ADGM Courts announced the launch of its Pro Bono Mediators Panel, marking a key milestone in strengthening its Court-Annexed Mediation Scheme, introduced in 2019 as a regional first.

The initiative aims to broaden access to justice while fostering global mediation talent.

The new panel will consist of internationally accredited mediators who volunteer their services on a pro bono basis. In return, they gain practical experience handling mediations under a leading international commercial framework.

The first cohort of mediators has already been appointed, with additional application rounds to follow.

The panel supports parties seeking early, cost-effective dispute resolution within ADGM Courts’ jurisdiction and enhances mediation as a viable alternative to litigation.

“Mediation offers parties a confidential forum to negotiate the resolution of their dispute via a process during which they retain full control,” the court said in a statement.

If a written settlement agreement is reached and signed, it becomes legally binding, and in cases where proceedings are ongoing, ADGM Courts will issue an order giving effect to the settlement agreement — enforceable at the request of either party.

Mediators panel an important next step in the evolution of the scheme

Registrar and chief executive of ADGM Courts, Linda Fitz-Alan, said the Court-Annexed Mediation Scheme has achieved an average settlement rate of 80 per cent year on year since its inception.

She described the launch of the Pro Bono Mediators Panel as “an important next step” in the evolution of the scheme.

“This reflects ADGM Courts’ long-standing commitment to promoting mediation as an outstanding method of dispute resolution, especially for the new wave of disputes in technology and climate,” Fitz-Alan said.

Court-annexed mediation under ADGM Courts may be conducted either by court officers or by independent pro bono mediators appointed by the registrar.

The initiative aligns with ADGM’s broader goals of enhancing dispute resolution infrastructure and promoting efficient legal processes in Abu Dhabi’s international financial centre.

Dubai’s higher education landscape is poised for significant expansion as three new international universities prepare to open campuses in the emirate for the 2025–26 academic year, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has announced.

The incoming institutions include the prestigious Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM Ahmedabad), whose Business and Management programme ranks 27th globally in the QS World University Rankings by subject. Also joining are the American University of Beirut, ranked 237th globally, and Saudi Arabia’s Fakeeh College for Medical Sciences, a Dubai Media Office report said.

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

The KHDA noted that discussions are ongoing with several other international universities, signaling continued interest in establishing a presence in Dubai.

“Dubai’s initiative to attract top-tier global universities, endorsed by The Executive Council, reflects the emirate’s growing international stature,” said Dr Wafi Dawood, CEO of KHDA’s Strategic Development Sector. “Thanks to the support of our visionary leadership, we’ve laid the groundwork to transform Dubai into a global hub for world-class education.”

Dr Dawood added that the expansion aligns with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and the Education 33 Strategy, both of which aim to increase the city’s global competitiveness, attract international students, and double Dubai’s economy over the next decade.

International recognition

Dubai is already home to 41 higher education institutions, 37 of which are international branch campuses offering a wide range of academic programmes. Among them, several universities are recognized globally for academic excellence.

The University of Manchester Dubai and the University of Birmingham Dubai are associated with home campuses ranked in the top 100 globally — at 35th and 76th respectively — according to the QS World University Rankings 2026. Additionally, Curtin University Dubai (183rd) and the University of Wollongong in Dubai (184th) rank within the top 200.

Dubai-based campuses also performed well in subject-specific rankings. In the field of Business and Management, institutions such as London Business School (7th), ESCP (54th), and Luiss University (67th) earned high marks. In the arts, Instituto Marangoni, which specializes in design education, is ranked between 51st–100th globally in Art and Design.

Vision for 2033

The expansion of international education offerings is part of a broader strategy under Education 33, which aims to reshape Dubai’s education sector.

Key targets include:

• Growing international student enrolment to comprise 50 per cent of all higher education students in Dubai by 2033.
• Increasing educational tourism tenfold.
• Integrating more Emiratis into future-focused industries.
• Contributing Dhs5.6bn to the higher education sector’s GDP.
• Establishing Dubai among the top 10 global destinations for university study.

The strategy also promotes a hybrid educational model combining transnational and national education, with a focus on research, innovation, and collaboration across economic sectors.

Rising enrollment figures

Dubai’s appeal as a higher education hub continues to grow. In the 2024–25 academic year, total student enrolment at private higher education institutions increased by 20 per cent, with international student enrolment rising by 29 per cent.

A record 42,026 students are now enrolled across the 41 private institutions in the emirate — the highest figure to date.

These institutions collectively offer more than 700 academic programmes, many designed to prepare students for emerging industries and careers aligned with Dubai’s long-term economic goals.

Google has officially launched Veo 3, its latest video generation model, now available to all Google AI Pro subscribers across the region. The tool allows users to transform written prompts into visually rich, audio-enhanced videos—supporting creators, developers, and businesses looking to scale AI-driven content production.

Integrated into the Gemini app, Veo 3 enables users to describe a scene, known as a “prompt,” which is then used to generate a custom eight-second video at 720p resolution, complete with native sound, dialogue, and music. The technology was first unveiled during Google I/O, the company’s annual developer conference in May.

Designed to deliver high realism and prompt accuracy, Veo 3 supports native audio generation, allowing for precise layering of sound effects, ambient noise, and spoken dialogue. It also leads the market in physics simulation and visual fidelity.

