The City

When the crescent moon heralded Eid Al Adha from June 15 to June 19, 2025, Dubai greeted travelers with a distinctive flourish: a limited-edition “Eid in Dubai” passport stamp, rolled out at Dubai International Airport and the Hatta land border crossing. Led by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA) and designed by Brand Dubai, the stamp featured crescent moons, traditional lantern motifs, and the phrase “Eid in Dubai – 2025” in Arabic and English. This initiative, a seamless blend of cultural heritage and modern hospitality, underscored Dubai’s ambition to remain a global leader in tourism and cultural innovation.

The passport stamp campaign captured the imagination of visitors arriving during the festive season. Social media platforms buzzed with posts, showcasing travelers sharing images of their stamped passports, which amplified Dubai’s festive branding to a global audience. The initiative coincided with a surge in travel, with 629,559 travelers recorded at Dubai’s entry and exit points from June 5 to June 8, 2025, including 581,000 through airports. While the exact number of stamp recipients is not specified, the high volume of airport traffic—part of the 3 million passengers welcomed during the broader festive season, - suggests the campaign reached a significant portion of international arrivals, reinforcing Dubai’s status as the world’s busiest international airport.

Photo credits: Dubai Instagram. 

Alexander Agafiev Macambira

Alexander Agafiev Macambira is former tech contributing writer for Forbes Monaco.

Dubai’s “Cashless Strategy,” an ambitious push to achieve 95% cashless transactions by 2026, is transforming the emirate into a global leader in digital finance. Initially targeting 90% by 2026, the goal was revised upward in early 2025, reflecting rapid adoption of digital payments, according to the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism. A standout feature of this initiative is the integration of cryptocurrency payments for select government and private services, with tokenized real estate transactions reaching $399 million in May 2025, as reported by posts on X.

Launched under the Dubai Blockchain Strategy of 2016, the Cashless Strategy aligns with the emirate’s vision to become a global hub for digital innovation. The Dubai Digital Authority oversees the rollout, enabling payments in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum for services such as property registration and select retail purchases. Emirates NBD, a leading UAE bank, reported a 47% increase in digital wallet transactions in Q1 2025, driven by its Liv platform, which supports crypto payments. The Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), established in 2022, ensures compliance, fostering trust in a sector once plagued by volatility. In 2024, Dubai attracted 1,117 foreign direct investment projects, many in fintech, per fDi Intelligence, underscoring its appeal to blockchain innovators.

The infrastructure is robust. Over 300 government services, including trade licenses and visa processing, now operate on blockchain platforms, reducing processing times by up to 70%, according to the Dubai Digital Authority. In retail, major hubs like Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates have adopted crypto payment systems via QR codes, supported by partnerships with exchanges like Binance. Small businesses benefit from government incentives, such as zero-fee crypto transactions until 2027, encouraging merchants in areas like Al Fahidi’s souk to embrace digital payments. The launch of SuiHub in June 2025, a Web3 innovation hub in Dubai Silicon Oasis backed by VARA and the Sui Foundation, further accelerates this ecosystem, offering startups $100 million in funding and regulatory support.

Economically, the strategy is a powerhouse. Tokenized real estate, leveraging blockchain platforms like the XRP Ledger, accounted for 15% of Dubai’s property transactions in 2025, per VARA data. This has streamlined ownership transfers, cutting costs by 20% compared to traditional methods. The Dubai Economy Tracker noted a 12% rise in fintech-related business registrations in 2024, reflecting the sector’s growth. By positioning itself as a crypto-friendly hub, Dubai aims to capture a slice of the global digital asset market, projected to reach $1.5 trillion by 2030, according to Statista.

Challenges persist. A 2025 YouGov survey revealed that 28% of Dubai residents over 50 prefer cash, citing unfamiliarity with digital systems. To address this, the government has deployed 500 digital literacy kiosks across community centers, targeting 50,000 trainees by mid-2026. Cybersecurity is another concern; Chainalysis reported a 22% increase in global crypto scams in 2024, prompting Dubai to invest $272 million in its 2025 Cyber Security Strategy to safeguard transactions. Market volatility remains a risk—Bitcoin’s 12% drop in April 2025 raised eyebrows—but VARA’s stringent regulations, including mandatory audits for crypto exchanges, have minimized systemic threats. To ensure inclusivity, cash remains accepted for public services until at least 2030, balancing the needs of low-income and migrant communities.

Dubai’s Cashless Strategy is a bold experiment in redefining money. From tokenized art sales at Art Dubai 2025 to blockchain-powered startups, the emirate is weaving digital finance into its fabric. If it can bridge accessibility gaps and maintain regulatory rigor, Dubai could set a blueprint for the world’s financial future, proving that a city can be as innovative in its economy as it is in its skyline.

