Majid Al Futtaim and Visa have released a joint white paper setting out how retailers can build consumer trust into digital commerce, as the UAE sees rapid adoption of mobile-first shopping and cashless payments.
The report, titled Building the Trusted Digital Economy of Retail, comes as around 80 per cent of payments in the UAE are now made digitally, underscoring a shift towards seamless, integrated retail experiences across online and physical channels.
The study found that 67 per cent of UAE consumers used their mobile phone in their most recent retail purchase, while 37 per cent complete online shopping directly on mobile devices, the highest rate globally. However, it warned that consumer expectations remain high, with nine out of ten shoppers willing to abandon even preferred brands after a single poor experience.
At the core of the report is a framework dubbed the “Trust Loop”, which focuses on three stages of the customer journey: relevance, authorisation and resolution.
It argues that trust is built when personalisation is meaningful, payments are secure and frictionless, and post-purchase processes such as refunds are reliable.
The companies said the next phase of e-commerce growth will depend less on new technologies and more on consistently embedding trust across the entire customer journey.
Five key capabilities for retailers reveals Majid Al Futtaim-Visa whitepaper
To support this, the paper identifies five key capabilities for retailers: digital identity, secure credentials, consent-driven data sharing, interoperability across platforms and clear customer recourse mechanisms.
The collaboration reflects increasing alignment between retailers and payment providers. Majid Al Futtaim contributes consumer data and retail infrastructure across its physical and digital ecosystem, while Visa provides payment processing and fraud prevention capabilities. Visa said it has invested more than $3.3bn in artificial intelligence and data over the past decade.
Within Majid Al Futtaim’s own operations, AI-driven personalisation in its SHARE loyalty platform has lifted click-through rates for targeted offers by 23 per cent, the report said.
Visa research cited in the paper also showed that 82 per cent of UAE consumers would shop online more frequently if one-click checkout were available, while about two-thirds would adopt biometric authentication.
Executives from both companies said markets such as the UAE are shaping global retail trends, with mobile and digital payments now central to the shopping experience.
They added that combining secure infrastructure with personalised retail environments could position the Gulf region to play a leading role in the future of digital commerce.
Saudi’s PIF to cut LIV Golf funding after 2026 season
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund will end funding for LIV Golf after the 2026 season, forcing the breakaway league to seek new investors and raising fresh questions over its long-term viability
LIV Golf signage is seen prior to LIV Golf Mexico City at Club de Golf Chapultepec on April 15, 2026 in Mexico City. (Getty)
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Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which has spent more than $5bn on LIV Golf since it launched in 2022, said on Thursday that investing in the league no longer fits with its investment strategy.
The decision to cut funding at the close of the 2026 season leaves the breakaway circuit scrambling for new backers and raises questions about the future of its big-name players on lucrative contracts.
LIV turned the golf world upside down when, armed with PIF’s billions, it enticed some of the game’s biggest names to defect from the long-established PGA Tour.
Major winners Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed were all recruited to play team golf around the world for millions of dollars in prize money.
Sources at LIV told Reuters on Wednesday that the PIF would cut funding for the breakaway circuit at the close of the league’s 2026 season with Saudi Arabia’s $925n sovereign wealth fund confirming the decision in a statement.
“The substantial investment required by LIV Golf over a longer term is no longer consistent with the current phase of PIF’s investment strategy,” the PIF said in its statement on Thursday.
“This decision has been made in light of PIF’s investment priorities and current macro dynamics.
“The LIV Golf Board has created a committee of independent directors to evaluate strategic alternatives for its future beyond PIF’s funding horizon.”
The PIF added that it remains committed to deploying capital internationally in line with its investment strategy, “including current and future investments in various sports as a priority sector.”
PIF earlier this month said it would focus investments on the country’s economy across six key themes under a new five-year strategy, deploying more money domestically in its latest effort to diversify its reliance on oil.
New direction
LIV Golf moved quickly to establish a new direction, announcing on Thursday a new board and the search for new long-term financial partners.
In a separate statement without any mention of PIF, LIV announced a “transition from a foundational launch phase to a diversified, multi-partner investment model” and a new independent board led by seasoned business consultants Gene Davis and Jon Zinman.
“LIV Golf has built something truly differentiated – a global league with passionate fans, world-class talent, and demonstrated commercial momentum,” Davis, who will chair the board, said in a statement.
