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Adnan Al-Jaziri

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Adnan Al-Jaziri brings nearly a decade of reporting on the economy sector in the Gulf, contributing features to Arab News MENA and The Gulf Today in Business. His background in communication has shaped a career focused on explaining finance’s role in economic transformation. He studied Media and Communication at University in Dubai.
Abu Dhabi F1 race December 2026
  • ADGP

Formula One has confirmed the Abu Dhabi F1 race in December 2026 will close the championship at Yas Marina Circuit, with the event running from December 3 to 6. Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula One, said the schedule stands as published. “The calendar is confirmed,” he said. He added preparations are near complete and a small number of seats remain unsold.

That statement settles a question left open for much of the year. Regional tensions linked to the Iran war had raised doubts about whether the championship could stage its closing rounds in the Gulf. Two races in the region were already lost. Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were cancelled, and the Bahrain round was later rescheduled to October 4 at a circuit in Malaysia. Qatar keeps its November 29 slot, which places two Gulf events back-to-back at the end of the 2026 F1 calendar.

A Finale with a Long Record

Yas Marina Circuit joined the schedule in 2009 and has staged the F1 season finale every year since 2014. Five drivers have taken world titles at the venue. It sits on Yas Island, a purpose-built leisure district east of the capital, and the layout runs from daylight into floodlit night. Race day falls on Sunday, December 6, and the Abu Dhabi F1 race in December 2026 will be the last round of the year.

What the Abu Dhabi F1 race December 2026 means for the emirate

Saood Abdulaziz Al Hosani, Undersecretary of the Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi, said hosting the championship since 2009 has created opportunities across tourism, hospitality and the events sector. He said organisers look forward to receiving international fans for the close of the season.

The weekend is built around more than track running. Concerts and hospitality programmes operate across Yas Island through the four days. Confirmed acts include Zara Larsson, Lewis Capaldi and Imagine Dragons, with further names expected. Saif Rashid Al Noaimi, chief executive of promoter Ethara, said work at the circuit continues on schedule. Abu Dhabi Grand Prix tickets are close to sold out, and organisers have advised fans to check what remains before the weekend.

The Wider Economic Reading

For the emirate, the value of the Abu Dhabi F1 race in December 2026 rests in the programme built around it rather than the race alone. Al Hosani framed the fixture as a source of activity in tourism, hospitality and events, three sectors Abu Dhabi has expanded as part of a longer move away from dependence on oil revenue. Qatar and Saudi Arabia have taken similar routes, using major sporting fixtures to draw visitors and build service industries with year-round demand.

The confirmation also carries a signal about scheduling risk. Formula One has shown it will move or drop rounds when conditions require it, as the Bahrain relocation showed. Holding the finale in place tells host cities across the region that contracts remain workable. For Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2026, that assurance arrives at the point when hotels, airlines and tour operators need certainty to sell the weekend.

Whether the drivers’ title is still open when the field reaches Yas Marina will shape global attention on the race. The commercial case for the event no longer depends on that alone.

  • 3 min read
Sharjah Excellence Award
  • Sharjah

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has announced the launch of the 2026 edition of the Sharjah Excellence Award, with the final registration and submission deadline set for the end of January 2027.

Held annually under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, the award honours companies, establishments, and individuals that demonstrate outstanding institutional performance, promoting a culture of quality, innovation, and excellence across the business environment.

The Chamber encouraged private-sector companies and entrepreneurs from across the UAE and the wider GCC to participate in the 2026 edition and submit their applications within the specified timeframe.

Participants will have access to a comprehensive programme of awareness sessions, training workshops, and development initiatives delivered by SCCI alongside the award’s evaluation process. The assessment framework will focus on key performance dimensions, including quality, innovation, organisational excellence, and positive social and community impact.

The Sharjah Chamber highlighted that registration is open to all establishments and companies under an advanced global assessment model based on fourth-generation excellence standards. The 2026 Sharjah Excellence Award features categories spanning a broad spectrum of economic, developmental, and corporate social responsibility activities.

These categories include the Sharjah Gulf Localisation Award, the Sharjah Gulf Excellence Award, the Sharjah Excellence Award, the Sharjah Entrepreneurs Award, the Sharjah Small and Medium Enterprises Award, the Sharjah Social Responsibility Award, the Sharjah Entrepreneurs with Disability Award, and the Sharjah Best Security Standards Award.

The Sharjah Excellence Award builds on a strong track record of achievements since its inception, establishing itself as a comprehensive platform for benchmarking and recognising organisational excellence across sectors.

Previous editions have attracted more than 800 participants, with a panel of over 650 assessors evaluating submissions and 80 experienced judges adjudicating them. The award has also expanded its scope to cover more than 30 sectors, reflecting its broad and inclusive assessment framework, which is designed to promote institutional excellence and strengthen performance standards across the business community.

Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of SCCI and of the Sharjah Excellence Award’s Board of Trustees, said the award continues to serve as a leading platform for driving performance excellence across the private sector.

He noted that the award’s integrated framework enables businesses and institutions to assess and benchmark their performance against internationally recognised standards, identify strategic areas for improvement, and strengthen their innovation and sustainability capabilities.

