Next wave of global competitive advantage lies in tech combinations: WEF
Eight technology domains, including AI, robotics, engineering biology and advanced materials are no longer advancing in isolation.
Geostrategy
Financial frauds cost global economy over $442bn in 2025: INTERPOL
AI-enhanced fraud is 4.5 times more profitable than traditional methods. “Agentic AI” systems can autonomously plan and execute complete fraud...
Geostrategy
Economy
Trump announces 100% chip tariff, pressuring Asian producers
The US president unveiled the levy at the White House on Wednesday ahead of the imposition of sweeping tariffs on...
- shares in Taiwan's TSMC -- world's largest contract maker of chips -- soared nearly 5% after the government said the company will not be affected.
- Trump has previously accused Taiwan of having stolen the US chip industry, and earlier this year, TSMC unveiled a plan to invest an extra $100 billion in the United States.
Economy
Syria inks infrastructure and real-estate deals worth $14 billion
Since the overthrow of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December, Syria's new authorities have worked to attract investment for the...
- The plans include a $4 billion investment project for Damascus airport and $2bn in investment for a Damascus metro, as well as more than $2bn for a mall and two towers development
- Last month, Saudi Arabia signed major investment and partnership deals with Syria, valued at $6.4 billion.
Economy
Trump says to raise tariff on India over Russia oil purchases
President Donald Trump threatened Monday to "substantially" hike US tariffs on goods from India over its purchases of Russian oil...
- Trump's heightened pressure on India comes after he signaled fresh sanctions on Moscow if it did not make progress by Friday towards a peace deal with Kyiv
- Moscow is anticipating talks with the US leader's special envoy Steve Witkoff, who is expected to meet President Vladimir Putin this week
Business
Jordan sees decrease in number of tourists over Gaza war
Amman, Jordan -- Jordan has seen a decrease in the number of tourists visiting its famed ancient city of Petra...
- According to figures from the Petra tourism authority carried by official media, 32 hotels have had to shut down and nearly 700 people have lost their jobs.
- Petra, famous for its stunning temples hewn from rose-pink cliff faces, is a UN World Heritage site.
Economy
AI search pushing an already weakened media ecosystem to the brink
New York, United States - Generative artificial intelligence assistants like ChatGPT are cutting into traditional online search traffic, depriving news...
- A recent Pew Research Center study reveals that AI-generated summaries now appearing regularly in Google searches discourage users from clicking through to source articles
- This represents a devastating loss of visitors for online media sites that depend on traffic for both advertising revenue and subscription conversions
Economy
Qatar to expand scheme to boost Syria power supply
Qatar is to expand its scheme to boost the power supply in Syria by paying for deliveries of Azerbaijani gas...
- The deliveries, aimed at alleviating chronic power outages in Syria, will increase the Qatari scheme's generating capacity to 800 megawatts per day
- A first phase of the Qatari scheme to fund gas supplies for power generation rolled out in March via Jordan and provided 400 megawatts of electricity per day
Economy
World economies reel from Trump’s tariffs
The tariffs are a demonstration of raw economic power that Trump sees putting US exporters in a stronger position while...
- But the muscular approach has raised fears of inflation and other economic fallout in the world's biggest economy.
- Stock markets in Hong Kong and London slumped as they digested the turmoil.
Economy
Trump’s global trade policy faces test, hours from tariff deadline
The last-gasp scramble to strike bilateral accords came as an appeals court in Washington considered the legality behind Trump's strategy...
- Trump doubled down on the wide-ranging levies, posting on Truth Social: "Tariffs are making America GREAT & RICH Again."
- So far, Washington has announced pacts with Britain, Vietnam, Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, South Korea and the European Union.
Business
Saudi Arabia’s real GDP up by 3.9 percent in Q2 2025: GASTAT
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia's real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 3.9 percent in the second quarter of...
- Flash estimates of GDP for Q2 say non-oil activities recorded the highest growth at 4.7 percent.
- The estimates, released by GASTAT, said oil activities grew by 3.8 percent and government activities at 0.6 percent.
Business
Microsoft valuation surges above $4 trillion as AI lifts stocks
Shares of Microsoft vaulted 5.3 percent after it reported $27.2 billion in quarterly profits as it touted massive investments in...
- About 25 minutes into trading, the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index was up 1.3 percent at 21,396.04.
- The gains came as President Donald Trump announced a trade deal with South Korea that imposes a 15 percent tariff on imports from the Asian country.
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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
Next wave of global competitive advantage lies in tech combinations: WEF
Eight technology domains, including AI, robotics, engineering biology and advanced materials are no longer advancing in isolation.
Geostrategy
Company News
Latest News
How the Middle East is positioning itself at the crossroads of a changing world
AI, geopolitics, climate, and demographics are reshaping the Middle East’s growth model beyond oil.
Economy
Reason for the GCC’s prosperity is that it is willing to take risks: Tadeu Baldani Caravieri
The Gulf economies face disruptions but embrace risk to grow, says Tadeu Baldani Caravieri, founder of Prototypes for Humanity, on...
Economy
From Summit to Strategy: Qatar Builds Global Investment Hub
This year’s edition is expected to welcome more than 30,000 participants from over 120 countries, including 1,500 startups, 700 investors...
Economy
Most Read
Economy
Global economy set for “sturdy growth” in 2026, MENA growth to outpace global economy
The Middle East and North Africa region is expected to outperform the global economy in 2026, with GDP projected to...
- Goldman Sachs Research has projected that the world economy will expand faster than widely expected next year, saying its economists expect sturdy global growth of 2.8%
- The Middle East and North Africa region is expected to outperform the global economy in 2026, with GDP projected to grow by 3.6% year on year compared to global growth of 3.1%
Business
SoftBank lifts OpenAI stake to 11% with $41bln investment
Tokyo, Japan -- Japanese tech investor SoftBank said Wednesday that its stake in OpenAI is now around 11 percent after...
- Having made colossal profits as well as losses on previous investments, flamboyant founder Masayoshi Son has pivoted SoftBank towards artificial intelligence (AI).
- SoftBank had announced in April its planned investment of up to $40 billion in Open AI, and on Wednesday it said that the second tranche of $22.5 billion was completed.
Economy
Syria reveals new post-Assad banknotes
Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa unveiled on Monday new banknotes replacing those showing ousted ruler Bashar al-Assad and his family, hoping...
- Since the start of Syria's civil war in 2011, the pound has plunged from 50 to around 11,000 against the greenback
- The removal of the zeros, which does not impact the currency's value, was done to make transactions easier