PIF launches company to develop coastal destination in Khafji
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) has launched Gulf Coast Development Co. to develop an integrated tourism and residential destination...
Business
UN warns Gaza remains unsafe for civilians
''Humanitarians report that a sixth-grade student was hit by a bullet and injured in a tented classroom. The child was...
Geostrategy
Economy
Saudi knowledge economy accelerates as Vision 2030 targets move within reach
The government has successfully implemented more than 900 reforms, including restructuring legal and labor frameworks, establishing new public authorities, and...
- Saudi Arabia’s digital economy is valued at $132 billion, accounting for 15 percent of GDP.
- The government has invested more than $20.7 billion in AI technologies and data center infrastructure.
Economy
AI promise uneven as economists flag debt and market vulnerabilities
In its latest Chief Economists’ Outlook, the WEF said 53 percent of surveyed economists expect global economic conditions to weaken...
- Economists expect defence, energy and digital infrastructure spending to rise, while environmental budgets shrink amid difficult fiscal trade-offs.
- Survey respondents see South Asia leading growth, Europe lagging, and foreign investment favoring the United States over China.
Business
GCC’s quest for AI dominance has several hurdles to surmount
For governments and corporates across the Gulf, the immediate task is pragmatic: marry sovereign ambition with sustainable skills programs and...
- The AI market in the region is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 28.63 percent between 2024 and 2030.
- Analysts say the region’s real test will be turning pilots into production systems that deliver measurable economic and social outcomes
Geostrategy
Gaza ceasefire enters phase two despite unresolved issues between Israel and Hamas
The most contentious questions remain Hamas's refusal to publicly commit to full disarmament, a non-negotiable demand from Israel, and Israel's...
- Gaza, whose borders and access points remain under Israeli control, continues to face severe shortages of food, clean water, medicine and fuel.
- Under the second phase, Gaza is to be administered by a 15-member Palestinian technocratic committee operating under the supervision of a so-called "Board of Peace."
Interview
MEA market decision-making cycle is fast but risk-averse
MEA markets feature rapid growth, high owner influence, diverse operator models, and younger hotel infrastructure, says Ralph Melis, co-founder and...
- The Middle East is unique because its hotel landscape is expanding faster than anywhere else globally, but its technology knowledge infrastructure hasn’t kept pace.
- This region is open to new platforms, new operating models, and rapid digital adoption, making it ideal for building a category-defining ecosystem.
Geostrategy
WEF flags geoeconomic confrontation as top global risk for 2026
Experts warn economic warfare, misinformation and unchecked AI could amplify global shocks as cooperation weakens across political and trade blocs.
- Half of global leaders surveyed expect worsening instability within two years, while only 10% foresee stability.
- Environmental risks remain the most severe long-term threat despite slipping in near-term priority rankings.
Interview
GCC should focus on tech-enabled authentic, sustainable hospitality
AI fluency is not prioritized enough in schools today. If AI skills are not on your resume, you will have...
- Sustainable travel is a major opportunity for the Middle East and the GCC. Authenticity, culture, and history should be central.
- Making travel more affordable and accessible will be equally important for long-term growth.
Economy
World Bank lifts 2026 growth forecast, warns of softer demand
The bank expects world GDP growth of 2.6 percent this year, according to its latest global economic prospects report. The...
- But the rate still marks a slowdown from the 2.7% pace seen in 2025, with the Bank warning that the 2020s are "on track to be the weakest decade for global growth since the 1960s".
- As countries adjust and policy uncertainty recedes, the bank anticipates that trade growth will firm up again in 2027.
Interview
Cybersecurity must evolve from blocking threats to safeguarding the innovation process
When businesses increasingly rely on AI to make decisions, a manipulated dataset can cause more harm than a ransomware attack,...
- Collaboration without guardrails is often where breaches begin.
- The challenge is enabling people to work freely without exposing the organization to unnecessary risk.
Business
Gold hits record high, dollar falls as US targets Fed
Fed Chair Jerome Powell confirmed the "unprecedented" subpoenas against the bank in a rare video address on Sunday, which he...
- European stocks wavered after a strong showing in Asia, seen on the back of solid gains on Wall Street before the weekend.
- Gold climbed close to $4,600 an ounce while silver approached $85 an ounce as investors sought traditional safe havens.
PIF launches company to develop coastal destination in Khafji
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) has launched Gulf Coast Development Co. to develop an integrated tourism and residential destination...
Business
Company News
Tasnee’s 2025 losses deepen
Business
Latest News
Supply chain attacks emerge as top cyber threat to businesses: Study
The study found that large enterprises are particularly vulnerable because of their extensive vendor networks.
Business
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...
Economy
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...
Business
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Science
Chrome vulnerability allowed extensions to hijack Gemini panel, researchers say
According to researchers, the vulnerability allowed attackers to tap into the browser environment and potentially access files on a user’s...
- The flaw, tracked as CVE-2026-0628, was found in Google’s implementation of the Gemini feature integrated into Chrome
- According to researchers, the vulnerability allowed attackers to tap into the browser environment and potentially access files on a user’s local operating system
Economy
Abu Dhabi residential property sales hit record $19.9bn in 2025
Apartments dominated the sales market, accounting for 66% of transactions, reflecting strong developer activity in the segment
- Off-plan properties dominated the market, accounting for 71% of total sales activity, supported by new project launches and attractive payment plans
- Around 7,000 new homes were delivered in Abu Dhabi during 2025, bringing the total residential supply in the emirate to about 315,000 units
Interview
MEA market decision-making cycle is fast but risk-averse: Ralph MelisÂ
The Middle East and Africa (MEA) markets are characterized by rapid growth, high owner influence, diverse operator models, and a...
- The real shift is that AI becomes the interface. Users no longer need technical knowledge or experience navigating complex systems.
- They simply prompt their way forward—asking natural-language questions and receiving accurate comparisons, recommendations, and insights instantly.