Photo credits: Dubai Instagram. 

Alexander Agafiev Macambira

Alexander Agafiev Macambira is former tech contributing writer for Forbes Monaco.

In a region where water is scarcer than oil, Dubai is turning the desert into a laboratory for sustainable agriculture. The emirate’s Food Tech Valley, launched in 2021, has become a hub for vertical farming and agritech innovation, producing 10,000 tons of fresh produce annually by 2025, according to the Dubai Ministry of Food Security. Companies like Pure Harvest and Bustanica are using hydroponics and AI-driven climate control to grow leafy greens, berries, and herbs in facilities that use 90% less water than traditional farming.

The urgency is clear: the UAE imports 85% of its food, and global supply chain disruptions, like those seen in 2024 due to Red Sea shipping delays, exposed vulnerabilities. Dubai’s response is a $10 billion investment in food security by 2030, with agritech at its core. Bustanica’s 330,000-square-foot vertical farm, powered entirely by solar energy, now supplies Emirates Airlines with fresh salads, proving the model’s scalability. Meanwhile, startups in Food Tech Valley are experimenting with lab-grown proteins, aiming to reduce reliance on imported meat.

Skeptics point to high initial costs and energy demands, but proponents argue the long-term benefits—food independence and climate resilience—justify the investment. As global temperatures rise, with the UAE recording a record 52.1°C in July 2024, Dubai’s agritech push offers a blueprint for arid regions. The desert, long a symbol of scarcity, may yet become a source of abundance.

Oksana Bozhko

Oksana Bozhko is a Contributor to Dubai Voice.

Dubai’s skyline, already a testament to human ingenuity, is poised for a new chapter. The emirate is accelerating its push to become a global leader in urban air mobility (UAM), with plans to launch commercial electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft services by 2026. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has partnered with companies like Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation to integrate “flying taxis” into the city’s transport ecosystem. These electric aircraft, designed to carry passengers over short distances, promise to cut travel times dramatically—think Sheikh Zayed Road to Dubai Marina in under 10 minutes.

The initiative aligns with Dubai’s Vision 2030 to make 25% of all trips autonomous and sustainable. Trials conducted in 2024 at Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport demonstrated the feasibility of eVTOLs navigating the city’s airspace, with noise levels comparable to a passing car. The RTA estimates that by 2030, UAM could handle 30,000 daily passengers, easing congestion on roads where the average commute time has crept up to 29 minutes in peak hours, according to a 2025 TomTom Traffic Index.

Yet, challenges loom. Regulatory frameworks for air traffic control in densely populated areas are still evolving, and public acceptance hinges on safety assurances. The cost of a ride, projected at $3-$5 per kilometer initially, may limit early adoption to affluent users. Dubai’s gamble is bold but not without precedent—its early adoption of drone delivery and autonomous buses has already reshaped urban logistics. If successful, flying taxis could redefine mobility, not just for Dubai but for cities worldwide watching this experiment unfold.

Photo credits: Dubai Instagram. 

Luiz Costa Macambira

Luiz F. Costa Macambira is the former Publisher of Forbes Monaco and Forbes Netherlands.

 In the heart of Dubai, where glass towers gleam against the desert sun, a quieter revolution is unfolding. The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), a sprawling 110-acre financial hub, is positioning the emirate as a global powerhouse in financial technology. With 2025 initiatives like AI-driven banking platforms and a projected $5.71 billion fintech market by 2029, Dubai is not just keeping pace with global financial trends—it is shaping them.

The DIFC, home to over 6,920 companies, including 27 of the world’s top 29 banks, has become a crucible for fintech innovation. In 2024, its AI and fintech workforce surged by 43 percent, and the newly launched Dubai AI Campus now stands as the region’s largest AI hub. These milestones align with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to propel the city into the top four global financial centers by 2033. “Dubai provides a platform to explore the future of financial services,” said Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and President of DIFC, at the 2021 inauguration of the DIFC Innovation Hub.

The upcoming Dubai FinTech Summit, set for May 12-13, 2025, at Madinat Jumeirah, underscores this ambition. Organized by DIFC, the event will draw over 8,000 industry leaders, 1,000 investors, and 40 financial regulators from 118 countries to discuss AI in finance, open banking, and blockchain. The summit’s FinTech World Cup, which committed $9.25 million to startups in 2024, highlights Dubai’s role as a launchpad for global fintech ventures. “The summit aligns with our strategic goal of driving innovation and inclusion,” Sheikh Maktoum noted.

AI is at the core of Dubai’s fintech push. The UAE Central Bank’s Project Aperta, an open finance network, leverages AI to simplify trade finance for small businesses, cutting costs and transaction times. Meanwhile, AI-driven platforms at DIFC enhance fraud detection, personalize customer experiences, and automate compliance, with the global AI-in-fintech market expected to grow from $44 billion in 2024 to over $50 billion by 2029. “AI is revolutionizing the delivery and usage of fintech in daily life,” a DIFC report stated, citing its role in biometric authentication and risk assessment.

