The New Travel Mindset: Local Living and Smarter Tech
From immersive local experiences to AI-powered personalization, Muzzammil Ahussain, CEO of Almosafer, shares key trends shaping the future of travel.
Interview
AI talking trees feature at Chelsea Flower Show
London, United Kingdom -- Talking trees powered by AI, drought-resistant crops and sweet potatoes sprouting among flowers -- the prestigious...
Arts & Culture
Business
Abu Dhabi’s EWEC opens Q4 2023 Clean Energy Certificates auction
ABU DHABI, UAE - Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) on Monday announced that it will conduct its Q4 2023...
- CECs are the only accredited instruments in the Emirate that prove the environmental and economic benefits of consuming clean energy.
- Issued in units of 1MWh, each CEC certifies that the electricity consumed by the entity originates from a clean energy source.
Oman’s Producer Price Index down in Q3 2023
Muscat, Oman - The Sultanate of Oman's producer price index (PPI) in Q3 2023 recorded a decrease of 13 percent...
- Prices of oil and gas products decreased by 13.7 percent, under pressure from the decrease in the prices of crude oil and natural gas products by 16 percent
- Non-oil products also recorded a decrease of 8.2 percent due to a decrease in the prices of the manufacturing industries group by 10.2 percent
Geostrategy
Biden, Netanyahu, Hamas positive on possible extension of truce in Gaza
The pause that began Friday has seen dozens of hostages freed, with over 100 Palestinian civilians released by Israel in...
- Netanyahu said that he had discussed the release of another group of hostages from the Gaza Strip with the US President
- Hamas also said it was willing to extend the pause after it freed more hostages, including a four-year-old orphaned by its attack
Business
Infracorp logs $29.8m profit
The company specializes in social infrastructure.
- Infracorp is currently restructuring its industrial portfolio to support its expansion in developing vital industrial infrastructure in Bahrain
- The company is expanding its investment portfolio in the hospitality sector and attracting several international names, including ROKA and Avli by tashas
Economy
Saudi, Turkey, Egypt among 16 nations viewing climate change as top concern
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Around 80% of consumers surveyed across 16 countries now view climate change as the world’s No. 1...
- Around 56% of Saudi consumers stated that they were willing to pay more to ride in a carbon-neutral taxi as against 40% of consumers in other countries
- Similarly, they were also willing to pay more for hotels, train tickets, broadband internet, groceries, computers, clothing, and smartphones
Sam Altman’s return ushers in new era at OpenAI
The five-day saga began on Friday, when Altman was abruptly sacked by the board for reasons that are still unclear....
- The board that fired Altman from his role as CEO of the ChatGPT creator has been almost replaced following a rebellion by employees
- The sole survivor in the boardroom in the new Altman era is Adam D'Angelo, the CEO of question-and-answer site Quora
Economy
Indonesia’s exports to UAE expected to rise by $4bn with CEPA trade pact
Jakarta, Indonesia - The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) is expected to increase Indonesia’s exports to the UAE by around...
- UAE was Indonesia’s second-largest trading partner in the Middle East in 2022
- Indonesia recorded $61.8 million in direct investment from the UAE in Jan-September 2023
Movement against ‘Pro-Israeli’ fast-food chains gains momentum
Tehran, Iran – Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey witnessed a significant surge in a boycott targeting multinationals that have either pro-Israeli...
- Amidst rising global condemnation of Israel's actions in Gaza, the boycott movement gains significant momentum
- Countries such as Kuwait and Morocco join the movement, adding to the international pressure on Israel
Economy
Gaza war: Israel stares at $48 billion in expenses
Dubai, UAE - The ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza could result in a significant economic toll for Israel, with...
- The projected cost, although lower than some previous estimations, remains a substantial financial burden
- The Israeli Ministry of Finance had previously indicated that the war was incurring costs of approximately $270 million per day
Business
ADX lists FAB Green Sakuk
FAB is the United Arab Emirates’ largest bank.
- FAB is the UAEs’ largest bank and one of the world’s largest banking groups, with total assets of $326.7 billion
- The $354 million sakuk, is the first ever green issuance in dirham and the largest ever dirham sukuk
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Revenue from Saudi cinema may exceed $1bn by 2030KSA, UAE play well as e-gaming trends across GCCExclusive: Middle East’s retail sector rides on AR and hybrid shopping to become $600bn digital economyTECOM Group profit soars 13%UAE startups eye Saudi Arabia for growth, expansionSaudi Arabia leads GCC AI healthcare raceDisparity remains as Saudis, Emiratis see wealth gains
The New Travel Mindset: Local Living and Smarter Tech
From immersive local experiences to AI-powered personalization, Muzzammil Ahussain, CEO of Almosafer, shares key trends shaping the future of travel.
Interview
Company News
Latest News
GCC countries host nine million Indians, UAE alone home to 3.55 million
New Delhi, UAE - The number of Indians living in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries has crossed nine million,...
Economy
Dubai’s GDP tops $31.3 bn in Q1 2024, growing 3.2%
The financial and insurance sector saw a 5.6% rise, reaching USD 4.1 billion (AED 15.1 billion), supported by significant growth...
Defiant Netanyahu to face US Congress amid Biden’s withdrawal
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, using an American football image, said Friday that negotiators were "inside the 10 yard...
Geostrategy
Most Read
Business
Saudi Arabia’s tourist spending reaches $40bn: minister
Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb highlights the upcoming launch of a tourist visa aimed at drawing more international...
- Passenger air traffic in Saudi Arabia rose by 17 percent in the first half of 2024, reaching 62 million compared to 53 million in the same period last year
- This growth was aided by a 12 percent increase in flights, with 446,000 recorded compared to 399,000 in the first half of 2023
Business
Chinese company to build Saudi Arabia’s first ocean park
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Haichang Ocean Park Holdings, China's largest ocean theme park operator, announced plans on Thursday to build...
- Haichang, which has a history of marine-themed tourism spanning over two decades, has previously collaborated on tourism projects in Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia
- Currently operating parks in cities such as Shanghai, Dalian, Zhengzhou, and Sanya, Haichang attracts more than 20 million visitors annually
Economy
Oregon leverages coastal adventures and diverse landscapes to expand its tourism market
Oregon's tourism strategy focuses on year-round visitation, sustainability, and regenerative travel, aiming to optimize economic impact while preserving natural beauty...
- Oregon is a destination where you can wander along stunning shorelines, trek volcanic peaks, and paddle serene lakes
- But it is not just natural beauty, the coastal gem also boasts some of the nation's finest breweries and restaurants