The UAE Ministry of Education has announced the continuation of distance learning for students, teachers, and administrative staff across all nurseries, kindergartens, and public and private schools nationwide until Friday, April 17, citing the need to ensure safety and wellbeing.

Officials confirmed that the situation will be reviewed on a weekly basis.

The announcement was made via the authority’s official X account.

Decision builds on earlier measures

The extension follows a prior directive issued on March 17, when authorities confirmed that distance learning would continue nationwide for two weeks after the end of the spring break.

That decision, introduced by the Education, Human Development, and Community Development Council, aimed to maintain continuity in the education system while safeguarding students and the wider academic community.

Earlier guidance had also stipulated that distance learning would remain in place at the start of the third academic term, beginning March 23, for an initial two-week period.

The latest extension reinforces those measures, ensuring that all students and staff across the country remain engaged in remote education as authorities continue to monitor developments.

Dubai has unveiled a Dhs1bn economic incentives package aimed at cushioning businesses and individuals, with measures set to take effect from April 1 for a period of three to six months.

The initiative, approved at a meeting chaired by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum — Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai — is designed to “strengthen the economy’s resilience, readiness and agility”, he said in a post on X.

How the incentives will support the economy

The Dhs1bn stimulus focuses on targeted, short-term relief across key sectors:

• Fee deferrals: It includes the deferral of a range of government fees for three months including measures allowing hotels to postpone paying 100 per cent of the sales fees and Tourism Dirham for three months to enhance liquidity in the hospitality and tourism sectors.
• Customs flexibility: Payment grace periods will be extended from 30 to 90 days, with scope for further extensions
• Talent mobility: Residency permit processes will be streamlined to make it easier to live and work in Dubai

The measures are intended to “strengthen the economy’s resilience, readiness and agility,” Sheikh Hamdan said.

Confidence message to markets

Officials framed the package as part of a broader effort to sustain confidence during a period of regional uncertainty.

“Dubai has earned a reputation for credibility, transparency, and trust among businesses and investors worldwide, and stands ready to meet any challenge,” Sheikh Hamdan said.

The package was approved alongside a wider set of initiatives, including updates to GDP measurement, the Virtual Warehouses Initiative, the Dubai Empowerment Strategy, and a health and safety framework for workers’ accommodation.

The support measures come as Dubai continues to post strong economic performance. The emirate’s GDP rose 5.4 per cent in 2025 to exceed Dhs937bn.

Uber Technologies Inc said on Monday it has agreed to acquire Berlin-based global chauffeur service Blacklane, expanding its presence in the luxury and executive travel segment.

Founded in 2011, Blacklane connects travellers with independent local chauffeur services in more than 500 cities across 60 countries.

Corporate executives and discerning travellers widely use the service.

The acquisition, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions, is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

Uber said the deal will accelerate its expansion into the chauffeur sector, complementing its recently launched Uber Elite service.

Uber is looking to grow premium travel offerings

“Premium travel is one of the most exciting growth areas of Uber’s business. We want to offer the widest selection of options to meet our riders where they are,” Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said.

Blacklane founder and CEO Dr Jens Wohltorf said, “This partnership marks a significant milestone in Blacklane’s next chapter and is a powerful step-change in introducing our service to new markets globally.”

Uber said combining Blacklane’s luxury service with its global scale and technology will create a platform for growth in executive and premium travel.

Read: Dubai launches Robotaxi service: Uber, WeRide debut autonomous rides in RTA-led rollout

Q Mobility has announced the activation of a paid parking system across several commercial sectors in Mohamed Bin Zayed City, under the supervision of the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) of the Department of Municipalities and Transport, starting April 6.

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The rollout will initially cover commercial sectors ME10 and ME11, along with a key commercial strip located along the main street within villa zones Z17-01, Z19, Z20 and Z27. The move is aimed at regulating parking in areas experiencing high traffic volumes and increased commercial activity.

Read more-New parking fees hit Dubai neighbourhoods. Is yours included?

Officials said the initiative is part of broader efforts to improve traffic flow and ensure better utilisation of public parking spaces in high-demand zones.

Residential areas reserved for permit holders

In addition to commercial districts, surrounding villa areas will also see tighter parking controls. Spaces in these residential neighborhoods will be reserved exclusively for permit holders.

Authorities noted that this measure is designed to preserve residents’ privacy while organising parking usage and preventing overcrowding caused by spillover from nearby commercial zones.

The latest development follows a series of similar initiatives across the emirate. Earlier this year, Q Mobility also announced the activation of a paid parking system in the Musaffah area, covering sectors M1, M2, M3, M4 and M24, with further expansion planned.

