Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the United Arab Emirates briefly on Friday, where he is likely to discuss long-term energy supply deals and seek support to expand his country’s strategic oil reserves, three sources said.

The UAE will be Modi’s first stop on a five-nation tour from May 15 to 20, as the world’s third-largest energy importer seeks to secure supplies that have been badly disrupted by the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. The UAE’s recent exit from OPEC is expected to boost its output and help countries like India.

Trips to the UAE by heads of governments have been rare since the war began and Iran launched strikes on the country.

The UAE is one of India’s biggest suppliers of crude oil and natural gas. In January, India signed a $3bn deal to buy liquefied natural gas from the Gulf nation.

Modi will meet UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and will discuss a range of issues, in particular energy cooperation, India’s foreign ministry said. The UAE is India’s third-largest trade partner and is home to more than 4.5 million Indians.

The three Indian sources said Modi is likely to seek help with long-term supplies of cooking gas and crude oil, in addition to expanding India’s strategic reserves. They did not give additional details and declined to be named publicly because they were discussing potential government-to-government negotiations.

India has three strategic reserve facilities with a total capacity of 5.33 million metric tons (MMT) and plans to build two more with additional capacity of 6.5 MMT. India has leased about 1.5 MMT of the existing capacity to Abu Dhabi National Oil Co (ADNOC).

India’s oil and gas ministry did not respond to an email seeking comment. ADNOC declined to comment ahead of the visit and the UAE foreign ministry did not respond to an emailed request for comment.

In 2015, Modi became the first Indian premier to visit the UAE in 34 years. The upcoming trip would be his eighth.

The countries plan to double bilateral trade to $200bn in six years and form a defence partnership. India’s rival Pakistan has a defence deal with Saudi Arabia, whose rift with the UAE has widened in recent years.

From the UAE, Modi will take off for the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy.

The Ajman and Sharjah governments have announced the Eid Al Adha and Arafat Day holiday for government entities, setting a unified break from Monday, May 25 to Friday, May 29, 2026.

Official working hours will resume on Monday, June 1, 2026, according to statements issued by their respective human resources departments, marking one of the key public holiday periods in the UAE calendar, a WAM report said.

Ajman government holiday announcement

Ajman Government Human Resources Department said the holiday will apply to all government entities in the emirate.

It added that the break will begin on May 25 and run until May 29, 2026, with normal operations resuming on June 1.

The department also extended congratulations to the UAE leadership, citizens, residents, and Arab and Islamic nations, wishing continued prosperity and blessings. It noted that the schedule is intended to ensure operational continuity while aligning with national holiday observance.

Sharjah Government holiday announcement

Sharjah Department of Human Resources (SDHR) announced a similar holiday period for all government departments, authorities, and institutions, also starting May 25 and ending May 29, 2026.

It confirmed that official working hours will resume on June 1, with an exception for employees working on shift-based schedules. The announcement establishes a unified Eid Al Adha break across government entities in the emirate. It further emphasised coordination across government entities to maintain unified administrative schedules during the holiday period.

The alignment of holiday dates across Ajman and Sharjah reflects coordinated government scheduling for Eid Al Adha, ensuring a consistent public sector break across both emirates ahead of the festive period.

The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing in Saudi Arabia has approved executive regulations for vacant property fees, marking a significant step in efforts to improve the efficiency of real estate asset utilisation and restore balance in the kingdom’s housing market.

The regulations form part of a broader policy direction aligned with directives from Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, aimed at increasing housing supply and addressing imbalances between supply and demand, according to a Saudi Gazette report.

Fees will be applied only in designated geographical areas identified through a ministerial decree. These areas will be selected based on a range of market indicators, including vacancy rates, supply and demand dynamics, property prices, and overall housing costs. The government stated that implementation will only begin once specific thresholds are met.

The cities and specific districts subject to the regulation will be announced in a later phase, alongside detailed enforcement mechanisms and rollout timelines. Officials emphasized that the phased approach is intended to ensure accuracy in identifying market conditions before applying the fees.

Definition of vacant property and ownership rules

Under the new regulations, a building is classified as vacant if it remains unused or unoccupied for six consecutive or non-consecutive months within a reference year. The permitted use of properties will be determined based on approved zoning plans or occupancy certificates issued by relevant authorities.

In cases involving multiple owners, the fee will be distributed proportionally according to each party’s ownership share. The ministry noted that the framework is designed to ensure fair application across both individual and corporate property holders.

The fee will be calculated based on the fair market rental value of the property, using approved valuation standards. Authorities may impose an annual charge of up to 5 per cent of the property’s estimated value, depending on prevailing rental benchmarks and comparable market rates.

The ministry clarified that exemptions will apply in situations where a property remains vacant due to circumstances beyond the owner’s control. This includes delays in issuing occupancy certificates or cases involving legally documented ownership transfers still in process. The aim is to ensure the policy does not penalise unavoidable administrative or legal delays.

The framework introduces structured mechanisms for issuing invoices and notifying taxpayers, along with clear procedures allowing property owners to appeal assessments. Owners will also be granted a payment period of up to six months from the date of invoice issuance, supporting smoother compliance and procedural transparency.

Reinvestment into housing and urban development

According to the ministry, revenues generated from vacant property fees will be allocated to support housing initiatives and urban development projects. This is expected to contribute to improved land utilisation and strengthen long-term housing supply growth across targeted regions.

