The UAE could see changing weather conditions over the coming days, with an increased probability of rainfall and rougher sea conditions expected from Saturday night into early next week, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM).

In its latest forecast, the NCM said today’s conditions will remain generally fair to partly cloudy, with humidity building overnight into Saturday morning across some western areas. Winds will be light to moderate, occasionally freshening, while sea conditions remain slight to moderate in the Arabian Gulf and slight in the Oman Sea — offering stable conditions for most daytime business and transport activity.

Weekend weather

However, conditions are expected to evolve over the weekend. On Saturday, January 24, skies will remain fair to partly cloudy during the day before turning cloudier by night over the sea and parts of the coastal and northern regions. The NCM has flagged a probability of light rainfall during this period, alongside a rise in temperatures. Winds will remain light to moderate, freshening at times, while sea conditions stay slight to moderate in the Arabian Gulf.

The likelihood of rainfall increases further on Sunday, January 25. The NCM forecasts partly cloudy to cloudy conditions across some coastal, northern and eastern areas, with a probability of rain. Humidity levels are expected to rise overnight into Monday morning, particularly across coastal and internal areas, increasing the risk of reduced visibility. Winds are forecast to shift from southeasterly to northwesterly, strengthening by night, while sea conditions in the Arabian Gulf are expected to gradually turn rough westward.

By Monday, January 26, temperatures are forecast to decline, with partly cloudy to cloudy conditions continuing at times. The NCM warned of humid overnight conditions and a probability of fog or mist formation early Tuesday, which could affect road transport and aviation operations. Sea conditions are expected to be rough westward in the Arabian Gulf during the morning before easing later in the day.

Conditions are expected to stabilise by Tuesday, January 27, with fair to partly cloudy skies and low clouds appearing over some eastern and northern areas. Humidity may again lead to fog or mist overnight into Wednesday morning, while sea conditions return to slight levels in both the Arabian Gulf and the Oman Sea.

Read: Dubai rainwater management: Six temporary lakes, 600,000 cubic metres storage capacity created

Dubai’s First-Time Home Buyer (FTHB) Programme is accelerating the path to home ownership for residents across the emirate, with more than 2,000 residents purchasing their first home in the past six months and generating over Dhs3.25bn in residential property sales, according to the latest figures from the Dubai Land Department (DLD).

Launched in July 2025, the initiative is emerging as a key pillar in Dubai’s broader economic and real estate strategy, reinforcing confidence in the property market while expanding access to ownership for residents across income levels and nationalities.

Developed jointly by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and the Dubai Land Department, the FTHB Programme was designed to make home ownership more accessible by aligning government entities, developers, and financial institutions under a single framework.

Read more- 6 trends defining Dubai real estate

The programme offers first-time buyers priority access to new residential projects, tailored mortgage solutions, and preferential pricing. According to a WAM report, this collaborative approach has reduced traditional barriers to entry for residents who previously viewed home ownership as out of reach.

Since its launch, more than 41,000 residents have registered for the Programme, highlighting strong demand for structured pathways into the property market. Of the homes purchased to date, 49 per cent were acquired by residents who have lived in Dubai for more than five years without previously owning a property, underlining the initiative’s success in converting long-term residents into homeowners and strengthening community roots.

Alignment with Dubai’s economic agenda

The FTHB Programme was developed in alignment with the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, which aims to double the size of Dubai’s economy by 2033 and further consolidate its position as a leading global destination for talent. The initiative also supports the Dubai Real Estate Strategy 2033 and contributed to the UAE’s Year of Community by promoting social cohesion and economic resilience.

By encouraging home ownership among residents, the programme is reinforcing talent retention, fostering long-term economic participation, and supporting sustainable urban development across the emirate.

Hadi Badri, CEO of the Dubai Economic Development Corporation (DEDC), the economic development arm of DET, said the response to the Programme reflects Dubai’s collaborative approach to economic growth.

“The remarkable response to the First-Time Home Buyer Programme, an initiative guided by our visionary leadership and delivered in close collaboration with the Dubai Land Department, reflects Dubai’s spirit of partnership, uniting government, developers, and financial institutions to turn homeownership into a reality for thousands,” Badri said.

He added that the initiative strengthens investor confidence and accelerates the real estate sector’s contribution to the economy in line with the goals of D33. By fostering social cohesion and supporting talent retention, the programme is stimulating long-term demand while reinforcing Dubai’s position as a global model for sustainable urban development.

