The launch of the first introductory passenger service on Etihad Rail marks a significant milestone in the UAE’s transport infrastructure development, with the project expected to strengthen domestic tourism, improve connectivity between the emirates and create new economic opportunities, according to a report by WAM.

The passenger rail service is expected to play a key role in supporting the UAE’s tourism sector by making travel across the country faster, more convenient and sustainable. It also aligns with the nation’s broader vision of developing an integrated transport infrastructure that supports economic diversification, sustainable development and enhanced mobility for residents and visitors alike.

Read more-Inside Etihad Rail’s first passenger train ride: What you can look forward to?

Etihad Rail is expected to improve connectivity between the UAE’s major cities and tourism destinations, making it easier for travellers to explore the country’s natural landscapes, cultural landmarks and heritage attractions. The enhanced accessibility is also anticipated to strengthen the competitiveness of destinations across the UAE while contributing to long-term tourism growth.

Fujairah positioned for tourism growth

In Fujairah, widely recognised as one of the UAE’s leading tourism destinations due to its natural beauty, historical landmarks and cultural heritage, the departure of the first introductory passenger service to Abu Dhabi was welcomed by officials and residents.

The new rail connection is expected to drive higher visitor numbers, expand transport options for domestic and international travellers, and provide additional momentum for tourism-related industries. The development is viewed as a strategic step towards reinforcing Fujairah’s position as a key destination within the UAE’s growing tourism landscape.

Saeed Abdullah Al Samahi, Director of the Fujairah Department of Tourism and Antiquities, said the opening of the Etihad Rail station in the emirate represents a strategic milestone that will enhance Fujairah’s tourism profile while creating new opportunities for economic growth.

“The opening of the Etihad Rail station in the emirate represents a strategic development that enhances Fujairah’s tourism profile and creates new opportunities for economic growth by facilitating the movement of visitors between the UAE’s emirates,” Al Samahi said.

He added that the new rail connection would provide tourists and visitors with a comfortable and safe travel option to Fujairah, helping to increase hotel occupancy rates while supporting the hospitality, leisure and wider tourism sectors.

Al Samahi also highlighted Fujairah’s diverse tourism offering, noting that the emirate combines natural attractions, cultural heritage and historical sites. He said improved accessibility through the national rail network is expected to further strengthen Fujairah’s appeal as a preferred destination for domestic tourism and short leisure breaks.

“The project aligns with the UAE’s vision of developing integrated infrastructure that supports sustainable development and drives local economic growth,” he added.

Enhanced passenger experience and national benefits

The launch attracted large crowds to Fujairah Railway Station, where citizens and residents gathered to witness and document the inaugural passenger service. Many described the occasion as an important milestone for the UAE’s transport sector, expressing confidence that the project would simplify travel between the emirates while supporting tourism growth and attracting more visitors to Fujairah.

The passenger service is expected to deliver significant benefits for residents of Fujairah and the wider eastern region. The journey between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah takes approximately 105 minutes, with trains operating at speeds of up to 200 km/h. Each train has the capacity to accommodate up to 400 passengers, while the national rail network is projected to serve around 10 million passengers annually once fully operational.

Etihad Rail offers two travel classes, Comfort and First Class, featuring reserved seating, complimentary Wi-Fi, charging ports, luggage storage and a range of flexible ticket options designed to meet different travel requirements. The trains also include dedicated facilities to support People of Determination, reinforcing the network’s commitment to accessibility and inclusive travel.

The national rail project represents a major investment in sustainable mobility and modern infrastructure. Beyond improving passenger transport, it is expected to strengthen economic integration, support tourism expansion and contribute to the UAE’s long-term development objectives by connecting communities and creating new opportunities for business and leisure travel.

UAE airlines are increasingly moving beyond conventional frequent flyer programmes, introducing customer reward initiatives that extend well beyond air travel in a bid to strengthen passenger engagement and enhance the overall travel experience.

As airlines compete not only on fares and connectivity but also on value-added services, carriers are integrating retail, hospitality, tourism and destination experiences into their loyalty ecosystems. The strategy reflects a broader industry shift towards offering tangible benefits immediately after booking or arrival, rather than limiting rewards to points that accumulate over multiple journeys.

Read more-Children flying with Emirates? Here’s what parents need to know

Emirates, Air Arabia and Etihad Airways have each adopted distinct approaches to customer rewards, ranging from city-wide discount programmes and cashback-based loyalty schemes to destination passes offering preferential access to tourist attractions.

