Dubai has signed an early-stage deal with a Chinese "sky rail" company to look at bringing a new transport network to the emirate.
The Roads and Transport Authority and Zhong Tang Sky Railway Group will explore "futuristic transport systems".
Zhong Tang group is behind a project that was trialled in Chengdu, south-west China. The rail system made headlines for its cute panda-themed carriages.
It is understood the company's sky pod design is one of five under consideration for Dubai.
We aim to develop advanced futuristic transport systems and improve the sustainable transport network to encourage people to use public transport
“Realising this objective requires developing advanced futuristic transport systems and improving the sustainable transport network in Dubai to encourage people to use public transport,” said Abdul Mohsen Younes, chief executive of the RTA’s Rail Agency.
“The ultimate objective is to rank Dubai as the best place for living and business, a destination for visitors, and the smartest and happiest city in the world.”
The suspended monorail in Chengdu runs five metres off the ground and reached speeds of about 60km per hour during testing. It is yet to be expanded in the city, which is the global home of panda breeding.
The 1.4-kilometre-long track near Chengdu Shuangliu Airport has a capability to carry up to 230 passengers at a time.
Carriages are powered by lithium batteries instead of electricity.
Dubai already has a two-line metro network, with both elevated and underground sections, which was widely credited as tackling crippling traffic congestion when it launched a decade ago.
The emirate also has a monorail service on the Palm Jumeirah and a tram service.
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Sharjah's sky pod system in action - in pictures
The RTA deal came a day after the first passengers were given a trial of new Sharjah's sky rail at Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park.
USky Transport of Belarus unveiled its version of a sky rail network.
A working 400-metre test track can carry luxury passenger pods at up to 50 kph, with a cargo line also in operation to transport freight containers.
Developers will take it on to a 2.4km test track by November.
The company has signed a similar agreement in the UAE ahead of construction of a permanent commercial line.
Dubai in market for new mass transit systems
A destination for either sky rail service has yet to be announced, but the technology will have capacity to transport cargo and passengers between key transit points.
Meanwhile other high-speed travel alternatives include a hyperloop system capable of transporting capsules at speeds approaching 1,080kph inside a vacuum tube.
It is not likely to be commercially available until at least 2030.
In November, the DP World-backed Virgin Hyperloop conducted the first successful passenger trip along a 500 metre test track in Las Vegas.
Similar trials are under way with Hyperloop Transportation Technologies in Toulouse, France.
The use of suspended sky-rail transport in Dubai aims to accelerate the mobility of people, provide more affordable transport, encourage community use and curb traffic congestion.
When the city's Urban Master Plan 2040 was unveiled earlier this year, it predicted a boom in population from about 3.3 million in 2020 to 5.8 million by 2040.
“The RTA is aligning its efforts with the national agenda to nurture a sustainable environment in terms of air quality and reliance on clean energy,” said Mr Younes.
“Signing agreements with a host of specialist companies in the development of suspended transport systems will identify the technologies used in this sort of mass transit means."
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
Profile
Company: Libra Project
Based: Masdar City, ADGM, London and Delaware
Launch year: 2017
Size: A team of 12 with six employed full-time
Sector: Renewable energy
Funding: $500,000 in Series A funding from family and friends in 2018. A Series B round looking to raise $1.5m is now live.
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Keep it fun and engaging
Stuart Ritchie, director of wealth advice at AES International, says children cannot learn something overnight, so it helps to have a fun routine that keeps them engaged and interested.
“I explain to my daughter that the money I draw from an ATM or the money on my bank card doesn’t just magically appear – it’s money I have earned from my job. I show her how this works by giving her little chores around the house so she can earn pocket money,” says Mr Ritchie.
His daughter is allowed to spend half of her pocket money, while the other half goes into a bank account. When this money hits a certain milestone, Mr Ritchie rewards his daughter with a small lump sum.
He also recommends books that teach the importance of money management for children, such as The Squirrel Manifesto by Ric Edelman and Jean Edelman.
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
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1. Bantamweight: Victor Nunes (BRA) v Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK)
2. Featherweight: Hussein Salim (IRQ) v Shakhriyor Juraev (UZB)
3. Catchweight 80kg: Rashed Dawood (UAE) v Khamza Yamadaev (RUS)
4. Lightweight: Ho Taek-oh (KOR) v Ronald Girones (CUB)
5. Lightweight: Arthur Zaynukov (RUS) v Damien Lapilus (FRA)
6. Bantamweight: Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) v Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)
7. Featherweight: Movlid Khaybulaev (RUS) v Zaka Fatullazade (AZE)
8. Flyweight: Shannon Ross (TUR) v Donovon Freelow (USA)
9. Lightweight: Mohammad Yahya (UAE) v Dan Collins (GBR)
10. Catchweight 73kg: Islam Mamedov (RUS) v Martun Mezhulmyan (ARM)
11. Bantamweight World title: Jaures Dea (CAM) v Xavier Alaoui (MAR)
12. Flyweight World title: Manon Fiorot (FRA) v Gabriela Campo (ARG)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed
Based: Muscat
Launch year: 2018
Number of employees: 40
Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
Name: Colm McLoughlin
Country: Galway, Ireland
Job: Executive vice chairman and chief executive of Dubai Duty Free
Favourite golf course: Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club
Favourite part of Dubai: Palm Jumeirah
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