“The executive leadership team, along with Jon and I, see a clear opportunity to help the league formalize its structure, attract and secure long-term capital, and position the business for growth.”
The league will now need to convince its players of LIV’s long-term viability without Saudi backing. Some players have already decided to return to the PGA Tour.
Five-times major winner Koepka rejoined as part of a limited Returning Member Program this year and former Masters champion Reed plans to reinstate his membership for the 2027 season.
LIV said the league had posted a 100 per cent increase in revenue year-on-year this season and was convinced the team golf model would be highly attractive to investors.
“We are now leveraging this momentum to engage in constructive, forward-looking discussions with prospective global investors and partners who share our vision for an inclusive and modernized game,” the league said.
“For our fans, players and partners, our commitment to world-class golf remains unchanged as this process unfolds.”
The UAE has imposed a travel ban on its citizens to Iran, Lebanon and Iraq, as authorities move to safeguard nationals amid regional developments.
In a statement issued on Thursday night, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) confirmed that UAE nationals are prohibited from travelling to Iran, the Lebanese Republic, and the Republic of Iraq until further notice.
The ministry also called on Emiratis currently in those countries to “expedite their immediate return” to the UAE.
The move comes as part of what MoFA described as the UAE’s ongoing efforts to monitor the wellbeing of its citizens abroad and respond proactively to evolving geopolitical risks.
MoFA further urged all UAE nationals to strictly follow official travel advisories and instructions.
As an added precaution, citizens currently in Iran, Lebanon and Iraq have been instructed to register with the ministry and make contact via its dedicated hotline number: +97180044444.
Property experts weigh in as Dubai scraps Dhs750k visa threshold
Developers and market analysts say the move could unlock new demand, deepen liquidity and accelerate Dubai’s shift towards long-term residency-led homeownership
Dubai’s decision to scrap the minimum property value requirement for its two-year investor visa is being welcomed by industry players as a significant step towards widening access to the real estate market and unlocking a new layer of demand.
Developers, brokers and investment platforms say the move — which removes the Dhs750,000 threshold for sole owners while introducing a Dhs400,000 minimum per investor for jointly owned assets — marks a clear pivot towards inclusivity, targeting a broader base of buyers rather than purely high-value investors.
The update, published via the Dubai Land Department’s Cube platform, replaces a headline price requirement with a more nuanced framework tied to ownership structure. Sole owners can now qualify regardless of the property’s value, provided it is officially registered, while co-investors must each hold at least Dhs400,000 to be eligible, closing a loophole that previously allowed smaller pooled investments to meet residency criteria.
Widening access, unlocking demand
Ajay Rajendran, founder and chairman of Meraki Developers, said the move “reinforces the government’s commitment to making property ownership more accessible, opening the market to a wider pool of investors.”
He added that by lowering barriers to entry, the policy is expected to “attract a new wave of first-time buyers and younger investors, while driving increased activity across entry-level and mid-market segments.”
Ajay Rajendran, founder and chairman of Meraki Developers.
Rajendran noted that the implications extend beyond transaction volumes. The change could also shift behaviour in the market, encouraging more residents to transition from renting to ownership.
“Over time, this is likely to support a broader shift from transient residency toward long-term homeownership, as more individuals choose to invest in properties they live in rather than rent,” he said, adding that the reforms strengthen Dubai’s positioning as both an investment hub and a long-term residential destination.
Zhou Yuan, operations director at Tomorrow World Real Estate Development, echoed this sentiment, describing the move as one that enhances Dubai’s accessibility for a wider demographic.
“Removing the minimum property value requirement for the two-year owner visa strengthens Dubai’s position as one of the world’s most accessible and investor-friendly real estate markets,” he said.
“This change opens the door for a wider base of end-users and long-term residents, particularly mid-income families and individuals who want to build a life in Dubai without relying on employment-linked visas.”
He added that the policy is likely to expand and diversify demand across mid-market and upper-mid segments, supporting “healthier absorption of upcoming supply” and contributing to more stable sales volumes over time.
Zhou Yuan, operations director at Tomorrow World Real Estate Development.
Entry-level boost and ripple effects
Market analysts say the most immediate impact will be felt at the lower end of the market, particularly in the sub-Dhs1m segment, where affordability has historically been tied to visa eligibility.
Donna Lee-Elliott, chief of sales at OCTA Properties, described the update as “a meaningful policy shift” that directly widens the buyer pool.