Emirates positions boarding pass as a tourism incentive

Emirates has renewed its My Emirates Pass programme for Summer 2026, enabling passengers travelling between April 1 and September 30, 2026 to access discounts across hundreds of participating businesses throughout Dubai and the wider UAE.

The initiative effectively transforms an Emirates boarding pass into a city-wide discount pass, allowing travellers to redeem offers across hospitality, retail, leisure, dining, wellness and entertainment venues.

Passengers are required only to retain their printed or digital boarding pass and present it, together with valid photo identification where required, at participating establishments. Emirates has also advised customers to save a screenshot of their mobile boarding pass before travelling, as digital boarding passes may no longer be accessible after the journey.

Unlike many destination promotions, the airline permits repeated use of the boarding pass during the programme period, allowing customers to redeem offers across multiple venues or revisit the same participating establishment, provided the boarding pass falls within the programme’s validity dates.

The programme runs until September 30 2026, excluding UAE public holidays under its terms and conditions.

Air Arabia strengthens loyalty proposition through cashback model

Sharjah-based Air Arabia continues to differentiate its AirRewards programme through a cashback-based earning structure that rewards customers on virtually every stage of their booking.

Members receive 5 per cent cashback in points on flight fares and baggage purchases, while ancillary products, including seat selection, onboard meals and additional services, generate 10 per cent cashback in points.

Customers booking directly through Air Arabia’s website receive automatic point crediting after travel by logging into their AirRewards account during the booking process.

Passengers booking through travel agents, call centres or third-party travel platforms can add their membership details before departure via:

Alternatively, travellers can retrospectively claim eligible points after completing their journey through their AirRewards account.

The airline has also incorporated a Family Account feature designed to consolidate rewards across households. Up to eight family members can be linked under one account, with 50 per cent of each member’s earned points credited to the designated family head.

Strategic partnership broadens redemption opportunities

Air Arabia has further expanded the utility of its loyalty currency through a reciprocal transfer arrangement with Etihad Guest.

The partnership allows AirRewards members to convert their points into Etihad Guest Miles, providing access to redemption opportunities across Etihad Airways’ international route network.

The exchange ratio has been established at two AirRewards points for one Etihad Guest Mile, while two Etihad Guest Miles can be converted into one AirRewards point.

The collaboration reflects a wider trend across the aviation industry, where loyalty programmes increasingly seek interoperability to improve customer retention and maximise programme value.

Additional programme details are available here.

Etihad leverages destination partnerships

Etihad Airways has adopted a destination-focused approach through its Abu Dhabi Pass, which is offered exclusively to Etihad customers and is authorised by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi.

The pass provides travellers with savings of up to 15 per cent across a range of tourism assets, including Ferrari World, Qasr Al Watan and The National Aquarium, while also incorporating digital ticketing and curated cultural information covering more than 10 heritage attractions.

Available immediately after purchase, the pass enables users to generate digital vouchers for participating attractions and remains valid for 14 days following activation.

The initiative aligns with broader efforts to stimulate visitor spending while strengthening Abu Dhabi’s tourism proposition through airline-led partnerships.

Loyalty programmes evolve into broader travel ecosystems

The latest initiatives demonstrate how airlines are increasingly repositioning loyalty programmes as comprehensive travel ecosystems rather than mechanisms focused solely on earning future flights.

For carriers, the strategy supports customer retention, encourages direct bookings and creates additional commercial opportunities through partnerships with retailers, tourism operators and hospitality providers. For travellers, the result is an expanded range of immediate benefits that deliver value throughout the travel journey rather than after multiple flights.

As competition across regional aviation continues to intensify, value-added customer programmes are becoming an increasingly important differentiator. Airlines are no longer competing exclusively on network size or ticket prices; they are also competing on the breadth and relevance of the experiences they can offer once passengers leave the airport.

There are moments in every industry when the rules quietly but decisively change, when familiar patterns stop holding, and the “tried and true” playbook becomes obsolete. In cybersecurity, that moment has been reached.

This shift isn’t driven by a single breakthrough or headline‑grabbing exploit. Instead, it is the culmination of years of evolution that have finally reached scale. Threat actors haven’t just become more sophisticated – they have become more organizsed, more coordinated and more operationally disciplined. And as we navigate 2026 and beyond, this change is reshaping what effective network defence must look like.