Sustained market momentum

Majid Al Marri, CEO of the Real Estate Registration Sector at Dubai Land Department, described the Programme as a pivotal driver of residential ownership and a contributor to the continued strength of Dubai’s real estate market in 2025.

He noted that the sector has recorded exceptional performance this year, with total real estate transactions reaching Dhs917bn, reflecting robust demand and growing market confidence. According to Al Marri, rising interest in the FTHB Programme demonstrates its effectiveness in converting latent demand into tangible transactions.

He added that the initiative represents a practical model for integrating regulatory policies with effective partnerships across government entities, developers, and financial institutions, simplifying the homeownership journey while reinforcing trust, transparency, and market stability.

Simplified path for first-time buyers

The Programme has facilitated transactions across participating developers and has seen strong uptake of tailored mortgage solutions offered by all five participating banks. This coordinated approach has helped first-time buyers navigate financing and purchasing processes more efficiently.

For many participants, the Programme has marked a turning point. Fatma Almarri, a first-time buyer, said owning a home once felt unattainable, particularly on a single income. She noted that the Programme simplified the process and allowed her to take greater control of her financial future with confidence.

Jade Lee, another beneficiary, described home ownership as a life-changing milestone. She said growing up in a family where ownership was uncommon made stability elusive, and the Programme has now provided a foundation she can build on for the future.

Broader impact and future expansion

As the FTHB Programme continues to expand with additional partners, including more developers, it is expected to offer residents a broader range of property choices. This expansion aims to ensure aspiring homeowners have access to suitable options while deepening end-user demand across the market.

The programme is increasingly viewed as a cornerstone of a more inclusive, future-focused property market, one that supports families and individuals while strengthening Dubai’s long-term competitiveness and economic resilience.

Gold notched another record high on Friday, while silver and platinum also extended gains to hit all-time peaks, powered by diminishing confidence in US assets on account of geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty.

Spot gold XAU= was up 0.3 per cent at $4,951.91 per ounce, as of 0358 GMT, after scaling a record $4,966.59 earlier in the day.

US gold futures GCcv1 for February delivery added 0.8 per cent to $4,952.80 per ounce.

“Faith in the US and its assets have been shaken, maybe permanently, and this is driving money into precious metals. So the word rupture has been thrown around. I don’t think that’s an exaggeration,” said Kyle Rodda, a senior market analyst at Capital.com.

The dollar index DXY hovered near a more than two-week low on Friday, having fallen 1 per cent in the course of the week, making greenback-priced metals cheaper for overseas buyers, while Wall Street’s main indexes saw a sharp sell-off earlier in the week as investors were spooked by fresh tariff threats from Trump on the EU, before recovering.

EU leaders heaved a sigh of relief over US President Donald Trump’s U-turn on Greenland as they met for an emergency summit in Brussels late on Thursday while issuing a warning that they were ready to act if Trump threatens them again.

The US president for his part said he had secured total and permanent US access to Greenland in a deal with NATO.

The details of any agreement remain unclear and Denmark insisted its sovereignty over the island isn’t up for discussion.

Spot silver XAG= surged 2.6 per cent to $98.71 an ounce, after hitting a record high of $99.20 earlier.

“The underlying story to silver is one about the outperformance of silver versus gold and its industrial applications,” Rodda added.

Markets anticipate the Fed will deliver two quarter-percentage point rate cuts in the latter half of 2026, raising non-yielding gold’s appeal.

Spot platinum XPT= gained 0.4 per cent to $2,639.40 per ounce after hitting a record $2,684.43 earlier, while palladium lost 0.9 per cent to $1,903.10.

Read: Commodities enter 2026 on firmer ground as investors turn selective

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), in UAE, in partnership with local and federal government entities, has unveiled the ‘Emirati Work Bundle in Private Sector’, a comprehensive digital initiative aimed at streamlining services for Emirati citizens and employers in the private sector.

The launch aligns with the UAE’s Zero Government Bureaucracy Programme, supporting the country’s Emiratisation goals while accelerating digital transformation and strengthening government service delivery, a WAM report said.

Read more-UAE is using AI to hire: What skills do you need to land a job?

Designed with a high level of inter-agency integration, the Emirati Work Bundle leverages data sharing among several key government bodies, including the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP); General Pension and Social Security Authority (GPSSA); Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council; Abu Dhabi Pension Fund; Department of Health – Abu Dhabi; Emirates Health Services; Dubai Health; and Digital Dubai Authority.

