As the UAE moves into 2026, the business climate feels more focused and ambitious than ever. Capital is moving with purpose, whether it’s the billions flowing into AI, the new financing avenues developers are using to unlock major projects, or the long-term infrastructure spending set out in Dubai’s budget plan. You can see the same momentum in the global links the country is building, from fresh trade pacts to the expanding reach of mobility networks like Etihad Rail.

Our cover story features Herman Narula, Co-founder & CEO of Improbable, MSquared (M²) and Somnia, providing a comprehensive look at the next phase of metaverse innovation. He explains how AI, scalable infrastructure and blockchain-enabled ownership are reshaping virtual environments, and why these forces will define the world’s next major digital industries.

This edition brings together the stories shaping that shift. We look at how Africa may benefit from the UAE’s growing AI ambitions, why investor appetite is rising ahead of the 2026 investment wave, and how digital platforms like WhatsApp are becoming central to Middle East commerce. We explore the record strength of Dubai’s luxury home market, the changing playbook for fitness and sports, and the money powering entertainment destinations with worldwide appeal. We also examine the evolving crypto landscape, the influence of women founders in tech, and the consumer trends that defined premium spending through 2025.

Power, performance and progress are the threads running through all of it. Together, they explain how the UAE is entering 2026, not just with confidence, but with a plan that cuts across technology, trade, real estate, investment and culture.