Most popular UAE business stories of 2015 – in pictures

Donald Weber / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

Silvia Razgova / The National

Mona ALMarzooqi / The National

Delores Johnson / The National

Antonie Robertson / The National

Delores Johnson / The National

Courtesy The Meydan City Corporation

Courtesy Omniyat

Malta, The Three Cities, Vittoriosa, Dockyard Creek. Getty Images

Jeff Topping / The National

Courtesy Kathryn Scott

From property to aviation, personal finance to smartphones, find out which stories were out big hitters during the past 12 months.

January: World’s top 10 safest airlines 2015 - in pictures

AirlineRatings.com revealed the safest airlines in the world for 2015 from the 449 airlines it monitors. Qantas was the leader last year and held on to its title again.

February: UAE armed forces show their skills at Idex 2015 in Abu Dhabi – in pictures

Emirati armed forces took part in a military show at the opening of the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (Idex) at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

March: A guide to the UAE’s end of service gratuity

The end of service gratuity has always been a talking point in the UAE. While it is handed to employees when they leave a company - almost like a bonus payment - many believe it is a substitution for a pension plan. We asked two UAE-based experts to answer a series of questions on the end of service benefit.

April: New property projects at Cityscape Abu Dhabi 2015 – in pictures

A host of spectacular new property projects were showcased at Cityscape Abu Dhabi 2015, and we had all of the stunning renderings plus pictures from the event.

May: Leaving the UAE? Here’s how to do so the right way

Leaving the UAE can be time-consuming for expats – you need to be physically present to close down many accounts, and personal possessions, such as cars and furniture, can take time to sell. We looked at how to plan ahead and make your exit as smooth as possible.

June: Sony Xperia Z3+ review: Far from a revolutionary overhaul

After Sony announced its new flagship smartphone, we were quick off the mark to get one of the world’s first reviews of the device.

July: Etihad A380 business class review: Bring your pyjamas and get some rest

After many a sleepless journey in economy, our reviewer finally got some rest in Etihad’s A380 business class and found out what all the fuss was about.

August: Dubai’s Meydan One development aims for record-breaking success – in pictures

Dubai developer Meydan launched Meydan One, a 3.67 million square metre mixed-use development which, when finished before 2020, would feature some of record-breaking facilities including the longest indoor ski slope, the largest dancing fountain as well as the highest residential tower in the world.

September: Dubai’s most expensive apartment: Dh181m home for rich and famous

It has the views, the location and the snazzy interior, though anyone lost in a dream world after seeing One at Palm Jumeirah will soon be woken up by the price tag.

October: Passport to a better life: citizenship opportunities available to you

As the Middle East and African refugee crisis intensifies, having the right passport can be a matter of life and death.

November: UAE salary guide 2016: How much you can expect to earn in finance, technology, HR and admin

We looked at where salaries are set to rise in 2016 and the going rates for a host of jobs, according to data from recruitment firm Robert Half.

December: Is Trump being dumped in Dubai? Damac takes down massive billboards featuring Donald Trump

It came just two days after Damac said it would stick by Trump International after Donald Trump had called for a “total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States”.