diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 2e95e4789..7ef61506a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -24,6 +24,10 @@ on:
 permissions:
   contents: read
 
+concurrency:
+  group: release-${{ github.event.inputs.version || github.ref_name }}
+  cancel-in-progress: true
+
 jobs:
   # ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
   # Step 1: Determine the release version
diff --git a/.github/workflows/update-codeql.yml b/.github/workflows/update-codeql.yml
index 40f3686a1..28ebc605e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/update-codeql.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/update-codeql.yml
@@ -15,8 +15,7 @@ jobs:
   #
   # Compares the current CodeQL CLI version in qlt.conf.json against the latest
   # release from github/codeql-cli-binaries. If a newer version is available,
-  # downstream jobs orchestrate a full release using the same child workflows
-  # as release.yml, guarded by environment approval gates.
+  # downstream jobs orchestrate the update and PR creation.
   # ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
   detect-update:
     name: Detect CodeQL CLI Update
@@ -38,8 +37,21 @@ jobs:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
         run: |
           echo "Checking latest CodeQL CLI version..."
+
+          # Read current version from qlt.conf.json
           current_version=$(jq -r .CodeQLCLI qlt.conf.json)
+
+          # Get latest release from codeql-cli-binaries
           latest_tag=$(gh release list --repo github/codeql-cli-binaries --json 'tagName,isLatest' --jq '.[] | select(.isLatest == true) | .tagName')
+
+          # Validate that we found a latest release
+          if [ -z "${latest_tag}" ]; then
+            echo "❌ Error: Could not determine latest CodeQL CLI version from github/codeql-cli-binaries" >&2
+            echo "No release marked as 'latest' was found. This may indicate an API issue or repository change." >&2
+            echo "update_needed=false" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+            exit 1
+          fi
+
           latest_clean="${latest_tag#v}"
 
           echo "Current CodeQL CLI version: ${current_version}"
@@ -63,91 +75,115 @@ jobs:
           if [ "${{ steps.check-version.outputs.update_needed }}" == "true" ]; then
             echo "✅ Update available: ${{ steps.check-version.outputs.current_version }} → ${{ steps.check-version.outputs.latest_version }}" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
             echo "" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
-            echo "Initiating release pipeline for \`v${{ steps.check-version.outputs.latest_version }}\`..." >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
+            echo "Initiating update pipeline for \`${{ steps.check-version.outputs.version }}\`..." >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
           else
-            echo "ℹ️ CodeQL CLI is already up-to-date. No release needed." >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
+            echo "ℹ️ CodeQL CLI is already up-to-date. No changes needed." >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
           fi
 
   # ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-  # Step 2: Create release tag
+  # Step 2: Update version, test, and create PR
   #
-  # Calls the same release-tag workflow used by release.yml. This ensures the
-  # version update, CodeQL installation, pack lock upgrade, unit tests, and tag
-  # creation all follow the same validated process.
+  # Updates all version-bearing files (qlt.conf.json, qlpack.yml files),
+  # installs CodeQL, upgrades pack lock files, compiles CDS files, runs unit
+  # tests, and creates a pull request with the changes.
   #
-  # The release-tag environment approval gate provides human-in-the-loop review
-  # before any changes are committed.
+  # This does NOT trigger the release pipeline. Merging the PR and creating a
+  # release tag is a separate, human-initiated step via release.yml.
   # ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-  ensure-tag:
-    name: Ensure Release Tag
+  create-pr:
+    name: Create Update Pull Request
     needs: detect-update
     if: needs.detect-update.outputs.update_needed == 'true'
-    permissions:
-      contents: write
-    uses: ./.github/workflows/release-tag.yml
-    with:
-      version: ${{ needs.detect-update.outputs.version }}
-
-  # ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-  # Step 3: Publish and bundle CodeQL packs
-  #
-  # Calls the same release-codeql workflow used by release.yml. Publishes packs
-  # to GHCR and bundles them as artifacts for the GitHub Release.
-  # ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-  publish-codeql:
-    name: Publish CodeQL Packs
-    needs: [detect-update, ensure-tag]
-    if: needs.detect-update.outputs.update_needed == 'true'
-    permissions:
-      contents: read
-      packages: write
-    uses: ./.github/workflows/release-codeql.yml
-    with:
-      publish_codeql_packs: true
-      version: ${{ needs.detect-update.outputs.version }}
-
-  # ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-  # Step 4: Create GitHub Release
-  #
-  # Downloads the CodeQL pack bundles and creates the GitHub Release with
-  # auto-generated release notes and attached pack artifacts.
-  # ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-  create-release:
-    name: Create GitHub Release
-    needs: [detect-update, ensure-tag, publish-codeql]
-    if: >-
-      always() && !failure() && !cancelled()
-      && needs.detect-update.outputs.update_needed == 'true'
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
 
     permissions:
       contents: write
+      pull-requests: write
 
     steps:
-      - name: Release - Download CodeQL pack artifacts
-        uses: actions/download-artifact@v7
-        with:
-          name: codeql-pack-bundles-${{ needs.detect-update.outputs.version }}
-          path: dist-packs
+      - name: Update - Checkout repository
+        uses: actions/checkout@v6
+
+      - name: Update - Update version in all files
+        run: |
+          LATEST="${{ needs.detect-update.outputs.latest_version }}"
+          echo "Updating all version-bearing files to ${LATEST}..."
+          ./scripts/update-release-version.sh "${LATEST}"
 
