Abu Dhabi has introduced new standards governing industrial building facades, with implementation beginning in Mussafah as authorities seek to improve the appearance, safety and maintenance of industrial areas.

The Urban Planning and Permits Centre (UPPC), part of the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), has issued the Guidelines for Regulating Industrial Building Facades in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The rules establish requirements for buildings facing streets and public spaces, covering everything from maintenance and signage to fire safety and open storage areas.

The measures are intended to improve the urban environment in industrial districts while accounting for the operational needs of businesses across different sectors, a WAM report said.

New standards for industrial properties

The guidelines cover the architectural appearance and upkeep of industrial buildings, including entrances, service areas, fences, signage and storage spaces. They also address pedestrian movement, environmental quality and the use of sustainable materials suited to Abu Dhabi’s climate and industrial activities.

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Engineer Abdulla Mohamed Alblooshi, director-general of UPPC, said industrial areas play an important role in supporting the emirate’s economy and serving businesses across multiple sectors.

“Regulating industrial building facades forms part of ongoing efforts to improve the urban environment in these areas, enhance facility safety and take account of the nature of economic activities and their operational requirements,” he said.

Alblooshi said the guidelines would give property owners and investors clearer requirements for upgrading and maintaining buildings while recognising differences in their condition and use.

“Beginning implementation in Mussafah marks a step towards improving the urban environment of industrial areas, supporting the sustainability of their activities and their contribution to the Emirate’s economy,” he added.

Mussafah leads first phase

Under Administrative Resolution No. (48) of 2026, the first phase covers industrial buildings and facilities facing streets and public spaces in Mussafah. The requirements apply to existing buildings, new developments and properties under construction.

Affected facilities include workshops, warehouses, showrooms, logistics centres, spare-parts shops, vehicle repair and service centres, and mixed-use industrial complexes.

The rules form part of wider efforts to improve industrial districts and make them more attractive to businesses and investors. They also seek to establish consistent maintenance standards without overlooking operational requirements or disrupting ongoing economic activity.

Three levels of improvement

The guidelines set out three levels of work, allowing the scale of improvements to reflect each building’s condition and requirements.

Level One covers basic upkeep, including general cleaning, repainting, essential maintenance and minor repairs. Level Two addresses the organisation of facade features, signage, entrances, fences, service areas and open storage spaces.

Level Three involves more extensive facade redevelopment in priority locations or where broader improvements are needed. This tier allows authorities to determine the appropriate work based on the property’s condition and the requirements of the site.

The tiered approach provides a framework for addressing different maintenance needs, from routine repairs to more substantial upgrades.

Phased compliance and enforcement

Implementation will follow a graduated compliance process designed to give property owners and investors time to meet the requirements. The process includes awareness campaigns, advisory notices, formal notifications and warnings, followed by periods for corrective action.

Authorities will conduct follow-up inspections, with regulatory measures applied where violations remain unresolved. Property owners will also have access to grievance and appeal procedures under the approved processes.

The guidelines bring facade maintenance, safety requirements and operational considerations under a common framework. Their implementation in Mussafah marks the first phase of Abu Dhabi’s effort to standardise the appearance and upkeep of industrial properties across the emirate.

Miral and Etihad Rail have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to improve connections between Etihad Rail’s Abu Dhabi Mohamed bin Zayed City Station and Yas Island, linking rail passengers to the destination’s attractions through the Yas Express shuttle network.

The agreement aims to address first- and last-mile transport, a key part of connecting railway journeys with destinations that are not directly accessible from stations. Under the arrangement, passengers arriving at the station will be able to use the free Yas Express shuttle service to travel to Yas Island, according to a WAM report.

Free shuttle service links passengers to major attractions

The planned connection will give rail passengers access to several of Yas Island’s major attractions, including Ferrari World Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; Yas Waterworld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; Warner Bros. World Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; and SeaWorld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

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The partnership is intended to make journeys between the national railway network and the island more convenient by connecting train travel with an existing local transport service.

Lisa Goswell, SVP of Sales at Miral Destinations, said the collaboration would help improve access to Yas Island as visitor numbers continue to grow.

“As Yas Island continues to welcome guests from across the UAE and beyond, making travel to and around the destination as seamless as possible remains a key priority,” she said.

Goswell added that linking rail services with the Yas Express network would improve accessibility and convenience while supporting the UAE’s efforts to develop more sustainable transport options and expand its tourism sector.

Digital integration under consideration

The agreement also provides for the two organisations to explore digital connectivity between their transport systems. The longer-term aim is to create a more integrated journey, from travel on the national rail network to arrival on Yas Island.

Adhraa Almansoori, executive director of Commercial and Support at Etihad Rail Mobility, said the partnership would help make passenger rail a more practical option for travel across the UAE.

