TECOM shareholders approve $229 million cash dividend for 2025
Dubai, UAE - TECOM Group PJSC shareholders approved the financial statements for the year ended 31st December 2025 and endorsed...
Business
UAE consolidates its position as global hub for cross-border e-commerce
ABU DHABI, UAE -- The United Arab Emirates has consolidated its position as one of the world’s leading global and...
Business
Science
Experts seek to legitimize AI mental health care
Researchers at Dartmouth College believe artificial intelligence can deliver reliable psychotherapy, distinguishing their work from the unproven and sometimes dubious...
- Their application, Therabot, addresses the critical shortage of mental health professionals.
- The Dartmouth team recently published a clinical study demonstrating Therabot's effectiveness in helping people with anxiety, depression and eating disorders.
Economy
US Fed expected to pause cuts again and wait for clarity on tariffs
Washington, United States -- The US Federal Reserve is widely expected to extend a recent pause in rate cuts this...
- Most economists expect the tariffs introduced since January to push up prices and cool economic growth, at least in the short run.
- Financial markets overwhelmingly expect the Fed to announce another rate cut pause on Wednesday, according to data from CME Group.
Business
Trump’s solar tariffs could drive Asia transition boom
Bangkok, Thailand -- Massive planned US duties on solar panels made in Southeast Asia could be a chance for the...
- Earlier this month, Washington announced plans for hefty duties on solar panels made in Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia.
- Southeast Asia accounted for nearly 80 percent of US solar panel imports in 2024.
Geostrategy
UAE says citizens can again travel to Lebanon
The announcement comes after Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun met with his UAE counterpart Mohamed bin Zayed in Abu Dhabi on...
- UAE imposed the travel ban and withdrew diplomats from Beirut in solidarity with Saudi Arabia, after a Lebanese minister criticized the Riyadh-led military intervention in Yemen.
- Lebanese citizens were not banned from travelling to the UAE, although some experienced difficulties obtaining visas.
Business
Luberef net profit falls 7% in Q1
A fall in by-products sales leads to profit dip.
- This is in addition to a decrease in by-products crack margins, despite an increase in base oil crack margins.
- Total shareholders’ equity, no minority interest, stood at SAR 4.07 billion as of March 31, 2025.
Geostrategy
Global rice output in 2024/25 likely to expand by 1.5%: FAO
Rome, Italy -- The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) released a new Cereal Supply and Demand...
- FAO’s latest forecast for 2025 wheat production is pegged at 795 million tons, on par with the previous year.
- FAO’s new forecast for world cereal utilization in 2024/25 stands at 2 870 million tons, a 1.0 percent increase over the 2023/24 level.
Business
SABIC net loss $322 million
The company's net profit was $66m in Q1 2024
- Losses were driven by a SAR 1.05 billion drop in gross profit on higher feedstock prices.
- On a sequential basis, net loss shrank from SAR 1.89 billion in Q4 2024.
Business
Loyalty Lost: How brands need to adapt to the modern traveler
Dubai, UAE: As 2025 unfolds, travel brands are facing a significant challenge: customer loyalty. Traditional rewards programmes, often based on points systems,...
- To stay competitive, brands must move away from price-based rewards like discounts, which can boost short-term sales but impact profitability
- Instead, focusing on personalised offers, exclusive experiences, and tiered memberships is key to fostering long-term customer loyalty
Gen Z travellers in UAE seek purposeful, tech-enabled journeys: Wyndham study
Dubai, UAE - Gen Z travellers in the UAE are reshaping the future of tourism, prioritizing cultural immersion, sustainability, and...
- The study, conducted by YouGov, found that nearly two-thirds (63%) of Gen Z respondents prefer accommodations that reflect local culture
- Meanwhile, social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok are driving travel choices for 26% of them, with 79% already using or eager to use AI tools to plan their trips
Economy
The game of ‘chicken’ being played with the world economy can be brought to a cooperative end
A meaningful “G3” accord between the US, Europe, and China must include coordinated fiscal, monetary, development, and trade policies. From...
- The hardline positions of the US and China on trade and tariffs are putting the world economy at risk, writes Richard Samans
- Yet, Europe could broker a 'positive off-ramp' that fires on all of the cylinders of international cooperation
Most Read
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
TECOM shareholders approve $229 million cash dividend for 2025
Dubai, UAE - TECOM Group PJSC shareholders approved the financial statements for the year ended 31st December 2025 and endorsed...
Business
Company News
Latest News
22 killed in Israeli air strikes across Gaza
Geostrategy
8 killed in overnight strikes on Israel, Iran’s defense headquarters hit
In the central region, at least four people, including a 10-year-old boy, were killed and around 100 others wounded in...
Geostrategy
Syria’s new authorities to help locate missing Americans: US envoy
Damascus, Syria -- Syria's new authorities have agreed to help the United States locate and return Americans who went missing...
Geostrategy
Spain hosts European, Arab nations to pressure Israel on Gaza
Madrid will host 20 countries as well as international organizations with the aim of "stopping this war, which no longer...
Geostrategy
Most Read
Geostrategy
22 killed in Israeli air strikes across Gaza
The Israeli military has stepped up its Gaza offensive in recent days in what it has described as a renewed...
- Civil defense agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal said seven people were killed in a strike on a home in Jabalia, in the north.
- Fatal strikes were also recorded around Deir el-Balah in the center of the territory, Beit Lahia in the north, and the main southern city of Khan Yunis.
Arts & Culture
Iraq’s first ever director in Cannes wins best feature debut
Hasan Hadi won the top prize for his childhood adventure under economic sanctions in "The President's Cake".
- Also from the Middle East, Palestinian director Tawfeek Barhom received his award for his short film "I'm Glad You're Dead Now".
- Gazan twin brothers Arab and Tarzan Nasser on Friday received a directing award in the Certain Regard parallel section for "Once Upon A Time In Gaza".
Economy
United Kingdom renationalizes first train operator under Labor reforms
London, United Kingdom -- Britain's South Western Railways on Sunday becomes the first private train operator to be returned to...
- Renationalizing all of the UK's rail operators is among the key policies launched by Prime Minister Keir Starmer since his party's return to government last July.
- Train passengers in Britain suffer from frequent cancellations, in addition to high ticket prices and regular confusion over which services they can be used on.