6 Big Dubai Changes Coming This September

‍

September is shaping up to be a busy month in Dubai, with several important updates set to affect residents, commuters and visitors.

A long-awaited passenger rail service is preparing for its official launch, new rental payment options are on the way, one of the city’s most famous attractions is temporarily closing and cooler-season destinations are beginning to return.

Here are six major changes to know about.

‍

1) New excise pricing for e-cigarette liquids

From September 1, a new minimum excise price will apply to liquids used in electronic smoking devices across the UAE.

Under the new rules, the minimum excise price will be set at Dhs1 per millilitre.

The measure builds on the excise tax system already applied to vaping products and tobacco products in the UAE. Existing minimum pricing rules for cigarettes, shisha tobacco and other tobacco-related products will remain in place.

The Ministry of Finance says the update is intended to create a more consistent approach to taxation across different tobacco and electronic smoking product categories.

‍

2) Etihad Rail passenger services expand to Dubai

One of the UAE’s most anticipated transport projects is expected to reach a major milestone at the end of September.

The national Etihad Rail passenger service is scheduled to officially launch on September 30, following an initial operational phase connecting Abu Dhabi and Fujairah.

The full launch will introduce Dubai Al Yalayis Station near Jumeirah Golf Estates, as well as a new stop in Al Dhaid, Sharjah.

Dubai’s station is expected to connect with the existing Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station via a pedestrian bridge, making transfers between the rail and metro networks easier.

Estimated journey times are around 57 minutes from Dubai to Abu Dhabi and approximately one hour and nine minutes from Dubai to Fujairah.

Ticket prices are expected to be announced separately.

‍

3) Museum of the Future will temporarily close

Visitors planning a trip to the Museum of the Future should take note of a major temporary closure.

The attraction is preparing to replace its current exhibitions with a new generation of experiences inspired partly by ideas submitted by people around the world.

The existing exhibitions will remain accessible until September 1, after which the museum is expected to close for several months while the transformation takes place.

New experiences are planned for the first quarter of 2027, with the refreshed museum expected to be unveiled ahead of its fifth anniversary on February 22, 2027.

‍

‍

4) A new ‘Rent Now, Pay Later’ system is coming

Paying annual rent in Dubai could soon become more flexible.

The Dubai Land Department is preparing to introduce a new system allowing eligible tenants to spread their rent across 12 monthly payments without interest.

Under the proposed model, a participating bank would pay the landlord the full annual rent upfront. The tenant would then repay the bank through monthly instalments over the year.

The initiative could significantly change the traditional rental payment structure in Dubai, where tenants commonly pay through one or several larger cheques.

Further details, including eligibility criteria, participating banks and application procedures, are still expected to be announced.

‍

5) Summer officially comes to an end

Dubai’s astronomical summer will officially finish on September 23, when the autumnal equinox arrives.

The equinox marks the transition into autumn and brings daytime and nighttime lengths closer together.

That doesn’t mean cooler weather will arrive immediately, however.

September in Dubai is still typically very hot and humid, and daytime highs are expected to remain above 30°C for several more months.

For residents waiting for genuinely cooler outdoor weather, the noticeable temperature drop usually comes later in the year.

‍

6) Dubai Miracle Garden is expected to return

Dubai’s outdoor season is also beginning to make a comeback.

Dubai Miracle Garden is expected to reopen towards the end of September, based on the attraction’s opening schedule in previous seasons.

Located in Dubailand, the enormous flower park covers around 72,000 square metres and features more than 150 million flowers across over 120 varieties.

The attraction closes during Dubai’s hottest months and traditionally returns as temperatures begin to ease, making its reopening one of the early signs that the city’s outdoor season is getting started again.

‍

‍

September is set to be a busy month in Dubai

Between the arrival of Etihad Rail, changes to how rent can be paid, new tax rules and the return of seasonal attractions, September will bring several noticeable updates across the city.

And with autumn officially beginning before the end of the month, Dubai is also moving gradually towards one of its busiest outdoor periods of the year.

‍