“Guided by the vision of the UAE’s leadership to build a more connected and integrated transport ecosystem, we are focused on making passenger rail a practical and convenient part of how people move across the country,” she said.

Almansoori said the arrangement would give passengers arriving at Abu Dhabi Mohamed bin Zayed City Station a connection to Yas Island and its attractions.

She added that partnerships of this kind could strengthen first- and last-mile connectivity and make it easier for passengers to combine rail journeys with other transport options.

Wider cooperation on mobility

The agreement forms part of a broader strategic partnership between Miral and Etihad Rail, with both organisations exploring further opportunities to improve transport links and access to destinations.

The companies said their cooperation would also support more sustainable travel choices and tourism growth across the UAE. However, the latest agreement focuses on connecting the Abu Dhabi station with Yas Island through the existing shuttle network, while further digital integration remains under consideration.

Two critical security vulnerabilities have been discovered in PHP, the widely used programming language powering millions of websites worldwide, raising concerns over potential cyberattacks, data breaches and disruptions to online services.

The vulnerabilities, identified as CVE-2026-109618 and CVE-2026-109619, have each received a severity score of 9.2 out of 10 under the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) version 4.0.

According to the PHP security advisory, the flaws could allow unauthenticated attackers to remotely execute malicious code on vulnerable servers, potentially gaining control of affected systems without requiring login credentials.

The PHP development team released emergency security updates on October 21, urging organisations, website administrators and hosting providers to install the patches immediately.

The vulnerabilities have been collectively dubbed ‘PHP2Shell’ by cybersecurity researchers.

PHP vulnerability: Millions of websites potentially exposed

PHP is one of the internet’s most widely used server-side programming languages and underpins popular content management systems, including WordPress, Drupal and Joomla.

Cybersecurity company Wiz said its researchers had uncovered multiple critical vulnerabilities in PHP’s core engine, including flaws capable of exposing sensitive information and enabling remote code execution.

Unlike vulnerabilities affecting individual website plugins or applications, these security weaknesses exist within PHP itself, potentially exposing a broad range of websites and enterprise applications.

Wiz said PHP powers approximately 70 per cent of websites globally, highlighting the scale of the potential exposure.

Meanwhile, cybersecurity firm Palo Alto Networks’ Unit 42 reported identifying more than 22.6 million exposed instances potentially vulnerable to the two flaws, based on its telemetry. The figure represents potential exposure rather than confirmed compromises.

Successful exploitation could allow attackers to steal sensitive business information, compromise websites, execute unauthorised commands or disrupt online operations.

Cybersecurity agencies issue urgent warnings

The discovery has prompted warnings from international cybersecurity authorities.

In a joint statement issued on October 21, the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA), European Commission, Europol and other European cybersecurity bodies urged organisations to take immediate action.

The agencies advised businesses to identify PHP-based applications, coordinate with hosting providers and prioritise security updates for internet-facing systems.

The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) also issued an alert calling for urgent mitigation measures.

Cybersecurity researchers have warned that Apache servers using the mod_php configuration face particularly serious risks, with a demonstrated exploit capable of triggering before application code begins running.

PHP releases emergency security patches

The PHP development team has released four updated versions to address the vulnerabilities:
– PHP 8.5.12
– PHP 8.4.27
– PHP 8.3.36
– PHP 8.2.35

Organisations operating older PHP installations are also being urged to assess their exposure, as versions 8.1 and earlier no longer receive regular security updates from the PHP project.

Although temporary mitigation measures are available, PHP maintainers have stressed that upgrading to a patched version is the only complete solution.

What the PHP security threat means for businesses

The vulnerabilities present significant risks for enterprises relying on PHP-powered websites, customer portals, e-commerce platforms and other digital services.

For organisations across the UAE and wider GCC, the discovery highlights the importance of maintaining updated web infrastructure, particularly as businesses accelerate digital transformation and expand their online operations.

Potential consequences of a successful attack include unauthorised access to customer information, service disruptions, financial losses and reputational damage.

Security researchers have also reported evidence of exploitation attempts targeting the vulnerabilities.

Cloudflare has observed attack traffic associated with the flaws, including attempts to bypass existing security protections, according to cybersecurity firm Qualys.

Businesses have been advised to conduct immediate security assessments, identify potentially affected PHP installations and coordinate with their technology vendors to deploy the latest patches.

Organisations unable to update immediately should consider restricting public access to vulnerable applications until the necessary fixes can be installed.

The incident underscores the growing cybersecurity risks associated with vulnerabilities in widely deployed software components, where a single weakness can potentially affect millions of websites and business applications globally.

