UAE records solid first-quarter growth as non-oil sectors account for nearly 80% of GDP
Real GDP rose to $132.0 billion at constant prices in the January-March period, while non-oil GDP expanded 4.8 percent, increasing...
Economy
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...
Geostrategy
Economy
Gold, silver prices tumble as investors soothed by Trump’s Fed pick
Gold and silver prices dived Friday, European stock markets ended the week up while Wall Street fell slightly with investors reassured...
- Precious metals prices tumbled on Friday after surging in recent days when investors sought a safe haven over doubts about Trump's policies
- Silver, which Thursday reached an all-time peak above $120 an ounce, shed 20 percent meanwhile in sliding down to $90 an ounce
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
Economy
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
Economy
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'
Economy
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
Economy
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
Economy
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
Economy
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
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
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...
- 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
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UAE records solid first-quarter growth as non-oil sectors account for nearly 80% of GDP
Real GDP rose to $132.0 billion at constant prices in the January-March period, while non-oil GDP expanded 4.8 percent, increasing...
Economy
Company News
Latest News
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.
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
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
Most Read
Business
Firms lag as AI-driven fraud surges: Study
The report, published by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and analytics firm SAS, highlights widening gaps between rapidly evolving...
- Among the fastest-growing threats is deepfake-enabled social engineering.
- The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have the potential to take a leading role in next-generation fraud prevention.
Opinion
Geopolitics, risk aversion and crypto: Why this time may be different
Bitcoin has already endured five consecutive months of declines since reaching an all-time high of $126,500 in October 2025. February...
- The Crypto Fear and Greed Index recently fell to record lows, highlighting just how fragile investor confidence had become even before geopolitical tensions intensified.
- Progress around the proposed CLARITY Act in the United States could mark a structural milestone for the industry.
Economy
UAE Central Bank to hold rate after Fed pause amid regional tensions
Fed Chair Jerome Powell signalled a cautious approach, noting that elevated energy prices and geopolitical tensions could complicate the inflation...
- The CBUAE said it would also maintain the rate applicable to short-term borrowing at 50 basis points above the Base Rate for all standing credit facilities.
- Central Banks of GCC countries --Kuwait remains a partial exception-- typically adjust their policy rates in lockstep with the Fed, as their currencies being pegged to the dollar.