Overview
- The Federal Tax Authority confirmed more than 7,200 approved VAT refund claims worth AED 646 million in 2025 for Emiratis building new homes, citing upgrades such as the Masaken app and municipal e-linkages.
- UAE customs announced 100% electronic services and average clearance times under five minutes, with a best case of 47 seconds, as officials opened the World Customs Organization technology conference in Abu Dhabi.
- Dubai launched Phase 3 of Dubai 10X with three projects: a 20‑Minute City mobility model, an early detection system for chronic diseases initially focused on diabetes, and mini‑airport sites to complete travel formalities across the city.
- UAE leaders met Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari to advance a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and coordinate at the UN during Pakistan’s Security Council term, while UAE–Kuwait ties featured a 29 Jan–3 Feb women’s forum and separate talks to deepen Dubai–Kuwait trade.
- Regional updates included Kurdish administration reports of renewed fighting and Turkish drone strikes near Kobani, continued US strikes targeting Al‑Qaeda in Yemen’s Marib, a CNN report on CIA groundwork for a US presence in Venezuela after Maduro’s arrest, plans for an early‑February Washington conference on Sudan, and US–Iran tensions mixing force signaling with an open door to talks.