Dubai’s blockchain initiatives, like the Dubai Blockchain Strategy, complement AI by securing transactions and streamlining cross-border payments. In 2025, blockchain-powered transactions are projected to save the UAE $5.5 billion annually, fueling a fintech ecosystem that global markets are eager to emulate. The UAE’s fintech market, valued at $3.16 billion in 2024, is driven by government-backed programs like the DIFC FinTech Hive, which supports over 811 fintech firms—a 35 percent increase from 2022.

Yet, challenges persist. Navigating complex regulations remains a hurdle for startups, despite the UAE’s progressive frameworks under the Central Bank and Dubai Financial Services Authority. Cybersecurity risks also loom, with rising global threats prompting DIFC firms to invest heavily in encryption and risk management. “Balancing innovation with compliance is a delicate act,” said Abhishek Tripathi, Senior Product Director at Careem, praising the UAE’s fintech-friendly ecosystem.

Dubai’s appeal extends beyond technology. Its zero-income-tax policy and long-term residency options ranked it third globally for attracting talent in BCG’s 2024 Decoding Global Talent report. The DIFC Innovation Hub, expanded by 400 percent since 2021, draws unicorns, scale-ups, and innovators, fostering collaborations that ripple across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia.

As the world’s financial systems grapple with AI governance and regulatory scrutiny, Dubai’s model—blending agile regulation, robust infrastructure, and global partnerships—offers a blueprint. The emirate’s fintech surge is not just a local triumph but a global signal: from the sands of Dubai, the future of finance is being coded.

Alexander Agafiev Macambira

Alexander Agafiev Macambira is former tech contributing writer for Forbes Monaco.

The United Arab Emirates, a nation long associated with towering skyscrapers and oil wealth, is now reaching for the stars. Dubai, the UAE’s gleaming hub of innovation, has emerged as a pivotal player in the global space race, forging ambitious partnerships with NASA and private space firms to advance humanity’s extraterrestrial aspirations. Through its contributions to NASA’s Artemis program and a growing ecosystem of space exploration initiatives, the UAE is not only redefining its own future but also reshaping the landscape of international collaboration in space.

In January 2024, NASA and Dubai’s Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) announced a landmark agreement: the UAE will provide the “Emirates Airlock” module for NASA’s Gateway, the first lunar space station designed to orbit the Moon. This airlock, critical for crew and scientific operations in deep space, underscores the UAE’s growing technological prowess. In return, NASA has committed to flying an Emirati astronaut to Gateway on a future Artemis mission, a move that cements the UAE’s role in humanity’s return to the lunar surface. This partnership builds on the UAE’s 2020 signing of the Artemis Accords, a U.S.-led framework promoting peaceful and sustainable space exploration, now endorsed by 55 nations.

The UAE’s space ambitions extend beyond the Moon. The Emirates Mars Mission, launched in 2020, made history as the Arab world’s first interplanetary endeavor, with the Hope probe successfully orbiting Mars in 2021 to study its atmosphere. Collaborations with U.S. institutions, such as the University of Colorado Boulder’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, have furthered the UAE’s exploration of the asteroid belt through the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt, set to investigate water- and carbon-rich asteroids. These missions reflect a strategic vision to contribute to global scientific knowledge while fostering domestic innovation.

Dubai’s space ecosystem is also thriving through private-sector partnerships. In 2025, UAE-based Burjeel Holdings and U.S. company Axiom Space will collaborate to test medical technology on the International Space Station, exploring the effects of microgravity on the human body. Such initiatives highlight the UAE’s ability to bridge public and private efforts, leveraging American expertise while cultivating its own capabilities. The UAE Space Agency, established in 2014, has driven this growth by investing over $6 billion in space-related industries, supported by a national fund and partnerships with global firms like ICEYE and Yahsat.

The UAE’s rapid ascent in space exploration is remarkable for a nation with a relatively young space program. Since its founding, the MBRSC has grown from a team of five engineers to a powerhouse overseeing Earth observation satellites, astronaut training, and lunar missions. The UAE’s KhalifaSat, a home-built satellite launched in 2018, monitors environmental changes and aids urban planning, while the MBZ-Sat, launched in 2024, further enhances its Earth observation capabilities. These achievements are bolstered by international cooperation, including launches facilitated by Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and collaborations with NASA on astronaut training.

