93% GCC frontline employees use AI weekly, BCG report finds
The report, titled “Strategy Matters More than Tools,” draws on data from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar and...
Business
Dubai airport expects stronger H2 as airline capacity and demand recover
Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths said the return of airline capacity was being matched by recovering demand, particularly important for...
Business
Business
Saudi chocolate industry booms with over 3,500 commercial records
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- On the World Chocolate Day, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Commerce announced that the total number of...
- Riyadh leads the Kingdom in chocolate manufacturing, boasting 1,490 commercial records.
- Saudi Arabia is the region’s biggest market for chocolates and, in 2024, the Kingdom imported a whopping 123 million kg of chocolate.
Business
Eyeing early release, prison inmates produce Bulgaria’s coveted dairy products
Smolyan, Bulgaria -- At a prison nestled deep in Bulgaria's southern Rhodope mountains, Georgi Filyanov stirs a large tank of...
- From tending to herds of goats and cows, to making white cheese, prisoners are involved throughout the entire process.
- Coveted by cheese lovers and often sold out at specialty stores outside prison, production has not been able to keep up with demand.
Business
AI robots pluck weeds in California fields, make up for shortage of laborers
Los Banos, United States -- Oblivious to the punishing midday heat, a wheeled robot powered by the sun and infused...
- As farms across the US face a shortage of laborers and weeds grow resistant to herbicides, startup Aigen says its robotic solution -- named Element -- can save farmers money.
- Element the robot resembles a large table on wheels, solar panels on top. Metal arms equipped with small blades reach down to hoe between crop plants.
Business
‘Wadeem’ sold out for $1.49bn
This is the highest Abu Dhabi real-estate release to date.
- The strong interest in Wadeem is testament to individual and investor confidence in our capabilities, said Bill O’Regan, Group CEO of Modon Holding.
- The launch reinforces Hudayriyat’s position among Abu Dhabi’s most desirable residential destinations, said Ibrahim Al Maghribi, CEO of Modon Real Estate.
Geostrategy
Japan plans ‘world first’ deep-sea mineral extraction from Jan
Tokyo, Japan -- Japan will from January attempt to extract rare earth minerals from the ocean floor in the deepest...
- Earlier this week the country pledged to work with the United States, India and Australia to ensure a stable supply of critical minerals.
- Rare earths -- 17 metals difficult to extract from the Earth's crust -- are used in everything from electric vehicles to hard drives, wind turbines and missiles.
Business
Microsoft laying off several thousand employees
San Francisco, United States -- Microsoft on Wednesday said it was slashing a little less than four percent of its...
- The cloud computing tech giant did not disclose the total amount of lost jobs but as of June 2024 it employed 228,000 people, bringing the latest layoffs to about 9,000 people.
- The job cuts follow a round in May that saw about 6,000 positions culled from its global workforce.
Business
Tesla Q2 sales down 13.5%
Shares rally after the disclosure, better than some forecasts.
- The sales figures released Wednesday, which are global, reflect the more contested nature of the EV market, which Tesla once dominated.
- Musk's political activism on behalf of right-wing figures has also made the company a target of boycotts and demonstrations, weighing on sales.
Business
Eight-country coalition aims to tax luxury air travel
Seville, Spain -- Countries including France, Kenya, Barbados and Spain on Monday launched a coalition to push for taxes on...
- The coalition said it would work to increase the number of countries taxing plane tickets, including business-class travel, and private jets.
- Greenpeace welcomed an "important step" to raise more money from "the most elite and polluting form of travel", which has remained "undertaxed".
Business
Meta’s AI talent war raises questions about strategy
New York, United States -- Mark Zuckerberg and Meta are spending billions to recruit top artificial intelligence talent, triggering debates...
- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently complained that Meta has offered $100 million bonuses to lure engineers away from his company.
- Several OpenAI employees have accepted Meta's offers, prompting executives at the ChatGPT maker to scramble to retain their best talent.
Business
TomTom cuts 300 jobs
The firm said it was realigning its organization as it embraces AI.
- The Amsterdam-based company was an early pioneer of digital navigation in cars, but has been struggling as people no longer use a separate device to move around..
- TomTom announced in a statement that it was "realigning its organization as it embraces artificial intelligence", resulting in "organizational changes".
93% GCC frontline employees use AI weekly, BCG report finds
The report, titled “Strategy Matters More than Tools,” draws on data from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar and...
Business
Company News
AD Ports Group acquires CLI
Business
$1.59bn Makkah project awarded
Business
Latest News
Global equities, gold may extend gains in H2 2026 despite market risks: Standard Chartered
UAE and Middle East investors remain supported by stable oil markets, easing geopolitical risk premiums and strong liquidity, the bank...
Business
Saudi launches one-stop platform for summer travel offers and experiences
Dubai, UAE -- Saudi Arabia's tourism authority has launched a digital platform bringing together travel offers and tourism packages from...
Business
Saudi tourist spending rises to $22 billion in Q1 despite drop in foreign arrivals
Domestic travel helped sustain Saudi Arabia's tourism sector in the first quarter, with total visitor numbers rising to 37.2 million...
Business
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Business
Abu Dhabi new business licenses rise 21% in first quarter, ADRA says
New economic licences issued in Abu Dhabi rose 21% in the first quarter of 2026 from a year earlier, reflecting...
- New licences rose 58% in Al Ain and 28% in Al Dhafra, outpacing growth in Abu Dhabi city.
- Thirty-four industrial facilities entered production during the quarter, supporting local manufacturing capacity and supply-chain development goals.
Economy
Bain identifies four priorities for sovereign wealth funds as assets approach $30 trillion
State-backed investors are expanding beyond traditional investment models, increasing exposure to alternatives, AI and direct deals while balancing returns with...
- Top 10 sovereign wealth funds hold more than 75% of global assets.
- Sovereign wealth funds reached about $15 trillion in assets under management in 2025.
Business
Saudi Arabia cuts US Treasury holdings by $9.5 billion in April
Dubai, UAE -- Saudi Arabia reduced its holdings of U.S. Treasury securities by $9.5 billion in April to $140.1 billion,...
- The decline followed a sharp increase earlier this year that had lifted Saudi holdings to a six-year high of $160.4 billion in February.
- Since then, the kingdom has pared back its exposure, largely through reductions in Treasury bills and other short-dated securities.