Emirates Skywards, the loyalty programme of Emirates and flydubai, has relaunched its Mile-A-Minute promotion, allowing eligible international travellers to earn one bonus Skywards Mile for every minute spent in Dubai, up to a maximum of 7,200 Miles.

The limited-time offer is available to Emirates Skywards members residing outside the UAE who register and book eligible return flights between October 21 and November 5, 2026, for travel to Dubai between October 21 and December 13, 2026.

The promotion, first introduced in 2021, returns as Dubai enters its peak winter tourism season, offering additional loyalty rewards to visitors booking holidays or stopovers in the emirate.

Members can earn the bonus Miles in addition to the standard Skywards Miles accumulated on eligible Emirates and flydubai flight tickets.

Emirates Skywards Mile-A-Minute offer: How it works

Under the promotion, eligible members receive one bonus Skywards Mile for each minute spent in Dubai, with rewards capped at 7,200 Miles.

The maximum reward is equivalent to five days in Dubai, although travellers can stay longer under the offer’s eligibility conditions.

The promotion is available across all cabin classes and fare types on Emirates and flydubai.

To qualify, travellers must register for the promotion by November 5, book an eligible return flight originating outside the UAE during the promotional booking period and travel to Dubai by December 13.

Eligible stays must be at least 24 hours and no longer than 30 days.

Bonus Miles will be calculated using scheduled arrival and departure times in Dubai and automatically credited to eligible members following their stay.

Travellers who are not currently Emirates Skywards members can join the programme free of charge and register for the promotion before the booking deadline.

Additional Skywards rewards available in Dubai

Beyond the Mile-A-Minute promotion, Emirates Skywards members can earn additional Miles through the programme’s hotel, retail and lifestyle partners.

These include eligible stays at Atlantis The Palm, selected desert safaris and sightseeing experiences with Arabian Adventures, and purchases at participating outlets in Dubai Mall.

Members can also earn Miles through the Skywards Everyday app, which allows users to link up to five payment cards and collect rewards on eligible purchases at participating businesses across the UAE.

The loyalty programme enables members to redeem accumulated Miles for Emirates and flydubai flights, upgrades, hotel stays and selected experiences.

Members can also use the Cash + Miles option to reduce the cash cost of eligible flight bookings.

The promotion is part of Emirates Skywards’ wider loyalty offering, which rewards members for flights and spending with participating partners.

Full terms and registration details are available on the official Emirates Mile-A-Minute offer page.

For Monther Darwish, change is less a disruption to hospitality than a permanent feature of the business.

The founder and chairman of Palazzo Hospitality and MD of Palazzo Versace Dubai has spent years operating in an industry where traveller expectations, technology and competition rarely stand still. His response has been to build a hospitality business designed to move with them.

“Hospitality is constantly evolving, and standing still is not an option. Our focus has always been on finding opportunity in change, strengthening our core business, creating new revenue streams and continuing to invest in the future.”

That philosophy increasingly defines Palazzo Hospitality. Founded by Darwish in 2019, the UAE-based group spans hotel management, development, commercial operations, interior design and brand management. At its centre remains Palazzo Versace Dubai, but its ambitions now extend considerably further, with more than 10 projects in the pipeline as it targets expansion across the Middle East, Africa and selected international markets.

The strategy reflects a wider shift in hospitality. Occupancy remains fundamental, but growth increasingly depends on creating multiple reasons for customers to interact with a hotel, whether or not they are staying overnight.

At Palazzo Versace Dubai, that means viewing the property as an ecosystem encompassing rooms, restaurants, wellness, events, celebrations, gifting, partnerships and lifestyle experiences.

Turning experiences into revenue

One example came through Palazzo Versace Dubai’s summer campaign. Rather than relying on significant conventional advertising spend, the hotel activated relationships with media partners, influencers and content creators, supported by PR, while packaging experiences across the property at different price points.

Rooms started from Dhs499, selected food and beverage experiences from Dhs499 for two, Giardino breakfast was offered at Dhs125 for two, La Vita at Dhs199 and spa experiences at Dhs399.

The campaign sold more than 5,000 vouchers, generating approximately Dhs1.35m in revenue. Beyond immediate sales, the strategy provided customers with different entry points into the hotel, potentially converting a restaurant, spa or leisure visit into a longer-term relationship with the brand. That approach is also evident in e-gifting, which has developed into a direct revenue channel. By packaging rooms, dining, wellness and lifestyle experiences as products that can be purchased before a customer has decided to visit, Palazzo Versace Dubai is effectively adding a retail layer to its hospitality business.

During the summer, more than 8,900 vouchers were sold through the platform, generating approximately Dhs2.4m. For Darwish, however, diversification is not simply about adding products. The underlying test is whether innovation produces tangible value.

