Saudi Arabia’s capital has just passed “Go” for one of the world’s most iconic board games.

Riyadh Monopoly, the city’s first official edition of the world’s best-selling board game, was officially unveiled on Thursday at the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), turning skyscrapers, heritage sites and infrastructure projects into tradable tiles.

The launch, hosted at the KAFD Conference Centre, brought together senior figures from government, business, education and culture to celebrate what organisers called a “storytelling platform” for Riyadh’s transformation.

First launched in 1935, Monopoly has sold over 275 million copies and holds a Guinness World Record as the best-selling board game in history. Riyadh now joins the ranks of global cities, including Dubai, with custom editions.

The game will be available in stores across the kingdom from September 2025. This edition of Monopoly is licensed by Hasbro and produced by KEAD Entertainment.

“Riyadh Monopoly reflects our goal of making big, strategic projects accessible and engaging to all ages,” said Mazroua Al-Mazroua, chief marketing and experience officer at the King Abdullah Financial District Development and Management Company (KAFD DMC).

“As the leading destination for international and local businesses in Saudi Arabia, we are creating new opportunities for the next generation to thrive.”

More than just a novelty, Riyadh Monopoly is being positioned as a cultural artefact: one that captures the Kingdom’s economic ambitions, youth demographics and growing global visibility.

With over half the city’s population under the age of 20, the game’s developers see it as both an educational tool and a piece of national branding.

“This colourful board game captures the city’s energy and ambition,” Al-Mazroua added. “It’s a fun way for families and friends to connect with Riyadh’s heritage and its exciting future.”

Featured landmarks include KAFD, key government entities, and prominent schools such as the British International School Riyadh (BISR).

“We’re thrilled to be featured on the board,” said Anna Power, Principal at BISR Diplomatic Quarter.

More than just a game

The move also reflects Saudi Arabia’s broader cultural shift.

In line with its diversification goals, the Kingdom has rapidly emerged as a hub for leisure and entertainment.

Sharif Hamad bin Majed Alowaishiq, founder and chairman of the Saudi Youth Society, said the game offers a rare blend of education and civic pride.

“This is a brilliant platform for young Saudis to engage with their culture while dreaming big. New generations can see the city’s stunning transformation, with important investment in both urban development and cultural preservation.”

The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) increased its gold reserves by 19.3 per cent in Q1 2025, adding Dhs4.444bn to reach a total of Dhs27.425bn at the end of March, up from Dhs22.981bn at the close of 2024, according to data released in the bank’s latest statistical bulletin.

The move comes amid heightened volatility in global markets and continued diversification of the UAE’s reserve assets.

In addition to the rise in gold holdings, the CBUAE reported robust growth in various categories of banking deposits.

Rise in gold, demand deposits in Q1

Demand deposits grew to over Dhs1.147tn at the end of March, up from Dhs1.109tn in December 2024. This included Dhs856.062 billion held in UAE dirhams and Dhs291.116bn in foreign currencies.

Savings deposits also saw an uptick, reaching Dhs338.788bn at the end of Q1, compared to Dhs317.48bn in December. Of that total, AED268.97bn were in local currency and AED51.817 billion in foreign currencies.

Time deposits continued to surge, climbing toDhs991.757bn, with Dhs614.854bn in dirhams and Dhs376.9bn in foreign currencies, reflecting strong liquidity and confidence in the banking sector.

The UAE Funds Transfer System (UAEFTS) facilitated total transfers worth Dhs5.449tn during the quarter, comprising Dhs3.331tn in interbank transfers and Dhs2.118tn in customer transactions.

The central bank also reported that 5.615 million cheques worth Dhs351.359bn were cleared via image-based processing in Q1.

In March alone, approximately 1.83 million cheques amounting to Dhs116.712 billion were processed.

Cash activity remained healthy, with Dhs63.887bn in withdrawals and Dhs47.124bn in deposits recorded during the first three months of the year.

The latest figures point to a continued strengthening of the UAE’s monetary and financial systems, driven by high liquidity, strong domestic savings, and sustained interbank and customer activity.

The UAE has received strong sovereign credit ratings from Fitch Ratings, S&P Global, and Moody’s Investors Service, reflecting international confidence in its economic strength and fiscal policies.

S&P Global assigned the UAE a sovereign rating of “AA” with a stable outlook on June 17.

Moody’s, in its annual review for 2025, affirmed the rating at “Aa2” with a stable outlook.

Fitch also affirmed the UAE’s rating at “AA-” with a stable outlook on June 24.

This consensus from all three major global credit rating agencies underscores the UAE’s robust fiscal standing, positioning it among a select group of countries globally with strong sovereign credit ratings across the board.

Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Finance, stated that the ratings affirm “deep-rooted international confidence in the resilience of our national economy and the efficiency of our fiscal policies.”

