Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council (DMC), has issued two resolutions establishing specialised committees to propel the film and gaming sectors forward. The move aligns with DMC’s broader mission to foster media innovation and strengthen Dubai’s position as a global hub for creative industries.

The two committees, formed under Dubai Media Council Resolution No. 8 of 2025 and Resolution No. 9 of 2025, represent a strategic step in positioning Dubai at the forefront of global media development. Resolution No. 8 establishes the Dubai Film Development Committee, chaired by Issam Kazim, while Resolution No. 9 forms the Dubai Gaming Committee, chaired by Khalfan Belhoul. Both resolutions became effective immediately upon issuance.

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Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed highlighted that the creation of these committees enhances the institutional framework necessary for the growth of two strategic sectors that are pivotal to Dubai’s media ecosystem. “Dubai is strongly positioned to achieve global leadership in both fields, supported by world-class digital infrastructure, agile regulatory frameworks, robust logistics ecosystems, and a strategic geographical location that connects global markets,” he said.

The Sheikh also directed the development of a comprehensive operational plan to advance both sectors, emphasising world-class services and facilities designed to attract talent, investors, and international expertise, a Dubai Media Office report said.

“Dubai’s media sector is entering a new era of growth shaped by innovation and global collaboration,” Sheikh Ahmed added. “As the media landscape evolves with the rapid advancement of technology, we are focused on positioning Dubai at the heart of this transformation. Guided by a clear strategy and an agile mindset, we continue to anticipate global shifts and respond with strategic initiatives.”

Committee roles and responsibilities

Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council, described the establishment of the two committees as a milestone in strengthening Dubai’s media ecosystem. “The formation of the two committees marks an important step forward in enriching an integrated and sustainable media ecosystem that strengthens Dubai’s competitiveness while creating new opportunities for investors, content creators, and innovators in the film and gaming sectors, supporting the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33,” she said.

The committees will deliver high-quality services aimed at consolidating Dubai’s reputation as a global media production hub.

The Dubai Film Development Committee will provide industry support through tailored services, coordination with relevant stakeholders, and close collaboration with local and international production studios. The committee will also facilitate specialised training programmes for emerging filmmakers and create opportunities for young talent to grow and succeed in the industry.

Meanwhile, the Dubai Gaming Committee will focus on fostering partnerships, driving sector growth, and empowering young talent through professional development programmes. The committee will support the expansion of start-ups and innovators, helping accelerate Dubai’s digital economy while strengthening its regional and global leadership in the gaming industry.

High-profile committee members

Both committees include high-level representatives from Dubai’s public and private sectors. Hesham Al Olama, of the Dubai Media Council, will serve as Vice-Chairman for both committees. Other members of the Dubai Film Development Committee include Jamal Al Sharif (Dubai Development Authority), Shaima Al Suwaidi (Dubai Culture and Arts Authority), Bader Anwahi (Dubai Municipality), Abdulla Al Ali (Roads and Transport Authority), Mansour Al Malik (Dubai Customs), Ahmad Belqaizi (Dubai Civil Aviation Authority), Colonel Dr Saud Al Rumaithi (Dubai Police), Colonel Ali Al Hammadi (General Directorate for Identity and Foreigners Affairs), Fatma Almutawa (Dubai Airports), and Maryam Almahri (Emirates Airlines).

The Dubai Gaming Committee members include Ahmed AlKhaja (Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism), Shaima Al Suwaidi (Dubai Culture and Arts Authority), Brigadier Dr Mansoor Alrazooqi (Dubai Police), Ahmad Hamza (Dubai Multi Commodities Centre), Mohammad Alblooshi (Dubai International Financial Centre), Hanan Ahmed (du), Eisa Al Marzooqi (Dubai Sports Council), and Abdulla AlGaoud (Dubai Chambers).

Government support and strategic collaboration

Resolutions No. 8 and 9 of 2025 mandate full cooperation from all government entities and relevant organisations. These bodies are required to provide any necessary data, reports, or information to support the committees in fulfilling their responsibilities, ensuring a coordinated approach to sector development.

By establishing these committees, Dubai is strategically positioning the film and gaming industries as core drivers of its creative economy. The initiatives aim not only to attract global investment but also to cultivate local talent, showcase Dubai’s creative capabilities, and export innovation worldwide.

The formation of these committees comes at a time when both film and gaming industries are experiencing unprecedented global growth. Dubai’s leadership is leveraging this opportunity to implement a forward-looking strategy that aligns with its economic diversification goals, global competitiveness objectives, and vision to become a regional hub for digital innovation.

“The committees are designed to provide a framework for collaboration, innovation, and sustainable growth,” Mona Ghanem Al Marri added. “Through targeted support and international partnerships, Dubai is ensuring that its creative industries remain agile, competitive, and aligned with global trends.”

