Dubai is set to take a step forward in addressing its ongoing traffic problems with the introduction of the Dubai Metro’s Gold Line.

According to a MEED (Middle East Business Intelligence) report, the procurement process for the Gold Line has already begun, setting the ball rolling in this direction.

Read-Dubai Metro Blue Line to begin operations in Sept 2029

The metro’s Gold Line will start at Al Ghubaiba in Bur Dubai and run through Business Bay, Meydan, Global Village, and Dubailand.

It will help ease the pressure on the Red Line and improve accessibility between the older part of Dubai and the newer residential and commercial developments.

As the first phase of the project, the RTA has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to invite global firms to submit bids for the lead consultancy role. The RFP will close in May 2025, a report in Metro Rail Daily said.

The consultancy contract for the Gold Line will cover several elements, including the concept design, preliminary design, and preparation of tender documents. It will also include optional stages, such as construction supervision and post-construction services during the defects liability period.

The entities vying for the role include prominent companies such as AECOM (US), AtkinsRéalis (Canada), Jacobs (US), Mott MacDonald (UK), Parsons Corporation (US), and SYSTRA (France).

In the works: Dubai Metro Blue line

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) had officially launched the Dubai Metro Blue Line project, in December 2024.

The Dhs20.5bn project will span 30 kilometres, featuring 14 stations and providing seamless connectivity to key urban areas and will be connecting key residential and commercial areas, including Dubai Creek Harbour, Festival City, Mirdif, and Dubai Silicon Oasis.

The line will also feature a mix of underground and elevated tracks, with a total of 14 stations along its 30-kilometre route, including three major interchange stations: Al Khor (on the Green Line), Centrepoint (on the Red Line), and International City (1).

Prominent feature of the Blue Line

One of the most distinuished features of the project will be a signature station at Dubai Creek Harbour, which will feature a unique architectural design by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM).

This station will be a key focal point of the project, and it will be designed to handle 160,000 passengers daily by 2040.

The Blue Line will also feature Dubai Metro’s first-ever crossing over Dubai Creek via a 1,300-metre bridge, adding a striking visual and functional landmark to the project.

Publicis Sapient, a digital business transformation firm, has signed a five-year strategic collaboration agreement with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to leverage AI and machine learning for enterprise IT modernisation and customer experience enhancement, the companies said on Tuesday.

The collaboration aims to integrate Publicis Sapient’s SPEED methodology — spanning strategy, product, experience, engineering, and data and AI — with AWS’ cloud services to accelerate the migration of legacy IT workloads.

The companies will develop generative AI-powered solutions for personalised digital experiences, software development optimisation, and cloud adoption acceleration.

Publicis Sapient will offer clients access to its AI and ML ecosystem, including Bodhi, an enterprise AI/ML platform built on AWS. Bodhi utilises Amazon SageMaker and Amazon Bedrock, providing model selection, enterprise-grade AI capabilities, and security measures.

Another tool, Slingshot, will facilitate software lifecycle automation and legacy system modernisation.

“Publicis Sapient has been a proud AWS partner for years. This agreement strengthens our commitment to harnessing AWS’s generative AI services to drive transformation for our clients,” said Nigel Vaz, CEO of Publicis Sapient.

AWS CEO Matt Garman said the collaboration “marries AWS’s advanced AI capabilities with Publicis Sapient’s transformation expertise to help businesses accelerate cloud adoption and deepen customer engagement”.

Publicis Sapient to set up an AWS business unit

As part of the agreement, Publicis Sapient is establishing an AWS business unit, investing in business development, sales, marketing, and AI capabilities. The companies plan to co-develop industry-specific AI solutions and provide AWS training for Publicis Sapient employees.

The partnership builds on existing initiatives, such as a digital showroom for a global automaker that consolidated online car shopping data across 190 markets, increasing test drives by over 900 per cent.

Another project for a pharmaceutical firm used AskBodhi on AWS to automate localised marketing content, cutting content creation costs by 35-45 per cent. Additionally, a wealth management firm transitioned its financial data platform to AWS, reducing search response time by 80 per cent and increasing advisor satisfaction.

Saudi Arabia’s national carrier, Saudia, is among the enterprises leveraging the collaboration. “AWS’s generative AI services, combined with Publicis Sapient’s expertise, are helping us innovate while ensuring security standards,” said Abdulgader Attiah, Saudia Group’s chief data and technology officer.

Publicis Sapient, recently named a leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Cloud Professional Services 2024 Vendor Assessment, is also offering solutions like AskBodhi and Wealth Management Accelerator via AWS Marketplace.

