across the region in the last few months.

Its Robotaxis are currently undergoing fully driverless Robotaxi testing in Abu Dhabi — the first deployment of its kind in Middle East — and will also soon extend its Robotaxi service to Dubai.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has taken administrative and financial measures against 40 domestic worker recruitment offices in the UAE during H1 2025. This follows the confirmation of approximately 140 violations of the country’s Labour Law governing domestic workers and its implementing regulations.

The ministry said it would not show leniency toward any recruitment office found to have committed legal or administrative violations.

MoHRE warned that repeated non-compliance with regulations could lead to tougher penalties, including the potential cancellation of operating licences.

In a statement on social media platform, X, MoHRE said the action comes as part of ongoing efforts to regulate the domestic labour market, boost the competitiveness and performance of recruitment offices, and respond promptly to complaints from employers and families.

“Continuous monitoring is carried out using both field-based and digital systems to detect and address violations, and to ensure offices are adhering strictly to applicable legislation,” the ministry said.

The majority of violations were related to failure to refund full or partial recruitment fees within the legally mandated two-week period.

This refund should be issued when a domestic worker is returned to the recruitment office or is reported to have stopped working. Other infringements included failure to clearly display ministry-approved service package prices to customers.

MoHRE says its equipped to deal with violations

MoHRE affirmed that its inspection and monitoring systems were fully equipped to deal with violations seriously and transparently, and reiterated its commitment to hearing complaints from employers.

The ministry encouraged the public to report any negative practices through its digital platforms or by calling the Labour Claims and Advisory Call Centre at 80084.

It also urged customers to work only with licenced recruitment offices to avoid the risk of fraudulent or unprofessional conduct.

Compliant domestic worker recruitment offices praised

Despite the violations, MoHRE praised the majority of domestic worker recruitment offices for complying with regulations and providing competitive services at reasonable prices.

These practices, it said, support the growth and leadership of the domestic worker services sector in the UAE.

The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) reported its best-ever half-year results in H1 2025, with record growth across financial services, innovation, and fintech sectors.

A total of 1,081 new active registered companies joined DIFC between January and June 2025, a 32 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024.

The total number of active companies reached 7,700, up 25 per cent year-on-year. The number of professionals working in the centre rose to 47,901, a 9 per cent increase from a year earlier.

Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the UAE, and President of DIFC, said: “Dubai has entered a new and greater phase of growth, and these results highlight the competitiveness, attractiveness, and global confidence it enjoys,” he said. “We believe the future holds even greater opportunities, and we will continue to strengthen DIFC’s capabilities and its ecosystems that foster innovation, agility, and business growth.”

Financial services ecosystem expands

DIFC recorded a 28 per cent increase in financial services authorisations in H1 2025.

The number of entities regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) rose 17 per cent year-on-year to 980.

The banking and capital markets cluster grew 17 per cent to 289 firms, while the number of wealth and asset management companies increased by 19 per cent to 440.

The number of hedge funds operating from DIFC reached 85, representing 72 per cent growth since June 2024.

The centre now hosts 69 funds managing over $1bn each, and more than 10,000 funds are being managed or marketed from the centre.

Entities associated with family businesses rose by 73 per cent to 1,035, and the number of registered foundations increased 54 per cent year-on-year to 842.

The insurance and reinsurance sector saw 8 per cent growth, with 135 firms operating in H1 2025. G

ross written premiums for 2024 reached $3.5bn, up from $2.6bn a year earlier.

Innovation and fintech see continued expansion

The number of fintech, AI, and innovation-focused companies reached 1,388 in H1 2025, up 28 per cent from 1,081 a year earlier. Active non-financial entities grew by 28 per cent to 6,335.

DIFC hosted over 20,000 participants from more than 120 countries during its flagship Dubai AI Festival and FinTech Summit. During the events, the Dubai AI Academy was launched and Dubai Future Finance Week was announced for May 2026.

The Ignyte growth platform, launched in late 2024, has already delivered Dhs182m in economic benefits, supporting start-ups, investors, and founders across the region.

Legislation, education and real estate milestones

The DIFC Academy recorded its highest ever enrolment in a six-month period, with 4,947 learners completing programmes in H1 2025. DIFC also launched the ‘1 Million Learners’ initiative, aimed at equipping one million individuals with sustainability knowledge by 2030.

Over 6,075 hours of sustainability-related training were delivered in H1 2025, bringing the cumulative total to 22,241 hours.

In the legal domain, DIFC proposed new Variable Capital Company Regulations and updates to its existing framework including refinements to the Law of Security, Insolvency Law, and Employment Law. DIFC was also selected to host the 2026 Global Privacy Assembly, the premier forum for international data protection authorities.

On the real estate front, DIFC said inventory for its newly launched DIFC Heights sold out within three days. Over 1.6 million sq ft of commercial space is currently under development and expected to be ready for occupancy from Q1 2026.

Read: DIFC Courts see 38% surge in claims valued at Dhs6.8bn in H1 2025

New entrants at DIFC

New clients joining DIFC in H1 2025 included firms such as ABK Capital, Avaloq, Baron Capital, Bluecrest Capital, Bridge Investment Group, Cambridge Associates, China International Capital Corporation, dLocal, Manulife, National Bank of Kuwait, Pearl Diver Capital, PIMCO, RV Capital, Silver Point Capital, Tourmaline, TransAmerica Life Bermuda, and Welwing Capital Management.

“DIFC remains the driving force behind Dubai’s economic growth, as a key enabler of the financial services sector’s expansion and diversification,” said Essa Kazim, governor of DIFC.

Arif Amiri, CEO of DIFC Authority, added: “In the first half of 2025, DIFC has exceeded expectations across every metric. Our strong performance demonstrates the power of our ecosystem and the depth of expertise we bring to the industry.”