Somewhere in a product lab, a team of engineers spent years trying to make glass feel like paper. To recreate the subtle friction and tactile feel of writing on actual paper. The quiet satisfaction of a stylus dragging across a surface that knows when to push back. The fact that this counts as a frontier of innovation tells you everything about where the tablet industry has reached in 2026.

At first glance, that feels like a contradiction. After all, technology has spent decades trying to move beyond paper. Yet, at a time when conversations around digital fatigue are becoming more common, manufacturers are finding themselves drawn back to some of the qualities that made paper appealing in the first place: comfort, familiarity and simplicity.

This does not mean people want less technology. If anything, they are spending more time with digital tools than ever. Tablets are no longer secondary devices reserved for streaming, browsing or occasional travel. They have become tools for work, study, creativity and collaboration, often occupying the same space once held by notebooks, sketchpads and even laptops.

This shift is reshaping one of technology’s most competitive product categories. The global tablet market is forecast to grow from approximately $125bn in 2027 to more than $314bn by 2035, according to Industry Research. As tablets become more deeply embedded in everyday workflows, manufacturers are increasingly competing on something far harder to benchmark than processing power or storage capacity: how effortlessly a device fits into the way people think, create and work.

Reducing visual fatigue

The first place this shift is becoming visible is the screen itself.

With tablets becoming devices that people use for hours rather than minutes, visual comfort has become a competitive priority. For years, display innovation was driven by brighter screens, richer colours and higher resolutions. Today, manufacturers are paying equal attention to a different challenge, which is the reduction of the strain that can come with prolonged screen use. As tablets become devices people rely on throughout the day, visual comfort has become a feature in its own right.

Huawei‘s PaperMatte Display OLED technology is one example of how manufacturers are responding to this trend. Designed to reduce glare, diffuse reflections and create a more paper-like viewing experience, it reflects a broader industry focus on long-term visual comfort. Across the market, other manufacturers are also investing in anti-glare and anti-reflection technologies, including Apple’s nano-texture glass, as display comfort becomes a more important purchasing consideration.

The race to make digital interactions feel natural

Display comfort addresses one aspect of digital fatigue. Interaction is another. As tablets take on tasks once reserved for pen and paper, manufacturers are paying closer attention to how digital writing feels in practice.

The rise of digital handwriting and note-taking has driven advances in stylus technology, with features such as pressure sensitivity, low-latency connectivity and intuitive gestures helping digital writing feel less like interacting with a device and more like interacting with a familiar tool.

Huawei’s M-pencil, for example, has focused on NearLink connectivity and responsive stylus interactions designed to make writing and drawing feel more seamless. Samsung’s S Pen has pursued similar goals through different technical approaches, reflecting an industry-wide recognition that stylus experience has become a primary purchasing consideration. Together, these developments reflect an industry-wide effort to make digital interactions feel more intuitive and less disruptive.

Reducing mental load

Comfort alone does not solve digital fatigue. Mental fatigue has become part of the conversation as well.

As tablets become central to work and study, users are generating more notes, recordings and ideas than ever before. For many professionals, the challenge is no longer taking notes. It is making sense of an ever-growing volume of information.

This has helped drive the rise of AI-powered note-taking, one of the fastest-growing software categories in personal productivity. Across the industry, companies are building tools that organise, summarise, transcribe and connect information automatically.

Huawei’s Note Replay feature is one example of this evolution. Rather than treating handwritten notes and recordings as separate files, it synchronises them in real time, allowing users to tap on a note and revisit the exact moment an idea was discussed. It is a small feature with an outsized implication: the tablet is no longer just a place to capture information; it is a tool for finding context when you need it most.

Making creativity more immediate

The same expectations are beginning to shape creative work.

For much of the tablet’s history, creativity was considered a niche use case. Today, creating, illustrating, editing and designing are increasingly viewed as core tablet experiences rather than specialist activities. The success of platforms such as Procreate has demonstrated that consumers expect professional-grade creative tools to exist alongside entertainment and productivity features.

The question has shifted from “What processor does this tablet have?” to “What can I create with it?”

This thinking is encouraging manufacturers to invest heavily in creative experiences, from advanced stylus interactions to sophisticated illustration, animation and editing platforms. Huawei’s GoPaint platform is an example of this trend, combining brush engines, animation capabilities and creator-focused workflows that previously required desktop software.

