Abu Dhabi’s economic licence growth reaches 21% in first quarter of 2026

June 22, 2026
3 min read

New economic licences in Abu Dhabi rose 21% in the first quarter of 2026.
Professional licences jumped 193%, while freelance permits soared 261% across the emirate.
ADRA reported 34 new industrial facilities reaching full operation during the quarter.
Active licences climbed 12% as Abu Dhabi attracts quality investment and new talent.

Abu Dhabi’s economic licence growth reached 21 percent during the first quarter of 2026. The figure compares against the same three-month period recorded across the emirate one year earlier. Officials at the Abu Dhabi Registration Authority (ADRA) released the new data this week. These numbers show strong demand for new economic licences that Abu Dhabi continues to attract. The body works as the arm of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED). It develops and regulates the business sector across every region within the wider emirate.

Active licences across the emirate climbed 12 percent during the same opening quarter period. Growth appeared in every region, with Al Ain leading at a 58 percent rise. Al Dhafra recorded a 28 percent increase, while Abu Dhabi City posted 18 percent. New commercial licences grew 20 percent across the period, according to official records released. Professional licences rose sharply, jumping a strong 193 percent over the prior year’s figure. Agriculture, fisheries, and livestock activities each saw their licence count rise by 5 percent. Industry also moved forward, with production-phase licences climbing 3 percent across the opening quarter. Around 34 new industrial facilities entered full operation during the first three months of 2026.

WHAT THE INDUSTRIAL GAINS MEAN FOR YOU

These industrial gains support the Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy (ADIS) and its long-term targets. Stronger supply chains and higher local production help the wider Abu Dhabi business ecosystem. Abu Dhabi’s economic licence growth shows the emirate can sustain momentum despite regional pressure. For investors like you, these figures point toward steady demand and genuine new opportunity.

Hamad Sayah Al Mazrouei, the Undersecretary of ADDED, welcomed the strong latest quarterly results. He said, “These strong indicators reaffirm the resilience and attractiveness of Abu Dhabi’s economy.” Al Mazrouei pointed to the emirate’s policies and legislative frameworks as central economic strengths. He also stressed continued engagement with companies, investors, and stakeholders right across the emirate.

ABU DHABI’S ECONOMIC LICENCE GROWTH SPREADS BEYOND THE CAPITAL

Smaller licence types also recorded strong gains during the opening quarter of the year. Tajer Abu Dhabi licences increased 17 percent, helping many home-based traders expand their work. Freelance licences soared 261 percent, a clear sign of strong independent business activity here. Mobdea licences grew 15 percent, supporting Emirati women who run small creative home enterprises. Advertisements rose 26 percent, while promotional offers added a further 2 percent across the quarter.

As I see it, these results point to broad confidence in the local economy. Mohamed Munif Al Mansoori, the Director General of ADRA, addressed the rising business demand. He said the authority will keep pace with ongoing changes across the wider business sector.

WHY THIS MATTERS FOR YOUR NEXT MOVE

Strong Abu Dhabi’s economic licence growth reflects steady progress toward Abu Dhabi’s economic diversification. The emirate keeps shifting away from oil toward sectors like industry, tourism, and technology. For entrepreneurs, simpler procedures and faster approvals make local business setup far more practical. Your timing matters because the new economic licences Abu Dhabi issues keep climbing each quarter. The Abu Dhabi business ecosystem rewards firms ready to act on clear market signals. Abu Dhabi’s economic licence growth gives you a strong reason to plan ahead now.

Mohamed Salah, Egypt’s all-time scorer in waiting after New Zealand win

Mohamed Salah is Egypt’s all-time scorer in waiting, sitting one goal from the national record. He reached 68 international goals after his strike against New Zealand at the World Cup. One more goal will lift him above Hossam Hassan, the longtime Pharaohs record holder. You can sense how close this historic milestone now sits for the Egyptian captain.

Egypt waited 92 years for its first World Cup victory before this New Zealand match. Salah struck the decisive second goal as the Pharaohs came from behind to win. The 3-1 result pushed Egypt to the top of Group G at the tournament. This crucial win put one foot in the Round of 16 for the Pharaohs. His emotion after the final whistle showed how much these Mohamed Salah Egypt goals mean. “I don’t know how to express it,” Salah said right after the historic win. The Salah New Zealand goal will live long in proud Egyptian football memory now.

Mohamed Salah is Egypt’s all-time scorer once he finds the net again for the Pharaohs. The Hossam Hassan Egypt record has stood for years as a fierce national benchmark. Salah now sits one goal short of matching his own coach and former striker. Hassan once led the Pharaohs’ attack for years before moving into the coaching role. As the Salah Pharaohs record scorer race tightens, every Egypt match now carries real weight.