With its strategic initiatives, world-class infrastructure, and a clear vision for the future, Dubai is strengthening its position as a destination where talent, technology, and innovation converge to shape the global media landscape.

The Dubai Business Registration and Licensing Corporation (DBLC), part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), reported that its Dubai Unified Licence (DUL) initiative has slashed the average time to open a business bank account by 90 per cent, from 65 days to just five.

Since the DUL’s rollout in 2023, more than 900,000 licences have been issued to businesses across Dubai’s mainland and free zones.

The system provides companies with a government-verified digital identity to streamline access to banking, utilities, trade and labour services through a single platform.

DBLC said the enhancement of the DUL last year with the Service Providers Project has enabled more than 3,000 new business bank accounts to be opened and over 134,000 business profiles to be updated since its launch in October 2024.

The initiative supports the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to double the size of the emirate’s economy by 2033 and strengthen its position as a global business hub.

Dubai Unified Licence aligns with digital-first governance

“The robust efficiencies delivered through the Dubai Unified Licence are a testament to the steadfast guidance and support of our visionary leadership and underscore Dubai’s commitment to digital-first governance,” said Ahmad Khalifa AlQaizi AlFalasi, CEO of DBLC. “By simplifying critical processes and advancing Dubai’s digital transformation, DUL is making it easier than ever for companies to set up and grow in the city.”

Several leading banks, including Emirates Islamic Bank, Mashreq Bank, Commercial Bank of Dubai, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Emirates NBD, Emirates Development Bank and Ruya Bank, are already integrated into the system.

Partnerships also extend to government and financial entities such as the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, Dubai Electricity & Water Authority, Dubai Trade, Roads & Transport Authority, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Arab Financial Services.

DET said the DUL is a key step toward building a digital-first economy and improving transparency, efficiency and competitiveness in Dubai’s business landscape.

The Gulf Business Real Estate Summit will take place on 25 November 2025 at the Metropolitan Hotel Dubai, bringing together the region’s leading voices to explore the forces reshaping the property landscape. With Dubai’s market at record highs and tokenisation emerging as a transformative trend, the summit will examine critical questions around market dynamics, sustainability, and regulation — including whether prices may stabilise in 2026 and beyond, where the value lies in off-plan projects, and how technology is redefining the role of brokers.

The half-day event will feature four focused sessions that unpack the key themes influencing the next real estate cycle. Each 30-minute panel is designed to deliver sharp insights and practical takeaways across finance, regulation, development, and brokerage.

The entire event agenda can be found here: https://bit.ly/4q20CFz

Confirmed speakers include Lewis Allsopp, Chairman of Allsopp & Allsopp Group; Cherif Sleiman, CFO of Property Finder; Ben Crompton, Managing Partner at Crompton Partners; Capt. Pradeep Singh of Karma Realty; Gregory Lewis, CEO of AirDXB; Prathyusha Gurrapu, Head of Research at Cushman & Wakefield Core; Rashed Ahmadyar, CEO of Ahmadyar Developments; and Ali Shahin, Founder of HAS Media (The Real Estate Reports), among others.

As the UAE enters a new phase of property evolution, the Gulf Business Real Estate Summit will serve as a platform for industry leaders to debate the opportunities and challenges ahead — from tokenisation and regulation to sustainability, digital transformation, and investment trends shaping the next decade.

Register to attend: https://bit.ly/4o8OmBg

The Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) has announced a six-month extension of the grace period to regularise the status of runaway domestic workers, effective from Tuesday, November 11, 2025. The process will continue to be managed through the Musaned platform, the ministry’s official system for domestic worker services.

Six months earlier, the ministry had introduced a similar grace period starting May 11, 2025, allowing domestic workers who were reported absent from work (known as huroob) to correct their legal status. The latest extension applies exclusively to workers reported absent before the new announcement date, a Saudi Gazette report said.

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The ministry said the move aims to give both domestic workers and employers an opportunity to correct their status through simplified, automated procedures on the Musaned platform. The system enables new employers to log in and complete the necessary transfer procedures, thereby improving the work environment and ensuring the protection of rights for both parties.

“This initiative comes within the framework of ongoing efforts to develop the domestic worker sector and enhance the contractual relationship between employers and employees,” the ministry said in a statement.

Through this program, domestic workers who were previously reported absent, whose residency permits have expired, or who remain in the kingdom illegally can now transfer their services to other employers after fulfilling the required procedures.

It is noteworthy that Musaned serves as the official digital hub for household services and home employment under the supervision of the MHRSD.

Fourth phase of salary transfer service launched

In a related development, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development announced the launch of the fourth phase of its electronic salary transfer service for domestic workers through approved official platforms, effective October 1, 2025.