“By eliminating the Dhs750,000 threshold for single ownership and reducing the minimum share for jointly owned properties to Dhs400,000, the move directly lowers the barrier to residency-linked ownership,” she said.
“The practical effect will be felt most acutely in the sub-Dhs 1 million segment, where studios and one-bedroom units stand to benefit from a measurable uptick in demand.”
Lee-Elliott added that stronger activity at the entry level is likely to create a knock-on effect across the market.
Donna Lee-Elliott, chief of sales at OCTA Properties.
“As demand strengthens at the entry level, it naturally creates upward movement across the pricing ladder, with mid-market properties benefiting from increased liquidity and buyer progression,” she said.
She also pointed to implications for the secondary market, noting that “more flexible entry points improve liquidity and support transaction volumes, two indicators that reflect genuine market health beyond headline price movements.”
However, she cautioned that the impact will be limited at the top end of the market.
“At the prime and luxury end, the impact will be limited. This initiative is not a policy designed to move that segment,” she said, adding that its primary role is to deepen participation rather than drive price growth.
A deliberate long-term strategy
For some industry watchers, the significance of the move goes beyond immediate market activity and points to a broader strategic direction.
Ammar Malhi, COO of SmartCrowd, said the previous Dhs750,000 threshold had acted as more than just a financial barrier.
“The Dhs750,000 floor wasn’t just a number. It was a psychological barrier that kept a segment of buyers from seeing Dubai property as a realistic path to residency,” he said.
“A lot of low- and mid-market buyers were close but not close enough, and that gap mattered more than people realise.”
He said the removal of the threshold for sole owners, alongside the Dhs400,000 requirement for joint investors, sends a clear signal about Dubai’s long-term ambitions.
“Removing it for sole owners… signals that Dubai is serious about widening participation in its real estate market, not just attracting high-ticket buyers,” he said.
Malhi added that the move aligns with a broader pattern of policy adjustments aimed at reducing friction for investors, including recent changes to Golden Visa requirements.
“That’s not a coincidence. It’s a deliberate market strategy, and for anyone watching where this city is heading long term, moves like this tell you more than the transaction volume numbers do,” he said.
Ammar Malhi, COO of SmartCrowd.
Reshaping ownership dynamics
Beyond demand, the policy is expected to influence how deals are structured across the market.
While sole ownership becomes more attractive for visa eligibility, the Dhs400,000 per-investor rule for joint ownership is likely to push buyers towards larger individual stakes or fewer co-investors per asset.
At the same time, Rajendran noted that the revised framework could still support collaborative ownership models, particularly at higher ticket sizes, while ensuring each investor maintains meaningful capital exposure.
The changes form part of Dubai’s evolving property-linked residency system, which now spans multiple tiers designed to cater to different investor profiles.
As of 2026, the framework includes a 10-year Golden Visa requiring a minimum Dhs2m property investment, a two-year investor visa targeting entry-level buyers, and a five-year retiree visa requiring Dhs1m in fully paid property or equivalent financial criteria.
Earlier this year, authorities also removed the Dhs1m upfront payment requirement for Golden Visa eligibility, allowing investors to qualify based on total property value recorded in title deeds or Oqood contracts.
Taken together, industry players say the latest changes reinforce Dubai’s strategy of positioning itself not just as a global investment hub, but as a long-term residential destination: one that is increasingly accessible to a broader spectrum of buyers.
Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum is elevating Gulf economic diplomacy through Inmā Emirates Holdings
By structuring investments through government-aligned partnerships, the Dubai royal is advancing a model of commercial engagement that strengthens bilateral ties while delivering infrastructure to emerging markets
Economic diplomacy, the practice of using commercial relationships to advance national interests, has long been a cornerstone of Gulf state strategy.
As the region’s economies diversify beyond hydrocarbons, a new generation of investors is refining the approach. Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum is among the most active practitioners of this model, deploying private capital through structures that blur the line between business venture and bilateral partnership.
The Dubai-based holding company partners with government-linked entities, executes agreements directly with foreign ministries and state authorities, and focuses on sectors where infrastructure gaps constrain national development.
Inmā’s government-to-government architecture
What distinguishes Inmā Emirates Holdings from conventional investment vehicles is its structural alignment with sovereign institutions. Rather than operating as an independent private equity firm, Inmā frequently partners with UAE government-linked entities, lending its initiatives the implicit credibility of state backing.
The flagship example is the Karachi Port modernisation project. Inmā, in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Ports, secured a 50-year concession agreement with Pakistan’s Karachi Port Trust to manage, operate, and develop berths at the port’s East Wharf.
