Iran has formally responded to the latest US proposal aimed at ending the conflict, according to Iranian state media, after days of renewed attacks and counterattacks across the Persian Gulf tested the fragile cease-fire.

Niche businesses often need to help investors understand the category before they can evaluate the company. Founders should explain the problem why existing solutions fall short, and how the business creates a different measure of value.

The United States on Friday announced a fresh round of sanctions targeting people and companies in China, Hong Kong, Belarus, and the United Arab Emirates for allegedly helping Iran acquire supplies and military equipment for its missile and drone programs.

The AI and Cyber: Empowering Defenders report, developed in collaboration with KPMG, highlights measurable gains in cost reduction, response speed and resilience.

 Mubadala Investment Company and Tubacex Group have announced the full operational launch of their joint venture in Abu Dhabi, activating a regional manufacturing platform for advanced Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG) solutions.

Growth driven by merger consolidation.

The airline said it now operates to 137 destinations across 72 countries, with more than 1,300 weekly flights, representing about 75% of pre-disruption capacity. Services have resumed progressively across the Americas, Europe, Africa, West Asia and Asia-Pacific.

Iran has put forward a fresh 14-point proposal to the United States, calling for a resolution of tensions within 30 days and a complete end to the ongoing conflict in West Asia, according to state-linked media reports.

Mohammad Jafar Asadi's remarks came after Trump's assertion that he was dissatisfied with Iran’s latest offer, delivered through Pakistani mediators. Trump said he preferred a negotiated settlement but made clear military action remained an option.

US President Donald Trump has told Congress that he does not need authorisation for military action against Iran, arguing that hostilities have effectively ended.

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has issued a strong statement asserting that the United States should have no role in the future of the Persian Gulf, while outlining Tehran’s intent to manage the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

Total revenue increased 10% year-on-year.

The Pentagon has estimated that the ongoing Iran war has cost the United States $25 billion and claimed 14 American lives, as Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth faced a tense Capitol Hill hearing.

The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. officials said President Donald Trump had instructed aides to prepare for a sustained blockade of Iranian ports to increase pressure on Tehran. The move came after Iran warned of "unprecedented military action" if Washington continued seizing Iran-linked vessels.

With airspace across parts of the Middle East locked down and thousands of flights cancelled or delayed, King Khalid International Airport remains one of the few major hubs still operating.

Jamil Shinawi, CEO and Co-founder of AHOY and co-founder of Actual VC, speaks to TRENDS about risk, capital efficiency, and building scalable ventures in MENA.

Reports suggest some of Trump’s advisers would prefer Israel to initiate any strike, calculating that American public opinion would be more supportive if Washington were seen as backing an ally rather than acting unilaterally.

True global leadership is forged through sustained, face-to-face dialogue, cross-cultural immersion, and relationships that transcend digital convenience and headline-driven narratives.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei described the negotiations as “very intensive” and said there were “constructive proposals” concerning both nuclear issues and sanctions relief.

Total revenue increases by 6% to $3.7bn

Several governments have urged their citizens to leave Iran immediately, while others are pulling non-essential embassy personnel from sensitive locations, citing security concerns.

Snap’s regional chief Hussein Freijeh outlines growth plans across MENA and APAC in an interview with TRENDS, highlighting startups, creators and mobile-first innovation opportunities.

Despite trillions managed by GCC sovereign wealth funds, late-stage venture capital remains scarce, leaving startups stranded between early traction and scalable commercial growth.

Negotiations between Tehran and Beijing began at least two years ago but gained momentum after a 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran in June, a Reuters report said.

Dubai, UAE -- Dubai is positioning itself as a global hub for private wealth as high-net-worth individuals rethink where and how to invest amid market volatility, demographic change and shifting capital flows, according to a report released on Tuesday by the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). The report, Global Wealth...

The world has known the Middle East for its oil. But a new fuel is taking the main stage: knowledge, AI, digital assets, says Nicole Valentine, the FinTech director at Milken Institute Finance, in an interview with TRENDS.

Six coffee shops from the Middle East have secured places in The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops 2026 list, highlighting the region’s growing reputation as a global specialty coffee destination. The second edition of the annual ranking, presented in partnership with DaVinci Gourmet, was announced at CoffeeFest Madrid on February...

