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...
Economy
The generational digital divide is fading among UAE investors, eToro finds
76% of younger investors and 75% of older investors have acted on a recommendation by an AI engine
Economy
AI in an ‘industrial bubble’ but will benefit society: Bezos
Turin, Italy - Artificial intelligence technology is in an "industrial bubble," Amazon founder Jeff Bezos told a tech conference in...
- "Investors don't usually give a team of six people a couple billion dollars with no product... and that's happening today," Bezos told an audience at Tech Week in Turin
- Multiple technologies are in a kind of "golden age," he said, echoing language used by US President Donald Trump. "There's never been a better time to be excited about the future."
Economy
Abu Dhabi GDP grows 3.8% to $83.40bn in Q2 as non-oil sectors hit record
The non-oil economy expanded 6.6 percent year-on-year to AED174.1 billion — the highest quarterly value on record — and accounted...
- Manufacturing remained the largest non-oil contributor at AED30.1 billion, accounting for 9.8 percent of total GDP.
- Finance and insurance activities expanded 10.3 percent to a record AED21.8 billion, reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s position as a regional and global financial center.
Business
Amazon adds AI muscle to connected home lineup
New York, United States - Amazon on Tuesday unveiled the latest generation of connected products, featuring enhanced artificial intelligence capabilities...
- Nearly 20 years after the launch of the Kindle e-reader, the Seattle-based online retail giant now offers a family of connected devices
- The company has already made a major move into AI enhancements with the February launch of Alexa+, an upgraded version of the Alexa voice assistant
Geostrategy
Microsoft trims service to Israel over Gaza surveillance
San Francisco, United States - Microsoft on Thursday said it cut an Israeli defense unit's access to some cloud services...
- Microsoft reviewed the decision with the Israel Ministry of Defense along with steps the tech firm is taking to ensure compliance
- The move followed a two-month Microsoft probe into a Guardian report that the Israeli Defense Force used Azure to store phone call data from surveillance in Gaza and the West Bank
Economy
Trump announces steep new tariffs on pharmaceuticals, big-rig trucks, furniture, reviving trade war
US President Donald Trump announced Thursday punishing tariffs on pharmaceuticals, big-rig trucks, home renovation fixtures and furniture, reviving his global...
- The announcement is the harshest trade policy by the president since last April's shock unveiling of reciprocal tariffs on virtually every US trading partner across the globe
- Earlier this year, the Trump administration launched a so-called Section 232 probe into imports of trucks to "determine the effects of national security."
Business
WhatsApp, Twitch among sites that could face Australia under-16s social media ban
Tech companies including WhatsApp and Reddit as well as streaming giant Twitch and gaming firm Roblox could be among more...
- The head of Australia's eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, has written to 16 more companies to "self-assess" whether they fall under the ban's remit
- Companies will need to make a case if they believe their platform should be exempt from the ban, the national broadcaster ABC said
Geostrategy
Floating wind power sets sail in Japan’s energy shift
Still heavily reliant on imported fossil fuels, Japan has declared offshore wind energy a "trump card" in its drive to...
- That's despite rising project costs and fears over inadequate infrastructure to produce turbines en masse.
- Floating turbines are particularly well suited to Japan as its deep coastal waters make fixing them to seabeds tricky.
Science
UNGA80: World leaders to discuss framework for inclusive, accountable AI governanc
As there is no recognised body to govern AI on a global level, world leaders will gather in New York...
- The UN says Artificial AI has been rapidly transforming the world including everything from self-driving cars to the analysis of medical images
- However, it notes that the benefits of AI are unevenly distributed, and many countries struggle to access the tools which could transform their societies by supporting development
Science
After Japanese Softbank, US Govt, Chip-maker Nvidia to buy stake in rival Intel
Shares in chipmaker Intel skyrocketed on Thursday after AI giant Nvidia announced it would invest $5 billion in its struggling...
- "This marks a fusion of two world-class platforms," said Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. "Together, we will expand our ecosystems and lay the foundation for the next era of computing."
- The Trump administration surprised the tech industry last month by taking a 10 percent equity stake in Intel, recognizing the strategic importance of the company
Business
Stocks rise on $5 billion Nvidia-Intel deal, Fed rate cut
Nvidia announced a $5 billion investment in struggling US rival to jointly develop chips for PCs and data centers. The...
- Investors were also reacting to Wednesday's US central bank decision to lower rates by 25 basis points, its first cut of the year.
- The decision to cut came even as US inflation runs well above policymakers' two-percent target, but analysts said the main focus was on the jobs market.
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
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...
Economy
Company News
Latest News
Gulf startup hubs: Converging strategies, diverging ambitions
Despite fierce branding as rivals, Gulf startup hubs share capital, policy, and talent structures that are quietly shaping distinct, globally...
Interview
Weaker dollar creates window for international property buyers in Dubai
Dubai faces substantial supply headwinds that may absorb currency-driven demand without triggering significant price gains. Approximately 45,000-50,000 new residential units...
Battle of the Tech Hubs
The GCC is competing to build world-class technology hubs, investing heavily in AI, infrastructure, and sovereign capital to drive digital...
Economy
Most Read
Economy
UAE Innovation Month: Why 2026 is the year of the agentic enterprise
The synergy between humans and AI agents is driving a ‘Great Redeployment’ where there is a structural shift in how...
- AI adoption is surging, but enterprises are stuck in “pilot purgatory”, failing to scale isolated AI experiments into orchestrated, ROI-driven systems
- The shift to an Agentic Enterprise requires multi-agent orchestration, shared enterprise context, and strong governance, especially as GCC regulations tighten
Economy
The great tech reset: How the gulf turned sovereign capital into a tech ecosystem
The GCC has quickly moved from passive capital allocation into active ecosystem building, spurred on by heavy sovereign capital and...
- Heavy bets on cloud, AI infrastructure, and data centers are reshaping the region’s tech base
- The UAE and Saudi Arabia are fast closing the infrastructure gap with global tech leaders
Economy
Jobs and investment top MENA expectations from multinational firms, Ipsos finds
As geopolitical turbulence grows, companies are increasingly at the mercy of forces beyond corporate leadership’s control.
- American multinationals now face the strongest global skepticism, with “Brand America” increasingly linked to ethical, environmental, and economic concerns
- A company’s country of origin has become a reputational “passport,” shaping trust as much as corporate behavior itself