Abu Dhabi Ports, part of the ADQ sovereign holding company, operates 11 ports and terminals across the UAE and Guinea. By structuring the investment as a joint venture with this government-linked operator, Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook positioned the project as a bilateral partnership between nations rather than a transaction between corporations.
The strategic value extends in both directions. Pakistan gains access to operational expertise from one of the world’s most efficient port systems. The UAE deepens its relationship with a strategically significant South Asian partner while establishing a long-term presence in critical trade infrastructure.
Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook has replicated this structure across geographies. The royal is also working to secure a multi-year agreement with the Barbados government for operations, upgradation, and expansion of Grantley Adams International Airport.
The arrangement connects the Caribbean nation to UAE aviation expertise while establishing an institutional relationship that transcends any single commercial transaction.
How is Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum using energy partnerships as diplomatic infrastructure?
Energy infrastructure, perhaps more than any other sector, creates the conditions for broader development. Nations with unreliable power cannot industrialise, attract investment, or deliver services effectively. By addressing this constraint, Inmā positions itself and the UAE as partners in national transformation.
In Pakistan, Inmā is developing a green energy project expected to deliver 1,200 megawatts of solar and wind capacity over a 15-year implementation period.
The extended timeline reflects an approach calibrated for relationship-building rather than rapid returns. Local workforce development and supply chain integration accompany infrastructure construction, creating institutional ties that persist beyond project completion.
In Equatorial Guinea, Inmā completed installation of a 36.6-megawatt power plant designed to strengthen energy supply reliability and support the nation’s socio-economic development.
The project addressed immediate infrastructure needs while demonstrating the UAE’s commitment to African partnerships at a moment when Gulf states are competing for influence across the continent.
Digital governance as a diplomatic tool
Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook has increasingly directed Inmā toward digital infrastructure, recognising that governance technology represents a distinctive UAE competency with significant diplomatic value.
The Emirates’ own rapid modernisation required developing sophisticated systems for identity management, service delivery, and digital commerce.
Through Inmā, that expertise now transfers to partner nations.
Key digital governance initiatives include:
Guyana’s National ID Programme: A five-year project delivering secure digital identity infrastructure, enabling the government to verify citizens, deliver services, and enable financial inclusion at scale during a period of rapid economic transformation.
Smart device manufacturing in Angola and Equatorial Guinea: Facilities that build indigenous technological capacity, create employment, and reduce dependence on imported technology, positioning the UAE as a partner in industrialisation rather than merely a source of capital.
These digital projects complement Inmā’s physical infrastructure investments, extending the UAE’s value proposition beyond capital deployment into knowledge transfer and institutional capacity-building.
What does this model mean for the future of Gulf investment?
By embedding commercial ventures within government-linked partnerships, structuring agreements directly with sovereign authorities, and focusing on infrastructure that enables national development, he has constructed a portfolio where diplomatic and commercial objectives converge.
The model suggests that economic diplomacy need not remain the exclusive domain of sovereign wealth funds and state ministries. Private capital, properly structured and strategically aligned, can advance national interests while generating returns.
For the UAE, the relationships Inmā cultivates today become the bilateral partnerships of tomorrow. For Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum, the approach positions him as both investor and diplomat, simultaneously building infrastructure and influence in equal measure.
Air India Express has reinstated flights to Qatar and Bahrain and scaled up its wider Gulf network to more than 40 daily services, as demand across the India-GCC corridor continues to strengthen.
The airline said operations have resumed from April 30, reconnecting key routes between India and West Asia while enhancing frequencies to the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman.
“Air India Express has announced the reinstatement of operations to Qatar and Bahrain, along with additional flights to the UAE, Oman and Saudi Arabia,” the airline said in a statement.
Flights are operating from major Indian cities including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, as well as regional centres such as Kannur, Kozhikode and Mangaluru.
In the UAE, the airline continues to serve Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Al Ain, linking them to multiple Indian destinations including Lucknow, Kochi and Tiruchirappalli. Services to Muscat, Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam also remain a core part of the network.
The reinstatement of Doha and Bahrain routes marks a full return to key Gulf hubs, strengthening connectivity for both business and leisure travellers.
The India-GCC aviation corridor remains one of the busiest globally, driven by expatriate traffic, trade ties and seasonal travel demand — with airlines increasingly targeting secondary city connections to capture growth.