“Innovation for us is not about technology for the sake of technology,” he says. “Whether it is AI, digital performance or a new commercial concept, it has to make the guest journey better, make our teams more effective or create measurable value for the business.”

Putting AI to work

That philosophy is particularly relevant as artificial intelligence becomes more prominent across hospitality.

At Palazzo Versace Dubai, one of the most visible examples is Laura, an AI-powered digital human assistant designed to support guest enquiries while transferring conversations to hotel employees when human intervention is required.

During Laura’s first 10 weeks, the system handled 5,005 conversations, resolving 87.2 per cent without escalation. Another 641 conversations were transferred for further assistance. More significantly from a commercial perspective, those interactions contributed to an identified pipeline valued at $3.27m.

The hotel has since expanded Laura’s role through an outbound calling campaign, testing whether conversational AI can move from responding to enquiries to supporting proactive commercial outreach at scale. For Palazzo Hospitality, the objective is not to automate luxury hospitality at the expense of personal service. Instead, technology can handle high-volume and repetitive interactions, while employees concentrate on areas where human attention provides greater value.

Digital marketing is being subjected to a similarly commercial test. During the summer, Palazzo Versace Dubai’s Rooms Search and Performance Max campaigns generated more than 800,000 impressions and 88,000 clicks, translating into 116 confirmed bookings, 352 room nights and more than Dhs274,000 in attributed revenue.

Digital bookings increased approximately 70 per cent year on year during the period, while room nights rose 55 per cent and attributed revenue increased 65 per cent. The principle is straightforward: digital visibility matters, but turning that attention into business matters more.

Beyond the hotel stay

Commercial diversification also extends to meetings, events and celebrations.

Despite pressure across the hospitality and events landscape during the first half of 2026, Palazzo Versace Dubai’s Events & Catering revenue outperformed the corresponding period a year earlier.

The segment illustrates the commercial value of treating a luxury hotel as a destination rather than simply accommodation. A corporate conference can generate room nights and dining revenue, while a wedding can combine accommodation, banqueting and celebrations across multiple areas of the property.

Supporting this strategy is Grazie, Palazzo Versace Dubai’s Partner Reward Programme, which recognises corporate partners, event companies and travel management companies generating qualifying direct business across rooms, meeting facilities and event spaces. The wider objective is to bring different audiences into the hotel and give them reasons to return, whether for another event, a restaurant visit, wellness experience or future stay.

Taking UAE expertise abroad

While Palazzo Versace Dubai remains the flagship, the next stage of Darwish’s strategy increasingly lies beyond the UAE. The clearest expression so far is Ezulwini Palazzo in the Kingdom of Eswatini.

The property was officially opened by His Majesty King Mswati III during celebrations marking the King’s birthday and 40 years on the throne. Soon afterwards, Ezulwini Palazzo played a role in the OACPS–EU conference programme held in Eswatini from May 7-14, 2026. For Palazzo Hospitality, the development represents more than geographic expansion. It is also an opportunity to demonstrate whether hospitality expertise built in the UAE can be successfully adapted to a different destination and operating environment.

The objective is not to recreate Dubai elsewhere. Instead, the group aims to combine its management standards and commercial expertise with the culture, character and requirements of individual markets.

Darwish says: “Palazzo Versace Dubai gave us a strong foundation, but our ambition has always extended beyond a single property. As Palazzo Hospitality grows internationally, our objective is to take the expertise we have built in the UAE into new markets while creating something that is relevant to each destination.”

That philosophy will become increasingly important as the company scales. With more than 10 projects in the pipeline, Palazzo Hospitality is focusing its next phase of growth on the Middle East, Africa and selected international markets.

Built for the next phase

Darwish’s entrepreneurial career began in the early 2000s and, in 2007, he was recognised by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum with the Young Business Leader of the Year Award for his business achievements and innovative vision. He became a partner in Palazzo Versace Dubai in 2013 and its managing director in 2017, before establishing Palazzo Hospitality two years later.

Today, the group’s growth strategy rests on four broad pillars: resilience through changing market conditions; commercial innovation that creates revenue beyond rooms; technology that improves engagement and conversion; and international expansion adapted to individual destinations. For Darwish, those elements are interconnected. AI has to improve the guest journey or commercial performance. Marketing has to translate attention into revenue. Hotels need to create reasons to visit beyond an overnight stay. And international expansion has to reflect individual destinations rather than impose a single formula.

For a company built on the foundation of one of Dubai’s most distinctive luxury properties, the next chapter is therefore about more than adding hotels to a portfolio. It is

about taking the commercial and operational expertise developed in the UAE and demonstrating how effectively it can travel.