The initiative represents a major step in safeguarding salary rights and boosting financial transparency within the domestic worker sector. The ministry stated that this phase specifically targets employers with two or more domestic workers, continuing the gradual rollout of the system.

The programme began in January 2025 with the second phase covering employers of four or more workers, followed by the third phase in July 2025, which extended to employers with three or more. The service is expected to cover all domestic workers by January 1, 2026.

Enhancing transparency through digital payments

The electronic salary transfer service, operated through the Musaned platform, enables secure and traceable wage payments using official digital channels, such as licensed banks and approved digital wallets.

Key benefits include:

• Documenting regular salary payments to ensure compliance with employment contracts.
• Simplifying regulatory procedures when contracts end or workers travel home.
• Allowing seamless salary transfers to workers’ families in their home countries through verified, secure financial routes.

The ministry underscored that these reforms are part of Saudi Arabia’s broader push to modernise its labor ecosystem, ensure fair treatment for domestic workers, and strengthen employer accountability through digital transformation, a Saudi Press Agency report said.

The coordinated implementation of both the extended grace period and the salary transfer service demonstrates Saudi Arabia’s ongoing commitment to creating a more transparent, fair, and sustainable labor environment.

By combining legal flexibility with digital efficiency, the MHRSD continues to advance reforms that align with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objectives, fostering improved working conditions, promoting transparency, and enhancing worker welfare across the domestic employment sector.

Hitachi Rail has been awarded a contract by Hassan Allam Construction and Arab Contractors JV to modernise and upgrade the historic Alexandria Raml Tram, transforming it into a reliable, efficient, and digitally advanced transport system.

To improve both reliability and operational efficiency, Hitachi Rail will deliver state-of-the-art signalling and communication systems (including fixed and wireless networks), an Operational Control Centre and Supervisory Control & Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, as well as security infrastructure featuring CCTV cameras, access control, passenger information systems, and on-board technologies.

The solution developed by Hitachi Rail will significantly enhance train operations, ensuring a fast, secure, and efficient public transport system that supports Egypt’s Vision 2030 for sustainable development.

As the oldest tramline in both the Middle East and Africa, the Alexandria El Raml Tram—dating back to 1863—operates on ageing infrastructure and was last modernised in the 1960s. Remarkably, it remains one of the few tramways in the world to operate double-deck trams in regular service.

The project includes the reconstruction of 24 stations and 13.2 km of tram track. Its modernisation aims to dramatically improve efficiency by reducing travel time from 60 to 35 minutes, doubling operating speed from 11 km/h to 21 km/h, and reducing headway from 9 minutes to just 3. Once completed, the upgraded tramline is expected to triple passenger capacity—from 4,700 to 13,800 passengers per hour per direction—enhancing urban mobility, easing traffic congestion, and lowering CO₂ emissions across Alexandria.

The Alexandria El Raml Tram Rehabilitation contract represents a major milestone for Hitachi Rail, further strengthening its presence in metro and railway systems across the region. Earlier this year, Hassan Allam Construction and Arab Contractors JV signed the main rehabilitation contract with the National Authority for Tunnels.

Investing in local talent and digital innovation

Hitachi Rail continues to expand its presence in Egypt through localisation and technology-driven growth. Local teams have been established across engineering, finance, legal, and other functions to deliver projects and support clients. Its CBTC systems now include locally implemented IVVQ activities, while AFC initiatives are creating high-tech jobs and promoting diversity. These initiatives align with Egypt’s national strategy and contribute to the country’s wider industrial development goals.

Enhancing passenger experience

Hitachi Rail’s digital innovations, including integrated passenger information systems and AFC platforms, are enhancing travel experiences and enabling seamless mobility across metro, LRT, and monorail networks. In Alexandria, the Abu Qir Metro will feature TRANSCITY AFC technology, offering multiple payment options such as QR codes, contactless cards, EMV bank cards, and NFC mobile payments.

Joaquim Santos, Signalling and Rail Solutions (SRS) OPPS – ICS, said: “Hitachi Rail has a long-standing presence in Egypt, built on trust, collaboration and shared ambition. Our commitment goes beyond delivering advanced technologies—we are deeply invested in developing local capabilities, supporting innovation, and contributing to the country’s sustainable mobility goals.”

Carlo Piacenza, Signalling and Rail Solutions (SRS) MEA regional director, added: “We are proud to announce that we have been awarded a contract by Hassan Allam joint venture and The Arab Contractors (Osman Ahmed Osman & Co.) to modernise and upgrade the oldest electric tram system in Africa, transforming it into a reliable, efficient, and digitally enhanced transportation system. This contract marks an important milestone, showing the capacity of Hitachi Rail technologies in the rehabilitation and modernisation of tramway systems.”