MOHAMED SALAH IS EGYPT’S ALL-TIME SCORER IN EVERYTHING BUT ONE GOAL

The Egypt World Cup 2026 campaign gives Salah more chances to break the scoring record. His final group game against Iran offers the next clear shot at making history. You will watch a player now chasing both a trophy and a personal milestone. From my standpoint, no Egyptian forward has carried this kind of national hope before. Salah had already broken Mohamed Aboutrika’s mark as Egypt’s leading World Cup qualifying scorer.

Years before this run, Salah ended a 28-year World Cup wait for the Pharaohs. He then scored a late stoppage-time penalty against Congo DR before 80,000 home fans. Cairo Stadium erupted as Salah sent his whole country to the global finals again. More recently, he smashed four goals past Djibouti in a single 2026 qualifying match. His stunning haul broke Aboutrika’s qualifying record and lifted his profile even higher still.

Salah also built global fame with Liverpool in the Premier League and Champions League. His earlier spells in Italy with Roma and Fiorentina shaped his sharp attacking style. You can see the same hunger when he pulls on the red Egyptian shirt. Egypt also ranks among Africa’s best with a record seven Cup of Nations titles. Salah now wants a World Cup run to sit beside those proud continental crowns.

EGYPT WORLD CUP 2026 KEEPS HIS RECORD CHASE ALIVE

Mohamed Salah is Egypt’s all-time scorer in spirit, even before the record fully falls. He has carried the Pharaohs to a second World Cup under his own captaincy. Egypt fans now wait to see if Salah passes the Hossam Hassan Egypt record. Your eyes will stay fixed on the Iran match for one truly defining moment. Mohamed Salah is Egypt’s all-time scorer on the night he finally nets his 69th goal.

By Khaled Darwish
3 min read

Partnership

Getty Images surprising deal with OpenAI sends shares soaring over 120%

Getty Images’ surprising deal with OpenAI pushed the company’s stock sharply higher in early Monday trading. Shares of the photo giant jumped more than 120% above Friday’s regular closing price. Early buyers briefly drove the price up over 200% before some gains faded later. The stock settled near $1.35 per share, a strong move for a penny-range name. You might wonder why one licensing announcement moved a quiet stock by this much. The Getty Images OpenAI deal now places its photos inside ChatGPT image search results.

WHY GETTY IMAGES SHARES SOAR ON THE NEWS

Investors saw a clear path toward fresh revenue from a major AI platform partner. The market read this OpenAI ChatGPT partnership as proof of real demand for stock photos. Getty Images’ surprising deal with OpenAI changed sentiment after a long penny-stock trading stretch. When you ask ChatGPT a question now, its reply might show a Getty photo. The image helps illustrate the topic and points users toward the original licensed source. Craig Peters, the chief executive at Getty Images, framed the value of trusted images. He said, “High-quality, licensed visual content makes AI-powered search and discovery more useful and more trustworthy.” His words point to a wider shift in how AI firms handle copyrighted media.

Getty took a hard public line against AI image firms only three years ago. Back in early 2023, the company sued Stability AI over alleged image copyright violations. Users had spotted a twisted Getty watermark inside several Stable Diffusion picture outputs back then. The visible watermark hinted that the model had been trained heavily on Getty’s protected photo library. A court rejected key parts of the claim late last year, weakening Getty’s case. Getty then shifted its strategy and began signing display deals with AI search companies. Back in October 2025, the firm reached a similar display arrangement with Perplexity AI. Both agreements stay displayed only, so neither firm can use the images for training.

WHAT THE GETTY IMAGES OPENAI DEAL MEANS FOR YOU

Getty Images’ surprising deal with OpenAI changes how visual answers now appear inside ChatGPT. You get clearer image credits and a direct link back to the licensed source. The creators behind those photos gain a new way to reach paying business customers. From my standpoint, this approach gives both artists and platforms a fairer shared model. OpenAI keeps building fresh licensing ties as it pushes ChatGPT into search and advertising. Getty Images’ stock now reflects investor hope around steady income from these new partners. Still, the company faces real questions about its long-term revenue and pending business mergers. Regulators have yet to approve its pending 3.7 billion deal to buy Shutterstock.

WHAT COMES NEXT

Watch whether ChatGPT shows clear photo credits right beside each Getty image it displays. The market will track new revenue figures from this OpenAI ChatGPT partnership over time. Analysts remain cautious, with one firm holding a neutral rating on Getty Images stock. Getty Images’ surprising deal with OpenAI shows how fast the photo business is changing. You should follow each update closely, since the next move can shift the price. For now, the licensed visual content market sits at the center of AI growth. Getty Images shares soar today, yet the real test starts over the coming quarters.

By Fatima Al-Nouri
3 min read

Business