Emirates is launching its summer holiday campaign with a range of exclusive offers designed to help passengers get more from their journey to or through Dubai. From complimentary stays at the iconic JW Marriott Marquis to hundreds of savings through the popular My Emirates Pass, travellers can enjoy greater value while discovering one of the world’s most exciting destinations.

Whether visitors are planning an extended summer getaway or a short stopover, Emirates is encouraging passengers to experience more of Dubai through a mix of luxury, entertainment, culture and adventure, an Emirates news report said.

Dubai offers endless summer experiences

Known as a destination for all seasons, Dubai continues to attract visitors with its wide variety of experiences suited to every type of traveller. From world-famous landmarks and thrilling attractions to cultural discoveries and family-friendly entertainment, the city offers something for everyone.

Read more-Emirates’ new insurance plan: $25,000 conflict-related medical coverage offered

Travellers can explore iconic sites such as the Burj Khalifa, enjoy immersive experiences at world-class theme parks, or escape the summer heat with visits to museums, indoor attractions and interactive art galleries.

As one of the world’s most visited cities, Dubai continues to welcome guests with its renowned hospitality, safety and diverse range of activities, making it an ideal destination for summer travel.

Adnan Kazim, deputy president and chief commercial officer, Emirates, said: “Whether visitors are seeking relaxation, adventure, entertainment or a combination of all three, Dubai is the ideal start to any summer vacation. We’re inviting passengers to enjoy even more of the city with a complimentary hotel stay to take advantage of the exceptional range of shopping, entertainment, dining and family-friendly experiences that define the Dubai summer experience, when stopping over as part of your journey or visiting Dubai as your final destination.”

Enjoy a complimentary stay at JW Marriott Marquis

Emirates is offering passengers the chance to transform their stopover into a memorable city break or extend their Dubai holiday with a complimentary stay at the luxurious five-star JW Marriott Marquis, located in the heart of the city.

Guests staying at the hotel can enjoy a range of premium experiences, including dining at award-winning restaurants and bars featuring international cuisine, relaxing treatments at the Saray Spa, workouts at the fully equipped gym and BodyBase reformer-based studio, or a refreshing swim in the outdoor pool overlooking Dubai’s impressive skyline.

The limited-time offer runs from June 22 to July 12. Travellers purchasing an Emirates return ticket in First Class or Business Class can enjoy a complimentary two-night stay, while customers travelling in Premium Economy Class or Economy Class can receive a complimentary one-night stay.

The offer applies to eligible return tickets travelling to or stopping over in Dubai for more than 24 hours, for customers travelling between 25 June 25 and September 30.

Create the perfect stopover with Dubai experience

Alongside the JW Marriott Marquis offer, customers from select markets can use Emirates’ Dubai Experience platform to design personalised stopover itineraries.

The platform allows travellers to plan their Dubai visit according to their interests, with tailored options including 24-hour and 48-hour itineraries. Visitors can explore the city’s attractions, dining experiences and entertainment options while making the most of their time in Dubai.

Unlock exclusive savings with My Emirates Pass

Emirates’ popular My Emirates Pass is returning for summer 2026, offering more than 600 deals and benefits for passengers travelling with the airline.

By presenting a physical or digital** Emirates boarding pass along with a valid ID at participating venues, customers can access discounts across a wide range of locations, including spas, restaurants, major retailers and other lifestyle destinations.

The initiative gives travellers even more opportunities to explore Dubai while enjoying additional value throughout their stay.

Dubai Summer Surprises returns with bigger experiences

Dubai Summer Surprises will also return in 2026 with one of its biggest programmes yet, bringing a packed schedule of entertainment, events and offers for residents and visitors.

Running from July 2 to August 30, the festival will feature the Beat the Heat DXB concert series, cultural events, wellness and fitness activities, along with major savings and exclusive experiences across the city’s malls and lifestyle destinations.

Emirates adds flexibility for summer travellers

Emirates is currently operating flights to more than 138 global destinations and continues to provide customers with flexible travel options.

