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.

How Doha is Building a Knowledge Economy 

By pairing sovereign capital with frictionless regulation, Doha reversed the startup playbook, attracting investors and founders first, then letting an...
  • Qatar is using Web Summit not as an event, but as the organising backbone of a national startup and knowledge economy
  • Rapid growth in attendance, startups, investors and female founders signals accelerating ecosystem momentum

Qatar announces $430 mn in support for Lebanon

A visiting Qatari official on Monday announced a multi-million dollar aid package for Lebanon, primarily to support the country's crumbling...
  • In a separate statement, the Qatar Development Fund said the package was valued at about $430 million, the majority of it to support the energy sector
  • "The support includes a contribution of up to $400 million to support the energy sector," of which 10 percent would be allocated as a grant, it added

WEF26: Saudi Arabia positions itself as ‘connector economy’ amid shifting global trade

Saudi Arabia is seeking to leverage changes in global trade and supply chains to position itself as a “connector economy,”...
  • Speaking at a session titled ‘Many Shapes of Trade’, Commerce Minister Majid A. Alkassabi said global trade was moving toward a more regulated framework, offering new opportunities
  • Tourism Minister Ahmed A. Alkhateeb highlighted the potential of travel during a session titled ‘The New Geography of Travel: Elevating Destinations, Expanding Opportunities'

Building the Gulf’s Knowledge Future: Education, Innovation, Talent

Florin Vasvari of London Business School says a knowledge economy requires educated local talent, global expertise and supportive regulation, tax...
  • A knowledge economy rests on educated local talent supported by global expertise, enabling innovation and diversification in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, Florin Vasvari told TRENDS
  • Technology investment must be matched by strong leadership, risk-taking culture and lifelong learning to drive real productivity gains, he adds

Building the New Creative Engine of the Knowledge Economy: Mark Penn

Mark Penn, Chairman and CEO of Stagwell, explains how AI and global tech partnerships are reshaping marketing and the GCC’s...
  • AI is expanding creative and data-driven marketing capabilities at unprecedented scale, Mark Penn told TRENDS
  • The GCC must now focus on building sustainable, talent-led innovation ecosystems beyond experimentation, he adds

The Gulf’s next currency isn’t petroleum. It’s know-how

The post-oil Gulf has the chance to redefine authenticity itself—as a deliberately trained, global hospitality culture built by people, not...
  • The Gulf’s true wealth is shifting from oil reserves to human capability—what can be called the rise of “brain gold.”
  • Tourism is quietly becoming the region’s most powerful engine for building future-ready skills that AI cannot replicate

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.
  • Geopolitical fragmentation has strengthened the Middle East’s role as an East–West connector
  • A young population and impact-driven innovation are powering the shift to a knowledge 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...
  • The region’s prosperity is linked to its willingness to experiment and take calculated risks, with cities like Dubai leading in financial innovation, Caravieri tells TRENDS
  • Innovation relies on strong local institutions, including government policies, and the ability to produce scalable solutions, with capital as a critical enabler, he adds

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...
  • This year’s edition is expected to welcome more than 30,000 participants from over 120 countries, including 1,500 startups, 700 investors and 600 media representatives
  • For a country with a population of under three million, this represents a remarkable concentration of global innovation and capital within a compact economic landscape

Oil prices gain, as equities extend record run higher

Oil prices have experienced choppy trading since the surprise US raid Saturday on Caracas that saw Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro...
  • Brushing off geopolitical concerns, some major stock markets have begun the new year with new all-time highs, having smashed records in 2025.
  • Seoul rose more than one percent Tuesday to top 4,500 points for the first time, helped by another strong rally in chip giant SK hynix.

AI success in life sciences depends on people as much as technology: Bain

Organizations creating the most value from AI are not necessarily those deploying the most technology. Instead, they are redesigning workflows,...

Latest News

G7 ministers consider oil reserves as markets face volatility

In a statement following a virtual meeting with International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol, the ministers said they...

Middle East conflict: Trade tensions rise as oil jumps and tariffs shake markets 

Several ports suspended operations in the Middle East after drone strikes. DP World said operations at Jebel Ali port in...

The shift from innovative to native: Unlocking where real AI value lies

There are, of course, technical hurdles to overcome, too, one of which is modernizing legacy systems. Many enterprises still operate...
INSEAD Day 4- 300x600
INSEAD Day 4- 300x600

Most Read

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,...
  • Dubai Future Solutions connects student innovators with government, industry and investors, offering year-round support until technologies are validated and ready for funding.
  • The program evaluates submissions based on global impact, depth of academic research, and effective use of technology to address social or environmental challenges.

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,...
  • Dubai has in recent years become a preferred wealth hub for entrepreneurs and affluent families in Asia, particularly from China
  • The total assets of the UAE’s banking and financial sector exceeded 5.42 trillion dirhams ($1.48 trillion), according to the country’s central bank

Meta, YouTube face trial over children harm

Opening statements in the first trial began in Los Angeles County Superior Court, where Instagram parent company Meta and Google’s...
  • The case may influence thousands of lawsuits alleging social media features harmed young users’ mental health and wellbeing.
  • Meta and YouTube have denied the allegations, saying they have implemented tools and policies aimed at improving safety for younger users.