What can employers do to combat STEM talent shortages?
Employers must prioritize retention by understanding employee preferences for benefits, hybrid working, and workplace culture, as effective retention strategies enhance...
Vision 2030 empowers women in Saudi legal sector
"The progressive momentum generated in the past decade fills us with positivity and reassurance in the Kingdom, where we have...
Opinion
YEARBOOK 2023
Stories from MENA that defined democracy in 2022
The MENA region remains largely uneven, and the democracy and human rights situation looks bleak with little prospect of improvement...
- During 2022, autocrats in the region have taken advantage of opportunities to extend their powers, says International IDEA’s Global State of Democracy 2022 Report
- Overall, the MENA region remains largely uneven, and the democracy and human rights situation looks bleak with little prospect of improvement in 2023, the report adds
Business
Growing skill gap adds to cybersecurity burnout
Studies suggest that the Middle East and Africa region rank fourth worldwide in terms of the most ransomware attacks. Between...
- Less than half of new employees receive cybersecurity training and regular updates throughout their career, highlights a study by Accenture
- Well-trained staff and a monitored environment are crucial to the successful protection of any organization, says Adrian Taylor of A10 Networks
Opinion
The rise of the new Arab World
Cities across Europe and North America, and their infrastructure, service and hospitality are pale in comparison to the Arab region...
- Today, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dubai, and Riyadh [in alphabetical order] are among the best cities/markets to work and live in, with opportunities and speed of execution unseen elsewhere
- The developments of the past two months have shown the world that this part of the planet will have a bright future, writes Julien Hawari, a Dubai-based thought leader
Opinion
Constant evolution of enterprise technology helps Middle Eastern economies grow at faster pace
Enterprise technology will move from closed, centralized platforms to more open, federated, and streaming ecosystems of services. The key battlegrounds...
- Changes in enterprise technology lie at the root of major shifts in the economy and in the ways that companies do business, across nearly every industry
- Customers are pulling companies toward this technology-driven edge, since many now prefer using digital platforms to deal with real people, say experts
Opinion
Word of mouth eventually makes customers custodians of brands through trust and meaningful connections
People share ideas or content or experiences that reinforce their values or their sense of identity, which is good for...
- For the last 10 years, business models have been taking big leaps toward profits with marketing strategies largely driven by new technologies
- However, word of mouth remains the biggest driver of business even today. People share ideas or content or experiences that reinforce their values or their sense of identity
Opinion
Fast-paced digital lifestyle of customers key focus of marketers as they seek to beat peers, competitors
With the use of advanced analytics platforms, marketers can measure consumer engagements, gaining insights into their brand equity, learning to...
- Marketers are looking for platforms that can leverage unified marketing data from various channels and campaigns and simplify analysis.
- Brands need tangible data that tells them how their campaigns are performing in real-time to optimize for improvement.
Opinion
Multi-disciplinary solutions needed to deal with food crisis and water scarcity in MENA region
It is essential to adopt sustainable water management practices to build resilience, sustain peace and improve the well-being of local...
- The MENA region is the world's most water-scarce area with economic downturns, climate change, and so forth rapidly worsening the situation, writes Dake Rechsand CEO Chandra Dake
- All nations in the region are experiencing groundwater depletion. The rate of withdrawal of surface and groundwater is very high, with low replenishment rates, he adds
Opinion
AI, metaverse boost training and streamline hirings
The new virtual training environments allow the creation of a fully realised world that can be manipulated to appeal to...
- Combining AI and metaverse technologies affords companies an incredible new opportunity to train and equip people with the necessary skills
- The new technologies have the potential to deliver a US$1.6 trillion boost to the global economy over the next eight years, according to PwC forecasts
Opinion
How the Middle East can promote agritech
The region’s agriculture suffers from a variety of economic and policy problems. There is a lack of agricultural labor. The...
- The Middle Eastern countries need to adopt the latest agritech to make their farming sustainable, and to overcome their food supply and security challenges
- The region’s agriculture suffers from various economic and policy problems. The sector’s capabilities are underdeveloped, yields are low and soil salinity is an issue
Opinion
OPEC+ output cuts continue to impact energy market
Commodities, meanwhile, trade mostly higher as the market's focus remain altered between optimism over China reopening after exiting its strict...
- Commodities trade mostly higher as the market's focus remains altered between optimism over China reopening and an extended rate hike cycle in the US
- Energy market, meanwhile, continues to focus on the price-supportive impact of OPEC+ production cuts and upcoming EU sanctions against Russian crude sales
What can employers do to combat STEM talent shortages?
Employers must prioritize retention by understanding employee preferences for benefits, hybrid working, and workplace culture, as effective retention strategies enhance...
Company News
Latest News
Global AI economy will reach over $32 trillion by 2027
The emergence of AI-managed portfolios marks a notable change in the investment realm. Success in this evolving landscape will require...
Opinion
Expo City Dubai’s adaptive reuse redefines urban living
"With sustainability as a top priority in the region, we are excited to see more developers consider repurposing properties and...
Opinion
Dubai’s real estate defies the odds during global crises
The Palestine-Israel conflict and the war in Ukraine illustrate the difficulty in forecasting the enduring impact of such events. In...
Opinion
Most Read
Opinion
Women break barriers for gender equality in finance
This culture should recognize and value the contributions of women and prioritize their growth and development. By highlighting successful women...
- In the financial sector, diverse teams enhance decision-making and performance, yet women occupy just 10% of CEO roles in Fortune 500 companies
- Emirati women constitute 31% of the UAE's finance sector workforce, underscoring the crucial role of mentorship and role models in advancing their careers.
Economy
For GCC, centralized demand planning is indispensable
Facing challenges like varied categorization and technical standards, GCC economies are turning to innovative solutions. With digital technologies and unified...
- GCC governments can attain more effective demand planning by mandating a common harmonized data structure and forecasts based on volatility metrics
- As GCC aims to reshape their economies by fortifying local industries, governments and SOEs have a golden opportunity to attract the necessary investment
Opinion
MEA brands focus on personalized customer experience
"Post-Covid GCC travel trends are promising: about 50% of customers plan to increase digital spending in travel and retail. With...
- In the digital era, customer engagement is vital, shifting from transactional ties to interactive bonds; 20% of engaged patrons drive 80% of sales through endorsements
- Post-Covid, travelers see personalized offers, not just reminders; 34% might switch due to poor communication; GCC sees rising digital spend; CEPs promote sustainable growth.