For organisations across the Middle East, where digital transformation is closely tied to economic diversification, national resilience and geopolitical relevance, this shift carries particular urgency. Governments across the GCC have placed cybersecurity at the core of their digital economy strategies, recognising that trust and resilience are prerequisites for growth, not outcomes of it.

To survive and thrive in this new reality, enterprises must face it head on. That starts with understanding where and why defences consistently fail today, how attackers succeed and what needs to be done next to protect data, applications, people – and corporate reputations – from the newfound scale and sophistication of cybercrime cartels.

The industrialisation of cybercrime

Today’s impactful cyberattacks are no longer typically orchestrated by isolated, opportunistic threat actors. Modern cybercriminal gangs operate more like global enterprises complete with specialisation, hierarchy and repeatable processes. Reconnaissance, planning, exploitation, monetisation and negotiation are not ad hoc activities; they’re integrated and strategically aligned stages of a well‑run operation.

Still, many of the tactics deployed are unpleasantly familiar. Ransomware, phishing, credential theft and lateral movement aren’t new. What has changed is how systematically they’re deployed. Automation and artificial intelligence (AI) have lowered barriers to entry while dramatically increasing speed and reach. Attacks that once required time and precision can now be launched at scale, refined in real time and adjusted mid‑campaign.

This industrialisation has altered the economics of cybercrime. The ceiling for impact has risen, while the effort required to sustain attacks has dropped. For defenders, that means facing adversaries who can move faster, pivot quicker and operate continuously across geographies and infrastructures with ruthless precision.

Regional forums such as CyberFirst UAE andGCC‑wide research consistently highlight AI‑enabled, highly coordinated attacks targeting finance, energy and government entities.

Sophisticated threats still win with simple tactics

Another defining shift is where attacks now begin. From a defence perspective, traditional corporate network boundaries have eroded. Home routers, unmanaged devices, third‑party platforms and cloud services are increasingly the first point of contact. A single compromised endpoint is a launchpad.

From there, attackers can rapidly move laterally across environments that were never designed to be defended as one. This challenge is especially acute for organizations with large, distributed networks and critical responsibilities.

Across the Middle East, this problem is magnified by the pace of cloud adoption, smart‑infrastructure rollout and hybrid IT environments. Energy producers, financial institutions, healthcare systems and transport hubs often operate highly interconnected ecosystems spanning on‑premises, cloud, operational technology and external partners. National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection (CIIP) frameworks across the region exist precisely because digital disruption now has direct economic and societal consequences. In these environments, gaps in visibility or policy enforcement create systemic exposure.

Additionally, for all the sophistication of today’s attacks, one uncomfortable truth remains: many breaches still succeed by exploiting weaknesses that have been understood for years.

Unpatched systems, weak credentials and inconsistent access controls continue to provide reliable entry points. It’s a paradox of modern cybersecurity – while attackers innovate, they often don’t need to. Defenders, meanwhile, are pulled toward chasing what’s new rather than first fixing what’s known to be a weakness.

This is why cybersecurity can’t be treated as a checklist. It should be an organizational, ground-up mindset, and one that must evolve as quickly as the threat landscape itself.

Geography matters less

Cybercrime has always been global, but its infrastructure is now more geographically fragmented than ever. Attack traffic can originate anywhere, not necessarily because of local threat actors but because malicious infrastructure is allowed to operate there.

For example, the bulletproof hosting services, affordability and weak regulatory oversight in Seychelles, the smallest country in Africa, give cybercriminals the opportunity to exploit telecommunication and jurisdictional loopholes. As a result, attacker IPs are generated at levels higher than countries thousands of times the size of Seychelles.

Long‑standing assumptions about attribution and geolocation no longer hold. Blocking traffic based on where it appears to come from is increasingly ineffective. The real question isn’t where an attack originates, it’s where it’s tolerated.

Defending the new digital frontier

So, what does the new cybersecurity reality require?

First, visibility. Organisations can’t defend what they can’t see. That means understanding not just what’s entering the network, but also knowing what normal looks like, and how traffic is behaving in real-time; this supports spotting anomalies before they become incidents.

Second, collaboration. Attackers share tools, infrastructure and intelligence freely, per the new industrial structure. Defenders must be equally coordinated. Cross‑team (e.g. network and cybersecurity teams) intelligence sharing and operational collaboration are foundational to staying ahead (likewise, cross-industry intelligence sharing is also important).