That initiative was similarly introduced under the supervision of the Integrated Transport Centre and forms part of a long-term strategy to regulate public parking and enhance mobility across Abu Dhabi.

Officials emphasised that these measures are intended to improve road user experience, support commercial activity, and facilitate easier access for visitors and employees to industrial and business hubs.

Dubai introduces seamless e-wallet parking payments

Meanwhile, in a related development highlighting advancements in parking solutions, Dubai Airports and Salik had signed a 10-year agreement earlier this year to introduce seamless E-Wallet parking payments at Dubai International Airport (DXB).

The agreement, witnessed by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum and Mattar Al Tayer, will see Salik’s E-Wallet system integrated across 7,400 parking spaces spanning Terminals 1, 2, 3 and the Cargo Mega Terminal. Implementation began on January 22.

Under the agreement, visitors were able to pay parking fees directly through their Salik E-Wallet accounts, enabling a smoother and more efficient parking experience while improving overall traffic flow at one of the world’s busiest international airports.

Dubai’s real estate sector demonstrated its characteristic resilience last week, as transaction volumes surged 49 per cent following the conclusion of the Eid Al Fitr holiday.

Total ex-land transactions reached Dhs8.66bn ($2.36bn) last week, up from Dhs5.82bn in the previous shortened working week, according to Dubai Land Department (DLD) data. This is specifically for the period 23 March – 29 March 2026.

The sharp recovery suggests that the prior week’s moderated performance was a temporary calendar-driven lull rather than a cooling of underlying investor appetite. The data reinforces a broader trend seen throughout 2026: a market that remains heavily weighted toward primary off-plan sales and apartment-led volume.

Primary market dominance

The off-plan segment continues to serve as the market’s primary engine, generating Dhs6.74bn and accounting for 77.8 per cent of the total weekly value. Within this category, apartments remained the preferred asset class, contributing Dhs5.46bn, or 81 per cent of off-plan value. Villas followed with a more modest share of 11.3 per cent (Dhs763.2m), while commercial assets represented 7.3 per cent.

In contrast, the secondary or “ready” market recorded Dhs1.92bn in transactions, as per DLD data. While smaller in total volume, the ready segment remains the cornerstone of the city’s established residential hubs, led by Business Bay and Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC).

Financing profiles: Strategic divergence

The funding structure of the market remains split along traditional lines. The off-plan sector continues to be primarily cash-driven, with 97.9 per cent of transactions conducted as direct sales.

Mortgages accounted for a marginal 1.3 per cent of off-plan activity, as buyers typically opt for developer-led payment plans over traditional bank financing for uncompleted projects.

The secondary (ready) market shows a higher reliance on the banking sector, with mortgages accounting for 38.3 per cent of transactions (Dhs734.8m). This distinction underscores the differing profiles of the two segments: the primary market remains a magnet for global capital and investors seeking capital appreciation, while the ready market serves as the primary gateway for end-users and residents tapping into local liquidity.

Geographic highlights and trophy deals

Investor interest remains concentrated in high-liquidity master-planned districts and emerging waterfront developments.

Jumeirah Second emerged as the week’s value leader in the off-plan segment, recording Dhs591.4m in deals. This was bolstered by the week’s standout transaction: an off-plan apartment sale worth Dhs356.2m. Other top-performing primary locations included Al Yelayiss 1 (Dhs566.1m) and Madinat Al Mataar (Dhs555.4m).

In the secondary market, Business Bay maintained its status as the most liquid district, followed by Jumeirah Village Circle and the Burj Khalifa area. The highest-value resale was an apartment in Business Bay which cleared at Dhs34.1m, while the top ready villa deal was recorded in Jumeirah Park for Dhs11.5m.

Sector outlook

The swift return to high-volume trading following the holiday period highlights the robust “buy-and-hold” sentiment currently pervading the UAE’s real estate sector. With off-plan developments continuing to absorb the lion’s share of liquidity, the market appears well-positioned to maintain its momentum through the second quarter.

As Dubai continues to expand its urban footprint toward the south and through major coastal redevelopments, these high-velocity corridors are expected to remain the focus of both regional and international portfolios.

• Ali Shahin is the founder of The Real Estate Reports and Real Estate Reports Pro, independent platforms that dive into the data driving the property sector in the UAE.

Read Shahin’s previous articles here:

• A temporary pause: How Dubai’s property market is navigating recent tensions

• Dubai property activity rebounds while equity sell-off deepens amid regional tension