GCC asset management reaches $2.7 trillion as retail growth outpaces institutions
Boston Consulting Group says regional asset managers must strengthen distribution capabilities and technology adoption as industry competition intensifies globally.
Business
US and Iran trade strikes again, threatening fragile ceasefire
US Central Command said American fighter jets struck 10 Iranian military sites in and near the Strait of Hormuz, while...
Geostrategy
Business
Middle East conflict drags global air travel demand lower
Revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), the industry's measure of demand, declined 3.4% year-on-year, while available seat kilometers (ASK), a measure of...
- Excluding the Middle East, passenger demand would have risen 1.2%, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said.
- April jet fuel costs more than doubled, prompting airlines to rebalance capacity amid changing travel patterns worldwide.
Economy
UAE GDP reaches $517 billion as economy grows 6.2 percent
Non-oil activities drove growth as construction, finance, real estate and transport sectors posted robust gains, underscoring diversification efforts and long-term...
- Trade remained the largest non-oil contributor, accounting for 16.9 percent of GDP, ahead of finance sectors.
- Officials highlighted investments in technology, innovation and digital economy initiatives as drivers of future readiness.
Business
SpaceX IPO valuation raises concerns over investor demand
SpaceX’s planned initial public offering at a valuation of at least $1.8 trillion is emerging as a major test of...
- SpaceX reportedly seeks raising $75 billion after generating nearly $19 billion revenue last year from Starlink expansion globally.
- deVere Group warns institutional investors may redirect capital from Magnificent Seven stocks toward emerging AI and space companies.
Geostrategy
US, Iran trade blame as Israel-Lebanon tensions escalate
Iran said it fired on a U.S. military base in the region, while the United States reported strikes on Iran’s...
- Lebanese and Israeli military delegations were due to meet at the Pentagon for security talks.
- Beirut is expected to demand that Israel halt its attacks, which have intensified in recent days despite a ceasefire with Hezbollah.
Economy
Closure of Strait of Hormuz may trigger lasting shift in Gulf trade corridors: report
About $650 billion in trade flows are affected, with global maritime routes facing growing disruption and uncertainty risks.
- GCC countries are redirecting cargo flows through alternative gateways, increasing transit costs and causing longer delivery times
- Saudi Arabia could leverage Red Sea access and East African investments to reduce dependence on vulnerable maritime choke points
Geostrategy
US strikes southern Iran as Tehran officials head to Qatar for crucial talks
United States forces said they have attacked missile launch sites and mine-laying vessels in southern Iran, in what a US...
- A senior spokesperson for Iran’s Armed Forces, Abolfazl Shekarchi, warned that fresh aggression against Iran would trigger a “much harsher” response, extending beyond the region
- According to Iran’s Fars news agency, Shekarchi said that if another war breaks out, Iran’s retaliation would go beyond regional boundaries and be more intense
Geostrategy
UAE organizations strengthen governance to scale AI cybersecurity: Report
Governance, accountability and validation processes emerge as critical requirements for translating growing AI investment into measurable operational and security outcomes,...
- More than 95% of AI use cases globally fail delivering measurable business or security value, according to KPMG research.
- UAE organizations increasingly prioritize board-level accountability, lifecycle oversight and structured validation processes as AI cybersecurity deployments continue scaling rapid
Business
Visa expands AI-driven payments program across CEMEA region
Visa launched its global Agentic Ready program in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday, expanding efforts to support artificial intelligence-driven...
- UAE financial institutions including Emirates NBD, Mashreq and ADCB joined the first phase of the AI commerce program.
- Visa research found nearly 60% of UAE businesses are exploring agentic commerce applications and AI-driven transaction models.
Business
UAE property market enters more sustainable growth phase
The UAE real estate market entered a more measured and mature phase in the first quarter of 2026 after the...
- Abu Dhabi recorded about 7,800 residential deals in Q1, up 119% year-on-year amid sustained investor demand.
- Dubai apartment deliveries exceeded 10,000 units monthly as developers maintained large residential construction pipelines.
Business
Emirates breaks ground on Dubai South engineering hub
The $5.1 billion engineering complex targets advanced aircraft maintenance capabilities, sustainability benchmarks, and expanded aviation infrastructure. The facility is being...
- Emirates said the Dubai South complex will include simultaneous servicing capacity for 28 wide-body aircraft and two specialized paint hangars.
- The facility targets LEED Platinum sustainability standards with rooftop solar installations, expanded logistics infrastructure and engineering training facilities nationwide.
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GCC asset management reaches $2.7 trillion as retail growth outpaces institutions
Boston Consulting Group says regional asset managers must strengthen distribution capabilities and technology adoption as industry competition intensifies globally.
Business
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Iran closes Hormuz over Lebanon strikes as US, Iranian teams head to Switzerland
Iran's joint military command said the move was prompted by what it described as Israeli violations of the understanding reached...
Geostrategy
AD Ports launches UAE-Iraq integrated logistics service
Dubai, UAE -- AD Ports Group has launched an integrated logistics service linking the UAE's Khalifa Port with Iraq's Umm...
Business
Lebanon violence tests US-Iran accord as Israeli ministers harden rhetoric
Lebanon's Health Ministry said at least 21 people were killed and 39 wounded in overnight strikes across southern Lebanon.
Geostrategy
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Geostrategy
Middle East conflict exposes hydrogen supply risks: IEA
Dubai, UAE -- The conflict in the Middle East has disrupted production and trade in hydrogen-based products, exposing vulnerabilities in...
- Global demand exceeded 100 million tons in 2025 while low-emissions hydrogen production approached one million tons.
- Announced low-emissions hydrogen capacity expected by 2030 has fallen sharply because of project delays and cancellations.
Geostrategy
US, Iran technical negotiations face delay after Vance postpones Switzerland visit
"The logistics of these negotiations have never been simple or predictable. As of now the Vice President is not departing...
- White House says technical negotiations will begin later despite postponement of vice president's Switzerland trip for talks.
- Witkoff tells lawmakers Iran will invite international inspectors as nuclear verification efforts move into implementation stage.
Economy
Saudi Arabia rises to 13th in global competitiveness rankings
The Kingdom ranked 13th out of 70 economies assessed in the annual report, improving from 17th place a year earlier...
- The report attributed the improvement to stronger performance across all four of its pillars: economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency and infrastructure.
- Overall, Saudi Arabia ranked among the global top 10 in 74 of the report's 262 indicators.