Dubai this week: Student Card launch, Al Khaleej Street Tunnel and DIP Holding listing

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) launched the Dubai Student Card on Wednesday, November 11, and DIP Holding began trading on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) the same day at AED 1.12 a share. The Al Khaleej Street Tunnel opened on Sunday, November 8, and Emaar Properties’ AED 15 a share offer for Emaar Development closes at 3pm on Thursday, December 10.

Student Card from Wednesday, tunnel open since November 8

One card for student ID, nol and ISIC. Dubai’s RTA launched the card with the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), TECOM Group’s Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Park, and the International Student Identity Card Association (ISIC). It combines campus identification, nol fares at up to 50 per cent off and ISIC benefits, and is being rolled out in phases. Institutions that want to take part apply through www.dubaistudentcard.ae. The Student nol card costs AED 70 and the ISIC version AED 95, each with a pre-loaded AED 20 balance and free delivery. Students aged 5 to 23 enrolled in the UAE are eligible, and applicants log in with UAE Pass. Where KHDA records are retrieved electronically, cards arrive within two working days. Full story

A 1,650-metre tunnel opens in Deira. The RTA opened the Al Khaleej Street Tunnel on Sunday, November 8, with three lanes in each direction between Infinity Bridge, Deira and Al Mamzar. Its combined capacity is 12,000 vehicles per hour. It is part of the Al Shindagha Corridor Development Project, which the RTA says will cut journey time from 1 hour 44 minutes to 16 minutes by 2030. Full story

IP Clinic becomes permanent. The Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) said on Monday that the Intellectual Property Clinic is now an ongoing one-to-one service following a pilot. Eligible Emirati founders register interest through DFF. Sessions cover which brand assets may warrant protection, trademark classes and ownership before registration begins. Fees and session length were not given. Full story

DIP Holding lists at AED 1.12; Emaar offer closes December 10

The UAE’s first IPO of 2026. DIP Holding PLC, owner of Dubai Investments Park, began trading on DFM under the ticker DIP after raising about AED 1.9 billion. The offer covered 20 per cent of its capital and values the company at about AED 9.7 billion. Dubai Investments PJSC was the sole seller and keeps 80 per cent. DIP Holding expects annualised dividends of AED 700 million for FY2026, with the first post-IPO payment of AED 350 million expected in April 2027. Full story

Emaar Properties’ offer for Emaar Development. The voluntary cash offer of AED 15 a share for all shares Emaar Properties does not hold opened on Friday, November 6. Acceptances are made through Emirates NBD’s offer portal or by acceptance form, using a DFM National Investor Number. Cash is paid within three business days of the offer becoming unconditional. The price is 19.4 per cent above the AED 12.56 close on Monday, November 2. If holdings reach 90 per cent, it intends compulsory acquisition and a delisting application. Results are due on Friday, December 11. Full story

Emaar Development’s nine months. The developer said on Thursday, November 5, that net profit after tax rose 24 per cent to AED 10.8 billion on revenue up 26 per cent at AED 22.2 billion. Property sales were AED 26.2 billion, against AED 52.9 billion a year earlier. Revenue backlog stood at AED 119.8 billion. The 2025 profit figure was before tax, so the two are not like for like. Full story

ALEC Holdings reports a 56 per cent revenue rise. The DFM-listed construction group said on Wednesday that nine-month revenue rose to AED 13,896 million from AED 8,906 million, and owners’ profit to AED 589 million from AED 430 million. Contract costs grew faster than revenue, and net cash from operations fell to AED 505.6 million from AED 1,052.7 million. Full story

Dubai Taxi Company’s revenue up, profit down. Third-quarter revenue rose 25.7 per cent to AED 735.5 million on the consolidation of National Taxi from July 8, while net profit fell 25.3 per cent to AED 57.1 million. On a like-for-like basis taxi revenue declined 6.0 per cent. The combined operational fleet reached 15,388 vehicles. Full story

Empower’s contracted capacity passes 2 million RT. The district cooling provider said on Thursday, November 5, that nine-month net profit after tax rose 10.6 per cent to AED 762 million on revenue of AED 2.71 billion. Contracted capacity reached 2.06 million refrigeration tons, and 94 new agreements were signed. Full story

Shopping Festival opens December 4; AeroPress runs to November 14

Dubai Shopping Festival’s 32nd edition. Organiser Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE) said on Tuesday that the festival runs 45 days from Friday, December 4, to January 17, 2027. Two Coca-Cola Arena concerts open it: Rashid Al Majed on December 4 and Steve Aoki on December 5. The Dubai Lights show runs nightly from December 5, 7.30pm to 10.30pm, between The Beach, JBR, and Bluewaters Island. A free Hatta concert is on Wednesday, December 2. Full story

AeroPress Championship at Almas Tower. The tenth UAE AeroPress Championship runs from November 12 to 14 in Jumeirah Lakes Towers, with free public entry and competitions from 6pm each evening. Dubai’s competitors take part on Friday, November 13, and the 21 finalists meet in the national final on Saturday, November 14. The winner earns a place at the World AeroPress Championship in Mexico City on December 6. Listing

FIBA 3×3 World Tour debut. Fourteen teams played the first Dubai stop at Festival Bay on Friday and Saturday, November 6 and 7, with free entry for fans who registered in advance. Listing

Coming up

• Friday, November 13: Dubai competitors in the UAE AeroPress Championship, from 6pm.
• Saturday, November 14: AeroPress national final.
• Wednesday, December 2: free Hatta candlelight concert.
• Friday, December 4: Dubai Shopping Festival opens.
• Thursday, December 10: Emaar Properties’ offer closes at 3pm.
• Friday, December 11: results of the offer due.