Third, agility. Static defences struggle against dynamic threats. Networks must be able to adapt, respond and recover in real time. AI‑native networking platforms play a critical role here – not as replacements for human expertise, but as force multipliers that accelerate and augment effective detection, decision‑making and mitigation.

Finally, integration. Security can’t be bolted on after the fact. It must be embedded into the network fabric itself, designed to detect, mitigate and respond across every layer.

Looking ahead, integrated, self-detecting and remediating AI‑native network security cannot be aspirational but instead should be the baseline, as a key component of the self-driving network.

The roadmap going forward

The most important cybersecurity lesson from 2025 is to focus beyond just the volume or novelty of AI-assisted attacks. Decision makers in the Middle East, where digital ambition and national vision are now inseparable, must also consider the scale and the maturity of the adversary ecosystem operating behind those attacks.

In this highly interconnected environment, where every new digital interface becomes a potential vulnerability, we must ensure our collective resilience is as bold as our transformation by gaining a clear understanding of how attacks actually unfold and creating the cybersecurity strategy, hygiene and discipline to respond accordingly.

The most dangerous threat ahead isn’t the one no-one sees coming. It’s the one we assume we’ve already solved.

Read: The end of the password? GCC cybersecurity leaders sound the alarm on identity’s new frontline

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced that it has completed 72 per cent of its project to develop and upgrade the existing nol system from a card-based ticketing platform to a more advanced digital payment system powered by account-based ticketing.

The large-scale upgrade marks a major step in Dubai’s wider digital transformation agenda and is designed to strengthen the emirate’s public transport payment infrastructure. The project will shift nol from its current card-based ticketing model to an account-based ticketing system, allowing customers to access a more integrated, flexible and digitally enabled payment experience across transport and related services, a Dubai Media Office report said.

According to RTA, the upgraded system will be among the latest and most advanced of its kind, in line with global developments in digital payments and financial technology. The authority said the project is being implemented in accordance with international best practices, with all phases scheduled for completion by the end of the first quarter of 2027.

A strategic digital transformation project

Mattar Al Tayer, director general, chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority, said: “The nol system upgrade marks a strategic step in RTA’s comprehensive digital transformation journey and represents a strategic investment in the future of digital services. It will enable RTA to develop a unified, more integrated payment ecosystem linking various modes of transport and services, while delivering the highest levels of operational efficiency and customer convenience.

“The project aligns with the vision of the leadership to harness advanced technology to simplify government services, enhance the customer experience, and make Dubai the world’s best city to live, work and move around.”

The upgrade is expected to enhance the efficiency of Dubai’s transport payment ecosystem by connecting payment channels, customer accounts and transport services through one unified platform. The move also supports the emirate’s broader ambition to expand smart services, reduce reliance on cash transactions and provide seamless mobility options for residents, visitors and commuters.

Enhanced customer experience

Al Tayer said the new system would represent a major improvement in the customer journey by expanding payment options and enabling a wider range of modern payment methods.

“The new system will deliver a step change in the customer experience by expanding payment options and enabling modern, diverse payment methods, streamlining procedures and making services easier to access. It also reinforces nol card’s position as one of the most advanced and comprehensive digital payment solutions, supports the Dubai Cashless Strategy, and strengthens integration across various economic and service sectors, making nol an everyday payment tool that supports Dubai’s drive towards the digital economy and smart cities.

“Given the scale of the project, it has been divided into three main phases. The first will see the launch of QR code ticketing through digital channels. The second will involve the rollout of the new generation of nol cards, powered by new technologies and aligned with global standards, ensuring compatibility with bank card technologies and automatic digital linkage to customer accounts when a new card is purchased. The third phase will complete the system upgrade to accept other payment methods, such as bank cards and digital wallets, for the payment of public transport fares in Dubai.”

The phased implementation reflects the complexity of the project and the scale of its integration across Dubai’s public transport network. By introducing QR code ticketing, new-generation nol cards, bank card acceptance and digital wallet payments, RTA aims to offer customers greater choice and convenience while supporting operational efficiency across its services.

New features and payment capabilities

The upgraded nol system will introduce a range of customer-focused features, including the creation of customer accounts, linking nol cards to user profiles, adding nol cards to smartphone digital wallets, purchasing tickets through QR code technology via digital channels, and applying flexible fares across different public transport modes.