The initiative aims to provide Emiratis with a seamless, end-to-end experience, from registration on the Nafis platform and job searching, to private-sector appointment and pension system enrollment.

Streamlined process to save time and effort

Khalil Khoori, under-secretary of Labour Market and Emiratisation Operations at MoHRE, emphasised the value of the initiative. “The Emirati Work Bundle in Private Sector supports MoHRE’s commitment to digital leadership. The new platform enhances the customer journey by streamlining procedures and reducing employment requirements for UAE citizens and employers. It covers the full process from registration to job placement and pension enrollment,” he said.

Major General Saeed Salem Balhas Al Shamsi, acting director-general of Identity and Foreigners Affairs at ICP, highlighted the bundle’s role in advancing secure digital solutions. “The new work bundle strengthens the UAE’s model for secure digital services, ensuring efficiency while supporting the Zero Government Bureaucracy strategy. Integrating data across partners provides swift, high-quality service for both citizens and employers,” he explained.

Similarly, Feras Al Ramahi, director general of GPSSA, described the initiative as a critical enabler of national Emiratisation objectives. “The partnership between GPSSA and MoHRE saves time and effort for Emirati jobseekers and employers. Tracking updates in citizens’ status allows us to expedite service delivery and digital procedures in collaboration with partners,” he noted.

Enhancing social protection and pension registration

Khalaf Abdullah Rahma Al Hammadi, director-general of the Abu Dhabi Pension Fund, highlighted the broader impact of the initiative. “The launch underscores an advanced model of integrated government operations at local and federal levels. It ensures early and accurate pension registration, enhancing social protection and safeguarding pension rights for Emirati citizens,” he said.

Future outlook for emiratisation

The Emirati Work Bundle in Private Sector is expected to standardise information and documentation across regulatory bodies, ensure all UAE citizens working in the private sector are registered in the country’s pension and social security systems, and enhance the integration of digital systems for fast and effective service delivery.

The initiative signals a significant step forward in digital transformation and workforce integration, reinforcing the UAE’s commitment to both innovation in public service and the sustainable employment of Emirati talent.

As governments move beyond experimentation and into real-world deployment of digital finance infrastructure, the UAE has emerged as one of the clearest signals that crypto is no longer confined to speculative markets or private innovation. For Xin Yan, CEO and co-founder of Sign, the shift underway in the UAE reflects a broader transition: digital assets are entering a nation-level phase.

“It’s a strong signal that crypto has entered a nation-level phase,” Yan said. “Systematic adoption by governments will accelerate stablecoin and CBDC (Central Bank Digital Currency) payments, as well as the integration of RWAs (Real-World Assets) into the traditional financial system.”

Having supported government blockchain initiatives across multiple countries, including the UAE, Sign sits at the intersection of public-sector infrastructure and private digital asset innovation. From Yan’s perspective, what distinguishes the UAE is not the ambition of its announcements, but its ability to move from strategy to execution.

From pilots to infrastructure

Many countries have launched blockchain pilots over the past decade, yet few have successfully translated them into durable national infrastructure. Yan draws a comparison between the UAE and other digitally ambitious states.

“The UAE is similar to Singapore, a small territory with outsized regional influence,” he said. “It recognises that digital infrastructure is the most effective way to extend its reach and influence.”

Rather than treating blockchain as a peripheral technology, the UAE has positioned it as core national infrastructure. “As a result, the UAE has chosen to take a leadership position by being early in blockchain adoption, and actively exporting its standards to the broader region,” Yan said.

This focus on execution-first policy has allowed the country to move faster than larger markets encumbered by fragmented regulation or institutional inertia. For global investors and infrastructure providers, that consistency has become a differentiating factor.

Stablecoins versus CBDCs: clearing the confusion

Despite growing adoption, confusion persists among investors and policymakers about the difference between stablecoins and central bank digital currencies. Yan argues that misunderstanding these distinctions often leads to flawed assumptions about risk and control.

“Stablecoins are typically issued by licensed private companies on public blockchains, which means they largely operate under ‘jungle rules,’” he said. “If a wallet is hacked or funds are lost, recovery is often impossible.”

CBDCs, by contrast, operate under an entirely different legal and institutional framework. “A CBDC is a legal tender. There is no de-pegging risk, and no ambiguity around legality or compliance,” Yan said. “CBDCs are generally issued on permissioned (private) chains, where the legal and judicial system continues to protect users’ funds.”

For institutional investors, conflating the two can distort risk assessment. Stablecoins offer speed and liquidity but remain exposed to market and operational risks. CBDCs prioritise sovereignty, compliance, and legal enforceability—attributes critical to government-backed financial systems.

