Demand for lifestyle experiences in GCC has increased: SHG CEO
Dubai, UAE -- Sunset Hospitality Group (SHG) is more than just a collection of hotels, restaurants, and beach clubs. Renowned...
Business
Gulf countries eye global metal recycling hub status
Amidst an electric vehicle market boom, a looming global shortage of crucial minerals such as lithium and cobalt threatens to...
Economy
Arts & Culture
Saudi festivals celebrate cultural blooming
As Saudi Arabia opens up on the culture front, tourism gets a leg-up in a boost for Vision 2030.
- Saudi Arabia is witnessing a huge tourist boom, reflecting the government's interest in the sector
- STA collaborates with the Saudi tourist sector to develop one million jobs and 100 million annual visits by 2030
Analysis
Saudi Arabia to dominate regional ecommerce
Factors ranging from internet penetration to smartphone ownership to bank-account holdings, and more are coming together to make Saudi Arabia...
- The GCC will have the fastest ecommerce growth in the MEASA region between 2019 and 2022
- Ecommerce will help Saudi’s economic growth, with the domestic online market expected to reach $2 billion by 2025
Interview
Saudi Arabia looks to lead solar-cell industry
Demand for PV technology will increase in 2022, says Fahad Bin Omairah, CEO of Bin Omairah Holding Company.
- Masdar is a state-of-the-art PV solar panels factory with a total capacity of 1.2 GW and a SAR700 million investment
- Solar panel systems are now priced $1-1.5 per watt
Interview
Consumer ‘experience’ reshapes retail in the Gulf
Companies are increasingly focusing on health and wellness in products and services, says Mohammad A Baker, Deputy Chairman and CEO...
- People, communities, and governments are working to attain personal sustainability goals driving the retail sector
- GCC governments have established several measures targeted at raising awareness of healthy lifestyles
Business
Saudi Arabia eyes gas primacy with Al-Jafurah
The country is looking to move up a position and become the world’s second-largest gas producer with this field.
- Saudi Arabia intends to be one of the most influential in defining global policies in the gas market
- Al-Jafurah is the country’s largest non-associated gas field, with reserves estimated at 200 trillion cubic feet
Economy
UAE’s curtailed working week rule welcomed
UAE is the first country in the world to offer a national work week that is shorter than the five-day...
- Government entities will have 7:30am-3:30pm workdays from Monday to Thursday, while working hours in the private sector may last till after 5pm.
- The new system will allow federal authorities to use flexible working hours and the remote work system on Fridays.
Business
Saudi Arabia drops paper, adopts e-invoicing
The first phase of electronic invoicing in Saudi Arabia has begun, affecting all taxpayers liable to VAT in the Kingdom...
- The Kingdom's first phase of electronic invoicing has begun, affecting all VAT payers
- Purchasing with tax invoices and failing to notify the Authority of any fault will result in a fine of 10,000 Riyals
Interview
‘Saudi women entrepreneurs have it easier now’
Boundary-pushing journalist and entrepreneur Muna AbuSulayman tells TRENDS how things have changed for businesswomen in Saudi Arabia.
- Young entrepreneurs who have never worked before struggle severely, and their businesses fail early, says Muna AbuSulayman
- Influencers should create important and meaningful content for this new world and the new generations, she adds
Analysis
Saudi Arabia, UAE ripe for hydrogen investments
Green hydrogen has the potential to rapidly replace fossil fuels on a large scale, says Cranmore Managing Partner Yusuf Macun.
- Green hydrogen has a lot of potential particularly in heavy transport and heavy industries
- Green hydrogen has the ability to rapidly replace fossil fuels while simultaneously enhancing electrification
Interview
Online food delivery infra a necessity now
‘The delivery sector has become critical to the hospitality industry's survival,’ says Deliverect Middle East General Manager Naji Haddad.
- The explosive rise of online food delivery is forcing restaurants to change how they operate
- Restaurants needed to survive through the pandemic, and now they need to stand out from the competitors
Demand for lifestyle experiences in GCC has increased: SHG CEO
Dubai, UAE -- Sunset Hospitality Group (SHG) is more than just a collection of hotels, restaurants, and beach clubs. Renowned...
Business
Company News
Latest News
UAE takes lead in advancing global climate action
Through the COP28 Summit, the UAE aims to facilitate discussions, build consensus, and catalyze transformative actions to address the escalating...
Economy
GCC deals with rice shortage amid Russia-Ukraine war
The Russian-Ukrainian war heightens global food crisis fears as India, followed by the UAE and Russia, sequentially impose rice export...
Economy
Global inflationary waves may hit Arab world’s growth
Rising rates and global slowdown pose challenges for economic growth and investment in Arab countries, which expect to expand at...
Economy
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Business
GCC eyes global recycling dominance amidst EV boom
While rising EV demand may cause a global shortage of metals like cobalt and lithium by 2030, the Gulf region's...
- While rising EV demand may cause a global shortage of metals like cobalt and lithium by 2030, the Gulf region's vast resources position it as a potential recycling leader
- Battery recycling in resource-rich Gulf countries could ease global mineral supply pressures. However, the long lifespan of batteries currently limits available recycling material
Business
Oil prices fluid amid geopolitics, economic recovery
Geopolitical tensions, such as the Russian-Ukrainian war and the trade war between the United States and China, have sent shockwaves...
- Geopolitical tensions, such as the Russian-Ukrainian war and the trade war between the United States and China, have sent shockwaves through the oil market, says an expert
- OPEC's decisions to extend oil production cuts have stabilized markets, but challenges from non-OPEC+ producers and the global economic outlook continue to impact oil prices.
Business
Dubai leads as GCC real estate transactions soar in H1
Gulf real estate hit $90.7 billion in the first half of 2023, a 9.9% rise y-o-y, as Dubai led the...
- Gulf real estate hit $90.7 billion in the first half of 2023, a 9.9% rise y-o-y, as Dubai leads the market with a 57 percent increase, fueled by demand for luxury properties
- Residential prices in Dubai surge 11.7% in the Q2 of 2023, while Abu Dhabi's growth stays muted. Dubai's rents jump 32.6% y-o-y, while other markets see slight rise