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

Spotify Will Now Tell You If Your Favorite Artist Isn’t Real

The streaming platform is introducing an “AI Personas” label and cutting AI-generated artist profiles from its recommendations.

Published

4 days ago

August 12, 2026

Nour Nasir

Spotify

These days, the question of whether the artist you’re streaming actually exists is no longer hypothetical. Spotify intends to combat this issue by introducing a label called “AI Personas” for artist profiles that present an AI-generated, human-like identity rather than a real person. More consequentially, it will also keep those profiles out of its editorial and algorithmic recommendations by default.

From mid-September, listeners will start seeing an AI Persona badge on artist profiles, appearing in the banner and About section, in Search, and on track rows across playlists. Tapping the badge reveals whether the artist disclosed the AI identity themselves, or whether Spotify’s review team made the determination after examining the profile.

That distinction matters, because Spotify is not relying on self-disclosure alone. Artists can flag their own profiles as AI Personas through Spotify for Artists as of today, but the platform will also review profiles whose public identity – including name and imagery – appears to represent photorealistic AI-generated identities. The rollout begins with artists who have met defined audience thresholds, so the labels cover the vast majority of profiles listeners actually visit. Artists badged by Spotify’s reviewers will be notified and can self-disclose or appeal, and in the coming months listeners will be able to report suspected AI Personas themselves.

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The company’s recommendations policy is also being tweaked. Music from AI Personas will not surface in a listener’s personalized recommendations unless, for example, they follow the artist. Spotify says all artists have a creative choice in how they present themselves, but its programming is focused on elevating music from authentic artists building careers in music.

The badge concerns identity, not production of the music itself. An artist who uses AI tools to make music is a separate question, one Spotify addresses through AI Credits and SongDNA. The AI Persona label sits alongside those features, plus Verified by Spotify and Artist Profile Protection, in what the company has made one of its top priorities this year: letting listeners trust that the artist behind the music is who they claim to be.