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
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
Opinion
As AI joins the workforce, who gives it authority?
The first generation of enterprise generative AI largely answered questions, summarised documents and produced content. A human usually remained responsible...
- AI agents are gaining autonomy across enterprises, making clearly defined authority, permissions and accountability essential for responsible deployment.
- Saudi Arabia’s early adoption of agentic workflows gives organisations an opportunity to shape governance models for autonomous enterprise systems.
Geostrategy
UAE insurance assets rise 6.1 percent to $44.9 billion in 2025
Assets held by UAE insurance companies rose 6.1 percent to AED164.9 billion ($44.9 billion) in 2025, the Central Bank of...
- UAE insurers’ profits jumped to AED4 billion, while invested assets accounted for 58.4 percent of total sector assets.
- Active policies reached 17.3 million, with health coverage rising sharply after mandatory basic insurance requirements took effect nationwide.
Business
Gold prices hit highest levels in three months, oil falls
Oil prices fell by more than $1 a barrel on Monday as investors took profits ahead of an expected US...
- Spot gold was up 0.5 percent at $4,627.42 per ounce, as of 01:55 GMT, after hitting its highest level since 15th May earlier in the session.
- Among other metals, spot silver fell 0.3 percent to $68.76 per ounce. Platinum lost 0.5 percent to $1,868.03.
Business
Borouge okays $656m dividend
The company said dividend reflects its resilience
- The company reaffirmed its 2026 dividend target of 16.2 fils per share following its integration into Borouge International.
- Since its initial public offering in June 2022, Borouge shareholders have received $4.9 billion in dividends.
Business
Dubai completes 104 real estate projects worth over $30.22 billion
Dubai completed 104 real estate projects worth more than AED111 billion in the first half of 2026, according to Dubai...
- New units rose 36 percent to 24,537, while land allocated to completed projects more than doubled during H1.
- The completed and ready-for-handover built-up area rose 23.4 percent to 1.95 million square metres.
Business
Emarat, Dell Technologies sign AI adoption agreement
Emirates Petroleum Company P.J.S.C. (Emarat) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Dell Technologies to accelerate artificial intelligence adoption and...
- Emarat and Dell Technologies signed an agreement to accelerate intelligence adoption, identify use cases and strengthen data-driven decision-making.
- Emarat’s transformation agenda targets greater efficiency, resilience, stronger technology capabilities and sustainable growth through digital partnerships across sectors.
Business
Etihad Airways becomes first airline to accept Jaywan payments
Etihad Airways has become the first airline to accept Jaywan, the UAE’s national domestic card scheme, for flight bookings on...
- UAE customers can use Jaywan cards across Etihad’s network, while Royal holders will receive discounts and priority benefits.
- Etihad’s partnership with Al Etihad Payments follows a memorandum signed last October, deepening ties between airline and payments operator.
Saudi POS transactions fall to $3.8 billion in week ended Aug 15
Dubai, UAE -- Point-of-sale transactions in Saudi Arabia fell to nearly $3.79 billion in the week ended Aug. 15, from...
- Food and beverage purchases represented 15.5% of weekly spending, while restaurants and cafes accounted for another 12.9%.
- Electronic payments represented 85% of individual payments last year, exceeding the Financial Sector Development Program’s 70% target.
Business
Dubai Chambers, NASSCOM to expand cooperation on Agentic AI
Dubai Chambers has signed a memorandum of understanding with India's National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) to expand...
- NASSCOM represents more than 3,500 Indian technology companies, spanning startups and multinational corporations across the country’s technology sector.
- Dubai Chambers’ Agentic AI committee will oversee training, incubators and company development to accelerate private-sector adoption of emerging technologies.
Business
Middle East Energy expects 1,528 exhibitors for 50th Dubai edition
Middle East Energy will host its 50th edition in Dubai next month with 1,528 global energy companies confirmed to exhibit,...
- The exhibition will run from Sept. 1 to 3 at Dubai World Trade Centre under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure.
- Buyers participating in the event's Energy Club have more than $98 billion in live energy projects across the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, organisers said.
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
Company News
Latest News
Masar signs $82m land deal
Business
OpenAI halts GPT-6.1 Astra release over safety concerns
The decision comes before OpenAI’s annual developer conference, where the company is expected to face scrutiny over AI safety.
Business
DEWA completes $2.70 billion refinancing for Noor Energy 1
Dubai, UAE -- Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has completed a $2.70 billion refinancing of Noor Energy 1, the...
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Business
UAE central bank bars Bank Melli Iran branches from Iran transactions
The violations included non-compliance with requirements and obligations under UAE legislation relating to combating money laundering, the financing of terrorism...
- The prohibition covers trade finance and fund transfers involving all Bank Melli Iran branches operating in the UAE.
- The CBUAE said it would continue to strengthen its supervisory framework and take measures to safeguard the soundness and integrity of the UAE financial system.
Business
SoftBank raises $11.1 billion through bonds for OpenAI
SoftBank Group has issued dollar- and euro-denominated bonds worth a combined $11.1 billion as it seeks funding to support its...
- An offering document showed on Thursday that SoftBank issued $1 billion of 3.5-year senior dollar notes, $4.5 billion of 5.5-year notes and $4.5 billion of 7.5-year notes.
- SoftBank also issued two €500 million tranches with maturities of four and six years, yielding 7.125% and 8%, respectively.
Business
Emerson to build new automation solutions service center in Qatar
Emerson, a global automation solutions company, said on Wednesday it plans to build a new solutions service center in Qatar's...
- The facility will include region's first certified in-country flow calibration lab, along with other automation technologies.
- The 3,500-square-meter facility adds to Emerson's existing manufacturing, service and distribution locations in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.