UAE defies global slowdown with massive increase in digital payments
Author Archives: Admin
Dubai real estate
Dubai real estate: Top areas for residential sales revealed
Dubai real estate sector has seen continued growth in residential and commercial sectors
saudi real estate
Saudi real estate: Sports Boulevard Foundation establishes $932m Urban Wadi development fund
Sports Boulevard Foundation in Saudi Arabia creates mixed-use private real estate development fund for Urban Wadi project
UAE
UAE named best in the world in over 220 categories, including economy, investment and development rankings
The country ranked among the top 10 globally in 661 indicators, compared to 604 in 2023 and 508 in 2022
Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment
Dubai Retail Calendar 2025: Shopping festivals, sales, deals, offers and promotions
Dubai has released it retail calendar for 2025 to highlight major shopping festivals, sales and retail promotions
ride hailing
Scaling smart: How Yango Group blends tech with community needs
Over six years, Yango Group has transformed from a ride-hailing business into a multifaceted technology company. Here’s the full story
SIM
Virgin Mobile UAE simplify eSIM activation for tourists with new facial recognition technology
Tourists can now purchase and activate their eSIM as soon as they clear immigration desks or Smart Gate
Sheikh Hamdan
UAE space sector goes from desert to Mars as investments pass $10.9bn
UAE space investments have rocketed beyond $10.9bn and the country is leading missions to the moon, Mars and the asteroid belt
Coffee
Dubai to host rare coffee auction as MENA coffee market tipped to hit $11.5bn
World of Coffee Dubai 2025 will see some of the world’s rarest drinks auctioned
Dubai police
Dubai Police and RTA announce truck ban on major from January 1, 2025
Dubai Police and RTA to ban trucks on key road to Sharjah during evening rush hour
cruise business
Dubai Customs handles over 1.23m bags on 187 cruise ships so far this year
Dubai Customs announces passenger statistics for cruise ship passengers in first 11 months of the year
dubai marathon
Dubai Marathon 2025 to return with world class athletes
Former World Champion Lelisa Desisa will be among an elite field for the 2025 Dubai Marathon
Bees
Saudi authorities bust bee importers in drug smuggling sting
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior uncovered hive of criminal activity amid drug smuggling network
GCC retail market
Retail trends 2025: TikTok shopping, AI-powered stores, instant deliveries and online groceries coming soon
A look ahead to 2025 reveals major changes ahead for the retail industry. Get the lowdown on 10 industry trends changing the way we shop
CBUAE
New tax in the UAE; Lottery warning; Crypto trading in Dubai; Kuwait halts e-visas; Saudi to host 2034 World Cup – 10 things you missed this week
UAE tax, UAE Lottery, crypto in Dubai, Kuwait visas, Saudi World Cup and more top news stories this week
Keir Starmer
Saudi Arabia and the UK set $38bn trade target, outline plans for investment, education, health and more
Saudi Arabia and the UK look to boost economic and political ties as Prime Minister Keir Starmer
dividend
Emaar Properties doubles dividend to $2.4bn
Emaar Properties announces it will distribute 100 per cent of share capital as dividends
Etihad
Etihad transports 17m passengers so far this year as traffic climbs over 30%
Etihad Airways sees significant increase in number of passengers transported this year
Airports
Saudi Arabia’s PIF acquires 15% share in Heathrow Airport
Saudi sovereign wealth fund completes 15 per cent stake in Heathrow Airport
NEOM
NEOM invests in construction robots as market tipped to pass $774m
NEOM is investing in an emerging European robot specialist as it looks to modernise construction in Saudi Arabia
ADNOC Distribution
ADNOC launches AI-powered chatbot to support investors
ADNOC Distribution launches AI chatbot ARIF to support investor relations in English and Arabic
Qatar
Qatar approves 2025 budget with $54bn revenues and $57.7bn spending
Qatar has approved a budget for 2025, with an expected $3.6bn deficit
Binghatti
Dubai real estate: Binghatti delivers 6 projects at Jumeirah Village Circle with more than 2,000 units
Dubai real estate developer Binghatti delivers residential projects in Jumeirah Village Circle with total of 2,062 developers
Aviation
Dubai Airports shares winter travel tips as 5.2m passengers expected over busy season
Dubai International Airport forecasts Friday, December 20 as the busiest day of the winter travel season
hotel occupancy
UAE hotel revenue reaches $9.1bn in nine months
UAE hotel revenue continues tor grow and hotel occupancy one of the highest in the world
Airbus
Jazeera Airways purchases 6 Airbus planes
Kuwait low-cost airline Jazeera Airways expects start of delivery of Airbus plane orderbook in 2026
Mubadala and Alpinvest launch global finance fund
