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Stay informed with the latest updates from Arabian Business, where our dedicated editorial team brings you a diverse range of stories. Here's what you missed over the weekend:

The UAE tourism sector continues to record remarkable performance in international tourist arrivals and hotel bookings, aligning with the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031, which aims to attract AED100bn ($27.2bn) in tourism investments and boost the sector’s contribution to the GDP to AED450bn ($122.5bn) by 2031. In 2023, the tourism sector contributed 11.7 per cent of the UAE’s GDP, totalling AED220bn ($59.9bn), and is expected to rise to 12 per cent or AED236bn ($64.3bn) in 2024, according to figures from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).

Meanwhile, Dubai Municipality has completed a giant $7m beautification project, which is visible from airplane passengers entering the city by air. The Municipality has announced the completion of a beautification and greening project at the intersection of Airport Road and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, as part of ongoing efforts to enhance the city’s aesthetic appeal and profile as a unique global tourist destination.

Aside from this, the UAE has announced a holiday for government workers to recognise the Prophet’s Birthday. The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) has issued a circular to all ministries and federal entities regarding the Prophet’s Birthday holiday in the federal government, for the year 1446 AH.

In Saudi Arabia, the kingdom has announced new customs rules, including the waiving of fees for services and new import regulations. The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) has announced a decision regarding the Fee Rules on Customs Services, which includes specifying the fees on customs services provided by ZATCA and the conditions for fulfilling them.

In addition, Saudi Arabia will have a four-day holiday for some workers and students to celebrate the Kingdom’s 94^th National Day, according to local media reports. The Kingdom celebrates its national day on September 23rd of each. This year, the date falls on a Monday and will see some employees and students given an extended weekend break, according to a report.

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