Al Tayer added: “The nol system upgrade will offer customers a wide range of features and benefits, including the creation of customer accounts, linking nol cards to accounts, adding nol cards to smartphone digital wallets, purchasing tickets via QR code technology through digital channels, and applying flexible fares across public transport modes.

“Through the new system, customers will be able to create accounts, link their own nol cards and those of family members, manage profiles, allocate top-up amounts to each linked card, and activate automatic top-up through bank account linkage. They will also be able to view daily transaction statements, block cards and recover balances seamlessly.”

These features are expected to give customers greater control over their accounts and transactions. The ability to link multiple cards, manage top-ups, recover balances and monitor daily statements is aimed at improving convenience, security and transparency for users.

Expanding nol beyond public transport

As part of the project, RTA will upgrade systems, devices and smart kiosks at public transport stations to support the new payment technologies. Once implemented, customers will be able to pay public transport fares through several methods, including QR code tickets, the new generation of nol cards, bank cards and digital wallets.

The upgraded system will also extend the use of nol cards beyond public transport. RTA said customers will be able to use the new-generation nol cards for shopping across various digital channels and at retail outlets across the UAE, in a similar way to bank cards. This development is expected to position nol as a wider digital payment tool, supporting Dubai’s transition towards a cashless economy and a more connected smart city ecosystem.

nol’s growth since Dubai Metro launch

RTA launched the nol system on 9th September 2009, coinciding with the launch of Dubai Metro, to facilitate mobility for all public transport users. Since then, nol has become a central part of Dubai’s public transport payment infrastructure, supporting fare payments across multiple modes of transport.

RTA has also introduced several recent initiatives to expand the value and utility of nol cards. These include the nol Student Package, launched in collaboration with the International Student Identity Card Association, which provides dedicated discounts for students worldwide. The authority has also introduced promotional and incentive-based nol Travel cards for tourists and residents.

In addition, RTA has enabled nol card payments for soft mobility modes, including e-scooters, further supporting integration with public transport and strengthening the first- and last-mile mobility strategy. The use of nol cards to pay soft mobility fares is considered one of the pioneering applications of its kind worldwide.

With the upgrade now 72 percent complete, RTA is moving closer to delivering a more advanced payment ecosystem that supports Dubai’s ambitions in digital mobility, smart government services and cashless transactions.

Abu Dhabi City Municipality has organised a heat safety awareness workshop for representatives from 404 construction companies, reinforcing compliance with the UAE’s Midday Work Ban and occupational health and safety requirements ahead of the peak summer season.

According to WAM, the initiative forms part of the municipality’s ongoing efforts to strengthen workplace safety, raise awareness of heat stress risks and ensure construction companies adopt preventive measures to protect outdoor workers during periods of extreme temperatures.

The workshop focused on heat stress management programmes, practical measures to minimise the risks associated with working in hot weather, and employers’ responsibilities in maintaining safe working environments across construction sites.

Officials also outlined the implementation of the Midday Work Ban, highlighting the legal requirements under Ministerial Resolution No. 401 of 2015 issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE). The regulation prohibits work under direct sunlight and in open areas between 12:30pm and 3:00pm from June 15 to September 15 each year.

Participants received guidance on emergency response procedures, recognising symptoms of heat stress and the importance of providing cooling facilities, scheduled rest breaks and adequate hydration for workers throughout the summer months.

Omar Mohammed Al Shahi, acting director of the Municipal Services Sector at Abu Dhabi City Municipality, said the workshop reflects the municipality’s commitment to promoting a culture of prevention across construction sites and supporting companies in implementing best practices for occupational health and safety.

He added that these efforts contribute to protecting workers from heat-related risks while fostering a safe and sustainable working environment throughout the summer.

The Midday Work Ban applies to employees working in open areas and under direct sunlight, including construction workers, road and infrastructure crews, excavation and utility workers, external maintenance teams, landscaping and agricultural workers, park maintenance staff, and outdoor cleaning and waste collection personnel.

The restriction does not apply to employees working inside enclosed or air-conditioned facilities, provided appropriate occupational health and safety standards are maintained.

Abu Dhabi City Municipality also encouraged members of the public and workers to report any violations of the Midday Work Ban or heat safety regulations through its official communication channels or via email at [email protected].

The municipality said it will continue conducting awareness programmes and inspection campaigns throughout the Midday Work Ban period to strengthen compliance, improve companies’ preparedness for summer working conditions and reinforce a culture of workplace safety across Abu Dhabi’s construction sector.