He added that the award’s approach is designed to help businesses respond effectively to rapid transformations shaping the business environment, enhance organisational resilience, and strengthen their readiness to meet the evolving requirements of the future economy.

Nada Al Hajri, General Coordinator of the Sharjah Excellence Award, stated that the award continues to leverage digital solutions to deliver a more efficient, user-friendly experience and to enhance the registration and evaluation processes. She noted that this approach supports SCCI’s commitment to developing the award framework in line with internationally recognised standards for institutional practice.

She explained that the Sharjah Chamber has simplified the application process, allowing establishments to register conveniently via the award’s official website by completing the online registration form, selecting the appropriate category, and uploading the required documents. For private-sector establishments, applicants must provide a valid trade licence and an SCCI membership certificate.

Al Hajri added that the Award Office reviews submitted applications and communicates the outcome to applicants. Establishments that meet the eligibility requirements are then provided with the relevant participation file for their selected category, enabling them to proceed with the nomination process within the designated timelines.

Al Hajri noted that the Sharjah Excellence Award is open to private-sector establishments and institutions across the UAE across its various categories, subject to category-specific eligibility requirements. Exceptions include the Sharjah Excellence Award category, which is exclusively open to Sharjah-based private-sector establishments; the Sharjah Gulf Excellence Award, for which winners are nominated by the Award’s Board of Trustees; and the Sharjah Social Responsibility Award, which targets private-sector establishments and government entities based in Sharjah.

She encouraged eligible entities to submit their applications at the earliest opportunity and confirmed that the Award Office remains available to address enquiries.

Welcome to the Sharjah Excellence Award

It is with great pride that we welcome you to the Sharjah Excellence Award, a prestigious initiative launched under the vision of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah.

For over three decades, the Award has stood as a beacon of excellence, innovation, and sustainability across the Gulf region, recognizing outstanding organizations and individuals who embody the highest standards of quality, leadership, and social responsibility.

The Award not only celebrates achievement but also inspires continuous growth, empowering businesses and entrepreneurs to contribute to Sharjah’s position as a hub of excellence, competitiveness, and global best practices.

We invite you to explore this platform, discover the remarkable journeys of our honorees, and join us in celebrating a legacy of success that continues to shape the future of business excellence in the region.

  • 5 min read
UAE Islamic finance strategy
  • Finance

The UAE Islamic finance strategy sets a target of Dh2.56 trillion in local Islamic bank assets by 2031, part of a wider effort to root Shari’ah-compliant finance deeper in the national economy. Islamic banking assets in the country stood at Dh1.4 trillion as of June 2026, and 43 Islamic financial institutions now hold licences. The UAE ranked third worldwide in the Islamic Finance Development Indicator for 2025. Those figures give the plan a base to build from.

Targets under the plan sit inside the UAE Strategy for Islamic Finance and Halal Industry 2025 to 2031, which the Cabinet approved in May 2025. The Central Bank of the UAE is coordinating with federal and local bodies to tie Islamic finance and the halal industry more closely to the broader economic agenda. Two goals run through it. Scale the sector, and give it firmer legal ground.

Clearer rules under the UAE Islamic finance strategy

Much of the UAE Islamic finance strategy turns on legal and Shari’ah certainty. The Commercial Transactions Law, Federal Decree-Law No. 50 of 2022, carries a dedicated chapter on Islamic finance contracts and financing arrangements. It ties parts of the law to Shari’ah standards issued by the Higher Shari’ah Authority and sets out how to read those provisions and settle disputes. Once the Higher Shari’ah Authority approves them, the Central Bank can issue regulations of its own.

The framework works toward clearer rights and obligations, standard Shari’ah interpretations, and fewer legal disputes tied to Islamic financial transactions. For customers and banks alike, that means fewer grey areas.

Costs and supervision

The Central Bank Law, Federal Decree-Law No. 6 of 2025, governs how Islamic financial institutions operate and how supervisors oversee them. Under its terms, these institutions can handle transactions involving real estate and goods where a Shari’ah-compliant structure calls for it. The law also exempts Islamic financial transactions from registration requirements and similar fees or costs. Customer protection ranks among the framework’s stated goals, next to stronger trust in Islamic finance services and a legal setting that supports new products.

Established at the Central Bank in 2018, the Higher Shari’ah Authority works to bring Shari’ah practice into line across institutions. It has issued more than 280 standards and resolutions to govern Islamic financial transactions and narrow differences in interpretation, along with more than nine Shari’ah governance standards. Prudential standards covering financial integrity, risk management and stability complete the supervisory base.

Beyond banking

The UAE Islamic finance strategy reaches past the banks. Plans under it develop the market for sukuk, Islamic money markets and Islamic funds, while backing larger and more competitive institutions. Sukuk issuances form a central part of that ambition. The plan also draws Islamic finance in the UAE closer to the halal economy. It calls for more local production of high-value halal goods, a halal traceability system to support re-exports, and added backing for SMEs and technology startups in the sector.

Set against the region, the direction fits a pattern. Islamic finance in the UAE is shifting from a parallel channel toward a core part of how the economy raises and moves capital. The UAE Islamic finance strategy puts a number and a date on that move, and Dh2.56 trillion is the figure to watch.

  • 3 min read
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