All bookings made after April 2, 2026 include one complimentary date change across all cabin classes. The airline’s Hold My Fare option also allows customers to secure ticket prices while finalising their travel plans.

In addition, Emirates has introduced a Comprehensive Travel Cover insurance option in select markets, offering passengers added confidence and protection during their summer journeys.

For more information or to book tickets, visit emirates.com. Tickets can also be booked through the Emirates App, Emirates Retail stores, Emirates contact centre, or via travel agents.

Botim Money has launched IBAN-enabled wallets in the UAE, enabling eligible users to obtain a virtual IBAN in their own name and access a wider range of regulated financial services through the platform.

The launch, introduced under the Central Bank of the UAE’s (CBUAE) Universal Accounts Framework, is aimed at expanding financial inclusion and increasing participation in the formal financial system. Botim said the new service is available through its platform, which serves more than 8.5 million users across the UAE.

Through the new functionality, users can receive salary payments, direct deposits and domestic bank transfers directly into their wallets. The platform also offers local transfers through peer-to-peer payments and AANI, international remittances to more than 170 countries, a globally accepted Mastercard card, fractional gold and silver investments from AED10, and access to regulated credit solutions.

According to Botim, approximately 65 per cent of its user base comprises blue-collar workers, while a further 31 per cent falls within grey-collar segments, highlighting the importance of accessible financial services for communities that have traditionally faced barriers to conventional banking products.

The company said the wallet can be opened with no minimum salary requirement, no minimum balance and no monthly fees, while multilingual onboarding can be completed in less than three minutes.

The launch also strengthens Botim’s payroll capabilities. Through its Wage Protection System (WPS)-accredited infrastructure, businesses can process salaries directly into Botim Wallet, enabling employees to receive wages and access financial services through a single platform. The payroll infrastructure was introduced in partnership with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) in 2024.

Dr. Tariq Bin Hendi, Board Member of Astra Tech and CEO of Botim, said: “Financial inclusion begins with access. For many people, having an account in their own name is the first step toward participating more fully in the financial system. By introducing Virtual IBANs through Botim, we are removing barriers to essential financial services and supporting the UAE’s vision for a more inclusive and digitally connected economy.”

The launch reinforces Botim’s broader strategy to expand access to regulated financial services across the UAE by combining payments, payroll, remittances, investments and credit services within a single digital platform.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday announced his resignation as both prime minister and leader of the Labour Party following a rebellion within his party, paving the way for a new leadership contest.

The move is expected to strengthen the prospects of Andy Burnham, a left-wing former mayor, who is widely seen as a leading contender to become Britain’s sixth prime minister in seven years.

Starmer’s decision comes just days after Burnham was elected to Parliament on a pledge to launch a leadership challenge aimed at removing Starmer and reshaping the Labour Party. The development comes at a difficult time for Labour, which has been trailing the anti-immigration Reform UK party in public-opinion polls, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

Starmer promises orderly transition

In remarks following his announcement, Starmer pledged to support whoever succeeds him as prime minister and said he would work to ensure a smooth transfer of power.

“I will do everything I can” to guarantee an orderly handover, Starmer said, adding that his successor would receive his full support, according to a BBC report.

He said the incoming leader would inherit a Britain that is “stronger and fairer” than it was two years ago. Starmer also thanked his friends, colleagues, No. 10 staff and the “extraordinary civil service” for their support throughout his six years in leadership.

HSBC has launched its Tokenised Deposit Service (TDS) in the UAE, expanding its digital money capabilities in the region and enabling eligible corporate and institutional clients to move funds in real time across jurisdictions using blockchain-based infrastructure.

The launch marks the latest step in HSBC’s digital asset strategy and introduces the UAE dirham to the bank’s growing tokenised deposits network, which already supports the euro, pound sterling, US dollar, Hong Kong dollar and Singapore dollar.