Related news: Google expands Gemini, Search AI features to MENA following I/O 2025

In line with Google’s commitment to responsible AI use, all videos generated by Veo 3 include a SynthID watermark, a secure digital marker that identifies AI-generated content. Google has also introduced the SynthID Detector to select testers and plans to expand access in the near future. Additionally, a visible watermark will appear on all videos except those created by Ultra members in Flow, Google’s newest tool designed for AI filmmakers.

Veo 3 is now available to Google AI Pro subscribers, who can begin creating AI-enhanced video content immediately.

Emirates has officially launched its new daily service to Shenzhen, marking its fourth gateway in mainland China and reinforcing its East Asia growth strategy.

The inaugural flight, EK328, a four-class enhanced Boeing 777‑300ER, touched down at Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport on July 1.

Outbound from Dubai at 10:05am GMT+4, it arrived at 10pm GMT+8, with the return leg, EK329, departing Shenzhen at 11:55pm and landing in Dubai at 3:40am the next day.

Emirates flights to China

Emirates now operates 42 weekly flights to four mainland Chinese cities — Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen — providing enhanced connectivity through its Dubai hub to key European destinations including London, Paris, Frankfurt and Amsterdam, as well as points in Kenya, Egypt, South Africa and Saudi Arabia.

Deputy president and CCO Adnan Kazim said the new service reflects Emirates’ commitment to deepening its presence in China and supporting China-UAE trade and tourism.

Emirates has served China since 2004 and plays a major role in the Belt and Road Initiative, connecting over 50 countries.

Cargo capacity on Shenzhen flight

The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft on the Shenzhen route offers 16 tonnes of cargo capacity, reinforcing the so-called “Aerial Silk Road” by enabling transport of perishables and pharmaceuticals with cold-chain support.

The launch coincides with growing bilateral trade — $95bn in 2023 — with aviation serving as a key enabler of economic exchange.

Emirati travellers now enjoy visa-free access to China for up to 30 days, facilitating business and leisure travel. Analysts say Emirates’ route expansion aligns with strategic ambitions to deepen UAE–China cooperation in trade, technology, logistics, and investment.

Read: Emirates soars to further success: CCO Adnan Kazim on its growth and global reach

A350 service to Muscat begins

In parallel, Emirates has confirmed deployment of its new Airbus A350‑900 on the Dubai–Muscat route, commencing July 1, replacing the Boeing 777 service.

The carrier first introduced the A350 in January and plans it increasingly across its fleet following delivery delays for earlier deployments to Muscat, Bologna and Lyon.

The A350, seating 312 passengers across Business, Premium Economy, and Economy classes, brings quieter cabins, energy efficiency and enhanced inflight amenities.

Its rollout across the network supports Emirates’ broader strategy to modernise its fleet ahead of upcoming long‑range variants.

DeFi Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: DEFT), a financial technology firm bridging traditional capital markets with decentralised finance (DeFi), has announced a major expansion into the GCC and MENA region through the registration of DEFI DMCC (certification no. DMCC199558). The company’s new office is located in Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai, UAE.

The expansion also includes the launch of a new trading desk at the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) under its subsidiary Valour and Valour Digital Securities Limited, a leading issuer of regulated exchange-traded products (ETPs). This move aims to support the growing institutional appetite for digital assets in the UAE and broader Gulf region.

“As the first Nasdaq-listed digital asset manager of its kind, DeFi Technologies offers equity investors diversified exposure to the broader decentralised economy through its integrated and scalable business model,” the company stated. Valour currently offers access to over 65 digital assets via ETPs and plans to increase this number to 100 by the end of 2025.

This strategic expansion into Dubai follows rising interest in spot Bitcoin and Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs) across global and regional markets. The UAE, in particular, has become a hotspot for institutional crypto investment. UAE sovereign wealth fund Mubadala recently expanded its position in BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin ETF, underlining a regional trend of allocating capital to regulated digital asset products.

Related news: Zand Bank, Klickl International partner to advance digital finance

“ We believe the demand for digital asset ETPs will increase not only globally but in the GCC and Middle East,” said Andrew Forson, president of DeFi Technologies and chief growth officer of Valour. “Investors whether sovereign wealth funds, institutional investors, family offices and even retail investors are interested in crypto but require familiar and efficient vehicles to get exposure.”

He added, “Wrapping digital assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum in regulated financial instruments such as ETPs will increase the number of crypto investors and offer countries such as the UAE, Qatar, Oman, and Saudi Arabia access to international foreign investment. Local and international [investors] get exposure to these assets through trusted providers like the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange, Dubai Financial Markets, and others.”

DeFi Technologies’ vision

DeFi Technologies’ regional expansion builds on its earlier moves in Turkey, where it partnered with Misyon Bank and Misyon Kripto to roll out ETPs, addressing a market where more than 50% of investors already hold digital assets.

In 2024, the company’s subsidiary Valour also partnered with GulfCap Investment Bank (GCIB) to prepare for a proposed cross-listing of its ETPs on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) in Kenya. This initiative is aimed at enabling East African investors to gain exposure to digital assets through instruments denominated in Kenyan Shillings.

In Europe, Valour’s ETPs are currently available on Xetra, Spotlight, and Euronext, with over 65 fully hedged products offering exposure to a wide range of innovative cryptocurrencies.

With $176.3 billion now under management across global crypto ETPs, and rising interest from institutional investors, DeFi Technologies is positioning itself as a major player in the regulated Web3 investment landscape.