While regulatory clarity is often framed as the ultimate hurdle for digital asset adoption, Yan believes this view is incomplete. “Regulatory approval isn’t the finish line for national digital asset rollouts,” he said.

What follows, he explained, is significantly more complex. “The core challenge is balancing government control and user privacy. Building a digital system where regulation can be enforced in code, while data privacy remains protected.”

Solving that tension requires deep technical capability. “Achieving this requires careful encryption through ZK proof and related privacy-preserving techniques,” Yan said, highlighting how cryptography increasingly underpins public trust in digital finance systems.

This stage—where systems must function at scale while maintaining legal enforceability and civil protections—is where many initiatives struggle. For governments, the challenge is not only technological but architectural.

Having powered more than $4bn in token distributions globally, Sign has worked closely with institutions evaluating blockchain-based financial systems. According to Yan, two requirements consistently rise to the top.

“Security,” he said. “Whether it’s smart contracts, wallets, or the underlying infrastructure that holds the entire system together.”

Equally important is identity. “Another major challenge is ensuring KYC/AML compliance for digital identities,” Yan said. Without robust identity layers, large institutions remain unwilling to deploy capital at scale, regardless of regulatory approvals.

This explains why many government-backed initiatives focus heavily on identity, permissions, and infrastructure resilience rather than consumer-facing applications in their early phases.

While blockchain technology has matured rapidly, Yan warns that execution risk remains high—particularly for sovereign or government-backed initiatives.

“Choosing the wrong partner can be fatal,” he said. “For a long time, the crypto industry lacked a sufficiently large and mature user base, which meant many systems were never truly tested under real-world conditions.”

As a result, some governments have invested heavily in platforms that ultimately failed to scale. “I’ve seen projects run for three years, spend tens of millions of dollars, and still fail to launch,” Yan said.

The lesson, he argues, is due diligence. “Governments must recognise how critical these technology choices are and conduct rigorous due diligence before engaging with a provider.”

At the national level, failed infrastructure is not merely a sunk cost—it can delay adoption, erode trust, and deter private-sector participation.

Read: Binance Research reveals why 2026 could be a turning point for crypto

Lessons for emerging markets

For other markets seeking to emulate the UAE’s progress, Yan cautions against focusing too narrowly on regulation. “The real objective isn’t regulation itself but attracting capital and talent,” he said. “Licenses alone will never achieve that.”

Instead, he points to ecosystem design. “What matters is signaling open-mindedness, reducing friction, and creating genuinely welcoming conditions for builders and investors.”

In the UAE’s case, infrastructure came first. “The UAE focused on building the infrastructure and ecosystem first, rather than leading with restrictive rule-making,” Yan said.

That sequencing matters. “When talent and capital arrive first, they create real demand for infrastructure and practical solutions. Regulation then becomes a tool to scale out what works, not a barrier that blocks innovation.”

“This is how the UAE turned regulation into a competitive advantage instead of a gatekeeping mechanism,” he added.

Yan believes digital finance infrastructure is only the beginning of a deeper transformation. “Digital infrastructure is only the starting point of a broader, irreversible digitisation trend,” he said.

Once in place, governments begin to accumulate vast volumes of structured data, raising new strategic questions. “Can these data be effectively leveraged by AI? Can digital currency and digital ID be deeply integrated across all government services?”

The implications extend far beyond payments. “Can taxation, social welfare, and public administration be automated?” Yan asked. “Ultimately, can parts of government operations be AI-assisted or AI-operated?”

For Yan, this long-term thinking separates reactive adopters from future designers. “Forward-thinking governments don’t just solve today’s problems, they design the future.”

The next phase: sovereignty, then interoperability

Looking ahead, Yan expects the relationship between governments, stablecoin issuers, and private infrastructure providers to evolve in stages.

“Countries will develop their own digital asset infrastructure first, because core systems are too strategic to outsource,” he said. Sovereignty, in this context, is non-negotiable.

Once that foundation is established, priorities shift. “The focus shifts to interoperability: linking local networks to global liquidity, cross-border payments, and external protocols,” Yan said.

That sequencing enables speed without dependency. “That’s how a functional, internationally connected financial network can emerge rapidly, without waiting on global incumbents and incentives.”

For markets like the UAE, which sit at the crossroads of global trade and finance, this model offers a path to leadership in the next generation of digital financial systems—built locally, connected globally, and designed for scale.