September promises to be a month of significant changes and major events in the United Arab Emirates as residents return to the active season after summer. In addition to updates to salary support rules for Emiratis in the private sector and the ongoing development of Etihad Rail, important changes are planned in the UAE.
As the transition from summer to autumn occurs, the UAE calendar fills up with interesting sporting and entertainment events. Below are the main changes, events, and dates to watch in the UAE in September.
New Nafis Salary Rules
In September, Emirati employees will benefit from the revised Nafis system. The new system introduces a ceiling for salary support, requires a minimum salary of 6,000 dirhams to qualify, offers unlimited child allowances, and includes changes to employer responsibilities regarding pension contributions.
The Emirates Talent Competitiveness Council (ETCC) announced that the new programs and updates will take effect starting September 2026 for new beneficiaries. Those already receiving salary support in the private sector for Emiratis will be gradually transitioned to the updated system over a period of up to three years.
Launch of Dubai and Sharjah Etihad Rail Stations
The next major milestone in the Etihad Rail schedule is set for September 30, 2026, when passenger service will officially launch. On this day, the network will expand with two new stations: the Dubai station, located near Jumeirah Golf Estates, and the Al Dhaid station in Sharjah.
The first phase of the passenger network, which began on June 30, connected Abu Dhabi with Fujairah. Additionally, the Al Yaylais station in Dubai will be linked to the Jumeirah Golf Estates underground metro station via a pedestrian walkway.
Hajj Registration Opening
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Awqaf and Zakat has announced that UAE citizens wishing to perform Hajj next year can register their names starting September 14, 2026. Pilgrims will be selected through an automated verification process according to approved criteria and requirements.
In 2026, the country approved the names of 6,228 Emirati citizens to perform the Hajj pilgrimage. Overall, more than 1.7 million people from 165 countries participated in Hajj this year.
International Events in Abu Dhabi
The Middle East Film & Comic Con (MEFCC) international exhibition will take place from September 11 to 13 at the ADNEC center in Abu Dhabi. The event is expected to gather fans of comics, films, games, cosplay, and pop culture. The exhibition will feature major global brands in cinema, television, science fiction, animation, manga, comics, collectibles, and much more.
Furthermore, on September 18 and 19, 2026, the EuroLeague Basketball SuperCup Abu Dhabi tournament will be held at the Etihad Arena. This adds another major international sporting event to the capital's calendar. Four leading basketball clubs will participate in the tournament: Real Madrid, Olympiacos Piraeus, Fenerbahce Tarfin Istanbul, and Dubai Basketball. The competition will last two days: two semi-finals will be held on Friday, followed by the third-place match and the Final on Saturday.
New Services and Closures in Dubai
Dubai residents will be able to use gardener services through the Careem app starting this September thanks to the launch of the new 'Al Freej Gardener' initiative. Announced on August 2, this initiative will provide residents access to qualified and licensed specialists through a single regulated platform, strengthening safety and security standards across all areas of Dubai.
Despite new developments, some processes will conclude in September. The famous Museum of the Future in Dubai will temporarily close on September 1st as work begins on the 'next generation of experiences.' These new experiences will be presented to mark the landmark's fifth anniversary next year. It was previously announced that the future experiences would be inspired by ideas and suggestions from people around the world.
The mass fitness event Dubai Mallathon, organized by Sheikh Hamdan, Prince of Dubai, returned for its second year in 2026, transforming shopping malls into air-conditioned running and walking tracks. The event, which started on June 15, will conclude on September 15. In the second season, the public sports initiative exceeded 100,000 participants, with residents and visitors collectively covering over 220 million steps in the first two months of summer.
The annual midday break for outdoor workers in the UAE will end on September 15, marking a gradual shift away from the peak summer working schedule. The workplace heat stress prevention policy was reinstated in 2026 for the 22nd consecutive year as part of efforts to protect workers during the peak summer months.