Managing risk as telecom operators expand into digital finance
But now, as telecom operators expand into digital finance, service continuity and transaction reliability carry even bigger stakes, writes Donald...
Opinion
Business
Mashreq prices Dim Sum bond
UAE bank raises offshore renminbi funding
- Mashreq's inaugural offshore renminbi bond attracted orders of 2.3 billion yuan, more than twice the issue size, the bank said.
- The bond is expected to list in Luxembourg and Dubai, with settlement through Euroclear, Clearstream and Hong Kong's Central Moneymarkets Unit.
Business
Aldar buys Sharjah homes
Deal adds 1,100-plus rental units
- The forward purchase agreement covers more than 1,100 residential units in nine buildings, with Arada scheduled to deliver them in late 2029.
- Aljada is planned to contain about 25,000 homes and has already recorded more than 8,800 residential handovers since 2021.
Research
MENA could unlock $1 trillion value by 2030
“The opportunity for MENA is significant, and the value will come from execution,” said Wissam Yassine, partner and Middle East...
- A survey found that 89% of respondents considered AI to have high or very high potential to advance their organisations' environmental, social and governance goals.
- However, only 40% to 55% of respondents, depending on the use case, said their sustainable AI adoption had reached the pilot or scaled stage.
Business
Sharjah real estate transactions reach $12.74 billion
Sharjah recorded AED 46.8 billion ($ 12.74 billion) in real estate transactions during the first nine months of 2026, up...
- Sharjah recorded 91,560 real estate transactions, up 14%, while sales reached AED 35 billion across 216 areas during January-September.
- - Residential properties dominated sales with 19,910 units, while mortgages totalled AED 10.2 billion and 22 new projects were registered.
Business
SIB profit up 9%
Higher income from financing and investment drive growth.
- Sharjah Islamic Bank's financing and Sukuk income rose 11.7% to AED 3.2 billion, while operating income climbed 13.6%.
- Total assets reached AED 100 billion, while Islamic financing expanded 18.9% and the capital adequacy ratio improved to 19.37%.
Business
Saudi Arabia Railways orders 10 more Stadler intercity trains
Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) has ordered 10 more intercity trains from Swiss manufacturer Stadler, doubling its fleet of custom-built trains...
- The contract is worth more than 300 million Swiss francs ($360 million) and includes an extension of the existing maintenance agreement to cover the additional trains.
- SAR exercised an option in a contract signed in 2024, which was valued at around 600 million francs and covered 10 trains, maintenance and spare parts, Stadler said.
Business
Almarai plans more than $4 billion investment through 2031
Saudi food producer Almarai plans to invest more than $4 billion through 2031, expanding manufacturing capacity, entering new product categories...
- Almarai will focus on foodservice, e-commerce and selected new product categories to capture opportunities in changing consumer markets.
- - CEO Fawaz Aljasser said the investment would strengthen local manufacturing, broaden consumer choice and improve supply chain resilience.
Business
Saudi construction growth eases to four-month low in September
Saudi Arabia’s construction sector continued to expand in September, although growth slowed to its weakest pace in four months as...
- Saudi Construction Index eased to 54.4 in September, yet activity expanded for a fifth consecutive month across subsectors.
- Infrastructure activity reached 55.8, second-highest reading, while 34% of firms expected growth over the next three months ahead.
Business
UAE outward investment reaches $63.4 billion as global footprint expands
The country's sovereign funds and companies expanded investments across six continents in energy, logistics, technology, healthcare and other sectors, as...
- Mubadala allocates 44% of its portfolio to North America, with 80 direct investments and $170 billion under management.
- AD Ports Group has offices in 50 countries and commercial presence in 158, underscoring the UAE's logistics footprint.
Business
GCC outward workers’ remittances reach $161 billion in 2025
Gulf Cooperation Council countries collectively recorded the world’s highest value of outward workers’ remittances in 2025, totaling approximately $161 billion,...
- GCC remittances rose 13.6 percent from 2024, increasing by approximately $19 billion to reach their highest level.
- Remittances accounted for 6.6 percent of GCC GDP in 2025, compared with 6.0 percent recorded in 2024.
Company News
du 9M profit up 10.8%
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Al Rajhi Bank 9M profit up
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Musk kicks Kanye West off Twitter for ‘incitement to violence’
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Oman sees hospitality industry revenue fall 3.5%
The National Centre for Statistics and Information says domestic guest have supported the Oman's hotels.
Proof of Covid-19 vaccination, PCR test needed to enter Expo Dubai
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Cyberattack hits hundreds of US businesses
A US IT company urges customers to shut down their servers after the attack UN Security Council members recently warned...
Saudi Arabia to generate $150 billion in investments from its new transport policy
The government would provide thirty-five percent of the investments The rest of it, sixty-five percent, will come from the private...
Mashreq prices Dim Sum bond
Business
Aldar buys Sharjah homes
Business
MENA could unlock $1 trillion value by 2030
“The opportunity for MENA is significant, and the value will come from execution,” said Wissam Yassine, partner and Middle East...
Research
Sharjah real estate transactions reach $12.74 billion
Sharjah recorded AED 46.8 billion ($ 12.74 billion) in real estate transactions during the first nine months of 2026, up...
Business
Most Read
Business
Almarai plans more than $4 billion investment through 2031
Saudi food producer Almarai plans to invest more than $4 billion through 2031, expanding manufacturing capacity, entering new product categories...
- Almarai will focus on foodservice, e-commerce and selected new product categories to capture opportunities in changing consumer markets.
- - CEO Fawaz Aljasser said the investment would strengthen local manufacturing, broaden consumer choice and improve supply chain resilience.
Business
Saudi construction growth eases to four-month low in September
Saudi Arabia’s construction sector continued to expand in September, although growth slowed to its weakest pace in four months as...
- Saudi Construction Index eased to 54.4 in September, yet activity expanded for a fifth consecutive month across subsectors.
- Infrastructure activity reached 55.8, second-highest reading, while 34% of firms expected growth over the next three months ahead.
Business
UAE outward investment reaches $63.4 billion as global footprint expands
The country's sovereign funds and companies expanded investments across six continents in energy, logistics, technology, healthcare and other sectors, as...
- Mubadala allocates 44% of its portfolio to North America, with 80 direct investments and $170 billion under management.
- AD Ports Group has offices in 50 countries and commercial presence in 158, underscoring the UAE's logistics footprint.