UAE: With the start of the year 2026, several new policies and laws related to various sectors have been implemented in the United Arab Emirates.
According to foreign media, eight important laws and regulations have been implemented since January 1, which are related to education, worship, health, environment, travel facilities, civic order and the digital economy.
Under the new policy, school hours have been reduced on Fridays so that students and educational staff can perform Friday prayers on time. The aim of this decision is to strike a balance between educational activities and religious obligations.
According to reports, the timings of Friday prayers and sermons in the UAE have been made uniform throughout the country, while Friday prayers will be offered at 1:45 p.m. Citizens have been instructed to go to mosques on time to listen to the sermon.
The flat 50% tax on sugary drinks has been abolished from January 1 and is now being applied according to the amount of sugar, which is aimed at controlling health-related issues.
Regarding travel facilities, the scope of the red carpet service at Dubai Airport has been expanded. This facility, which was previously limited to business class passengers, is now being introduced for passengers arriving at Terminal 3, where the immigration process can be completed quickly through smart gates.
Under the environmental protection, the manufacture, import and sale of single-use plastic items such as cups, plates, cutlery, straws and Styrofoam food containers has been banned across the country from 2026.
More items have been restricted under the final phase of the plastic ban in Dubai.
In the digital economy, content creators and influencers who earn income through advertising content on social media have been made mandatory to obtain an advertiser license from the UAE Media Council by January 31, 2026.
Similarly, paid parking is being launched under Parkonic in the Discovery Gardens area of Dubai, where each residential unit will be issued a free parking permit.
