Trump signals second carrier deployment as US-Iran prepare to resume talks
In interviews with Israeli media, Trump warned of consequences if negotiations fail. “Either we reach a deal or we'll have to do something very tough,” Israel's Channel 12 quoted him as saying.
Geostrategy
The great tech reset: How the gulf turned sovereign capital into a tech ecosystem
The GCC has quickly moved from passive capital allocation into active ecosystem building, spurred on by heavy sovereign capital and large infrastructure bets, setting the region apart from Europe and US markets.
Economy
UAE Innovation Month: Why 2026 is the year of the agentic enterprise
True differentiation in 2026 won't come from deploying the most AI. It will come from mastering relational intelligence at scale to understand not just what customers want now, but the full context of their needs and preferences over time. This is where the Agentic Enterprise moves from theory to commercial advantage, writes Mohammed AlKhotani, Senior VP & GM for the Middle East at Salesforce.
The synergy between humans and AI agents is driving a ‘Great Redeployment’ where there is a structural shift in how organizations operate and how roles are defined. AI agents are built to solve problems end-to-end, they naturally cut across the functional silos that have long fragmented decision-making and customer experience, he adds.
A matchmaking made in Gulf Heaven
The Gulf combines an interrelated web of business habitats and tech infrastructure to create rapid, policy-driven media and knowledge hubs that attract talent and investment, writes Hadi Khatib.
Economy
Gaming, esports GCC’s new growth play
Saudi Arabia and the UAE are leading the gaming surge with world-class ecosystems and youth-driven expansion. Across the region, governments increasingly recognize gaming and esports as key drivers of future economies.
Economy
How To Enhance Human Potential? The answer: Cognitive Cities, AI, and Leadership in MENA
Joseph Bradley, former CEO of Tonomus, shares with TRENDS his views on how AI and leadership can help MENA build...
Economy
Building the New Creative Engine of the Knowledge Economy: Mark Penn
Mark Penn, Chairman and CEO of Stagwell, explains how AI and global tech partnerships are reshaping marketing and the GCC’s knowledge economy.
Economy
How Doha is Building a Knowledge Economy
By pairing sovereign capital with frictionless regulation, Doha reversed the startup playbook, attracting investors and founders first, then letting an ecosystem form around them naturally
Embed AI in workflows so deep that it becomes invisible: Matt Cloke
Becoming AI-native starts with a shift in mindset. To harness its full potential, we need to see AI not as a product but as a partner. It’s less about which model you’re using and more about how you use it, writes Cloke, CTO Endava.
Opinion
Professional events are becoming West Africa’s new innovation engine
Innovation doesn’t happen by decree. It happens when people collide, when ideas rub up against each other, when unlikely conversations spark new possibilities, writes Siriki Sangare in an interview with TRENDS.
Interview
Beyond entertainment: How storytelling is shifting in the digital age
In a world where our screens shape how we think, feel, and connect, entertainment has become more than an escape — it’s how we make sense of everything around us, says Andy Climan, CEO of Entertainment Media Ventures.
Interview
Trump signals second carrier deployment as US-Iran prepare to resume talks
In interviews with Israeli media, Trump warned of consequences if negotiations fail. “Either we reach a deal or we'll have...
Geostrategy
Company News
The great tech reset: How the gulf turned sovereign capital into a tech ecosystem
The GCC has quickly moved from passive capital allocation into active ecosystem building, spurred on by heavy sovereign capital and...
Economy
Latest News
Citizen-consumers are redefining the global reputation of multinationals: Ipsos study
The report, Impacts of Multinational Corporations: What Citizen-Consumers Want from Foreign Companies Doing Business in Their Country, draws on a...
Governments must put creativity at the center of economic strategy: Report
Titled Creative Futures: The Springboard for Sustained Economic Growth and Diversification, the report argues that cultural and creative industries —...
Iran’s Khamenei likens protests to ‘coup’, warns of regional war
Iran's supreme leader on Sunday likened recent anti-government protests to a "coup", warning that any US attack on the Islamic...