He attributed this to a comprehensive economic vision led by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and supported by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Sheikh Maktoum reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to implementing economic policies focused on diversification, transparency, and fiscal discipline, with an emphasis on increasing non-oil revenues and achieving financial sustainability.

He noted that this reflects the integrated performance of government entities and long-term strategic planning, reinforcing the UAE’s position as a flexible and credible global economic hub.

He added that the Ministry of Finance remains committed to collaborating with government entities to enhance resource management efficiency, develop productive sectors, and improve the country’s investment appeal.

The development of the sovereign yield curve for the UAE dirham was highlighted as a significant milestone, enhancing market transparency and providing a reliable benchmark for pricing dirham-denominated debt instruments.

This, he stated, strengthens the UAE’s global economic presence and its ability to navigate regional and international challenges by expanding the investor base and enhancing its reputation as a reliable and attractive destination in global capital markets.

Ratings confirm UAE’s ability to diversify and drive non-oil sectors

The ratings confirm the UAE’s capacity to diversify and boost non-oil revenues, maintain sound fiscal discipline, manage risks effectively, and uphold prudent fiscal policies. These factors have positively contributed to economic stability and sustained growth across various sectors.

S&P’s report specifically cited the UAE’s strong financial position and the strength of the government’s consolidated sovereign assets. The agency anticipates that regional geopolitical tensions will have a limited overall impact on the UAE, citing the country’s substantial sovereign wealth and consistent internal stability.

Moody’s report underscored the UAE government’s ongoing efforts to expand and diversify non-oil revenue sources, support the development of non-oil sectors, and enhance the country’s attractiveness to foreign investors and skilled talent.

Despite persistent regional geopolitical tensions, the report noted that the UAE’s effective policy frameworks help mitigate these challenges through ongoing economic diversification.

Fitch’s report, while acknowledging elevated geopolitical risks in the region, affirmed the UAE’s strong capability to withstand short-term disruptions, supported by its substantial fiscal and external buffers.

This achievement serves as further evidence of the UAE’s continued success in balancing fiscal stability with economic growth, reinforcing international investor confidence and affirming the UAE’s status as a secure and stable destination for business and investment.

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced adjusted service hours for its various services during the upcoming Hijri New Year holiday (1447H).

The revised schedule covers Customer Happiness Centres, paid parking zones, public buses, Dubai Metro and Tram, marine transport services, and vehicle technical testing centres.

All RTA Customer Happiness Centres will be closed on the day of the Hijri New Year holiday. However, the Smart Customer Happiness Centres located at Umm Ramool, Deira, Al Barsha, and the head office will maintain their usual 24/7 operational status.

Free parking on Friday, June 27

All public parking zones across Dubai will be free of charge on Friday, June 27, in observance of the Hijri New Year holiday.

This exemption excludes multi-level parking terminals. Regular parking fees will be reinstated starting Saturday, June 28.

Service provider centres, which offer vehicle technical testing, will be closed on Friday, June 27. Technical testing services are scheduled to resume on Saturday, June 28.

Dubai Metro timings

The Dubai Metro will operate from 5am to 1am (next day) on Friday, June 27. Similarly, the Dubai Tram will run from 6am to 1am (next day) on the same day.

For detailed schedule updates for public buses (Dubai Bus) during the holiday period, commuters are advised to refer to the S’hail app.

The marine transport schedule for the holiday period can also be viewed via the RTA’s official channels.

Read: Traffic update – Dubai’s RTA completes key road upgrades in Business Bay

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has completed three traffic improvement projects in the Business Bay area, aimed at enhancing traffic flow and road safety in the mixed-use district.

The enhancements are part of a broader plan to develop the emirate’s road network infrastructure and improve efficiency to accommodate population growth and urban expansion.

The newly completed works are expected to lead to smoother traffic flow, increased safety, and reduced travel times.

The Business Bay traffic upgrades include…

… a street running parallel to Sheikh Zayed Road was converted from a two-lane, two-way configuration into a one-way dual roadway.

This adjustment is projected to reduce traffic overlap points and increase the street’s capacity by 100 per cent.

Additionally, a 100-metre-long storage lane was introduced at the intersection of Al Mustaqbal Street with Al Khaleej Al Tejari 1 Street.

This measure is designed to boost right-turn capacity towards First Al Khail Street by up to 50 per cent, aiming to reduce congestion and waiting times at the intersection.

Further improvements involved reorganising the service road parallel to Al Mustaqbal Street, near the towers, by adding an extra lane.

This step is anticipated to increase road capacity by approximately 50 per cent and decrease traffic issues.

The RTA also expanded the entry point to the bridge on Al Mustaqbal Street over the canal, in the direction of First Al Khail Street, from one lane to two.

This effectively doubled the entry point’s capacity, aiming to ease traffic pressure during peak hours and improve vehicle flow along the corridor.

Read: Dubai to expand Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Metro Station; here’s what it involves