Dubai real estate news, Mohamed Alabbar’s funding pledge, GEMS unveils $100m school and more top news stories
Dubai’s prominent real estate entrepreneur, Mohamed Alabbar, announced this week that he plans to present an “extraordinary reward” to content creators who bring innovative ideas to promote the emirate. This remarkable declaration was made during the 1 Billion Followers Summit held in the UAE.
Grabbing attention alongside this announcement were other major stories, including news about Dubai’s priciest school, updates on new laws in the UAE, in-depth real estate market insights, and more.
Stay informed with a roundup of the top 10 stories of the week, carefully curated by the editors at Arabian Business.
“Bring Me a Great Idea, and I’ll Fund It,” Says Emaar Founder Mohamed Alabbar at the 1 Billion Followers Summit
Mohamed Alabbar, the visionary real estate entrepreneur and founder of Emaar Properties, has extended an exciting opportunity to content creators with innovative ideas to promote Dubai. He is offering a significant reward for those who can craft exceptional campaigns to showcase the city’s vibrancy and appeal.
“Develop a one-year campaign filled with creative, high-quality content,” Alabbar stated. “Present it to me, and I’ll provide an outstanding reward for brilliant ideas. Impress me – I deeply love Dubai and want to do something special for this incredible city. Give me a great idea, and I’ll sign the cheque,” he added.
These remarks were made during the prestigious 1 Billion Followers Summit, held on January 13 at Emirates Towers, the Museum of the Future, and DIFC. The event, held under the theme “Content for Good,” drew an impressive audience of 15,000 content creators, along with 420 expert speakers and 125 industry leaders and specialists.
EXCLUSIVE: GEMS Education to Launch $100M ‘School of the Future’ in Dubai with Helipad, NBA Basketball Court, and Olympic Running Track
GEMS Education has announced its most ambitious project yet—a $100 million School of Research and Innovation (SRI) in Dubai Sports City. This state-of-the-art educational facility is set to open in August 2025 and will feature groundbreaking amenities, including a helipad for parent arrivals, an NBA-standard basketball court, a Premier League-quality football field, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, and numerous other advanced features.
The sprawling campus, covering an impressive 47,600 square metres, marks GEMS Education’s largest investment in a premium school development to date. This project surpasses previous investments in high-end schools by 30 percent, setting a new benchmark in educational infrastructure.
SRI will implement a highly advanced British curriculum, with annual tuition fees ranging from AED 116,000 for FS1 to AED 152,000 for Year 6, and up to AED 206,000 for Year 12. Initially, the school will cater to FS1 through Year 6, with plans to expand to Year 7 and Year 8 in its second year of operation. Founding families will also benefit from a 20 percent fee discount for the academic year 2026, offering an incentive to join this groundbreaking institution.
Dubai: The Global Entrepreneur’s Dream Destination – Here’s Why
Dubai has solidified its reputation as a worldwide hub for entrepreneurs, offering an unmatched combination of tax advantages, a prime geographical location, and policies that foster business growth.
Vadim Kouznetsov, the Founder of JobX Dubai and a seasoned business startup expert, highlights Dubai’s competitive edge in the global market for entrepreneurs.
“Having experienced life and work in cities like London, Munich, and Moscow, I can confidently say that Dubai is the most business-friendly city I’ve encountered,” Kouznetsov shared in an exclusive conversation with Arabian Business. “It feels reminiscent of London two decades ago – a city bursting with diversity, home to over 200 nationalities, a majority expat population, and an exceptional openness to fresh and innovative ideas, which is rare to find anywhere else.”
Dubai Smart Rental Index 2025: All You Need to Know About the Groundbreaking New System
Dubai’s real estate market has officially entered a revolutionary digital era with the launch of the Smart Rental Index 2025 by the Dubai Land Department. Introduced earlier this January, this innovative, data-powered system is designed to establish fair rental values across the emirate, transforming how rental prices are determined.
Harnessing the power of real estate analytics and cutting-edge technology, the Smart Rental Index provides a streamlined approach to standardising rental calculations. By utilising comprehensive market data and expert insights, the system ensures accurate and transparent pricing decisions for tenants, landlords, and other stakeholders in the property market.