Gold, silver prices tumble as investors soothed by Trump’s Fed pick
Gold and silver prices dived Friday, European stock markets ended the week up while Wall Street fell slightly with investors reassured...
Hamas tells AFP ready to transfer Gaza governance to Palestinian committee
"Protocols are prepared, files are complete, and committees are in place to oversee the handover, ensuring a complete transfer of...
A matchmaking made in Gulf Heaven
The Gulf combines an interrelated web of business habitats and tech infrastructure to create rapid, policy-driven media and knowledge hubs...
Economy
EDITOR'S PICK
3 ways travel drives economic growth while enhancing global connections and sustainability
WTTC research shows that, having endured estimated losses of $4.5 trillion and 62 million jobs...
EVs just the start, urban mobility needs a holistic approach
Cities must adopt EVs alongside shared transport, robust infrastructure, clean energy, and inclusivity, says Jamie...
Exclusive: Private military companies look at $366.8bn market as their demand, role in global conflicts rise
Rising security concerns, confrontational geopolitics, and chaotic global changes have fueled the demand for private...
TikTok under fire: Espionage claims, election influence campaigns and controversies
The platform faces accusations of espionage in the United States, while the European Union has...
Building the New Creative Engine of the Knowledge Economy: Mark Penn
Mark Penn, Chairman and CEO of Stagwell, explains how AI and global tech partnerships are reshaping marketing and the GCC’s...
Economy
Latest News
Hamas tells AFP ready to transfer Gaza governance to Palestinian committee
"Protocols are prepared, files are complete, and committees are in place to oversee the handover, ensuring a complete transfer of...
Qatar announces $430 mn in support for Lebanon
A visiting Qatari official on Monday announced a multi-million dollar aid package for Lebanon, primarily to support the country's crumbling...
Gold tops $5,000 for first time on Trump policy unrest
While turbulence over Trump's ambitions for Greenland and pressure on the Federal Reserve have provided the most recent support for...
Netanyahu, US envoys discuss opening Rafah crossing: Israeli media
US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reopen the Rafah crossing between Gaza and...
Saudi Arabia’s UAE ‘mudslinging’ threatens new Gulf crisis
The United Arab Emirates is "investing in chaos and supporting secessionists" from Libya to Yemen and the Horn of Africa,...
Company News
Gaming, esports GCC’s new growth play
Saudi Arabia and the UAE are leading the gaming surge with world-class ecosystems and youth-driven expansion. Across the region, governments...
Economy
Professional events are becoming West Africa’s new innovation engine
Innovation doesn’t happen by decree. It happens when people collide, when ideas rub up against each other, when unlikely conversations...
Interview
How To Enhance Human Potential? The answer: Cognitive Cities, AI, and Leadership in MENA
Joseph Bradley, former CEO of Tonomus, shares with TRENDS his views on how AI and leadership can help MENA build...
Economy
How Doha is Building a Knowledge Economy
By pairing sovereign capital with frictionless regulation, Doha reversed the startup playbook, attracting investors and founders first, then letting an...
Embed AI in workflows so deep that it becomes invisible: Matt Cloke
Becoming AI-native starts with a shift in mindset. To harness its full potential, we need to see AI not as...
Opinion
Beyond entertainment: How storytelling is shifting in the digital age
In a world where our screens shape how we think, feel, and connect, entertainment has become more than an escape...
Interview
Economy
Governments must put creativity at the center of economic strategy: Report
- The report finds that every dollar invested in creative industries generates approximately $2.50 in broader economic activity across sectors such as tourism and urban services.
- It warns that countries slow to act risk becoming importers of creative content rather than exporters shaping global cultural markets.
Geostrategy
US and Iran set for new nuclear talks in Istanbul to revive stalled diplomacy
- Iran’s foreign ministry said on Monday that Tehran was reviewing several diplomatic initiatives proposed by countries in the region and expected a framework for talks to emerge
- Media reports later suggested that talks could take place in Istanbul on Friday, involving US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi







