Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has received the first batch of 250 buses under a wider contract to procure 735 multi-size buses compliant with the Euro 6 low-carbon emissions standard, marking a significant expansion of the emirate’s public transport fleet.

The initial delivery includes 40 electric buses, the largest such procurement in the UAE to date and the first time electric buses will be deployed on Dubai’s urban routes.

The remaining buses under the contract are scheduled for delivery later in 2026, the RTA said.

RTA DG and chairman Mattar Al Tayer inspected the Zhongtong electric bus, which has been customised for Dubai’s operating conditions.

Electric buses: Capacity and range

The 12-metre bus has a range of up to 280 kilometres on a single charge, allowing it to complete daily operations without returning to depots for recharging. It is equipped with a 434 kilowatt-hour battery and uses a 360 kilowatt ABB charging system.

The bus can carry up to 70 passengers and is fitted with a 360-degree camera system. It has undergone more than three months of testing in Dubai, during which trials showed stable electric propulsion performance, efficient energy consumption and reliable operation of safety-critical systems including battery cooling, braking and air conditioning.

The RTA said the trials resulted in a 95 per cent satisfaction rate among drivers and passengers.

Al Tayer said the procurement supports Dubai’s broader strategy to expand sustainable public transport and accommodate rising ridership, in line with the Dubai Urban Plan 2040 and national climate objectives.

He said the number of electric buses operating across the emirate would increase gradually as part of the UAE’s goal to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 and Dubai’s Economic Agenda D33, which aims to strengthen the emirate’s position as a global urban economy.

The procurement also supports the RTA’s Zero-Emission Public Transport Strategy 2050, which targets the conversion of all buses, taxis and limousine vehicles to zero-emission operations, with public transport buses transitioning fully to electric and hydrogen power by mid-century.

Beyond the electric fleet, the contract includes 549 city-service buses, comprising 400 MAN buses and 149 Zhongtong buses, all fitted with Euro 6 engines.

It also covers 76 Volvo double-decker buses and 70 articulated Isuzu Anadolu buses, aimed at serving high-density routes and newly developed areas.

New buses to have high-tech systems to track drivers’ behaviour

Most of the new buses are equipped with driver behaviour monitoring systems, automated passenger counting, and driver identity authentication technology, the RTA said.

The vehicles feature low-floor access for passengers with disabilities, dedicated seating for children, bicycle spaces, Wi-Fi, mobile phone charging points and interior layouts designed to improve accessibility and comfort.

The authority said it has also adopted a standardised fuel-consumption testing protocol, the first of its kind in the Gulf region, to improve operational efficiency and environmental performance.

President Donald Trump on Saturday vowed to implement a wave of increasing tariffs on European allies until the United States is allowed to buy Greenland, escalating a row over the future of Denmark’s vast Arctic island.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said additional 10 per cent import tariffs would take effect on February 1 on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland and Great Britain — all already subject to tariffs imposed by Trump.

Those tariffs would increase to 25 per cent on June 1 and would continue until a deal was reached for the US to purchase Greenland, Trump wrote.

Trump has repeatedly insisted he will settle for nothing less than ownership of Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. Leaders of both Denmark and Greenland have insisted the island is not for sale and does not want to be part of the United States.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll of US residents this week found that less than one in five respondents support the idea of acquiring Greenland.

Trump wants greenland for security, minerals

The president has repeatedly said Greenland is vital to US security because of its strategic location and large mineral deposits, and has not ruled out using force to take it. European nations this week sent military personnel to the island at Denmark’s request.

“These Countries, who are playing this very dangerous game, have put a level of risk in play that is not tenable or sustainable,” Trump wrote.

Protesters in Denmark and Greenland demonstrated on Saturday against Trump’s demands and called for the territory to be left to determine its own future.

The countries named by Trump on Saturday have backed Denmark, warning that the US military seizure of a territory in NATO could collapse the military alliance that Washington leads.

“The president’s announcement comes as a surprise,” Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said in a statement.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was unusually blunt in condemning Trump’s threat, saying on X that his country would raise the issue directly with Washington.

“Applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of NATO allies is completely wrong,” Starmer said.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa said in separate but identical posts on X that the European Union stood in “full solidarity” with Denmark and Greenland.

“Tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral. Europe will remain united, coordinated, and committed to upholding its sovereignty,” they said.

Officials from Norway, Sweden, France and Germany reiterated support for Denmark on Saturday and said tariffs should not be part of Greenland discussions.

Cyprus, which currently holds the EU presidency, said it has called for an emergency meeting of ambassadors from the union’s 27 countries on Sunday.

Trade deals under threat?

Saturday’s threat could derail tentative deals Trump struck last year with the European Union and Great Britain. The deals included baseline levies of 15 per cent on imports from Europe and 10 per cent on most British goods.