-      - name: Release - Create GitHub Release
-        uses: softprops/action-gh-release@a06a81a03ee405af7f2048a818ed3f03bbf83c7b # v2.5.0
+      - name: Update - Install CodeQL via GitHub CLI
+        env:
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
+        shell: bash
+        run: |
+          CODEQL_VERSION="${{ needs.detect-update.outputs.latest_version }}"
+          echo "Installing CodeQL CLI ${CODEQL_VERSION} via gh-codeql..."
+          gh extension install github/gh-codeql
+          gh codeql set-version "${CODEQL_VERSION}"
+          STUB_DIR="$HOME/.local/bin"
+          mkdir -p "${STUB_DIR}"
+          gh codeql install-stub "${STUB_DIR}/"
+          echo "${STUB_DIR}" >> "$GITHUB_PATH"
+          export PATH="${STUB_DIR}:${PATH}"
+          echo "CodeQL version: $(codeql version --format=terse)"
+
+      - name: Update - Upgrade CodeQL pack lock files
+        run: ./scripts/upgrade-packs.sh
+
+      - name: Update - Setup Node.js for CDS compilation
+        uses: actions/setup-node@v6
         with:
-          files: |
-            dist-packs/*.tar.gz
-          generate_release_notes: true
-          tag_name: ${{ needs.detect-update.outputs.version }}
+          node-version: '20'
+          cache: 'npm'
+          cache-dependency-path: 'extractors/cds/tools/package-lock.json'
 
