News

Dubai’s Finance Strategy For 2026 Hopes To Achieve Financial Sustainability

Dubai’s Department of Finance has unveiled a strategic plan for 2026 that looks to achieve objectives laid out in the Dubai Strategy 2030.

Published

4 years ago

August 3, 2022

Nour Nasir

dubai's finance strategy for 2026 hopes to achieve financial sustainability

Dubai’s Department of Finance recently announced its official “Finance Strategy for 2026”, which ties in with the Dubai Strategy 2030 project, an ambitious plan to elevate Dubai as a global platform for knowledge-based, sustainable, and innovation-focused businesses.

The director of the Department of Finance’s Strategy & Corporate Performance Division, Jasim Mohamad Al Zarooni, noted that the plan is based on the vision of “Global leadership and innovative financial sustainability”, centered around six ambitious objectives that were originally laid out in the Smart Dubai 2021 roadmap, with a plan to achieve financial sustainability and a fair and efficient distribution of resources within the emirate.

Here are the six strategic objectives in brief:

A Smart, Liveable & Resilient City

With improved connectedness, simplified and sustainable living, plus all of the critical infrastructure to boost efficiency and promote resilience.

A Globally Competitive Economy Powered By Disruptive Technologies

Pioneering new rules of economic development and engagement to transition to a circular economy that shares assets and resources, whilst building an inspired and highly productive workforce.

An Interconnected Society With Easily Accessible Social Services

Improve quality of life for both residents and visitors by embracing technology to streamline the emirate’s social, cultural, education, and healthcare experiences.

Smooth Transport, Driven By Autonomous & Shared Mobility Solutions

Pioneer smart innovative mobility solutions and automation for a seamless and safe transportation experience in the emirate and reduce commuting time.

A Clean Environment Enabled By Cutting-Edge ICT Innovations

Ensure the sustainability and quality of the emirate’s resources (water, air, energy, and land) for residents and visitors and digitally transform utilities, manufacturing, transportation, and waste treatment.

A Digital, Lean, And Connected Government

Eliminate the need to physically interact with government departments by providing 100% of eligible public services through digital channels and targeting full digital adoption.

The government aims to turn Dubai into the preferred manufacturing platform for global businesses, promoting energy-efficient and environmentally friendly manufacturing while fostering a culture of knowledge and innovation that could turn the emirate into a central hub for the global Islamic products market.

News

Abu Dhabi’s Robot Kitchen Is Serving Up Biryani, Not Burgers

Circus SE wants to put a tiny automated factory inside the buildings where Gulf residents live and work, bypassing part of last-mile delivery.

Published

6 days ago

October 20, 2026

Nour Nasir

abu dhabi's robot kitchen is serving up biryani not burgers

Circus SE

The most telling thing about a new autonomous kitchen now running in Abu Dhabi’s Marina Square is what it won’t cook:

“We don’t do fast food,” says Nikolas Bullwinkel, Founder and CEO of Circus SE. “We’ve actively decided not to build a machine that can only do burgers”.

Instead, the CA-1 system is built around pot-based cooking: curries, pastas, soups and rice dishes. After experimenting with highly personalized recipes, Circus deliberately leaned back toward recognizable food. “We’re going with a chicken biryani because you know it,” Bullwinkel says of the AED 40 dish.

circus se ca-1 robot system

The Germany-based robotics and food technology company operates across eight countries, and Abu Dhabi is its first deployment outside Europe. More locations are expected there and in Dubai.

In Germany, its units can be placed in supermarkets, gas stations, airports and hospitals. In the Gulf, Bullwinkel wants them inside residential and office buildings, replacing some of the complexity of last-mile delivery. “We’re basically bringing a very tiny factory a few square meters into your building,” he says. Catering company Royal Prestige supplies the ingredients and knowledge of local tastes.

The CA-1 manages up to 36 refrigerated ingredient silos alongside automated induction cooking, robotic plating and a self-cleaning dishwasher. Two robotic arms move ingredients through the system with minimal human intervention. It can produce up to 120 hot meals an hour, and a meal such as rice and curry can take around three to four minutes.

Also Read: Ooredoo Qatar’s 5G+ Network Is Built For Machines As Much As People

Five cameras and multiple sensors monitor heat, temperature and consistency, an attempt to approximate what a chef perceives. “You can hear something gets burned, you can smell it, you can see it at some point,” Bullwinkel says. CircusOS, the company’s operating system, adjusts recipes in real time.

You might think of the platform as a threat to kitchen staff, but Bullwinkel frames Circus as a way for chefs to develop recipes and distribute them at scale. With that being said, rising labor costs and shortages are also part of his case for automation.