“The Dubai Smart Rental Index is truly a game-changer. It’s an incredible win for both tenants and landlords,” said Lewis Allsopp, Chairman of Allsopp & Allsopp, in a statement to Arabian Business.
This system represents a significant step forward in creating a more structured and efficient rental ecosystem in Dubai, ensuring a balanced and fair approach for all involved parties.
Top 10 Safest Airlines in the World: UAE and Qatar Carriers Shine
The rankings for the world’s safest airlines have been unveiled, and carriers from the UAE and Qatar have secured spots among the top 10.
Aviation-focused platform AirlineRatings.com has released its list of the Top 25 Safest Full-Service Airlines and Top 25 Safest Low-Cost Airlines for 2025. These rankings are based on the assessment of 385 airlines worldwide.
Air New Zealand has claimed the top position, surpassing Qantas in the rankings. Meanwhile, Middle Eastern giants Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad Airways have proudly earned their places in the prestigious top 10 list.
HMPV: UAE Doctors Assure Residents There’s No Cause for Alarm Over New Virus
Medical experts in the UAE have reassured residents that there is no need to feel alarmed about the recent increase in human metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases reported in China. HMPV, a common respiratory illness, has recently placed significant pressure on hospitals in the Asian nation.
Although social media images of crowded hospitals and masked individuals in China may evoke memories of the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare specialists stress that HMPV is a well-recognized seasonal virus. For the majority of patients, it usually leads to mild to moderate respiratory symptoms.
“Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is among several respiratory pathogens, much like the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), that circulate globally every year, causing respiratory illnesses,” explained Dr. Saheer Sainalabdeen, a Specialist Pulmonologist at Medeor Hospital in Dubai, during a conversation with Arabian Business.
Dubai Real Estate Market Achieves $31.7bn in Q4 2024; Palm Jumeirah Tops Average Price Rankings
The Dubai real estate market recorded a remarkable total sales transaction value of AED116.5 billion ($31.7 billion) in Q4 2024, marking a significant 31.1 percent growth compared to the same period last year, as highlighted in a report by Springfield Properties.
Additionally, transaction volumes experienced an impressive surge of 51.8 percent, with 46,844 deals successfully closed during the quarter. These figures underline an exceptional year for Dubai’s real estate sector, solidifying its reputation as a global hub for innovation, strategic investment, and high-performance property markets.
A key driver behind this growth is the robust off-plan market, which accounted for more than half of the total transaction value. This, coupled with the city’s flourishing luxury property sector, has continued to attract high-net-worth individuals and institutional investors from around the globe.
Kuwait Declares 3-Day Holiday for Isra and Mi’raj Celebration
Kuwait has officially announced a three-day holiday in observance of the Isra and Mi’raj, set to take place at the end of this month, as per local media sources.
In an announcement by the Civil Service Commission, the Arabic daily, Arab Times, reported that Thursday, January 30 will be observed as a public holiday for government departments, agencies, and institutions.
As the country’s regular weekend falls on Friday and Saturday, this will grant employees a well-deserved three-day break.
Everything You Need to Know About the New UAE Laws and Regulations for 2025
As the United Arab Emirates enters 2025, the country has introduced a range of groundbreaking laws and regulations designed to improve various aspects of life for residents and businesses alike.
These newly implemented measures, which span from corporate governance reforms to environmental protection initiatives, underscore the UAE’s dedication to fostering sustainable growth and driving forward social progress.
Dubai Unveils New Creators HQ and Plans to Attract 10,000 Global Influencers
Dubai has officially opened its new Creators HQ at the iconic Emirates Towers, marking a significant milestone during the 1 Billion Followers Summit. The government’s ambitious goal is to bring 10,000 influencers to the UAE as part of this initiative.
This development is supported by the AED 150 million Content Creators Support Fund, a visionary project introduced by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai. The fund is designed to position the UAE as a global hub for digital media and content creation.
The grand opening took place as part of the third edition of the 1 Billion Followers Summit 2025, which is being held from January 11 to 13 across the Emirates Towers, DIFC, and the Museum of the Future.
