About 21.66 million shares changed hands in the stock, the highest in the year. This was over and above the volume of 17 million shares registered in the previous session. Emaar Properties shares closed 3.33 per cent higher at Dh5.27. “A break over the level of Dh5.14 in Emaar Properties shall target the much-awaited level at Dh5.38 in the near term,” Shiv Prakash, senior analyst with First Abu Dhabi Bank Securities (FABS) said in a note.

Abu Dhabi National Hotels Co shares also rose nearly 15 per cent at Dh 4. The Dubai Financial Market General index closed 0.74 per cent higher at 2,805.22.

Dubai: A new full-scale digital bank - 'Zand' - is set to open in the UAE - and becoming the "first in the world" to offer both retail and corporate banking services. In a statement, Mohamed Alabbar, the Chairman, said: “As the first fully independent digital bank in the country, with a full UAE banking licence,

Zand will provide innovative, effective financial solutions that help simplify businesses and lives, addressing the needs of both retail and corporate customers.”