Trump says Iran war will ‘end very soon’ as Yemen hostilities escalate and Hormuz attacks rise
Iran's Ghalibaf warns Washington cannot be trusted, saying Tehran must prepare for renewed fighting even as negotiations continue between the two countries.
Geostrategy
UAE has agent control tower for better oversight, audit of AI agents: Al Olama
Speaking at a session titled "Trust Test for Agentic AI" at the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting of Global Future Leaders, he said, "There is an audit of what is done by agents and there is an audit of what is done by humans to ensure this doesn't go haywire."
World Economic Forum
MENA could unlock $1 trillion value by 2030
The World Economic Forum report developed with Bain & Company, "Unlocking Value: AI for Resilient Growth in MENA", examines how the region can translate AI ambitions into economic value through practical applications, stronger governance and collaboration across sectors.
“The opportunity for MENA is significant, and the value will come from execution,” said Wissam Yassine, partner and Middle East sustainability practice leader at Bain & Company. “Across finance, energy and the public sector, we are seeing AI use cases that can deliver measurable economic and sustainability impact. Leaders should focus on the areas with...
UAE ranks first in MENA, sixth globally in AI-human skills readiness
Coursera’s new AI-Human Skills Synergy Index says AI course enrollments in the UAE increased 75% year over year, with AI and machine learning foundations, data and analytics among the leading themes.
Geostrategy
WEF to bring 500 global leaders to Dubai for inaugural meeting
Discussions will span artificial intelligence, jobs, geopolitical uncertainty, climate change and economic resilience, with UAE Minister Mohammad Al Gergawi and Montenegro’s Prime Minister Milojko Spajić among key participants.
Geostrategy
Saudi mega-projects could generate 35% of power needs through on-site renewables
A BCG report says rooftop solar and decentralized renewable systems can lower electricity costs, reduce emissions and help developers meet...
Research
GCC banks need stronger safeguards amid geopolitical uncertainty, KPMG says
KPMG says banks can strengthen portfolios through scenario analysis, stronger governance and monitoring as geopolitical tensions threaten borrowers, funding conditions and asset quality across region.
Analysis
Middle East conflict: Trade tensions rise as oil jumps and tariffs shake markets
Several ports suspended operations in the Middle East after drone strikes. DP World said operations at Jebel Ali port in Dubai, one of the world's busiest container ports, had been suspended due to a fire after "aerial interception," he adds.
Economy
Achille Staiano
Chief Commercial Officer, Explora Journeys
Industry: Luxury Ocean Travel
Liliana Paraipan
Wellness Director at ZEM Wellness Clinic Altea
Industry: Hospitality Industry
Abu Dhabi residential property sales hit record $19.9bn in 2025
Apartments dominated the sales market, accounting for 66% of transactions, reflecting strong developer activity in the segment
Economy
Neil George
Partner & Co-CEO, Aleph Hospitality
Industry: Hospitality
UAE archaeological finds reveal new human history insights
Discoveries spanning prehistoric settlements, Bronze Age tombs and heritage sites are deepening understanding of ancient communities and their regional connections.
Arts & Culture
Supply chain attacks emerge as top cyber threat to businesses: Study
The study found that large enterprises are particularly vulnerable because of their extensive vendor networks.
Business
Trump says Iran war will ‘end very soon’ as Yemen hostilities escalate and Hormuz attacks rise
Iran's Ghalibaf warns Washington cannot be trusted, saying Tehran must prepare for renewed fighting even as negotiations continue between the...
Geostrategy
Company News
UAE has agent control tower for better oversight, audit of AI agents: Al Olama
Speaking at a session titled "Trust Test for Agentic AI" at the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting of Global Future...
World Economic Forum
Latest News
Gulf economies may not recover to pre-war levels soon as shock will hit many sectors, IMF warns
The IMF projects the Middle East and Central Asia region will contract 0.3 percent in 2026, reflecting its exposure to...
Trump says Houthis ‘misbehaving very badly’ as Saudi airport shutdown disrupts flights
Etihad Airways cancelled flights between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh until October 19, while services to Dammam were heavily disrupted. Qatar...
BP pulls out of Riyadh energy congress after airport attack
Saudi Arabia pressed ahead with its five-day energy gathering, signing cooperation agreements with Kuwait, Qatar and Egypt despite travel disruption...
UAE economy grows 0.4% in first half as non-oil sectors expand
Non-oil activities accounted for 79.2% of the economy, led by trade, finance, construction and manufacturing, despite a second-quarter contraction amid...
