To meet the surging demand for aviation-related services, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub (MBRAH) at Dubai South has announced the launch of ‘The VIP Terminal Boulevard’, a cutting-edge development aimed at attracting leading aviation companies and luxury retailers from around the globe.

Strategically located adjacent to the VIP Terminal, which has recorded sustained growth in business aviation movements, the boulevard stretches 769 metres and features 16 premium buildings.

Read more-1 billion passengers and counting: UAE aviation marks major milestone

These will offer modern facilities and high-end retail spaces spread across a 204,000 square metre area. The project is part of MBRAH’s integrated aviation ecosystem and will be delivered in phases starting in 2026, a WAM report said.

Aviation One: A modern beacon of design and functionality

Construction is already underway on Aviation One, a six-storey flagship building within the boulevard. Designed with contemporary architecture and advanced functional layouts, the building reflects MBRAH’s commitment to innovation and operational excellence.

The boulevard is expected to become a hub for elite aviation businesses, offering them an unmatched opportunity to establish and expand in a thriving region.

Leadership vision and global aspirations

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, chairman of Dubai Airports, and chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline and Group, underscored the significance of the initiative.

“Aviation has always been one of the fundamental pillars of Dubai’s economy. The growing demand for aviation services in the emirate is a direct reflection of the vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the advanced ecosystem in MBR Aerospace Hub which is beyond the aviation industry’s expectations,” he said.

He further added: “The VIP Terminal Boulevard is a significant addition to the world-class facilities at Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub. It will open new opportunities for leading aviation companies and luxury brands to flourish, while further strengthening Dubai’s position as a premier destination for companies and a key player on the global aviation map.”

MBRAH’s role in Dubai’s aviation ambitions

MBRAH offers global aerospace leaders access to a robust free-zone ecosystem with high-level connectivity. It is home to world-renowned airlines, private jet companies, MROs, and educational institutions. Developed by Dubai South, MBRAH aims to solidify Dubai’s vision of becoming a top-tier global aviation hub.

Dubai hosted a glimpse of tomorrow at Envision 2025, du Tech’s flagship technology forum, where artificial intelligence, cloud, robotics, and advanced computing took center stage.

Themed “AI progress begins when leaders and technology align” the third edition of the annual event brought together government leaders, global tech executives, and innovators to chart the UAE’s digital transformation journey.

Opening the conference, du CEO Fahad Al Hassawi underscored Dubai’s standing among the world’s top five cities for AI adoption, even ahead of San Francisco. “Technology without leadership is merely code, and leadership without technology is just ambition,” he said, highlighting the event’s theme. “But when they come together — that’s when magic happens.”

Al Hassawi tied du’s strategy directly to national priorities, noting that AI is projected to contribute $320bn to the UAE’s GDP by 2030. He framed the numbers as more than statistics, calling them “the future of our children” and evidence of the courage of local businesses — 42 per cent of which have already deployed AI solutions.

du showcases five tech pillars at Envision

The event showcased five technological pillars driving this future: generative AI applications, sovereign cloud infrastructure, advanced robotics for Industry 4.0, GPU-as-a-Service and Mining-as-a-Service for high-performance computing, and national hyperscaler cloud solutions.

Each was presented as a practical enabler for key sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, education, smart cities, and utilities.

Industry voices added weight to the vision. Investor and entrepreneur Randi Zuckerberg spoke on AI’s creative potential, while executives from Oracle, IBM, Microsoft, Huawei, Dell, Fortinet, Nokia, and Equinix highlighted how partnerships are powering transformation. du’s Chief ICT Officer Jasim Al Awadi called the platform a catalyst for “building smarter, more sustainable communities aligned with the UAE’s visionary leadership.”

Al Hassawi urged participants to see themselves not as attendees but as “ambassadors for change.” He closed by reminding them that the UAE has always been a nation of builders, first turning sand into cities, and now shaping the digital future with algorithms and intelligence.

With policymakers, industry leaders, and technologists in the same room, the event reinforced du’s role not just as a telecom operator but as a digital enabler helping shape the nation’s AI-powered economy.

Read: du announces Dhs2bn hyperscale data centre deal with Microsoft

Oracle‘s shares rose on Thursday, extending a record run from the previous session and boosting stocks across the tech sector, as the company moves closer to the trillion-dollar club on soaring gains from its AI cloud business.

The enterprise software maker’s remarkable rise, fuelled by a wave of multi-billion-dollar cloud deals, highlights the scramble for computing power as companies pour billions into becoming leaders in the AI race.

The stock’s gains also position Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison on track to surpass Elon Musk, currently the world’s richest man.

“Oracle lit a fire under the rekindled AI trade,” said Richard Hunter, head of markets at Interactive Investor, noting that the company’s multi-billion-dollar demand outlook has triggered a “ripple effect” for AI-related stocks.

OpenAI signs deal with Oracle

The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that OpenAI has signed a $300bn deal with Oracle for computing power, one of the largest contracts in history, likely accounting for the bulk of the new revenue Oracle outlined on Tuesday.

Oracle’s shares were last up 1.5 per cent in premarket trading after climbing as much as 35.9 per cent on Wednesday, lifting the company’s market valuation to a record $933bn at the last close.

