UAE Sets Excise Tax Floor for Vaping Products; New Transit Route Launches in September 202
Regulatory changes and infrastructure expansion reshape governance across emirates in September 2026.
The UAE’s Ministry of Finance will introduce new minimum excise tax pricing for electronic smoking products in September 2026, marking one of several regulatory and infrastructure changes taking effect across the emirates that month.
Under the ministry’s updated framework, a 10ml bottle of electronic smoking liquid will carry a minimum excise price of Dh10, while 30ml and 60ml bottles will be set at Dh30 and Dh60 respectively. The ministry has clarified that this minimum excise price is not a minimum retail price; it functions as the basis for calculating the actual excise tax owed. The measure is designed to strengthen compliance and establish consistent standards across tobacco and electronic smoking devices. Existing minimum excise prices for other tobacco products remain unchanged.
Additional reference context is available at https://gulfnews.com/living-in-uae/ask-us/uae-september-2026-new-etihad-rail-route-tax-changes-and-key-dates-to-know-1.500657564.
Employment support policy will also be restructured. The Nafis programme, which supports Emiratis working in the private and banking sectors, will see salary support gradually reduced to new levels ranging from Dh3,000 to Dh6,000, depending on education and family status. Support will be suspended for eligible workers earning below Dh6,000 a month where minimum-wage rules apply. A new Dh600 monthly child allowance will be introduced for each eligible child, with no cap on the number of eligible children for beneficiaries earning up to Dh50,000 a month. Separately, the Eshtirak pension programme will require employers to cover their share of contributions beginning in September, a compliance obligation that takes effect alongside the Nafis adjustments.
Meanwhile, transport infrastructure will reach a concrete milestone on September 30, when Etihad Rail launches its passenger service expansion into Dubai. The new connection links Abu Dhabi’s Mohamed bin Zayed City station with Dubai’s Al Yalayis Station, with the journey between the two emirates expected to take approximately 57 minutes. The Dubai station opens in tandem with Al Dhaid station in Sharjah as part of the network’s second phase. Etihad Rail is eventually designed to connect 11 cities and areas across the UAE, offering an alternative to road travel between emirates.
Cultural institutions are also entering new administrative phases. The Museum of the Future will temporarily close from September 1, 2026, to undertake a major overhaul of its exhibitions. The landmark attraction, which opened in February 2022, will replace its existing galleries with a new generation of immersive and interactive experiences informed by more than 1,000 ideas submitted by people around the world. The revamped museum is expected to reopen in the first quarter of 2027, around its fifth anniversary.
The Dubai Mallathon 2026 concludes on September 15, bringing a three-month initiative to a close. Expanded this year into an annual programme running from June 15 to September 15 across participating Dubai malls, it offered residents a free, air-conditioned option for walking, jogging or running indoors between 6am and 10am during the UAE summer.
September will also host a dense calendar of international conferences. The Middle East Energy conference runs from September 1 to 3 in Dubai. The Middle East Film and Comic Con takes place September 11 to 13 in Abu Dhabi, followed by the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair from September 13 to 18. The Arabian Travel Market runs September 14 to 17 in Dubai, and the Arab Media Summit from September 15 to 17, also in Dubai. GISEC Global, focused on cybersecurity and emerging digital threats, runs September 16 to 18 in Dubai. The month closes with the UN Crime Congress, held September 26 to October 1 in Abu Dhabi, bringing governments and international organisations together to address crime prevention and criminal justice.
Whether the Nafis restructuring achieves its intended workforce outcomes, and how quickly Etihad Rail’s expanded network reshapes commuter patterns between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, will be among the more closely watched questions as the new measures take hold.
Q&A
What minimum excise tax prices will apply to electronic smoking liquid bottles under the UAE Ministry of Finance framework?
The ministry will set minimum excise prices at Dh10 for 10ml bottles, Dh30 for 30ml bottles, and Dh60 for 60ml bottles, effective September 2026. These prices function as the basis for calculating actual excise tax owed, not as minimum retail prices.
How will the Nafis programme restructuring affect salary support and child allowances for eligible workers?
Salary support will be reduced to Dh3,000-Dh6,000 depending on education and family status, with support suspended for workers earning below Dh6,000 where minimum-wage rules apply. A new Dh600 monthly child allowance will be introduced per eligible child with no cap for beneficiaries earning up to Dh50,000 monthly.
What is the expected journey time for Etihad Rail's new passenger service between Abu Dhabi and Dubai?
The new connection between Abu Dhabi's Mohamed bin Zayed City station and Dubai's Al Yalayis Station is expected to take approximately 57 minutes.
When will the Museum of the Future reopen after its planned closure and overhaul?
The Museum of the Future will close from September 1, 2026, for exhibition renovation and is expected to reopen in the first quarter of 2027, around its fifth anniversary.