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...
Business
UAE hiring rebound gains momentum as talent flows recover, report says
The the UAE Economic Graph Report 2026 by LinkedIn and the Ministry of Foreign Trade says real estate led hiring...
Economy
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.
Economy
US Fed makes first rate cut of 25 basis points over employment risks as Trump mounts pressure
Fed Chair Jerome Powell stressed that the central bank remains "strongly committed" to maintaining its independence from politics, however, when...
- Fed Chair Jerome Powell stressed that the central bank remains "strongly committed" to maintaining its independence from politics
- He added that the Fed was "right to wait and see how tariffs and inflation and the labor market evolved" before lowering rates
Science
Scientists train AI model to predict future illnesses
Paris, France - Scientists said Wednesday that they had created an AI model able to predict medical diagnoses years in...
- Based on a patient's case history, the Delphi-2M AI "predicts the rates of more than 1,000 diseases" years into the future
- Researchers trained the model on data from Britain's UK Biobank -- a large-scale biomedical research database with details on about half a million participants
Economy
AI to boost trade by nearly 40% by 2040: World Trade Report 2025
The 2025 edition of the World Trade Report reveals that, with the right enabling policies, artificial intelligence (AI) could boost...
- According to the report, AI could lead to significant increases in trade and GDP by 2040, with global trade projected to rise by 34-37% across different scenarios
- Trade can be a powerful enabler of inclusive AI -supported growth by helping economies access AI-enabling goods, such as raw materials, and semiconductors
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...
Business
Company News
Latest News
MEA market decision-making cycle is fast but risk-averse: Ralph Melis
The Middle East and Africa (MEA) markets are characterized by rapid growth, high owner influence, diverse operator models, and a...
Interview
Dubai moves from importing innovation to exporting it, says Future Solutions Head
Dubai’s innovation ecosystem is entering a new phase, argues Amer Abdulraoof, Head of Dubai Future Solutions – Prototypes for Humanity,...
Interview
Wealthy Asians consider shifting assets from Dubai amid Iran war fears: report
Some wealthy Asian investors are considering moving assets out of Dubai following Iranian missile and drone attacks on the city,...
Economy
Most Read
Geostrategy
Iran escalation sharpens oil, inflation concerns
Lale Akoner, Global Market Analyst, says while the escalation has introduced new risks, the broader investment case for equities in...
- Iran escalation heightens sensitivity to oil, inflation and interest rates, shaping equity valuations and expectations for monetary policy.
- US markets show resilience as investors favor liquidity and Treasuries, supporting the dollar during periods of geopolitical uncertainty.
Economy
Gulf sovereign wealth funds face a strategic test amid escalating conflict
The escalating conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States is emerging as a major test for the Gulf’s sovereign...
- The United Arab Emirates is expected to maintain a fiscal surplus over the next two years
- Saudi Arabia has already been running significant deficits tied to its economic transformation agenda
Economy
GCC agriculture sectors post strong performance
Muscat, Oman -- Gulf Cooperation Council countries recorded strong performance in agriculture, livestock and fisheries during 2024, reflecting the growing...
- Agricultural and fisheries exports rose to $7.8 billion, up 7.5 percent, while imports reached $38.7 billion, an increase of 10.1 percent.
- Vegetables accounted for 45.8 percent of total crop production, the largest share among plant products.