UAE September 2026: Rail expansion, tax changes and major events

Etihad Rail reaches Dubai

On September 30, Etihad Rail's passenger network will extend to Dubai, connecting the emirate with Abu Dhabi in what marks the second phase of the country's expanding rail service. The new route will link Mohamed bin Zayed City station in Abu Dhabi with Al Yalayis Station in Dubai, with journey times of approximately 57 minutes.

The Dubai station will open alongside Al Dhaid station in Sharjah, further expanding connectivity options for residents.

This expansion builds on the initial passenger service launch on June 30, 2026, when trains first began operating between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah, completing that journey in 1 hour 45 minutes. The trains operate at speeds up to 200 km/h and can carry up to 400 passengers per service. Once fully operational, the network is projected to handle 36.5 million passengers annually by 2030.

Ticket prices for the existing Abu Dhabi-Fujairah route start from Dh55 in Comfort Class and Dh120 in Premium Class, with bookings available through the Etihad Rail app and website.

The rail network already operates freight services, which launched in February 2023. By 2026, these operations had transported 1.8 million tonnes of sulphur, over 4 million tonnes of aggregates, and more than 129,000 containers, eliminating over 340,000 truck journeys and reducing carbon emissions by 70-80% per trip.

The eventual passenger network will connect 11 cities and areas across the UAE, offering residents an alternative to road travel between emirates.

Museum of the Future closes for renovation

Dubai's Museum of the Future will temporarily close from September 1 as it begins a major overhaul of its exhibitions. The landmark attraction, which opened on February 22, 2022, will replace its current galleries with new immersive and interactive experiences.

The museum, named by National Geographic in July 2021 as one of the 14 most beautiful museums on the planet, is expected to reopen in the first quarter of 2027, around its fifth anniversary.

The revamped exhibitions will explore scientific, technological and societal developments shaping the future, informed by more than 1,000 ideas submitted by people worldwide.

New minimum excise price for vaping liquids

From September 1, the UAE will introduce a minimum excise price of Dh1 per millilitre for liquids used in electronic smoking devices. The measure aims to strengthen excise tax compliance and ensure consistent standards across tobacco and electronic smoking products.

The UAE introduced excise taxes in 2017, initially covering tobacco products and high-sugar beverages, before expanding the programme in 2019. Vaping and e-cigarette liquids are currently subject to a 100 per cent excise tax rate.

The minimum excise price is used to calculate excise tax and differs from a minimum retail price. Under the new measure, a 10ml bottle will have a minimum excise price of Dh10, while 30ml and 60ml bottles will have minimum excise prices of Dh30 and Dh60, respectively.

Existing minimum excise prices for other tobacco products remain unchanged.

Dubai Mallathon concludes

The Dubai Mallathon 2026 will run until September 15, bringing the three-month initiative to a close. The programme, which was expanded this year into an annual three-month event, ran from June 15 to September 15 across participating Dubai malls.

Residents could walk, jog or run indoors between 6am and 10am, providing a free, air-conditioned alternative to outdoor exercise during the UAE summer.

Nafis programme enters new phase

Several changes to Nafis support for Emiratis working in the private and banking sectors take effect in September as part of the programme's extension to 2040.

The Nafis programme was originally launched in September 2021 as part of the UAE's Projects of the 50, backed by a Dh24 billion budget over five years, with the goal of employing 75,000 Emiratis in the private sector. As of early 2026, more than 176,000 Emiratis have been placed through Nafis across more than 32,000 private-sector establishments, representing over 50 per cent increase from the previous year and significantly exceeding the original employment target.

From September, salary support will gradually be reduced to new levels ranging from Dh3,000 to Dh6,000, depending on education and family status. Support will also be suspended for eligible workers earning below Dh6,000 a month where the minimum-wage rule applies.

A new Dh600 monthly child allowance will be introduced for each eligible child. Under previous Nafis rules, child support was capped at four children, but the September 2026 changes remove this limit for beneficiaries earning up to Dh50,000 monthly.

The new phase will apply to new beneficiaries from September 2026, while existing beneficiaries will transition gradually over up to three years.

Changes will also affect the Eshtirak pension programme, with employers required to cover their share of contributions.

Indian immigration process simplified

From September 1, international passengers flying out of India will no longer need to have their boarding passes stamped at immigration counters. The Bureau of Immigration will accept e-boarding passes displayed on smartphones, making the immigration process faster and more convenient.

Printed boarding passes will continue to be accepted, but immigration officers will no longer stamp them. The change follows complaints that physical stamping could cause inconvenience and, in some cases, make boarding passes difficult to read because of incorrect or improper stamps.

The new system will apply at all international airports in India, with airport operators and security agencies instructed to prepare staff for the change.

Major September events

September will see several major events across the UAE, including Middle East Energy (September 1–3, Dubai), Middle East Film & Comic Con (September 11–13, Abu Dhabi), Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (September 13–18), Arabian Travel Market (September 14–17, Dubai), Arab Media Summit (September 15–17, Dubai), GISEC Global (September 16–18, Dubai, focusing on cybersecurity), and the UN Crime Congress (September 26–October 1, Abu Dhabi).