Fitting into workflows without interruption

The broader objective is helping tablets fit more naturally into everyday workflows.

As tablets take on more responsibility across professional and creative tasks, manufacturers are focusing on eliminating the interruptions that traditionally forced users to switch devices.

Features such as desktop-style multitasking, multi-window management and PC-level productivity applications are helping tablets bridge the gap between mobile devices and traditional laptops. Platforms such as WPS Office now offer full-function document editing, while tablet-optimised creative tools like Filmora bring professional-grade video editing into increasingly portable form factors. The result is a category that is becoming more capable without becoming more complicated.

Beyond the spec sheet

Tablets are moving from secondary screens into becoming primary gadgets, and the manufacturers gaining ground are those who understand that the device itself should increasingly get out of the way.

As tablets evolve from secondary devices into platforms for work, learning and creativity, the most important question may no longer be how powerful a tablet is, but how effortlessly it helps people create, focus and get things done.

Experienced diplomat Geraldine McCafferty has been appointed by the UK government as the new ambassador to the UAE, succeeding Edward Hobart, who will step down after more than three years in the role.

Announced by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), McCafferty will take up her post in August 2026.

The appointment comes as bilateral trade between the two countries continues to grow, with total trade reaching £24.8bn ($33.4bn) in the 12 months to the end of June 2025, making the UAE the UK’s largest trading partner in the Gulf.

It also follows the conclusion of the landmark UK-GCC Free Trade Agreement, which covers a UK-GCC trading relationship worth approximately £53bn a year. The UK government estimates the agreement will deliver a £3.7bn long-term annual boost to the British economy while further expanding opportunities across trade in goods, services and investment between the UK and the six GCC member states.

McCafferty joins the UAE from Beijing, where she served as Deputy Head of Mission and helped advance UK engagement on areas including science, research and innovation cooperation.

During a diplomatic career spanning almost three decades, she has also held senior roles including Director of Policy at the FCDO, Minister Counsellor in Bogotá and Copenhagen, and Private Secretary at the Foreign Office.

McCafferty joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1996 and has since served in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus and Russia, as well as holding a number of senior policy and leadership roles in London.

She succeeds Edward Hobart, who was appointed British Ambassador to the UAE in May 2023 after previously serving as the UK’s Consul General in Dubai and Deputy Head of Mission in Abu Dhabi.

During his tenure, the UK and UAE expanded cooperation across trade, investment, clean energy, technology and financial services.

PepsiCo on Thursday highlighted the strong performance of health-focused prebiotic sodas, zero-sugar drinks and protein-rich snacks as it navigates higher costs and pressure on financially stretched consumers.

The company, whose shares edged around 2 per cent lower in premarket trading, beat estimates for second-quarter revenue, helped by its beverage and international units, even as North America food sales slipped about 2 per cent due to price cuts.

PepsiCo had cut prices on brands such as Lay’s and Doritos in North America to lure back budget-conscious consumers, who are increasingly shifting toward cheaper alternatives and smaller pack sizes amid persistent inflation concerns.

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“Results were tempered in the quarter as US food and beverage category performance moderated with consumer budgets tightening due to rising inflationary pressures,” CEO Ramon Laguarta said in prepared remarks.

The company kept its annual forecasts unchanged, expecting fiscal 2026 organic revenue growth in the range of 2 per cent to 4 per cent and core constant currency earnings per share to rise between 4 per cent and 6 per cent.

“Pepsi’s challenge isn’t building iconic brands, it’s keeping them relevant,” eMarketer analyst Suzy Davidkhanian said.

“Consumers are still spending, but they’re becoming more intentional about where they spend, and they expect the brands they already know to evolve with them by giving them more choice,” she added.

PepsiCo is expecting higher input cost inflation in the second half of the year, but CFO Steve Schmitt said refund claims for tariffs paid last year and productivity savings should help cushion the hit.

Quarterly revenue rose 6.4 per cent to $24.18bn from a year earlier, beating analysts’ estimates for a 5.4 per cent increase to $23.95bn, according to data compiled by LSEG.

PepsiCo posted quarterly core earnings per share of $2.20, compared with $2.12 a year ago.