Mubadala and Carlyle’s Alpinvest establish senior fund financing investment partnership
Nikki Beach
First look: RAK Properties completes designs for Nikki Beach Resort and Spa Ras Al Khaimah
Nikki Beach Resort and Spa Ras Al Khaimah designs unveiled by RAK Properties
Donald Trump
Google reveals UAE search trends for 2024: Donald Trump, conflict, cricket and rain
Google top searches for 2024 identify trends of people in the UAE throughout the year
Red Sea Global
Saudi hotels: Red Sea Global accepting bookings at iconic Desert Rock resort
Red Sea Global opens up Desert Rock hotel in Saudi Arabia to bookings
Sharjah real estate
Sharjah real estate transactions hit $1.1bn in November
Sharjah real estate sector recorded 4,606 transactions and 1,522 sales in November
FIFA
Saudi Arabia to host FIFA World Cup 2034
FIFA confirms Saudi Arabia as host of the 2034 World Cup
China
UAE and China trade to pass $100bn this year
UAE hosts Invest in China roadshow as two countries look to boost $100bn trade relations
National Center of Meteorology (NCM)
UAE rain: Weather forecasters expect showers over weekend
UAE will see rain, fog and mist in parts of the country this week
air seychelles
Etihad and Air Seychelles announce codeshare from 2025
Etihad Airways and Air Seychelles enhance Abu Dhabi to Mahe network
ADGM
Beam Ventures to launch $150m Abu Dhabi gaming fund
Beam Ventures eyes opportunities to thrust Abu Dhabi to the centre of the global gaming industry
Armenia
UAE looks to boost $13.7bn trade with Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan bloc
UAE and the Eurasian Economic Union conclude negotiations on economic partnership between Gulf nation and Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan
Workplace
UAE and Saudi workers proud of their companies, but most wouldn’t recommend working there – how can managers motivate?
UAE and Saudi workplace culture survey highlights the opportunities and challenges for companies
CPhI Middle East & Africa
Saudi pharmaceutical exhibition witnesses $2.7bn of deals
CPHI Middle East witnesses $2.7bn of agreements for pharmaceutical sector in Saudi Arabia
air passengers
IATA: Global aviation industry revenue to pass $1tn in 2025 with 5 billion passengers expected
IATA forecasts a landmark year for airline industry in 2025 as passenger numbers could pass five billion
DFM
Talabat launches on Dubai Financial Market after $2bn IPO, shares fall 7%
Talabat shares slip on first day of trading after $2bn IPO on Dubai Financial Market
Bond watches
Omega updates James Bond’s Seamaster 300 in titanium and bronze gold
Premium watch brand Omega has introduced the latest version of its iconic Seamaster 300, as worn by James Bond, with titanium and bronze gold editions
Arada
UAE real estate developer Arada buys 3 gym brands; fitness division valued at $272m and eyes 100,000 members
Arada purchases three UAE-based gyms as it grows fitness division
Agricultural Bank of China
Chinese companies flock to Dubai as UAE-China trade tipped to reach $200bn by 2030
DIFC in Dubai a hub for Chinese investors as UAE and China strengthen business bonds
Branded properties
Dubai real estate: Six Senses villa in Palm Jumeirah sold for $35m as branded property boom continues
Dubai Sotheby’s International Realty announces $35.4m sale of branded real estate villa in Palm Jumeirah
e-visa
Kuwait stops e-visas and offers visa-on-arrival to 53 countries including USA, UK, Canada, France and Germany
Kuwait announces temporary suspension of e-visas and issuance of visa-on-arrival for citizens of 53 countries
hotel industry
Saudi Arabia’s PIF launches hotel management company Adeera to oversee hospitality brands
PIF creates Adeera to manage hotel and hospitality brands in Saudi Arabia
AWQAF
Parkin to build giant 7-storey car park in Dubai
Parkin and AWQAF Dubai team up to build new multi-storey car park in Dubai
barratt london
UK real estate giant lures Middle East investors with chance of high returns and soaring house prices
Barratt London launches Investment Portfolio to showcase UK real estate to Middle East investors
defence
UAE defence giant Edge Group records $4.9bn revenue in 2024, sees international orders surge
UAE defence firm is emerging as a global powerhouse with more than $2bnin international orders
CBUAE
AE Coin: UAE’s first stablecoin approved
AE Coin granted final approval by Central Bank of the UAE
Dubai real estate
Dubai real estate average rents surge 21% to $24,600 as apartments and off-plan properties dominate $8.3bn November sales
Dubai real estate sales reach $8.3bn in November, according to Springfield Properties research
DFM
Dubai Securities and Exchange Higher Committee reviews successes as DFM market cap reaches $218bn amid international investor surge
Sheikh Maktoum reviews performance of Dubai Securities and Exchange Higher Committee in 2024
Dubai Metro
RTA refurbishes 79 Dubai Metro trains and 189km of track
RTA completes major maintenance on all 79 Dubai Metro trains and 189km of track