The service combines traditional bank deposits with blockchain-based settlement rails, allowing clients to transfer funds 24 hours a day, seven days a week, both domestically and across borders. HSBC said the solution is designed to improve liquidity management, enhance treasury operations and support global trade and investment flows.

Mohamed Al Marzooqi, chief executive officer, UAE, HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, said: “This launch marks another significant step in the future of money movement, and the UAE is uniquely positioned to lead this shift. The introduction of tokenised deposits to the UAE is a reflection of the maturity of the local regulatory environment when it comes to digital finance and the genuine demand from corporates operating in and through this market for more capable treasury tools.”

According to HSBC, the platform enables treasury centres and subsidiaries to move funds instantly and on-chain, providing continuous access to liquidity while maintaining compatibility with existing banking and treasury infrastructure.

Kyle Boag, regional head of Global Payments Solutions, HSBC MENAT, said: “The demand for instant, secure, always-on liquidity solutions is only increasing as businesses seek to compete in a globalized and highly digitalised world. Tokenised deposits are a natural extension of our global digital asset strategy into one of the world’s most dynamic financial hubs.”

The bank said key benefits of the service include accelerated settlement within the tokenised deposit network, continuous availability for domestic and international transfers, enhanced visibility of cash positions, more efficient working capital management and reduced manual processing through straight-through automation.

The launch forms part of HSBC’s broader effort to build an interoperable digital money ecosystem that connects traditional banking infrastructure with emerging digital asset networks. The bank said the platform can support a range of use cases, including real-time treasury management, settlement of tokenised assets and integration with regulated digital money solutions.

The Tokenised Deposit Service is available to eligible HSBC corporate and institutional clients in the UAE, subject to onboarding requirements, approvals and documentation processes.

Thirteen years ago, hosting Kobe Bryant for a fitness weekend at DMCC felt like a statement of intent, and in retrospect, it was. As one of the most celebrated athletes in the history of sport, Bryant’s decision to bring his brand of physical excellence to Jumeirah Lake Towers was not only an honour but a signal that Dubai had matured beyond a purely commercial destination into an emerging centre for health, performance, and wellbeing. Over a decade on, that early instinct has evolved into something considerably more substantive.

In response, DMCC is currently formalising the DMCC Longevity Centre, a dedicated health and wellness community that will structure its ecosystem around the 308 health-focused companies already operating within the free zone into something much more impactful. Among this figure includes 108 businesses approved by the Dubai Health Authority, covering a wide spectrum of clinical, therapeutic, and wellness-adjacent services.

The catalyst and inspiration for formalising that commitment is underpinned by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and the Ruler of Dubai, who recently established the Dubai Longevity Authority (DLA) by Emiri Decree on June 10. Created to regulate and develop Dubai’s longevity, wellness, and advanced health sectors, the DLA represents one of the most significant institutional endorsements of health as a strategic economic pillar the emirate has seen to date, and with it, an opportunity to align directly with its long-term vision. For DMCC, this starts with its existing member companies, which are already making a tangible impact.

The breadth of activity within JLT, from wellness technology startups to specialist nutritional consultancies and rehabilitation providers, reflects exactly the kind of ecosystem that benefits from formalised structure. A prime example is Smart Salem, a DMCC-registered healthcare company operating premium wellness centres across Dubai. Licensed by the DHA and accredited by the College of American Pathologists, Smart Salem offers a broad range of services from visa medical fitness tests and preventative health screenings to personalised DNA analysis and gut microbiome diagnostics. Equally illustrative is the Scandinavian Physiotherapy Center, a DHA-certified clinic based in Platinum Tower, with a team of specialist physiotherapists delivering everything from sports rehabilitation and biomechanical analysis to shock wave therapy, osteopathic techniques, and paediatric care.

By providing a dedicated community, DMCC will generate the connective tissue that turns individual businesses such as Smart Salem, into a coherent, commercially legible sector. At the time of writing, that would potentially include shared regulatory guidance, curated networking, sector-specific programming, and a level of authenticity that signals credibility to investors, partners, and clients alike.

