Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum passes away, 10-day mourning declared
His brother, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, mourned his death on social media, writing: “You...
Geostrategy
Saudi, Turkey, Pakistan forge defence pact as regional tensions deepen
The agreement comes as Gulf states seek closer defence coordination following months of conflict with Iran that disrupted shipping through...
Geostrategy
Tasnee’s 2025 losses deepen
Business
Geostrategy
Trump launches ‘Board of Peace’ at Davos after Greenland u-turn
A group of leaders and senior officials from 19 countries -- including Trump allies from Argentina and Hungary -- gathered...
- Trump -- who is the chairman of the Board of Peace -- said they were "in most cases very popular leaders, some cases not so popular. That's the way it goes in life."
- Originally meant to oversee peace in Gaza after the war between Hamas and Israel, the board's charter envisions a wider role in resolving international conflicts, sparking concerns
Economy
How To Enhance Human Potential? The answer: Cognitive Cities, AI, and Leadership in MENA
Joseph Bradley, former CEO of Tonomus, shares with TRENDS his views on how AI and leadership can help MENA build...
- Challenging fixed beliefs and pairing AI with human strengths is key to building agile, future-ready economies in the region, Joseph Bradley told TRENDS
- Effective leadership, he says, will hinge on explaining the “why,” trusting people, and letting humans and AI grow together, he adds
Interview
Dubai Media City bets on AI to cement its global creative hub status
Dubai Media City has moved decisively beyond real estate into intellectual and digital value creation to support the next generation...
- Media Cluster enables talent development by providing access to globally renowned institutions at Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Park, part of TECOM Group.
- The Media Cluster offers Grade A offices, recording and green rooms, and even world-class backlots and sound stages at Dubai Studio City.
Geostrategy
Trump at Davos demands ‘immediate’ Greenland talks but rules out force
Trump's quest to take control of Greenland, which he said was needed for national and international security, dominated his address...
- But Trump appeared to rule out the threat of military action against fellow NATO member Denmark -- which he branded "ungrateful" -- that has threatened to tear the alliance.
- Trump, however, lambasted Europe on a number of fronts from Greenland to tariffs and the economy, saying it was "not heading in the right direction".
Interview
The Middle East has become our living lab for digital reinvention
In the MENA region, we see an extraordinary opportunity to shape a digitally empowered workforce aligned with national transformation agendas,...
- The Middle East has become our living lab for digital reinvention, where ideas rapidly evolve into impactful, real-world solutions.
- AI, cloud, and IoT are no longer enablers but strategic levers reshaping productivity, resilience, and value creation across MENA.
Geostrategy
G42 launches ‘digital embassies’ model to help governments deploy sovereign AI
Abu Dhabi-based artificial intelligence group G42 on Tuesday launched what it calls a Digital Embassies framework and an operating model...
- It allows governments to deploy AI while retaining legal authority and control over data and systems, even when infrastructure is located outside national borders.
- The initiative comes as governments seek to accelerate the use of AI in areas such as public services, healthcare, national security and energy.
Interview
MENA’s gaming sector projected to ‘touch $6 billion by 2027
Nikita Matsokin, Executive Director of MGVC (MY.GAMES, shares his thoughts on the MENA region’s creative talent, government support, and rapid...
- The region’s gaming sector is already a multibillion-dollar powerhouse, projected to reach $6 billion by 2027—twice its 2021 value.
- Dubai alone is home to more than 350 gaming companies, including 260 specialized developers, and the program aims to create 30,000 new jobs.
Geostrategy
Who has been invited to be on Trump’s Gaza boards?
The White House said there would be a main board, chaired by Trump himself, a Palestinian committee of technocrats meant...
- BOARD OF PEACE - The White House says this body will focus on issues such as "governance capacity-building, regional relations, reconstruction, investment attraction.
- NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF GAZA - This body, made up of technocrats, will "oversee the restoration of core public services, the rebuilding of civil institutions.
Interview
UAE is converting talent, trust, and technology into a Knowledge Nation
Dr. Lolowa AlMarzooqi, Associate Vice Provost at New York University Abu Dhabi, tells TRENDS that the UAE’s real competitive edge...
- At the early childhood level, today’s learners are growing up in an environment that encourages curiosity, problem-solving, and bilingual fluency.
- By university and early-career stages, Emirati youth are more globally aware, digitally confident, and purpose-oriented than ever before.
Geostrategy
Trump threatens European nations with tariffs over Greenland
Trump aimed his ire at Denmark, a fellow NATO member, as well as several European countries that have deployed troops...
- If realized, Trump's threats against Washington's NATO partners would create unprecedented tension within the alliance.
- It was not immediately clear what authority the US leader would invoke to impose the threatened tariffs of up to 25 percent.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum passes away, 10-day mourning declared
His brother, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, mourned his death on social media, writing: “You...
Geostrategy
Company News
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Tasnee’s 2025 losses deepen
Business
The global price tag of war in the Middle East
The asymmetry at the heart of this war’s economic geography is stark. The US imports relatively little oil through Hormuz....
Geostrategy
‘Strait of Hormuz disruption could trigger long-term shift in global trade and energy flows’
Kelsey Goodman of the World Economic Forum discusses Strait of Hormuz disruptions, global trade risks, and how GCC economies can...
Economy
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Economy
AWS outage in Gulf raises reliability concerns as services remain disrupted over a week after strikes
Cloud services operated by Amazon Web Services (AWS) in the Gulf region continue to face disruptions more than a week...
- Facilities operated by AWS, the cloud division of Amazon, in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain were hit during the beginning of the US-Israel and Iran conflict
- Industry experts say such incidents demonstrate that cloud infrastructure, despite its digital nature, ultimately depends on physical facilities vulnerable to real-world risks
Business
TECOM shareholders approve $229 million cash dividend for 2025
Dubai, UAE - TECOM Group PJSC shareholders approved the financial statements for the year ended 31st December 2025 and endorsed...
- This brings the total cash dividends for 2025 to AED840 million, marking a new level of dividend distribution for the Group
- Shareholders also approved the updated dividend policy for the financial year 2026, which suggests an aggregate cash dividend of AED880 million
Geostrategy
105 missiles, 176 drones destroyed since start of Iranian attack: Bahrain
The Bahrain Defence Force General Command (BDF) announced that its air defence systems have continued to successfully intercept successive waves...
- Since the onset of hostilities, BDF forces have intercepted and destroyed 105 ballistic missiles and 176 unmanned aerial vehicles
- The General Command further stated that the targeting of civilian sites constitutes a clear violation of international humanitarian law