The renewed diplomacy comes as Washington has deployed two aircraft carriers, additional jets and ships, and reinforced air defenses across the region, heightening fears of potential strikes.

Fahad AlSharekh says the GCC’s edge isn’t startup mimicry but global investment power — backing AI, infrastructure and category leaders early, not chasing hype.

Speaking ahead of the weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu outlined a plan to establish what he called a “hexagon alliance system” involving India, select Arab and African countries, Greece, the Greek Cypriot administration and several unnamed Asian nations.

Abu Dhabi, UAE -- The UAE Ministry of Finance said on Sunday it had launched its first-ever seven-year tranche of dirham-denominated Islamic Treasury Sukuk worth 550 million dirhams (about $150 million), marking the longest tenor issued under the program to date. The ministry, acting as issuer in collaboration with the...

Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Yamahi, Speaker of the Arab Parliament, stressed that any talk of control over the occupied Palestinian territories constitutes a flagrant violation of international legitimacy.

Abu Dhabi, UAE -- Abu Dhabi’s real estate market recorded transactions worth a record AED 142 billion ($38.7 billion) in 2025, marking a 44 percent increase in value and a 52 percent rise in transaction volume compared with 2024, the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC) has said. According to...

Mahmud Qamati, a Hezbollah official, described the strike in the Bekaa Valley as “a new massacre and a new aggression” in remarks broadcast on the group’s Al-Manar television channel.

Indirect talks in Geneva have yielded what officials call “guiding principles” for a possible agreement, but the framework remains skeletal and major gaps still separate US demands from Iran’s red lines.

Futuristic, lifestyle-changing entrepreneurial ideas are targeting liquid GCC markets, where hyperscalers and deep-pocketed sovereign and private investors and family offices fuel growth ambitions.

Speaking in Washington before representatives from nearly 50 countries, Trump said nine member states had committed more than $7 billion toward a relief package for the war-battered Gaza Strip.

S4 Capital founder Martin Sorrell tells TRENDS digital dominance, AI disruption and consolidation are reshaping global advertising, urging agile, tech-first players to implement change decisively.

Drew Propson, Head of Technology and Innovation in Financial Services at the World Economic Forum, explains how sustainable growth, AI innovation, and a strong regulatory and talent infrastructure are reshaping global and MENA startup ecosystems.

With national campaigns such as The Emirates: The Startup Capital of the World setting targets of training 10,000 Emiratis and creating 10 unicorns, the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) is emerging as a key engine driving this shift.

As Gulf states race to build sovereign AI and cloud infrastructure, the real opportunity lies in pooling capital, standards and talent to avoid costly digital duplication.

Despite fierce branding as rivals, Gulf startup hubs share capital, policy, and talent structures that are quietly shaping distinct, globally ambitious growth paths.

Dubai faces substantial supply headwinds that may absorb currency-driven demand without triggering significant price gains. Approximately 45,000-50,000 new residential units are expected in 2025-2026, with vacancy rates elevated in older secondary locations, he adds.

The GCC is competing to build world-class technology hubs, investing heavily in AI, infrastructure, and sovereign capital to drive digital transformation, attract global partners, and position the region as a leading innovation powerhouse.

Palestinian officials described the Israeli parliament's decision related to West Bank land as a “serious escalation,” while armed groups and political factions condemned what they called an attempt to permanently change the territory’s status.

In an interview with TRENDS, Josh Lerner says Gulf economies pursuing diversification must recognize that transformation takes time, patience, and resilience through inevitable ups and downs.

The Pentagon confirmed that the USS Gerald R. Ford is being moved from the Caribbean toward the Middle East, a voyage expected to take at least a week. The carrier will join the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group already operating in or near the region.

In interviews with Israeli media, Trump warned of consequences if negotiations fail. “Either we reach a deal or we'll have to do something very tough,” Israel's Channel 12 quoted him as saying.

Becoming AI-native starts with a shift in mindset. To harness its full potential, we need to see AI not as a product but as a partner. It’s less about which model you’re using and more about how you use it, writes Cloke, CTO Endava.

The synergy between humans and AI agents is driving a ‘Great Redeployment’ where there is a structural shift in how organizations operate and how roles are defined. AI agents are built to solve problems end-to-end, they naturally cut across the functional silos that have long fragmented decision-making and customer experience,...