IRGC says US, Israel must withdraw as Iran war strains economy
Iran’s GDP shrank 10.1% year-on-year between March 21 and June 20, according to the Statistical Center of Iran, covering the...
Geostrategy
Iran sets seven conditions for talks as Turkey pushes proposals
“Tehran's message is clear and unambiguous; if Washington wants to escape the quagmire it has created for itself and avoid...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Oil prices fall to lowest levels since March on Hormuz opening expactations
Questions over shipping fees, sanctions relief and regional security persisted even as negotiators prepared for a formal signing ceremony in...
- Iran says implementation begins after Friday's signing, while Washington signals parts of the agreement could be released earlier.
- Hezbollah says Tehran will seek Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon during subsequent negotiations with the United States.
Business
Saudi Arabia’s residential market weakens in Q1 despite price gains
The slowdown was most pronounced in Riyadh, where transaction volumes and values dropped 82% from a year earlier. Activity also...
- Residential transaction volumes fell 50% year-on-year to 29,490 deals during the quarter, while the value of transactions declined 57% to SAR22 billion ($5.9 billion).
- Riyadh Grade A office occupancy held at 97%, supported by limited supply of high-quality workspace.
Business
Etihad enters largest summer season with more than 300 daily flights
Dubai, UAE -- Etihad Airways is entering its largest summer season on record, operating more than 300 flights a day...
- Airline launched four new destinations in four days and is restoring five seasonal routes across Europe and Africa.
- Fleet has expanded by 23 aircraft year-on-year, supporting near-record passenger loads approaching 90% occupancy levels.
Geostrategy
Vance says Hormuz reopening details pending as Israel vows to stay in seized territories
Fresh questions emerged over implementation of the US-Iran agreement as negotiators grappled with security guarantees, territorial disputes and unresolved nuclear...
- The MoU calls for an immediate and permanent end to military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon.
- Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Tehran against retaliation and threatened further military action if attacked.
Economy
Saudi Arabia’s inflation rises to 1.8 percent in May on higher rents
Dubai, UAE -- Saudi Arabia’s annual inflation rate rose to 1.8% in May 2026, up from April, as higher housing,...
- The cost-of-living index increased to 105.3 points in May from 103.5 points a year earlier.
- GASTAT said the rise was driven primarily by a 3.7% year-on-year increase in housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, reflecting a 4.7% rise in rents.
Opinion
Eight Arab nations, $40.9bn impact: The World Cup’s economic power play
Beyond setting a participation record, the unprecedented Arab presence at the 2026 World Cup highlights the growing economic influence of...
- Morocco reached the semi-finals in 2022, and in 2023, the country welcomed 14.5 million visitors, up 34% from the year before.
- Football was obviously not the sole driver, but the result clearly helped keep Morocco on a global scale.
Business
Forbes lists Emirates Auction CEO among top CMOs
Dubai, UAE -- Omar Matar Al Mannaei, chief executive officer and chief marketing officer of Emirates Auction, has been named...
- AI-powered customer acquisition engine launched in 2025 increased new customer growth by 38%, strengthening Emirates Auction’s market reach.
- Unified analytics and personalization platforms helped lift retention by 14% and brand awareness by 20%, company said.
Geostrategy
GCC youth population tops 23.5m as workforce presence expands
Dubai, UAE -- More than 23.5 million people aged between 15 and 34 lived across the Gulf Cooperation Council countries...
- Employed youth represented more than one-third of the GCC workforce in 2025, reflecting continued labour-market expansion.
- Share of young people outside education, employment or training fell steadily, indicating stronger social and economic participation.
Geostrategy
US and Iran agree to ‘immediate’ end to military operations, will sign MoU in Switzerland
The content of the agreement, which follows weeks of fraught negotiations and periodic threats from Trump of fresh hostilities unless...
- The agreement, brokered with the help of Pakistan, was announced after weeks of conflict between the United States and Iran.
- Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi confirmed that a ceasefire would take effect immediately and said negotiations on a final agreement would continue for 60 days.
Analysis
Dubai property market cools speculation but retains underlying strength
After a record-breaking 2025, the Emirate’s market has found a new level and a new temperament., writes Charles Philion, founder...
- Secondary market activity shrank as purchasers pursued genuine discounts, signalling greater selectivity and tougher negotiations across communities.
- Rising construction costs are emerging as the key risk, potentially affecting project timelines and developer profitability.
IRGC says US, Israel must withdraw as Iran war strains economy
Iran’s GDP shrank 10.1% year-on-year between March 21 and June 20, according to the Statistical Center of Iran, covering the...
Geostrategy
Company News
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Business
Ajman rental contracts reach $792 million in first half
Dubai, UAE -- The total value of rental contracts registered in Ajman reached approximately AED2.91 billion during the first half...
Business
Trump rejects Iran deal extension as regional tensions mount
The US president says Iran will not make the deal he considers necessary, while Washington declines to extend the expired...
Geostrategy
Masdar, ScottishPower complete foundations at East Anglia THREE
Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC (Masdar) and ScottishPower Renewables have completed installation of all 95 foundations at the £4...
Business
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Geostrategy
Meta tests AI-powered scam alerts on WhatsApp
Meta is testing an optional AI-powered scam alert feature on WhatsApp that warns users when conversations may involve fraud. The...
- The optional feature uses AI to identify conversations that could be linked to fraudulent schemes and warns users.
- Users can block contacts, report accounts, continue conversations or mark incorrectly flagged chats as trusted.
Geostrategy
SpaceX launches two Falcon 9 rockets 38 minutes apart
SpaceX launched two Falcon 9 rockets from opposite US coasts just 38 minutes apart on Saturday, setting a new launch...
- Two Falcon 9 rockets launched from Florida and California, carrying Globalstar satellites and a classified US Space Force mission.
- Globalstar's eight satellites were successfully deployed, while the second rocket carried the classified USSF-366 mission.
Geostrategy
Israel bombs southern Lebanon again hours after killing 11 in deadly strikes
Meanwhile, Iran's foreign minister says Tehran has not decided whether to resume negotiations with Washington, accusing the United States of...
- Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said those killed in Ansar were not military infrastructure or legitimate military targets.
- Hezbollah said the attacks would be "met with what they deserve".