The company also pioneering AI integration in gaming
Middle East
Latest in Middle East
Hezbollah
Lebanon faces $25bn reconstruction bill as Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire opens window for economic recovery
War-torn Lebanon eyes economic rebound but reconstruction costs loom large and recovery hinges on reforms and presidential deadlock
Blockchain
Middle East operating WadzPay secures $37mn investment commitment from GEM Global Yeild
The company said the capital infusion will accelerate its growth strategy via acquisitions, partnerships and organic initiatives
Dubai
Emirates Dubai 7s: Ace cricketers, headliners Stormzy and Sugababes to notch up record participation this year
The mega ‘sportainment’ blitzkrieg, falling during the Eid Al Etihad long weekend of November 29-December 1, estimated to have seen about 7% jump in international arrivals at DXB
Benjamin Netanyahu
US-brokered Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire takes effect as displaced Lebanese begin return
The agreement was approved by Israel’s war cabinet on Tuesday by a vote of 10 to 1, marking a potential end to the violence that erupted in late September
Middle East
Crysp Farms, Alesca Technologies to deploy 500 vertical farms across Middle East
The partnership aims to revolutionise food production for the hospitality industry by providing more than 130 varieties of fresh produce through an innovative ‘Farming-as-a-Service’ model
Bahrain
UAE announces major investment and transport strategies; Visa-free travel to Qatar, Golden Visas in Bahrain, Dubai targets $272bn real estate market – 10 things you missed this week
UAE strategies for transport, investment and real estate, Qatar tourism, Bahrain Golden Visas and more of the biggest stories this week
China
ANALYSIS: Trump’s return could signal new path for Israel, Gaza, Lebanon crisis
Trump victory could mean less proxy wars, business-first diplomacy, and a deal with Putin to rein in Iran – marking a dramatic shift in how the US handles Israel’s conflicts with Gaza and Lebanon, experts say
asset managers
US election: Middle East investors shift to bonds with a focus on Trump trades amidst US-China tech tensions
Regional asset managers and investors are cherry-picking shares of select energy and technology sector companies
Aviation
EXCLUSIVE: Riyadh Air secures order of 60 Airbus A321s in $15bn fleet expansion
Riyadh Air secures 60 Airbus A321 aircraft ahead of its 2025 commercial launch, CFO confirms at FII
geopolitical tensions
Lebanon-Israel conflict: Investors urged to stay calm as oil prices surge amid Middle East geopolitical tensions
While short-term volatility is likely, the long-term outlook for oil prices remains subject to a wide range of influences beyond the current Middle East crisis, experts say
Cyberattack
Analysis: Hezbollah pager explosions signal shift to ‘unrestricted, asymmetric warfare’ – experts
Lebanon-Israel tensions enter a “new era” after Tuesday’s deadly Hezbollah pager explosions killed 9 and injured thousands
Israel
Israeli airstrike in Beirut targets senior Hezbollah commander, civilians killed
Lebanon’s health ministry reported that 3 civilians, including 2 children, were killed in the strike, with 74 injured
Egypt
Central Bank of Egypt decides to keep key policy rates unchanged
The apex bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) also kept the discount rate unchanged at 27.75 percent
Blockchain
Digital Trade Winds: How CargoX and the Middle East are Navigating the Future of Maritime Shipping
The blockchain-based trade platform is enabling seamless transfer of electronic bills of lading, making it easier and more cost-effective for businesses to navigate global trade
Abu Dhabi
Treasures of the Arab World: Inside the million-dollar books on sale for the first time
The first maps of the modern Middle East, the 1900s Damascus-Medina railway blueprint for Hajj pilgrims, and more on sale at Abu Dhabi International Book Fair
Investment
CLOs – a growing asset class in the Middle East
Some consider it a niche asset class, but over the years CLOs have become a key product in capital allocators’ toolkit