“The biggest danger, it seems to me, is his decision to treat some EU countries different from others,” said William Reinsch, a trade expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “I’m not surprised … It may well convince the European Parliament that it is pointless to approve the trade agreement with the US, since Trump is already bypassing it.”

Trump floated the general idea of tariffs over Greenland on Friday, without citing a legal basis for doing so. Tariffs have become his weapon of choice in seeking to compel American adversaries and allies alike to meet his demands.

He said this week he would put 25 per cent tariffs on any country trading with Iran as that country suppressed anti-government protests, though there has been no official documentation from the White House of the policy on its website, nor information about the legal authority Trump would use.

The US Supreme Court has heard arguments on the legality of Trump’s sweeping tariffs, and any decision by the top US judicial body would have major implications on the global economy and US presidential powers.

The encroaching presence of China and Russia makes Greenland vital to US security interests, Trump has said. Danish and other European officials have pointed out that Greenland is already covered by NATO’s collective security pact.

A US military base, Pituffik Space Base, is already in Greenland, with around 200 personnel, and a 1951 agreement allows the United States to deploy as many forces as it wants in the Danish territory.

That has led many European officials to conclude that Trump is motivated more by a desire to expand US territory than by security concerns.

“China and Russia must be having a field day. They are the ones who benefit from divisions among allies,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on X in response to Trump’s threat.

Some US senators also pushed back. “Continuing down this path is bad for America, bad for American businesses and bad for America’s allies,” Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Thom Tillis, bipartisan co-chairs of the Senate NATO Observer Group, said in a statement.

Europeans should not react hastily to Trump’s tariff threat, said Carsten Brzeski, global head of macro at ING Research.

“Just ignore it and wait and see,” Brzeski told Reuters. “Europe has shown that it will not accept everything, and so the tariffs are actually already a step forward compared to the threatened military invasion.”

Read: Trump threatens 25% tariff on countries doing business with Iran

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), in partnership with Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP), has inaugurated a major expansion of the bridge leading to Terminal 1 at Dubai International Airport, marking a significant milestone in the emirate’s ongoing infrastructure development efforts.

The project increased the number of traffic lanes on the bridge from three to four, raising capacity from 4,200 vehicles per hour to 5,600 vehicles per hour. This represents a 33 per cent increase in throughput, according to a WAM report, and is expected to substantially improve traffic movement to and from the airport.

The expansion has enhanced traffic flow to Terminal 1, reduced journey times, and improved the overall customer experience for airport users. The upgrade supports smoother access to one of the world’s busiest airports for international passengers, reinforcing Dubai’s reputation for efficiency and reliability in transport and logistics.

Read more-It’s official, Dubai will launch air taxis by the end of 2026

The initiative forms part of RTA’s broader strategy to enhance the efficiency of Dubai’s road network and strengthen connectivity between major corridors and key facilities. Close coordination with Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects ensured that the traffic solution aligns with both current and future operational requirements of Dubai International Airport.

Advanced engineering and seamless construction

The additional lane was delivered through the construction of a new bridge utilising an innovative structural system. This system combines steel box girders with a composite concrete deck, selected for its high structural efficiency and its ability to enable accelerated construction.

Crucially, the approach eliminated the need for traffic diversions on Airport Street and avoided the installation of temporary supports beneath the bridge. This ensured uninterrupted traffic flow while maintaining the highest safety standards throughout the construction phase.

Supporting infrastructure and long-term growth

Beyond the bridge expansion, the project included road pavement improvements, upgrades to utility and supporting infrastructure services, and landscaping works to ensure full integration with the surrounding road network. New street lighting systems were also installed to enhance safety and improve visibility.

RTA and Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects reaffirmed their joint commitment to developing infrastructure that supports Dubai’s aviation sector and improves traffic connectivity with the emirate’s airports. These efforts contribute to enhancing quality of life and strengthening Dubai’s global competitiveness as a leading hub for air transport and international travel.

RTA also reiterated its commitment to advancing Dubai’s road network and transport system, improving the performance of key road corridors, and delivering sustainable and flexible transport solutions that support residents, visitors, and the emirate’s long-term growth objectives.

Binance Research has released its Full-Year 2025 & Themes for 2026 industry report, offering a comprehensive assessment of the forces that shaped crypto markets in 2025 and the structural trends expected to define the sector in 2026.

The report positions 2025 as a pivotal year in crypto’s industrialisation, marked by clearer regulatory frameworks, expanding institutional participation, and the emergence of stablecoins as core financial infrastructure. Together, these developments helped shift the digital asset ecosystem away from short-term price speculation toward more sustainable, macro-driven market dynamics.

