UAE real estate posts record Q1 growth on strong investor demand
In Dubai, the Dubai Land Department reported 718,160 real estate transactions, including 60,303 disposals, up 6% from a year earlier....
Business
Geostrategy
Leaders warn race for minerals could turn seabed into ‘wild west’
Growing anxiety over Trump's unilateral push to fast-track deep-sea mining in international waters shot to the surface at the opening...
- The number of countries opposed to seabed mining rose to 36 on Monday, according to a tally kept by the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, an umbrella group of NGOs.
- Trump was not among the roughly 60 heads of state and government in Nice but his specter loomed large as leaders defended the global multilateralism he has spurned.
Business
MENA Mergers & Acquisitions deal value up 66% in Q1, hits $46 Billion
Dubai, UAE -- The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has kicked off 2025 with a record-breaking first quarter...
- According to Saudi M&A Consulting, this robust growth reflects rising investor confidence, favorable regulatory reforms, and strong macroeconomic fundamentals across the region.
- Cross-border M&A accounted for 81 percent of total deal value and 52 percent of the total number of transactions, with 117 deals executed, the highest in the last five years.
Business
US aerospace manufacturers insist they have no use for tariffs
New York, United States -- US airlines and aerospace manufacturers insist they have no use for tariff protections, warning that...
- US aerospace and defense exports reached $135.9 billion in 2023, including $113.9 billion for civil aviation alone.
- This allowed the sector to generate a trade surplus of $74.5 billion and to invest $34.5 billion in research and development.
Business
Apple under pressure to shine after AI stumble
Apple will showcase plans for its coveted devices and the software powering them at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC)...
- The event comes a year after the tech titan said a suite of AI features it dubbed "Apple Intelligence" was heading for iPhones, including an improvement of its Siri voice assistant
- Industry insiders will be watching to see whether Apple addresses the AI stumble or focuses on less splashy announcements.
Business
Gamers get hold of Nintendo’s hotly awaited Switch 2
Tokyo, Japan -- Gamers finally got their hands on Nintendo's new Switch 2 on Thursday, the console that could score...
- The device, which features a bigger screen and more processing power, is an upgrade to the Switch that became a global phenomenon with hit games such as "Animal Crossing".
- The original Switch has sold 152 million units since its 2017 release, making it the third-best-selling console ever.
Business
Equinor signs $27 bn gas deal
The 10-year contract was signed with Centrica.
- Natural gas accounts for 38% of UK's total energy supply, according to the IEA, making it the top fuel source, and the nation depends heavily on imports.
- Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Western sanctions roiled energy markets, sparking a rise in prices that British consumers are still struggling with.
Business
Israel arms exports to UAE, Bahrain, Morocco rise sharply after 2023
Sales to countries considered part of the Abraham Accords -- the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco who signed groundbreaking...
- Israel's defense ministry said that its arms exports hit an all-time high of more than $14.7 billion in 2024, despite international criticism of ongoing Gaza onslaught.
- A majority -- 56.8 percent -- of the deals signed were "mega-deals" valued at at least $100 million each, the ministry said, adding that "operational achievements" in the Gaza war.
Geostrategy
New WEF report reveals how tech convergence will reshape industries
Geneva, Switzerland – The World Economic Forum today released a new report examining how emerging technology combinations are reshaping industries...
- AI is a key enabler, making many emerging tech synergies commercially viable across industries.
- Digital twins, enhanced by AI and sensors, are expanding efficiency in sectors from aerospace to healthcare.
Business
Middle East tourism projected to reach $350 billion by 2030: ATM report
Dubai, UAE – The Middle East’s tourism sector is poised for unprecedented expansion, with a new report predicting a 50...
- Inbound travel from outside the region is set to grow by 13 percent annually up to 2030, while outbound business travel will surge at 9 percent per year.
- China ranks third by value in leisure spending, expected to increase by 130 percent by 2030.
Business
Meta secures nuclear energy in 20-year Illinois plant deal
Washington, United States -- Facebook owner Meta announced Tuesday a 20-year nuclear energy agreement with US-based Constellation Energy to secure...
- The investment marks big tech's latest move to meet surging electricity demand from AI, with Microsoft, Google and Amazon also turning to nuclear power as an energy source.
- Under the deal, Meta's unspecified investment will replace state government subsidies to keep the Clinton Clean Energy Center operating beginning in 2027.
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
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Nestle to cut 16,000 jobs
Business
Meta to remove under-16 Australians from Facebook, Instagram on December 4
Australians younger than 16 will be removed from Facebook and Instagram on December 4, tech giant Meta said Thursday, as...
Business
Samsung plans $310 bn investment to power AI expansion
Seoul, South Korea -- South Korean conglomerate Samsung unveiled on Sunday a plan to invest $310 billion over the next...
Business
EU approves ADNOC’s purchase of Germany’s Covestro
Brussels, Belgium -- The European Commission on Friday greenlit the takeover of German chemical firm Covestro by UAE state oil...
Business
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Business
Pfizer poised to buy Metsera
The pharma giant improved its offer to $10bn.
- The Danish firm said Saturday that it "does not intend to make an increased offer to acquire Metsera."
- The company "will continue to assess opportunities for business development and acquisitions that... further its strategic objectives," it said.
Business
Ozempic maker lowers outlook
The company posted tepid Q3 results.
- It marked the latest bad news for the pharmaceutical giant, which has recently changed its CEO, announced plans to lay off 9,000 employees and replaced more than half of its board.
- The group now expects full-year sales in 2025 to grow by eight to 11 percent, versus the eight to 14 percent range it had expected previously, the company said.
Business
US AI firm Palantir announces joint venture in Dubai
Dubai, United Arab Emirates -- US software firm Palantir launched a joint venture with the Dubai government's investment arm on...
- The joint venture, named Aither, was unveiled a day after Microsoft announced $15.2bn in AI and cloud computing investments in the UAE, which seeks to become a global AI leader.
- Palantir has a reach that spans the global economy, with banks, hospitals, the US government and the Israeli military among its ever-expanding client roster.