The UAE enters 2026 with strong momentum across its economic, regulatory, and technological landscape. 

This month, we examine how future-readiness is taking tangible form across the economy. We look at where capital is moving in real estate and why investor confidence continues to hold at exceptional levels. We also assess the banking sector’s transition away from SMS and email OTPs, a clear signal of how digital identity and security frameworks are being redefined for the next era. Policy transformation remains a central driver. The UAE’s 2026 tax reforms and Dubai’s record-setting budget demonstrate how fiscal strategy is being deployed to attract global business, elevate competitiveness, and reinforce the country’s position as a hub for wealth, innovation, and long-term growth. 

Our cover story features Patrick Ngan, Chief Investment Officer at Zeta Network Group where he discusses how institutions should approach digital assets, the evolution of Bitcoin as a treasury instrument, and why governance, not speculation, should drive institutional adoption. Drawing on his experience across Hong Kong, New York, Singapore, and Tokyo, he offers a measured perspective on what distinguishes experimentation from operational integration. 

Amid this momentum, 2026 is also the Year of the Family, a reminder that national progress is strongest when economic ambition is anchored in social stability and community priorities. It provides an important backdrop to the broader transformation underway. 

This edition brings together the developments that matter most today, the forces that will shape how people invest, build, innovate, and live in the year ahead. Welcome to the January 2026 edition.