Key findings from the report

Bitcoin’s evolution into a macro asset
Bitcoin increasingly traded as a liquid, institutional-grade macro asset in 2025. US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded more than $21bn in net inflows, while corporate treasuries accumulated over 1.1 million BTC, representing around 5.5 per cent of total supply. At the same time, active on-chain addresses declined by 16 per cent, indicating a transition from transactional usage toward long-term portfolio allocation.

DeFi reaches a ‘blue chip’ phase
Decentralised finance protocols generated $16.2bn in revenue during 2025, exceeding the combined annual earnings of Nasdaq ($7.4bn) and CME Group ($6.1bn). Real-world asset (RWA) tokenisation expanded rapidly, reaching $17bn in total value locked and surpassing decentralised exchange TVL for the first time. This shift highlights growing demand for yield-bearing, collateral-backed on-chain assets.

Stablecoins scale into ‘internet fiat’
The global stablecoin market capitalisation grew nearly 50 per cent year-on-year to $305bn, with annual transaction volumes reaching $33tr, almost double Visa’s processing volume. Six new stablecoins crossed the $1bn market cap threshold, underscoring increasing diversification and adoption. Stablecoins are now firmly established as critical settlement rails for crypto markets and cross-border payments.

BNB Chain shows dual-market strength
BNB Chain delivered strong performance across both high-frequency retail activity and institutional RWA use cases. Daily transactions ranged between 15 and 18 million, while decentralised exchange volumes rose 164 per cent year-on-year, positioning the network as one of the strongest-performing large-cap crypto ecosystems in 2025.

2026 outlook: adoption-led growth
Looking ahead, the report anticipates a more supportive macroeconomic and regulatory backdrop in 2026, driven by monetary easing, fiscal stimulus and deregulation. Key themes include the rise of PayFi models built around yield-bearing stablecoins, deeper institutionalisation of on-chain money markets and RWAs, value capture shifting toward application layers such as wallets and prediction markets, and the growing influence of AI-powered intelligent finance.

Tarik Erk, regional head for MENAT and senior executive officer, Abu Dhabi, said: “The Full-Year 2025 report highlights a pivotal moment for crypto’s industrialization on a global scale, setting a robust foundation for adoption-led growth in 2026. From a MENAT perspective, we see these global trends reflected in accelerating regulatory clarity and institutional interest, which are crucial for unlocking the region’s vast potential. At Binance, we remain dedicated to bridging global innovation with local needs, empowering our communities through accessible and secure crypto solutions that drive sustainable economic growth.”

The entire report can be found here.

botim money, the financial services arm of messaging platform botim, said on Tuesday it has partnered with Mastercard to expand its global remittance services, allowing users to send money from the UAE to more than 150 countries.

The collaboration integrates Mastercard Move into the botim app, enabling international transfers with payouts to bank accounts, mobile wallets, or cash pickup, depending on the destination market.

botim money said the integration would allow users to make fast and secure cross-border transfers directly within the app, offering near real-time payments across markets. The company said the move strengthens its position as a fintech-first and AI-native platform serving millions of users in the UAE and internationally.

“Our collaboration with Mastercard strengthens our mission to unify communication and finance under one smart ecosystem,” said Dr Tariq Bin Hendi, board member of Astra Tech and chief executive officer of botim. “By embedding global remittances into botim, we’re making money transfer faster, safer, and more inclusive, especially for users who have limited financial access.”

Cross-border payments play a key role for expats, says Mastercard exec

Gina Petersen-Skyrme, country manager for the UAE and Oman at Mastercard, said cross-border payments play a critical role for expatriate communities in markets such as the UAE.

“At Mastercard, we provide communities with fast, convenient, secure, and affordable ways to transfer money internationally,” she said. “Our collaborations with innovative fintech players such as botim play a key role in promoting financial inclusion.”

The initiative combines Mastercard’s global payments infrastructure with botim’s financial ecosystem, allowing users in the UAE to complete international transfers without leaving the app or switching service providers.

The announcement comes as the UAE’s fintech sector continues to expand, with the market projected to reach $6.43bn by 2030. The collaboration also aligns with the UAE government’s push toward a cashless and inclusive digital economy, supported by initiatives from the Central Bank of the UAE to enable instant and interoperable payments nationwide.

Mastercard Move is the company’s portfolio of money movement solutions, covering more than 200 countries and territories and over 150 currencies, with access to more than 95 per cent of the world’s banked population. It supports multiple payout options, including bank accounts, mobile wallets, cards, and cash, depending on the market.

botim money continues to expand its offerings

botim money is licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE as both a Stored Value Facility and Retail Payment Services provider. The company said it continues to expand its offerings across international and local remittances, prepaid cards, bill payments, credit services, and salary disbursement tools.

Read: Murat Cagri Suzer on Network International’s blueprint for an AI-driven cashless society