INSEAD Day 4 - 728x90

Economy

Samsung biggest chip investor

The tech giant invested nearly $59.2bn in 2025.

flynas to set up new hub

Five destinations in first phase of operations.

AD Ports Group acquires CLI

CLI is Brazilian agri-bulk terminal operator.

$1.59bn Makkah project awarded

A consortium will develop two districts in the Holy City.

2PointZero posts profit surge

Growth driven by merger consolidation.

PIF assets reach $910 billion by 2025 end, below Vision 2030 target

According to the latest Vision 2030 annual report, the real non-oil GDP reached $892 billion against a target of $904...
  • The figure represents substantial growth for the sovereign wealth fund but remains below the programme's target of $1.09 trillion.
  • The sovereign wealth fund is the main financial engine behind Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia's plan to reduce dependence on oil revenues.

Saudi Arabia’s economy expands as oil and non-oil sectors grow

According to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), all major economic sectors recorded positive annual growth during the quarter, reflecting...
  • Oil and non-oil activities each increased 2.9% from a year earlier, underscoring balanced contributions to economic expansion.
  • By regulatory sectors, the oil sector expanded 2.8% YoY in Q1 2026, while the non-oil sector grew 2.6%. The private sector posted growth of 2.8%.

Microsoft data highlights Qatar’s rapid Artificial Intelligence growth

The finding place Qatar among the top ten countries globally for practical AI usage. Qatar's AI market reached approximately $59...
  • Experts say governance, regulation and workforce skills will determine the long-term success of Qatar's AI ambitions.
  • Several institutions have played a leading role in advancing AI adoption, including Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development.

China’s foreign exchange reserves rise by $31bn to $3.44 trillion

Dubai, UAE -- China’s foreign exchange reserves rose to $3.4422 trillion at the end of May, their highest level in...
  • SAFE attributed May's increase primarily to exchange-rate valuation effects and changes in prices of global financial assets.
  • China remains the world's largest holder of foreign exchange reserves, providing a key buffer against market volatility and external shocks.

UN food organization sees global cereal output falling in 2026/27

Dubai, UAE -- Global cereal production is expected to decline by 2% in the 2026/27 season to 2.982 billion tons,...
  • Record 2025/26 harvests helped build global cereal inventories despite forecasts of tighter supplies in the coming season.
  • Lower wheat and barley trade volumes are expected to offset stronger maize and rice shipments worldwide.

Energy costs push OECD inflation to highest level this year

Dubai, UAE -- Annual inflation across the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) accelerated to 4.4% in April from...
  • Energy inflation reached 13.2% across the OECD, with 31 member countries reporting higher energy costs during April.
  • U.S. inflation rose to its highest level since May 2023, while Britain's core inflation fell to four-year lows.

Fragmenting world economy raises costs beyond geopolitical rivals

A report published by the World Economic Forum (WEF) and consulting firm Oliver Wyman found that fragmentation accelerated through 2025...
  • Annual economic losses from fragmentation already total up to $307 billion as tariffs and investment restrictions proliferate globally.
  • Emerging economies outside major geopolitical blocs could suffer output losses nearly twice the global average under escalation scenarios.

ChatGPT surpasses 1 billion monthly active users in May

Dubai, UAE -- OpenAI's ChatGPT surpassed 1 billion monthly active users in May, becoming the fastest application to reach the...
  • Sensor Tower estimates ChatGPT reached one billion monthly users roughly three years after launching in late 2022.
  • Growing enterprise adoption and multimodal capabilities have helped fuel demand amid intensifying competition across artificial intelligence markets.

UAE GDP reaches $517 billion as economy grows 6.2 percent

Non-oil activities drove growth as construction, finance, real estate and transport sectors posted robust gains, underscoring diversification efforts and long-term...
  • Trade remained the largest non-oil contributor, accounting for 16.9 percent of GDP, ahead of finance sectors.
  • Officials highlighted investments in technology, innovation and digital economy initiatives as drivers of future readiness.

Closure of Strait of Hormuz may trigger lasting shift in Gulf trade corridors: report

About $650 billion in trade flows are affected, with global maritime routes facing growing disruption and uncertainty risks.
  • GCC countries are redirecting cargo flows through alternative gateways, increasing transit costs and causing longer delivery times
  • Saudi Arabia could leverage Red Sea access and East African investments to reduce dependence on vulnerable maritime choke points

AI to cancer vaccines: Emerging technologies edge closer to large-scale adoption

World Economic Forum's Top 10 Emerging Technologies Report 2026, developed alongside the Dubai Future Foundation, has identified 10 technologies that...

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...

Microsoft data highlights Qatar’s rapid Artificial Intelligence growth

The finding place Qatar among the top ten countries globally for practical AI usage. Qatar's AI market reached approximately $59...

China’s foreign exchange reserves rise by $31bn to $3.44 trillion

Dubai, UAE -- China’s foreign exchange reserves rose to $3.4422 trillion at the end of May, their highest level in...

UN food organization sees global cereal output falling in 2026/27

Dubai, UAE -- Global cereal production is expected to decline by 2% in the 2026/27 season to 2.982 billion tons,...
INSEAD Day 4- 300x600
INSEAD Day 4- 300x600

Most Read

Fragmenting world economy raises costs beyond geopolitical rivals

A report published by the World Economic Forum (WEF) and consulting firm Oliver Wyman found that fragmentation accelerated through 2025...
  • Annual economic losses from fragmentation already total up to $307 billion as tariffs and investment restrictions proliferate globally.
  • Emerging economies outside major geopolitical blocs could suffer output losses nearly twice the global average under escalation scenarios.

ChatGPT surpasses 1 billion monthly active users in May

Dubai, UAE -- OpenAI's ChatGPT surpassed 1 billion monthly active users in May, becoming the fastest application to reach the...
  • Sensor Tower estimates ChatGPT reached one billion monthly users roughly three years after launching in late 2022.
  • Growing enterprise adoption and multimodal capabilities have helped fuel demand amid intensifying competition across artificial intelligence markets.

UAE GDP reaches $517 billion as economy grows 6.2 percent

Non-oil activities drove growth as construction, finance, real estate and transport sectors posted robust gains, underscoring diversification efforts and long-term...
  • Trade remained the largest non-oil contributor, accounting for 16.9 percent of GDP, ahead of finance sectors.
  • Officials highlighted investments in technology, innovation and digital economy initiatives as drivers of future readiness.