Yet, the UAE’s space ambitions are not without challenges. Its heavy reliance on foreign technology and expertise underscores the need for continued investment in domestic talent and infrastructure. The UAE Space Agency is addressing this through initiatives like the Arab Space Pioneers Program, a three-year training effort to nurture young talent, and partnerships with universities to advance space science education. Events like the Abu Dhabi Space Debate and the Dubai Air Show further position the UAE as a regional hub for space dialogue and innovation, fostering collaboration with global partners.

For the global community, the UAE’s contributions signal a broader democratization of space exploration. As NASA Administrator Bill Nelson has noted, the Artemis program is the most diverse coalition in human space exploration history, with contributions from Canada, Europe, Japan, and now the UAE. This inclusivity ensures that the benefits of space—scientific breakthroughs, technological innovation, and economic growth—are shared widely. The UAE’s airlock module, for instance, will enable groundbreaking research in deep space, paving the way for future missions to Mars.

Dubai’s ascent in space is a testament to what bold vision and international cooperation can achieve. By investing in talent, forging strategic partnerships, and contributing to humanity’s lunar ambitions, the UAE is not just reaching for the stars but helping to chart a course for a more collaborative and sustainable future in space. As the Artemis program advances, the world should take note: the UAE, with Dubai at its heart, is proving that even the sky is not the limit.

Photo credits: Dubai Instagram. 

In a world increasingly defined by digital innovation, Dubai has emerged as a beacon of progress, climbing eight spots to secure the fourth position in the 2025 IMD Smart City Index. This remarkable achievement, announced by the IMD World Competitiveness Center, places Dubai ahead of all cities in the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Arab world, and Asia, underscoring its transformation into a global leader in urban innovation. The city’s rise reflects not just technological prowess but a broader vision to enhance the lives of its residents through smart, sustainable, and inclusive urban development.

The IMD Smart City Index, now in its sixth year, evaluates cities based on how effectively they harness digital technologies to improve quality of life. Drawing from resident surveys, the index measures performance across critical pillars: health, mobility, activities, governance, and opportunities. Dubai’s standout performance includes an 84.5 out of 100 satisfaction score for online medical appointment booking, 86.5% confidence in internet speeds, and 85.4% approval for digital identification processing. The city also excels in health services (82.8), access to green spaces (83.4%), recycling (84.3%), and cultural activities (86.5%). These metrics reflect a city attuned to its residents’ needs, leveraging technology to deliver seamless, high-quality services.

Dubai’s progress is not merely statistical. It is the result of a deliberate, government-led strategy to integrate cutting-edge technologies into the fabric of urban life. Mattar Al Tayer, head of Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority, emphasized the collaborative effort behind this milestone. “This ranking is a testament to the synergy between government and private sectors,” he said, highlighting Dubai’s ambition to become the world’s smartest city. The city’s transportation sector, in particular, outshines global leaders like Zurich, Oslo, and Geneva, with superior adoption of vehicle-sharing (67.9%), smart parking (73.8%), and bicycle rental apps (70%). By incorporating artificial intelligence and big data, Dubai has reduced traffic congestion by up to 25%, a tangible improvement for its residents.

The city’s digital ambitions are ambitious yet precise. The Roads and Transport Authority’s Digital Strategy 2023–2030, backed by a $435 million investment, includes 82 projects aimed at achieving 95% digital service adoption and developing 50 AI use cases. A complementary Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2030 focuses on intelligent traffic management, smart licensing, and seamless mobility, reinforcing Dubai’s commitment to a connected, future-ready ecosystem. Meanwhile, the Dubai Digital Strategy seeks to digitize all facets of life, positioning the emirate among the world’s top three cities for living and economic opportunity.

This vision extends beyond infrastructure. Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, noted that the city’s ranking reflects its leadership in digital transformation and sustainable security. “Our progress stems from collaboration and a commitment to innovative, proactive solutions,” he said, emphasizing Dubai’s role as a global benchmark for smart, secure cities. Similarly, Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid of the Community Development Authority highlighted the city’s focus on inclusive access to services, ensuring that technological advancements benefit all residents. “Quality of life is at the heart of our development efforts,” she said.

Dubai’s cultural sector also plays a pivotal role. Hala Badri, Director General of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, credited the vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for driving the city’s transformation. By integrating advanced technologies into cultural initiatives, Dubai fosters creativity and innovation, making art and culture accessible to all. Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori of Digital Dubai described the ranking as a reflection of residents’ lived experiences. “This is not just about technology—it’s about how it simplifies life and creates opportunities,” he said.

As cities worldwide grapple with the challenges of urbanization, Dubai offers a compelling model: a city where technology serves people, not the other way around. Its ascent in the IMD Smart City Index is a reminder that innovation, when paired with a clear vision and collaborative spirit, can redefine what it means to live in a modern metropolis. Dubai’s journey is far from over, but its trajectory signals a future where smart cities are not just efficient but equitable, vibrant, and human-centered.