-      - name: Release - Summary
+      - name: Update - Compile CAP CDS files
+        run: ./extractors/cds/tools/workflow/cds-compilation-for-actions.sh
+
+      - name: Update - Run CodeQL unit tests
+        env:
+          LGTM_INDEX_XML_MODE: all
+          LGTM_INDEX_FILETYPES: ".json:JSON\n.cds:JSON"
+        shell: bash
+        run: |
+          echo "Running CodeQL unit tests to validate update..."
+          codeql test run \
+            --threads=0 \
+            --strict-test-discovery \
+            --additional-packs="${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}" \
+            -- javascript/
+
+      - name: Update - Create Pull Request
+        uses: peter-evans/create-pull-request@c0f553fe549906ede9cf27b5156039d195d2ece0
+        with:
+          title: 'Upgrade CodeQL CLI dependency to ${{ needs.detect-update.outputs.version }}'
+          body: |
+            This PR upgrades the CodeQL CLI version to ${{ needs.detect-update.outputs.version }}.
+
+            **Changes made:**
+            - Updated `qlt.conf.json` (CodeQLCLI, CodeQLStandardLibrary, CodeQLCLIBundle) to `${{ needs.detect-update.outputs.latest_version }}`
+            - Updated all version-bearing qlpack.yml files to `${{ needs.detect-update.outputs.latest_version }}`
+            - Upgraded CodeQL pack lock files
+            - Compiled CAP CDS files
+            - CodeQL unit tests passed ✅
+
+            **To complete the release**, merge this PR and then trigger the release workflow
+            via `workflow_dispatch` on `release.yml` with version `${{ needs.detect-update.outputs.version }}`.
+          commit-message: 'Upgrade CodeQL CLI dependency to ${{ needs.detect-update.outputs.version }}'
+          delete-branch: true
+          branch: 'codeql/upgrade-to-${{ needs.detect-update.outputs.version }}'
+
+      - name: Update - Summary
         run: |
           VERSION="${{ needs.detect-update.outputs.version }}"
-          RELEASE_NAME="${{ needs.detect-update.outputs.latest_version }}"
-          echo "## Automated Release Summary" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
+          CURRENT="${{ needs.detect-update.outputs.current_version }}"
+          LATEST="${{ needs.detect-update.outputs.latest_version }}"
+          echo "## CodeQL CLI Update Summary" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
+          echo "" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
+          echo "Triggered by CodeQL CLI update: ${CURRENT} → ${LATEST}" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
           echo "" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
-          echo "Triggered by CodeQL CLI update: ${{ needs.detect-update.outputs.current_version }} → ${RELEASE_NAME}" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
+          echo "| Property | Old Value | New Value |" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
+          echo "| -------- | --------- | --------- |" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
+          echo "| qlt.conf.json CodeQLCLI | ${CURRENT} | ${LATEST} |" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
+          echo "| qlpack.yml versions | ${CURRENT} | ${LATEST} |" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
           echo "" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
-          echo "| Step | Status |" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
-          echo "| ---- | ------ |" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
-          echo "| Tag | ✅ ${VERSION} |" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
-          echo "| CodeQL pack publish | ✅ Published to GHCR |" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
-          echo "| GitHub Release | ✅ Created |" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
+          echo "A pull request has been created with these changes." >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
diff --git a/scripts/upgrade-packs.sh b/scripts/upgrade-packs.sh
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..cf2db99a6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/upgrade-packs.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,126 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+## upgrade-packs.sh
+## Upgrade CodeQL pack dependencies for packs in the codeql-sap-js repository.
+##
+## This script upgrades lock files for both source and test packs, installing
+## the latest compatible version of each dependency (ignoring existing lock files).
+##
+## Usage:
+##   ./scripts/upgrade-packs.sh
+##   ./scripts/upgrade-packs.sh --framework cap
+##   ./scripts/upgrade-packs.sh --framework ui5
+
+SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+REPO_ROOT="$(cd "${SCRIPT_DIR}/.." && pwd)"
+
+FRAMEWORK=""
+
+usage() {
+  cat <<EOF
+Usage: $0 [OPTIONS]
+
+Upgrade CodeQL pack dependencies for all packs in the repository.
+
+OPTIONS:
+    --framework <name>  Upgrade packs only for the specified framework
+                        Valid values: cap, heuristic-models, ui5, ui5-webcomponents, xsjs
+    -h, --help          Show this help message
+
+By default, the script upgrades packs for all frameworks.
+EOF
+}
+
+while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
+  case $1 in
+    --framework)
+      if [[ $# -lt 2 || "${2-}" == -* ]]; then
+        echo "Error: --framework requires a value" >&2
+        usage >&2
+        exit 1
+      fi
+      FRAMEWORK="$2"
+      shift 2
+      ;;
+    -h|--help)
+      usage
+      exit 0
+      ;;
+    *)
+      echo "Error: Unknown option $1" >&2
+      usage >&2
+      exit 1
+      ;;
+  esac
+done
+
+## Validate framework if provided
+VALID_FRAMEWORKS=("cap" "heuristic-models" "ui5" "ui5-webcomponents" "xsjs")
+if [[ -n "${FRAMEWORK}" ]]; then
+  FRAMEWORK_VALID=false
+  for valid_fw in "${VALID_FRAMEWORKS[@]}"; do
+    if [[ "${FRAMEWORK}" == "${valid_fw}" ]]; then
+      FRAMEWORK_VALID=true
+      break
+    fi
+  done
+
+  if [[ "${FRAMEWORK_VALID}" == false ]]; then
+    echo "Error: Invalid framework '${FRAMEWORK}'" >&2
+    echo "Valid frameworks: ${VALID_FRAMEWORKS[*]}" >&2
+    exit 1
+  fi
+fi
+
+cd "${REPO_ROOT}"
+
+## Upgrade a single pack given its qlpack.yml directory
+upgrade_pack() {
+  local pack_dir="$1"
+  if [[ -d "${pack_dir}" ]]; then
+    echo "INFO: Running 'codeql pack upgrade' for '${pack_dir}'..."
+    codeql pack upgrade -- "${pack_dir}"
+  else
+    echo "WARNING: Directory '${pack_dir}' not found, skipping" >&2
+  fi
+}
+
+## Upgrade packs for a framework (all subdirectories that contain qlpack.yml)
+upgrade_framework() {
+  local framework_path="$1"
+  echo "Upgrading packs for: ${framework_path}"
+
+  # Find all qlpack.yml files under this framework and upgrade their packs
+  find "${REPO_ROOT}/${framework_path}" -name "qlpack.yml" -type f | sort | while read -r qlpack_file; do
+    local pack_dir
+    pack_dir=$(dirname "${qlpack_file}")
+    # Use relative path for cleaner output
+    local rel_path="${pack_dir#${REPO_ROOT}/}"
+    upgrade_pack "${rel_path}"
+  done
+}
+
+if [[ -n "${FRAMEWORK}" ]]; then
+  case "${FRAMEWORK}" in
+    heuristic-models)
+      upgrade_framework "javascript/heuristic-models"
+      ;;
+    ui5-webcomponents)
+      upgrade_framework "javascript/frameworks/ui5-webcomponents"
+      ;;
+    *)
+      upgrade_framework "javascript/frameworks/${FRAMEWORK}"
+      ;;
+  esac
+else
+  echo "Upgrading packs for all frameworks..."
+  upgrade_framework "javascript/frameworks/cap"
+  upgrade_framework "javascript/frameworks/ui5"
+  upgrade_framework "javascript/frameworks/ui5-webcomponents"
+  upgrade_framework "javascript/frameworks/xsjs"
+  upgrade_framework "javascript/heuristic-models"
+fi
+
+echo ""
+echo "✅ All CodeQL pack lock files upgraded successfully."