Dubai: TECOM Group PJSC announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2026, reporting revenues of AED755 million, representing an 11 percent year‑on‑year (YoY) increase. Recurring net profit rose 12 percent YoY to AED403 million, compared to AED361 million in Q1 2025.EBITDA increased 13 percent YoY to AED610 million, delivering an 81 percent margin, compared to 79 percent in Q1 2025. This performance was supported by higher occupancy, rental rate optimisation, and disciplined cost management.The Group delivered a resilient financial performance in the first quarter of 2026, driven by strong demand across its specialised business districts and continued growth in its commercial and industrial portfolios. Strategic investments, high occupancy rates, and solid customer retention—combined with improved rental rates and cost discipline—continued to enhance profitability.Abdulla Belhoul, CEO of TECOM Group, said: “The UAE and Dubai economies continue to demonstrate remarkable strength and resilience, driven by their proven ability to adapt swiftly to market dynamics. Our first‑quarter performance reflects the resilience of the Group’s business model, the diversification of our revenue base across business segments, and our operational efficiency.”He added that the commercial and industrial portfolios remained highly resilient, with occupancy at 98 percent across both segments. Customer retention remained strong at 94 percent for the commercial portfolio and 99 percent for the industrial portfolio.Funds from Operations (FFO) increased 14 percent YoY to AED549 million, demonstrating the quality and resilience of the Group’s revenue streams. This performance was supported by a strong and diversified customer base and efficient collections, further strengthening liquidity.Key operational highlights in Q1 2026 included Dubai Media City marking its 25th anniversary of driving innovation and growth in the creative industries. Dubai Industrial City showcased its global food and beverage ecosystem and highlighted the next generation of food innovators at Gulfood 2026.Dubai Science Park celebrated two decades of enabling science and nurturing the region’s research and development ecosystem. Meanwhile, the combined student population across Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Park exceeded 38,500 at the end of the 2024–25 academic year, reflecting 15 percent growth compared to the end of the 2023–24 academic year.Additionally, ALAS Emirates Ready Mix announced plans to launch a state‑of‑the‑art facility in Dubai Industrial City, while AmSpec Group opened its new Agri & Food laboratory at Dubai Science Park.

The UAE National Anti-Narcotics Agency carried out a joint operation with police forces in Dubai, Sharjah, and the Kingdom of Bahrain and dismantled a narcotics distribution network. The month-long operation resulted in the arrest of 13 suspects of Asian and African nationalities, the agency said.The leader of the group, an overseas-based Asian drug trafficker, was arrested abroad and extradited to the UAE. Authorities seized 56.623 kilograms of narcotics, 8,159 psychotropic tablets, and a substantial quantity of electronic cigarettes laced with hashish oil. The total estimated value of the confiscated items is approximately AED 3.3 million. The agency said that with the help of security agencies in the Kingdom of Bahrain, the leader of the criminal gang outside the country was arrested and brought to the UAE and an appropriate punishment was imposed on him. “The operation lasted for a month, with tight field searches, investigations and surveillance, during which the teams monitored the movements of the defendants and coordinated among them. Investigations showed that they received instructions from a drug dealer outside the country, to distribute quantities of drugs in different areas in the country,” the agency saidThe National Narcotics Control Agency stated that the total seizures of narcotic substances amounted to 56.623 kilograms of narcotic substances, in addition to 8,159 tablets of narcotic psychotropic substances, and a large quantity of electronic cigarettes packed with hashish oil, with a total value of approximately 3,300,000 dirhams, stressing that the National Drug Control Agency will continue its efforts to enhance the protection and security of the community from this dangerous scourge.