US President Donald Trump said Friday that he would soon make a “final determination” on a possible agreement with Iran, indicating that Washington and Tehran may be inching toward a temporary cease-fire arrangement after days of escalating tensions.

SpaceX’s planned initial public offering at a valuation of at least $1.8 trillion is emerging as a major test of investor appetite for artificial intelligence and technology stocks, as markets prepare for a potential wave of blockbuster listings. Formal marketing for the IPO is expected to begin next week, with...

About $650 billion in trade flows are affected, with global maritime routes facing growing disruption and uncertainty risks.

Professor Tareq Osaili, Vice Dean, College of Health Sciences, Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Sharjah, says the UAE’s integrated food system combines imports, manufacturing, innovation, and efficient ingredients to strengthen resilience, affordability, nutrition, and sustainability amid global disruptions.

United States forces said they have attacked missile launch sites and mine-laying vessels in southern Iran, in what a US military spokesman described as “self-defence” strikes. Earlier, Iranian media reported explosions in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas.

Governance, accountability and validation processes emerge as critical requirements for translating growing AI investment into measurable operational and security outcomes, according to the KPMG report.

Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing on Wednesday, days after US President Donald Trump visited the Chinese capital, with the two leaders presenting themselves as a force for stability amid growing global tensions linked to Washington’s policies.

Visa launched its global Agentic Ready program in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday, expanding efforts to support artificial intelligence-driven commerce across the region. The launch forms part of a broader rollout across Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, Visa said. The company said the Agentic Ready...

The UAE real estate market entered a more measured and mature phase in the first quarter of 2026 after the rapid expansion seen in 2025, according to a market report released by Colliers. The report said the market continues to be supported by strong fundamentals and ongoing infrastructure investment, while...

Israeli and US officials had initially viewed former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as a potential figure to lead Iran following the outbreak of war, according to a report by The New York Times.

Iran, which said its proposals presented to Washington included sanctions relief, the release of frozen funds, warned it would “open new fronts” against the United States if attacks resumed.

The $5.1 billion engineering complex targets advanced aircraft maintenance capabilities, sustainability benchmarks, and expanded aviation infrastructure. The facility is being delivered by China Railway Construction Corporation.

Pakistan is continuing to play a behind-the-scenes diplomatic role between the United States and Iran as tensions remain high over the ongoing conflict and negotiations.

US President Donald Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping wants the Strait of Hormuz reopened, following talks between the two leaders in Beijing that focused heavily on the Iran conflict and disruptions to global energy supplies.

The partnership will raise a combination of equity and debt capital to target an investment portfolio that aims to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns underpinned by a healthy cash yield.

The incident came hours after India condemned an attack on an Indian-flagged vessel off Oman’s coast, calling continued assaults on commercial shipping “unacceptable”.

76% of younger investors and 75% of older investors have acted on a recommendation by an AI engine

A new Dataiku study shows UAE CEOs increasingly view AI performance, governance and accountability as defining measures of leadership success.

The Pentagon on Tuesday revised the estimated cost of the war on Iran to nearly $29 billion, roughly $4 billion higher than the figure presented two weeks ago during Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s earlier testimony before Congress.

Shipping disruptions, sanctions and worsening humanitarian fears deepen global anxiety as Washington rejects Tehran’s latest peace proposal over nuclear concessions.

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...