Hello reader,

In today’s newsletter:

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:

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced a change to the minimum top-up amount for nol cards at Dubai Metro ticket offices. Passengers will need to add a minimum of AED50 when topping up their cards.

In addition, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has completed the construction of 20 air-conditioned rest areas for delivery riders across the emirate, with plans to build a total of 40. The initiative aims to improve road safety and reduce incidents involving delivery drivers.

Aside from this, Etihad Airways transported more than 10.4m passengers in the first seven months of the year, according to preliminary traffic figures. The airline welcomed 1.7m passengers in July, achieving a robust average load factor of 89 per cent for the month.

On the real estate front, Dubai’s residential property market showed robust growth in July 2024, according to the latest ValuStrat Price Index (VPI) report. The VPI grew 2.2 percent monthly to reach 178.2 points, representing a 28.5 percent annual increase. Villas outperformed apartments, with the villa sub-index achieving 232.1 points compared to 149.6 points for apartments. Both figures are measured against a baseline of 100 points established in January 2021.

Meanwhile in Saudi Arabia, a major SR13bn ($3.5bn) Riyadh roads project has been launched to transform transport in and around the city. The Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) has announced the commencement of the First Phase of Riyadh’s main and ring road development program. This phase includes the awarding of four major projects with a combined budget exceeding SR13bn ($3.5bn).

THE LONGER READ:

What is drawing Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to Dubai’s real estate market, and what should they know before investing? Experts weigh in

Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Subscribe now.