Officials emphasised that the policy is designed to “activate idle assets and strengthen housing market equilibrium,” reinforcing the government’s broader strategy to optimise real estate use and support sustainable urban development.

With just one day remaining until the inaugural Gulf Business Real Estate Summit & Awards 2026, anticipation is building across the region’s property sector as developers, investors, architects, consultants, and industry leaders prepare to gather at Palazzo Versace Dubai on May 15, at 5 pm.

Launched as Gulf Business marks 30 years of chronicling the region’s economic transformation, the platform combines a high-level summit with a dedicated awards programme aimed at recognising the companies and individuals shaping the future of real estate across the GCC.

The event comes at a time when the Gulf’s property market continues to attract global capital, drive record transactions, and accelerate large-scale urban and infrastructure development. Discussions at the summit are expected to focus on investment trends, sustainability, innovation, regulation, hospitality-led developments, branded residences, and the growing influence of technology across the built environment.

The awards programme will honour excellence across 42 categories, which includes Editor’s Choice, spanning developers, projects, proptech firms, agencies, design studios, and senior industry leaders.

The judging process has been designed to align with the same rigorous and independent standards that underpin the wider Gulf Business Awards platform, bringing together industry expertise and editorial oversight to recognise standout contributions across the sector.

More information can be found here.

Awards categories below:

Individual awards

Architect of the Year
Interior Designer of the Year
Contracting Leader of the Year
Real Estate Visionary Leader of the Year
Real Estate Entrepreneur of the Year
Woman Real Estate Leader of the Year
Real Estate Personality of the Year
Real Estate Trailblazer Leader of the Year
Real Estate CEO of the Year
Editor’s Choice – Young Real Estate Leader of the Year
Editor’s Choice – Cross-border Real Estate Leader of the Year

Company awards

Editor’s Choice – Excellence in Commercial Development
Editor’s Choice – Excellence in Luxury Living
Editor’s Choice – Excellence in Real Estate Communications
Editor’s Choice – Excellence in Real Estate Business Consultancy
Editor’s Choice – Excellence in Sustainable Development
Editor’s Choice – Architectural Excellence and Innovation
Residential Developer of the Year
Luxury Developer of the Year
Emerging Developer of the Year
International Real Estate Player of the Year
Architectural Design Company of the Year
Interior Design Company of the Year
Proptech Company of the Year
Branded Project of the Year
Project of the Year
Off-plan Project of the Year
Iconic Building of the Year
Real Estate Agency of the Year
Property Management Company of the Year
Real Estate Investment Company of the Year
Contracting Company of the Year
Real Estate Team of the Year
Smart and Sustainable Developer of the Year
Master Developer of the Year
Real Estate Event of the Year
Real Estate PR Agency of the Year
Most Trusted Developer of the Year
Gulf Business Iconic Company of the Year
Most Impactful Developer of the Year
Commercial Developer of the Year
Iconic Developer of the Year

du, the UAE’s leading telecom and digital services provider, has launched a next-generation industrial AI platform under its du Tech portfolio, marking a significant step in advancing sovereign AI capabilities for the country’s industrial sector.

Designed specifically for industrial enterprises operating in the UAE, the platform combines multi-cloud capabilities with du Tech’s National Hypercloud infrastructure to provide a secure and scalable environment for AI adoption. The initiative aligns with the UAE’s broader digital sovereignty agenda and growing focus on AI-led industrial transformation.

Read more-du partners with AGPC to deploy AI in manufacturing

The platform introduces a suite of pre-built industrial AI models aimed at improving factory operations and production performance.

Key applications include manufacturing efficiency, asset management, quality control, and energy optimization, enabling companies to streamline processes and improve operational visibility.

Focus on transparency and data control

A central feature of the platform is its no-code AI modelling capability, allowing organisations to build and deploy AI models using their own proprietary datasets without requiring extensive technical expertise.

According to du, the approach gives enterprises greater control over data governance, deployment transparency, and explainable AI capabilities. The company said the platform is designed to move beyond traditional “black box” AI systems by delivering more transparent and SOP-ready outcomes for industrial operators.

du Tech is also collaborating with Bosch Software Digital Solutions (Bosch SDS) to strengthen go-to-market strategies and accelerate ecosystem development across the UAE’s industrial landscape.

Jasim Alawadi, Chief ICT Officer at du, said the collaboration combines sovereign infrastructure with global industrial expertise to help organizations unlock greater value from operational data.

“By combining du Tech’s sovereign cloud and digital infrastructure with Bosch SDS’s global industrial expertise, we are enabling organisations to unlock the full value of their data and transform complex operations into actionable intelligence, while maintaining the highest standards of security, transparency, and control,” Alawadi said.

“This collaboration reflects du’s commitment to supporting the UAE’s vision for industrial growth and digital sovereignty,” he added.

Live demonstration at MIITE 2026

The announcement was made during the fifth edition of ‘Make it in the Emirates’ (MIITE) 2026, held from 4-7 May, where du Tech participated as the strategic sponsor of the forum’s ‘Intelligence Hub’.

During the event, du Tech showcased the platform through a live industrial control environment demonstration, allowing visitors to experience real-time AI applications in operational settings.

The demonstration simulated scenarios including equipment anomalies and production inefficiencies while presenting AI-driven recommendations designed to improve performance and operational outcomes.

The launch further reinforces du’s growing role in AI-driven digital transformation across the UAE. The company said the initiative supports the country’s ambitions for economic diversification, sustainable industrial growth, and the development of secure sovereign AI infrastructure for the future.