The stock has nearly doubled in value this year, making it one of the top performers in the S&P 500 and outpacing gains by the so-called Magnificent Seven stocks.

Co-founder Ellison saw his net worth rise by nearly $100bn to $392.6bn, largely due to his 41 per cent stake in Oracle, compared with Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s $439.9bn fortune, which still tops Forbes’ global wealth rankings.

Oracle’s shares are trading Oracle’s shares are trading at a premium compared to its cloud services peers, with a 12-month forward price-to-earnings multiple of 45.3, versus Amazon’s 31.3 and Microsoft’s 31.

Read: Oracle pledges $14bn investment in Saudi Arabia

Fakhruddin Properties has announced the successful completion of its pilot 90:90 Waste Management initiative, a pioneering model that can divert 90 per cent of building waste from landfills within 90 days. The programme – the first of its kind in the UAE – was rolled out at Trafalgar Central in Dubai International City and has now achieved its waste reduction goals.

The initiative introduces in-building composting and waste-sorting facilities at the residential development, aligning with the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 agenda, Dubai Municipality’s plan to close landfills by 2027, and the Circular Economy Policy 2021–2031.

Overcoming challenges

While the technology itself was not the main obstacle, Yousuf Fakhruddin, CEO of Fakhruddin Properties, explained that the greater challenge lay in driving resident participation.

“I don’t think there was much of a technical challenge. The bigger challenge for us was the behavior. There’s always resistance to change,” he said. “Some people welcomed it, some learned and got educated, some did it for the incentives, and some wouldn’t budge.”

To address this, the company used multiple engagement methods, from door-to-door awareness campaigns to involving children in advocacy. “When a child comes and tells you, please do it, there’s a different reaction than an adult – and it is for their future,” Fakhruddin added, talking exlusively to Gulf Business.

Incentives and brand value

The programme is supported by a reward system, including a “gold programme” to encourage consistent participation. However, for Fakhruddin, the true value lies beyond immediate cost considerations.

“What are you representing? If you don’t care about your community, you’ll just build a building with four walls and leave it. If you are a brand that actually cares about the community and the people and the children, you will adopt these initiatives,” he said.

He added that sustainability has become a differentiator in Dubai’s competitive real estate sector. “We are not a very big developer in Dubai. We are medium-sized, but our name, when it comes to sustainability, is synonymous. It has given us a brand reputation which no other developers have.”

Scaling the 90:90 model

Having proven effective at Trafalgar Central, Fakhruddin sees the model as highly scalable across Dubai and the wider UAE. “We have done this in a CBD building in International City. If we can achieve it there, we can achieve it in other buildings,” he said.

The company now plans to expand the initiative across its entire portfolio, with the long-term goal of embedding waste segregation and recycling as second nature for residents.

Fakhruddin also highlighted the importance of regulatory support to drive adoption across the sector. “Unless you get regulation from the top, people do the bare minimum required. Once that regulation is there, people will start activating in a way that is more responsible for the community and society,” he said.

The 90:90 Waste Management initiative not only positions Fakhruddin Properties as a leader in sustainability-driven development but also marks an important milestone in the UAE’s transition toward integrated waste management and net-zero emissions.

“Waste management should not be a cost. It should be profitable,” Fakhruddin concluded. “If we do it at scale with the right regulations and support, it is definitely going to be profitable.”

Emirates has expanded its Premium Economy offering as part of a multi-billion dollar investment to refurbish 219 aircraft, with 67 fully upgraded planes now in service, including 32 A380s and 35 Boeing 777s. The airline has also added nine Airbus A350 aircraft featuring Premium Economy, with 56 more scheduled to join its fleet.

By March 2026, Emirates will serve 68 cities with aircraft fitted with its Premium Economy product, offering close to 2 million Premium Economy seats annually, set to double to 4 million seats per year by the end of 2026.

The cabin layout varies by aircraft: on the A380, 56 Premium Economy seats are positioned at the front of the main deck in a 2-4-2 configuration; the Boeing 777 offers up to 24 seats in a 2-4-2 layout; and the A350 features 28 seats in a 2-3-2 configuration.

Emirates Skywards has officially enabled flight rewards for Premium Economy travel, allowing its more than 35 million members worldwide to redeem Skywards Miles on Classic Rewards and Upgrade Rewards across all Premium Economy cabins.

Emirates Skywards flight rewards on Premium Economy

Dr Nejib Ben Khedher, DSVP Emirates Skywards, said: “We’re thrilled to announce the introduction of flight rewards on Emirates’ highly coveted Premium Economy cabin. This has been in development for some time and comes following the huge success, positive feedback, and strong demand by members to utilise Miles on Premium Economy – especially on popular long-haul destinations such as London, Sydney, Melbourne, and New York.”

Members can redeem Skywards Miles for a full flight ticket starting from 15,000 Miles one-way, or request an upgrade from Economy to Premium Economy starting from 7,020 Miles. Upgrades can be booked prior to a flight or at check-in, subject to availability.

The Premium Economy cabin is currently available on flights to more than 66 cities worldwide.