Read: AWS’ Kevin Miller on AI, sustainability and plans for the region

The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) welcomed the listing of Alpha Data, a leading UAE-based digital transformation provider and systems integrator, marking the country’s first initial public offering (IPO) of 2025 and the exchange’s second offering of the year.

Alpha Data’s IPO attracted strong demand from regional and international investors, with the offering oversubscribed by double digits. The company raised Dhs600m through the issuance of 400 million shares, representing 40 per cent of its issued share capital, at the top end of its offer price of Dhs1.50 per share.

Upon listing, Alpha Data’s market capitalisation stood at approximately Dhs1.5bn, reinforcing its strong position in the UAE’s technology sector.

The listing strengthens ADX’s position as a diversified market, expanding its technology offerings with companies specialising in artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and cloud computing.

The exchange continues to enhance its role as a platform for high-growth enterprises seeking access to capital markets.

Alpha Data is ADX’s second offering during the year

“We are delighted to welcome Alpha Data to ADX as the UAE’s first IPO of 2025 and our second offering during the year. This milestone reflects our unwavering commitment to providing investors with access to a dynamic and diversified marketplace, particularly in the high-growth digital infrastructure and technology sector,” said Abdulla Salem Alnuaimi, group CEO of ADX. “As ADX continues to expand its offering, we are creating greater opportunities for investors to participate in the digital economy.”

“As a key enabler of sustainable growth and capital market development in the region, we will continue to support more private companies in achieving their growth ambitions via the ADX listing platform,” Alnuaimi added.

Fayez Ibbini, founder and CEO of Alpha Data, said: “We are incredibly proud to join the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange as a homegrown UAE family business after seeing strong demand and support for our strategic vision during our IPO. Our listing marks an exciting new chapter for Alpha Data and is more than just a milestone in our 40-year journey of growth and innovation; it’s a commitment to our shareholders and the broader market to keep delivering growth and champion technological developments.”

ADX recently launched ADX Group, which has introduced advanced trading, clearing, and settlement capabilities through its new subsidiaries, AD Clear and AD CSD.

Read: New ADX Group to boost Abu Dhabi’s investment ecosystem

Mastercard and LikeCard, a leading e-commerce prepaid card platform in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), have partnered to launch a new family banking solution aimed at enhancing financial literacy and responsible spending in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

The AI-powered digital platform provides parents and children with a secure and seamless banking experience, allowing families to track expenses, set spending limits, and encourage smart money management habits.

Parents gain real-time oversight, while children learn financial responsibility through interactive learn-and-reward features.

“At Mastercard, we believe financial literacy is the foundation of economic empowerment. By partnering with LikeCard, we are equipping families across MENA with the knowledge and tools to build responsible financial futures. This solution reimagines banking for the digital age, fostering smarter spending and saving habits for the ‘digital natives’ generation,” said Muhammad Nana, SVP, Digital Partnerships and Enablers, Mastercard EEMEA.

Family banking solution to help inculcate good money habits

The platform’s Earn, Spend, and Save feature enables children to earn rewards for completing chores, set savings goals, and develop responsible money habits.

“LikeCard was founded to bridge financial access gaps with innovative, user-friendly digital solutions. Our collaboration with Mastercard brings an AI-driven family banking experience to the region, empowering families with financial literacy tools while enhancing security and convenience,” said Ammar Alsoos, CEO of LikeCard.

Beyond banking, the solution offers personalised savings opportunities, including cashback rewards and discounts on education, entertainment, health, and virtual investments.

Families can also access tailored financial products such as instalment plans and lending solutions, making it easier to manage expenses and plan for the future.

By embedding responsible spending tools into everyday life, Mastercard and LikeCard aim to help families across MENA build a smarter and more secure financial future together.

Dubai’s luxury transport sector recorded a 44 per cent increase in trips in 2024, reaching 43,443,678 compared to 30,219,821 in 2023, marking the highest growth in recent years for the sector via e-hail services.

The surge underscores the strategic vision adopted by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai to enhance mobility solutions and cater to the growing needs of residents and visitors.

“This vital sector has witnessed sustained growth in recent years,” said Adel Shakri, director of Planning and Business Development at the Public Transport Agency, RTA. “The number of passengers transported through Dubai’s luxury transport services reached 75,592,000 in 2024, up from 52,582,488 in 2023, reflecting a similar 44 per cent growth rate. These figures highlight the economic momentum Dubai is experiencing, reinforcing its position as a global hub for investment and tourism.”

Luxury transport: e-hail services show growth

E-hail services also saw significant growth, with trips rising by 32 per cent to 32,556,975 in 2024 from 24,616,527 in 2023.

The number of operating companies increased from nine in 2023 to 13 in 2024, while the fleet size expanded from 12,602 to 16,396 vehicles over the same period.