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In today’s newsletter:

Check out the latest updates from Arabian Business, where our editorial team has compiled the region's developments from Monday.

The UAE has announced dates for an extended holiday on the account of Eid Al Fitr for the private sector. This means that UAE residents could take advantage of up to a nine-day holiday starting Saturday, April 6 and ending Sunday, April 14. Work will resume on Monday, April 15.

On the real estate front, the Dubai real estate sector could see an increase in villa sales as younger people and investors on lower salaries take an interest in this sort of home, according to Property Finder analysis. Data from the online real estate platform revealed that 40 per cent of sales home seekers are looking to buy villas. Out of this 40 per cent, 85 per cent are looking for three bedroom and above villas.

In addition, Dubai’s flagship carrier Emirates Airlines has announced plans to build its own branded residences in an April Fool’s joke. Units in the 380-story building will include premium quality interiors inspired by Emirates’ in-flight experience, the carrier claimed in a post on X. “The tower will even have its own exclusive airport for residents,” the post stated.

Aside from this, hate speech can result in a one-year prison sentence or a fine of between AED500,000 and AED1 million in the UAE, according to Public Prosecution. In a video posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, Public Prosecution emphasised strict penalties for hate speech.

Meanwhile in Saudi Arabia, the kingdom emergence as a tourism hotspot continues as record numbers of tourists spent more money than ever before. The Kingdom has set a new record in spending by foreign visitors in 2023, as per preliminary data from the Saudi Central Bank regarding the travel item in the balance of payments.

THE LONGER READ:

The government initiatives seemed to be paying off well, with leading global and regional industry players such as Chinese tech giant Tencent and Gamers Hub Media Events striking partnerships with sport bodies and local companies to aggressively expand the country’s gaming sector

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