Dubai Chambers has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Wio Bank to provide alternative banking services for its members, strengthening support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the emirate.

The partnership is designed to give businesses easier access to digital banking solutions, including streamlined business account opening and financing services that can help improve operational efficiency and support long-term growth, according to a WAM report.

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Through the collaboration, members of Dubai Chamber of Commerce will benefit from a simplified digital account opening process with Wio Bank, alongside improved access to credit solutions. The initiative is expected to help businesses better manage cash flow, invest in expansion plans, and scale their operations with greater confidence.

Partnership supports SME development

The agreement reflects the shared commitment of both organisations to strengthen the business ecosystem by making essential financial services more accessible to entrepreneurs and growing companies.

“Our partnership with Wio Bank is a significant step forward in our mission to provide the business community with the tools they need to succeed,” said Khalid AlJarwan, executive vice president of Commercial and Corporate Services at Dubai Chambers.

He added, “By simplifying access to digital banking and financing, we are empowering SMEs to unlock their full potential and contribute to Dubai’s dynamic economy. This initiative is aligned with our strategic goals to foster innovation and enhance the competitiveness of local businesses.”

The collaboration comes as SMEs continue to play a pivotal role in Dubai’s economic growth, with access to efficient banking services and financing remaining key priorities for businesses seeking to expand.

Easier banking experience

Wio Bank said the partnership reinforces its commitment to making banking more accessible and efficient for the SME sector by reducing friction in key financial processes.

Prateek Vahie, chief commercial officer at Wio Bank, said, “We built Wio Business to make banking simple for SMEs, and this partnership extends that simplicity to Dubai Chambers’ members. From account opening to financing, our goal is to remove the barriers that slow businesses down, so they can focus on what matters: growing.”

The partnership is expected to provide Dubai Chamber of Commerce members with a seamless digital banking experience while improving access to financial solutions tailored to the needs of SMEs. By simplifying account opening and expanding financing options, the initiative aims to help businesses strengthen their financial resilience, accelerate growth plans, and contribute to the continued development of Dubai’s vibrant business landscape.

DP World has acquired 700 new trucks to strengthen its road freight network across the GCC, expanding its multimodal logistics capabilities as regional trade volumes continue to grow.

The investment forms part of the company’s long-term strategy to build an integrated supply chain ecosystem linking ports, terminals, economic zones and digital platforms to provide end-to-end logistics solutions for customers across the region.

The expanded fleet will support up to 35,000 truck trips per month, serving domestic and cross-border freight movements while enhancing first-, middle- and last-mile connectivity for both containerised and non-containerised cargo.

Ahmad Yousef Al-Hassan, CEO and managing director of DP World GCC, said: “This is a long-term investment in our multimodal network and the customers that trade in the GCC. As regional demand grows, we are scaling our capabilities to provide customers with an integrated network they can depend on at every stage.”

The trucks are being deployed progressively across DP World’s regional operations and will complement the company’s existing road transport network, which currently handles around 3,000 truck movements every day across the GCC.

According to the company, the new fleet is designed to transport a broad range of cargo, including general freight, vehicles and temperature-sensitive goods, while improving reliability and operational flexibility for customers.

Raveen Guliani, chief operating officer – Logistics at DP World GCC, said: “Our customers want certainty, reliability, efficiency and more sustainable supply chain solutions. The capability to move goods, containers, vehicles and perishables across our connected network of warehouses and ports provides exactly that. These new trucks are fuel-efficient and meet the Euro V emissions standard and we will explore green-energy vehicles in the future.”

The latest investment builds on a series of recent logistics initiatives aimed at strengthening regional supply chain resilience. These include the launch of fast-track bonded corridors linking east coast gateways directly to Jebel Ali Port, the establishment of a bonded corridor connecting Sohar in Oman, and expanded Red Sea routing through Jeddah Islamic Port’s South Container Terminal.

DP World said these initiatives have enabled the movement of more than 350,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) overland following recent maritime disruptions, helping customers maintain cargo flows despite global shipping challenges.

By expanding its road freight capabilities, the company aims to provide greater certainty, flexibility and efficiency for businesses moving goods across the GCC, while reinforcing its integrated port-to-door logistics offering.