UAE, Tanzania launch Green Silk Road food corridor
The Tanzania-UAE Green Silk Road will link farming, processing, storage, logistics, trade and markets in an integrated food security corridor...
MENA could unlock $1 trillion value by 2030
“The opportunity for MENA is significant, and the value will come from execution,” said Wissam Yassine, partner and Middle East sustainability practice leader at Bain & Company....
UAE ranks first in MENA, sixth globally in AI-human skills readiness
Coursera’s new AI-Human Skills Synergy Index says AI course enrollments in the UAE increased 75% year over year, with AI...
Geostrategy
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...
GCC banks need stronger safeguards amid geopolitical uncertainty, KPMG says
KPMG says banks can strengthen portfolios through scenario analysis, stronger governance and monitoring as geopolitical tensions threaten borrowers, funding conditions...
Analysis
Latest News
UAE, Tanzania launch Green Silk Road food corridor
The Tanzania-UAE Green Silk Road will link farming, processing, storage, logistics, trade and markets in an integrated food security corridor...
UAE outward investment reaches $63.4 billion as global footprint expands
The country's sovereign funds and companies expanded investments across six continents in energy, logistics, technology, healthcare and other sectors, as...
UAE deploys AI agents at scale, Dataiku study finds
the research shows that 62% of UAE CIOs estimate that more than 50 AI agents are actively running in production...
Flydubai suspends Israel flights after emergency landing
Flight FZ1073 was carrying 174 people, most of them Israeli nationals, when a violent confrontation reportedly broke out in the...
Fatima El Mansouri appointed Morocco’s first woman prime minister
Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri is the second woman to serve as prime minister in the Arab world after Najla Bouden’s...
Company News
WEF to bring 500 global leaders to Dubai for inaugural meeting
Discussions will span artificial intelligence, jobs, geopolitical uncertainty, climate change and economic resilience, with UAE Minister Mohammad Al Gergawi and...
Geostrategy
UAE archaeological finds reveal new human history insights
Discoveries spanning prehistoric settlements, Bronze Age tombs and heritage sites are deepening understanding of ancient communities and their regional connections.
Arts & Culture
Saudi mega-projects could generate 35% of power needs through on-site renewables
A BCG report says rooftop solar and decentralized renewable systems can lower electricity costs, reduce emissions and help developers meet...
Research
Middle East conflict: Trade tensions rise as oil jumps and tariffs shake markets
Several ports suspended operations in the Middle East after drone strikes. DP World said operations at Jebel Ali port in...
Economy
Abu Dhabi residential property sales hit record $19.9bn in 2025
Apartments dominated the sales market, accounting for 66% of transactions, reflecting strong developer activity in the segment
Economy
Supply chain attacks emerge as top cyber threat to businesses: Study
The study found that large enterprises are particularly vulnerable because of their extensive vendor networks.
Business
Economy
UAE Cabinet approves $79.6 billion three-year budget, setting $24.5 billion for 2027
Social development and pensions take the largest share at 38.4 percent, followed by government affairs at 32.3 percent, as the...
- Public and university education gets 18.8 percent of the 2027 budget, healthcare 6.7 percent and pensions 6.4 percent.
- Plan prioritizes artificial intelligence and financial data analytics, with digital transformation at the core of the planning cycle.
Geostrategy
Trump says Houthis ‘misbehaving very badly’ as Saudi airport shutdown disrupts flights
Etihad Airways cancelled flights between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh until October 19, while services to Dammam were heavily disrupted. Qatar...
- A Houthi official warned Washington of a “swift and painful response” if the United States intervened further in Yemen’s war.
- Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it struck a supertanker in the Strait of Hormuz, accusing it of ignoring warnings and disabling transponders.
Economy
IMF forecasts Middle East and Central Asia contraction as war disrupts growth
The forecast of 0.3% contraction marks a steep reversal from the IMF’s projection of 1.9% growth made six months earlier...
- Saudi Arabia’s GDP is forecast to contract 3.3% in 2026 before rebounding 7.9% next year, supported by normalising exports.
- - Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain face double-digit contractions as damaged oil installations and disrupted shipping constrain production, exports and logistics.
Achille Staiano
Chief Commercial Officer, Explora Journeys
Industry: Luxury Ocean Travel
Liliana Paraipan
Wellness Director at ZEM Wellness Clinic Altea
Industry: Hospitality Industry
Neil George
Partner & Co-CEO, Aleph Hospitality
Industry: Hospitality