This ethos is already visible in DMCC’s partnership with Nook, the sports, fitness, and wellness-focused free zone operating within JLT. Since 2018, Nook has offered entrepreneurs within the sector a discounted pathway to a DMCC licence, with coworking access, community events, and recognition from the Dubai Sports Council. This model has proven the commercial logic that when you reduce the barriers to entry and embed like-minded businesses within a structured community, you create compounding value for every member. A broader DMCC health and wellness community will extend that logic to a much larger cohort.

What makes DMCC’s position particularly distinctive, however, is the proximity of its health community to one of the most dynamic technology ecosystems in the region. DMCC is home to more than 4,000 technology firms, including dedicated centres for artificial intelligence and gaming. On face value, these may appear to occupy separate commercial lanes, however, in practice, the boundaries between them and health are dissolving rapidly. The med-tech and wearables sectors, both of which are accelerating globally, depend on the same AI infrastructure that DMCC’s technology community is already building.

From continuous health monitoring devices to AI-driven diagnostics and personalised supplementation platforms, the hardware and software being developed within DMCC’s technology ecosystem has direct and immediate application to the health and wellness companies operating alongside them. The same is true of gaming. Physically interactive gaming, from movement-based rehabilitation platforms to competitive fitness technology, represents one of the most commercially exciting intersections of sport, health, and entertainment. DMCC’s gaming community, already one of the most active in the Gulf, is naturally positioned to collaborate with health and wellness businesses on products that make physical activity more engaging, more measurable, and more commercially viable. These are not theoretical adjacencies, but business opportunities that a formalised ecosystem would be structured to facilitate.

An integrated ecosystem

Beyond the professional services layer, DMCC has a uniquely compelling asset to integrate into this ecosystem in the form of its commodity centres. The DMCC Coffee, Tea, Honey, Saffron, Cacao, Water, and Meat Centres collectively represent a world-class infrastructure for the sourcing, testing, certification, and trade of some of the most health-relevant commodities in global supply chains. The science supporting coffee’s antioxidant properties, honey’s therapeutic applications, as well as saffron’s documented metabolic effects are not peripheral conversations, but central to it. As consumer demand continues to shift towards provenance, purity, and functional nutrition, DMCC’s commodity infrastructure is positioned to become a direct supplier to the very companies operating within a health and wellness community. The opportunity to commercialise that connection, whether through dedicated supply agreements, research partnerships, or branded ingredient certification, is both credible and significant.

Looking further ahead, the proposed introduction of peptides across both research and development and regional commercial distribution illustrates the trajectory of this ambition. As one of the most rapidly expanding frontiers in longevity and performance medicine, peptides represent exactly the kind of high-value, regulation-intensive industry that DMCC is structured to attract, and one that sits naturally alongside the commodity and health businesses already operating within the free zone.

DMCC has also maintained a long-standing commitment to the physical wellbeing of its own community. Its regular blood drives are a visible expression of that culture, as is the robust presence around physical and mental wellbeing, a good example being the 11 yoga studios and 11 meditation centres currently present in the community. DMCC has also been deeply committed to philanthropic causes, most prominently demonstrated through a donation of Dhs300,000 to Al Jalila Foundation in 2022 to support cancer research.

Established by Sheikh Mohammed to uplift the health of the UAE population through medical treatment, education, and research, the foundation represents exactly the kind of cause that a community serious about health must support. These gestures, institutional and personal alike, reflect a genuine conviction that the health of a business community and the health of the individuals within it are inseparable considerations.

DMCC has already achieved a lot within the health and wellness sector, however, following the inspired move by Sheikh Mohammed to embody longevity as a core mandate of the national agenda, the door is now wide open for us to formalise the DMCC Longevity Centre, and accelerate our efforts towards the global frontier.

The vision for longevity is not only about living longer, but building systems, institutions, and communities that sustain human performance at every level. That is a mission DMCC has always understood, and one it intends to lead.