Rail expansion, tax changes and travel updates set to reshape life in the UAE this September.
Dubai: September is set to bring a range of changes and developments for UAE residents, with major updates spanning transport, travel, taxes and everyday life. Several new measures are due to take effect during the month, while major projects and attractions move into new phases.
Here are the key UAE changes, developments and important dates residents should know about in September 2026.
1. Etihad Rail passenger service expands to Dubai
The UAE’s passenger rail network is set to expand to Dubai on September 30, 2026, marking the next major phase of Etihad Rail’s passenger service.
The new connection will link Mohamed bin Zayed City Station in Abu Dhabi with Al Yalayis Station in Dubai, with the journey between the two emirates expected to take around 57 minutes. The Dubai station will open alongside the Al Dhaid station in Sharjah as part of the network’s second phase.
The Dubai station will open alongside Al Dhaid Station in Sharjah as part of the network’s second phase.
Etihad Rail’s passenger network is ultimately planned to connect 11 cities and key areas across the UAE, giving residents a faster alternative for travelling between emirates and potentially reducing dependence on road transport.
2. Museum of the Future to temporarily close
Dubai’s Museum of the Future is set to temporarily close in September 2026 as it undergoes a major overhaul of its exhibitions. The attraction will replace its existing galleries with a new generation of immersive and interactive experiences.
The revamped museum is expected to reopen in the first quarter of 2027, coinciding with its fifth anniversary. The new experiences will explore emerging scientific, technological and societal developments, drawing on more than 1,000 ideas and suggestions submitted by people from around the world.
Note: Gulf News’ latest update says visitors can experience the current exhibitions until mid-September 2026, rather than September 1.
3. New minimum excise price for e-cigarette liquids
From September 1, 2026, the UAE will introduce a minimum excise price of Dh1 per millilitre for liquids used in electronic smoking devices and vaping products. The measure is aimed at strengthening excise-tax compliance and ensuring consistent treatment across tobacco and electronic smoking products.
Importantly, the minimum excise price is not a minimum retail price. Instead, it establishes the minimum value used to calculate excise tax. The existing 100% excise tax rate on covered tobacco products remains unchanged.
Under the new rule, a 10ml bottle will have a minimum excise value of Dh10, while 30ml and 60ml bottles will have minimum excise values of Dh30 and Dh60, respectively. Products already valued above the threshold will not be affected by the minimum-value provision.
4. Dubai Mallathon comes to an end
The Dubai Mallathon 2026 will run until September 15, bringing this year’s three-month fitness initiative to a close. The programme has been expanded into an annual three-month event, running from June 15 to September 15 across participating Dubai malls.
Residents can walk, jog or run indoors during the morning hours, enjoying a free, air-conditioned environment that offers an alternative to outdoor exercise during the UAE’s summer heat.
5. New Nafis salary and child support rules
Several changes to the Nafis support programmes for Emiratis working in the private and banking sectors will take effect in September 2026, covering salary support, pension contributions and child allowances.
Salary support will be gradually adjusted to new levels based on education and family status. The revised amounts range from Dh3,000 to Dh6,000, with university graduates eligible for up to Dh6,000, diploma holders Dh5,000 and eligible high-school graduates Dh4,000. Unmarried beneficiaries without children and below high-school level will receive Dh3,000.
A new Dh600 monthly child allowance will also be available for each eligible child. The previous four-child limit will be removed, meaning eligible beneficiaries earning up to Dh50,000 a month can receive the allowance for every qualifying child, subject to the programme’s conditions.
6. Indian travellers will no longer need boarding pass stamps
From September 1, 2026, international passengers departing from 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 at international airports, streamlining the immigration process.
Printed boarding passes will still be accepted, but immigration officials will no longer stamp them. The change follows concerns that physical stamping could inconvenience passengers and, in some cases, make boarding passes difficult to read because of incorrect or improper stamps.
The new system will apply across all international airports in India, with airport operators and security agencies instructed to prepare their staff for the change.
Major UAE events to watch in September
September will feature 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 emerging digital threats
- UN Crime Congress: September 26–October 1, Abu Dhabi, bringing governments and international organisations together to discuss crime prevention and criminal justice.
