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
World Bank raises Saudi Arabia’s real GDP growth forecast to 7.9 percent in 2027
The revised forecast represents an increase of about three percentage points and comes as the bank expects the Saudi economy...
Economy
Geostrategy
Google launches Project Suncatcher satellite to test solar-powered AI computing in space
Google has launched the first prototype satellite for Project Suncatcher, its research initiative exploring the potential for solar-powered artificial intelligence...
- The satellite, built in partnership with Planet, was launched on Thursday from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California aboard SpaceX's Transporter-18 rideshare mission.
- The experiment will test how Google's Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) withstand the physical stresses of spaceflight, radiation and extreme thermal conditions.
Business
MENA sovereign investors reach $6.1 trillion in assets
Mubadala led regional sovereign investors with $26.2 billion in investments, followed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Abu Dhabi Investment...
- 2026 MENA Playbook released by Global SWF said Iran war could lead to withdrawals and a greater domestic focus among sovereign wealth funds, depending on the individual investor.
- Gulf sovereign investors employ more than 12,000 staff, while GCC exchanges have recorded just eight IPOs so far in 2026.
Business
AI market could need $6 trillion annual revenue by 2031, report says
Much of the value is expected to come from new innovation beyond employee productivity, Bain & Company said in its...
- Hardware and semiconductor market capitalization grew 24% from 2020 to 2026, compared with 6% for software.
- Bain says AI has compressed cyberattacks to 18 hours, requiring changes across code, agent discovery, detection and governance.
Economy
US consumer confidence hits its lowest level since 2014 on higher cost of goods, services
The Conference Board’s gauge of confidence decreased 6.7 points to 81.9 after a downward revision to the prior month, data...
- Consumers pointed to higher costs for goods and services as the primary reason for the decline.
- The average price for a gallon (3.78 litres) of petrol has jumped 37 cents over the past month.
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.
- Researchers linked to OpenAI previously investigated agents communicating independently before hundreds subsequently attacked software startup Hugging Face.
- The decision comes amid wider calls within the AI industry for greater caution in developing frontier models.
Geostrategy
UN says Gaza faces worst economic crisis, needs $71.5 billion for recovery
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) 92% of its economic establishments damaged or destroyed and more than...
- Gaza's GDP per capita stood at just $212 in 2025, equivalent to about $0.58 per person per day in GDP terms and only 17% of its 2022 level.
- Unemployment reached 78%, while more than 90% of the working-age population was without employment.
Business
Saudi Arabia, UAE climb WEF Tourism Index despite Middle East conflict disruption
Saudi Arabia jumps 17 places since 2019 on workforce reform and Vision 2030 investment, while the UAE tops the world...
- Saudi women now hold 47% of tourism jobs, up from just 5% in 2018, WEF's index shows.
- Middle East aviation traffic fell 46.6% year-on-year in April 2026 after the regional conflict escalated sharply.
Expo 2020 DUBAI
Global economy stabilizes as fiscal room narrows, WEF says
World Economic Forum survey finds improving global outlook, but tighter fiscal space, geopolitical risks, AI investment uncertainty and living costs...
- Chief economists see resilience shifting from spending toward supply chains, technology and energy adaptation as fiscal support fades.
- AI adoption is expected to accelerate while data-centre expansion raise electricity and water prices and face community resistance.
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.
Economy
70% Saudization for project management jobs from February 2027
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD), in partnership with the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing (MOMAH),...
- The decision covers private-sector establishments employing at least three workers in targeted project management professions.
- Support includes recruitment, training, qualification, job retention and priority access to Saudization programs for covered employers.
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
Company News
Latest News
IMF says Omicron could slow global growth
According to the economists, Omicron's threat to economy will likely be less severe than the previous waves.
Qatar takes key step to control own airspace
Qatar said on Tuesday that it has been given a preliminary green light by a UN body on a proposal...
G20 ministers set to green light global tax reform
Finance ministers from the G20 richest nations are expected to give the green light Saturday to a historic deal to...
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...
Saudi Arabia to create 40,000 jobs for its nationals
Job creation is part of Saudi strategy to help residents obtain high-quality jobs The strategy seeks to push more Saudi...
AI market could need $6 trillion annual revenue by 2031, report says
Much of the value is expected to come from new innovation beyond employee productivity, Bain & Company said in its...
Business
US consumer confidence hits its lowest level since 2014 on higher cost of goods, services
The Conference Board’s gauge of confidence decreased 6.7 points to 81.9 after a downward revision to the prior month, data...
Economy
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
Most Read
Business
Saudi Arabia, UAE climb WEF Tourism Index despite Middle East conflict disruption
Saudi Arabia jumps 17 places since 2019 on workforce reform and Vision 2030 investment, while the UAE tops the world...
- Saudi women now hold 47% of tourism jobs, up from just 5% in 2018, WEF's index shows.
- Middle East aviation traffic fell 46.6% year-on-year in April 2026 after the regional conflict escalated sharply.
Expo 2020 DUBAI
Global economy stabilizes as fiscal room narrows, WEF says
World Economic Forum survey finds improving global outlook, but tighter fiscal space, geopolitical risks, AI investment uncertainty and living costs...
- Chief economists see resilience shifting from spending toward supply chains, technology and energy adaptation as fiscal support fades.
- AI adoption is expected to accelerate while data-centre expansion raise electricity and water prices and face community resistance.
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.