Qatar's foreign reserves rise 3.6 percent year-on-year despite a dip in bonds and treasury holdings, Iraq releases Australian and Egyptian engineers and other developments.

As the region pivots toward a post-oil future, recent developments across the Middle East and North Africa suggest an accelerating shift—driven by policy ambition, digital reform, and investment recalibration.

 Dubai, UAE -- The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has kicked off 2025 with a remarkable surge in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity, according to the latest EY MENA M&A Insights 2024 report. The first quarter of the year saw a substantial 31 percent increase in deal volume,...

The trade-dependent economies are looking to insulate themselves after US President Donald Trump blew up global trade norms by announcing a slew of tariffs targeting countries around the world this year.

Muscat, Oman -- The general inflation rate in the GCC countries rose by 1.7 percent at the end of December 2024 compared to the figures recorded during same month of the previous year, according to the Consumer Price data released by the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the...

The Franklin Templeton Emerging Markets Equity outlook emphasizes how GCC countries have reduced their dependence on oil and gas, opened their capital markets, and diversified their economies — all underpinned by strong fiscal positions that bolster investor confidence.

Muscat, Oman -- Travel and tourism sector's contribution to the Gulf's GDP by the end of 2024 reached approximately 11.4 percent, with a value of $247.1 billion. The latest data released by the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf (GCC-Stat) indicated that the growth rate...

Private sector, governments, and nonprofits must invest in AI education, Jason Alan Snyder tells TRENDS in an exclusive interview.

A study by the World Economic Forum reveals that AI could replace around 85 million jobs by 2025

Partnerships with institutions like the Victoria & Albert Museum, Venice Biennale, and Hollywood productions elevate the GCC’s cultural landscape.

IoT applications are transforming critical sectors such as transportation, where connected vehicles improve traffic management, utilities where smart grids enhance energy efficiency, and healthcare, where remote monitoring optimizes patient care.

The framework for future-proofing tourism revolves around three core pillars: People, Planet, and Purpose. This vision is particularly evident in the GCC, where a people-first transformation is taking place.

The region leverages a strategic major hub, advanced infrastructure, and economic diversification to fuel logistics demand, says Janardan Dalmia, Founder and CEO at Trukkin, a leading UAE-based logistics firm.

The global logistics market is expected to be around US$10 trillion in 2024, and is estimated to reach US$21.91 trillion by 2033, registering a healthy CAGR growth of 9.35 percent from 2024 until 2033.

The GCC luxury market segment has experienced significant growth, driven by an increase in the number of high-net-worth individuals. Accommodating them requires new thinking. Michael Belton, CEO of MERED, explains.

PwC forecasts that AI could contribute US$320 billion to Middle Eastern economies by 2030, with healthcare predicted to see some of the largest gains relative to its current size

Dubai, UAE -- TRENDS’ yearly Special Issue is out. This year’s edition, titled Future of Humanity, explores key global shifts and brings together expert insights on old and new forces shaping our world. The edition delves into transformative themes such as GCC’s leadership in urbanization, smart cities, and logistics, as...

DAVOS, Switzerland -- Bilel Al Souaied is an entrepreneur and venture capitalist. He is the COO of Cytomate, a leading provider of security posture management and threat intelligence products. Bilel is attending Davos with the Global Shavers Community, a World Economic Forum initiative and the only youth delegation participating in...

The burgeoning creator economy presents an unprecedented opportunity for GCC to outpace global cities and establish itself as the epicenter of next-generation content, said Julien Hawari, CEO Million.

Muscat, Oman - The population of the six GCC countries reached 57.6 million in 2023, compared to 56.6 million in 2022. Males accounted for 62.4% of the total population, while females made up 37.6%.The report also indicates that the population density was 23.9 people per square kilometre, with the total...

Five of seven GCC equity market indices under coverage ended 2024 on the rise, according to an in-depth report on GCC equity markets.  Dubai Financial Market (DFM) led its peers, wrapping up 2024 with an annual rise of 27%

While developing countries paid a record US$1.4 trillion to service debts, the non-oil sectors in the GCC countries are fueling growth and diversification,

Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah called on the international community to implement "an immediate ceasefire, providing international protection for innocent civilians and ensuring the opening of safe corridors and the arrival of urgent humanitarian aid".

Now, the region is turning its attention to newer innovations, including hydrogen production, small modular reactors (SMRs), and compact nuclear power generators.

Experts from the United Nations have warned that Israel might become a pariah state, and its UN membership is under question as Tel Aviv continues to commit genocide in Gaza killing more than 40,000 people since October 7, 2023. Experts also reprimanded the Western countries for double standards on Netanyahu’s...

In an interview with TRENDS, CEO of ITCN Asia, Muhammad Umair Nizam highlights the expanding role of Pakistani IT firms in the GCC tech landscape.

With 93% of Saudi workers considering generative AI essential, alongside 95% in the Middle East and 79% globally, the region's prioritization of AI is evident.

Pakistan's IT sector is thriving, with growing exports and recognition as a tech hub, driven by government support, skilled talent, and strategic GCC collaborations.

New Delhi, UAE - The number of Indians living in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries has crossed nine million, India's Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, told Parliament yesterday.Indians are employed in a wide range of professions from highly qualified fintech, healthcare, information technology, engineering and...

GCC tourism's GDP contribution will rise from $130 billion in 2023 to over $340 billion by 2030, driven by aviation growth and infrastructure investments.

Digitalization is revolutionizing GCC entrepreneurship, offering vast opportunities and challenges, and driving innovation and growth, Jigar Sagar, an influential figure in the GCC's entrepreneurial ecosystem., tells TRENDS in an exclusive interview.

Political and business leaders in the Arabian Gulf region push for sustainability agenda to secure clean environment for the future generations. Calls have been made to work through collaborative models of private and public partnerships to achieve green goals.

For the second consecutive year, the Middle East is the fastest-growing real-time payments market globally, according to the 2024 Prime Time for Real-Time report, published by ACI Worldwide, a global leader in mission-critical, real-time payments software, in partnership with GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. In the Middle East,...

Alberta's tourism sector, with attractions resonating with GCC travelers, aims for a $25 billion visitor economy by 2035, says Joseph Schow in an exclusive interview with TRENDS.

Digitalization is revolutionizing travel, and data analytics is hyper-personalizing the sector, notably in GCC's growing business tourism, says Pallav Singhvi of Almosafer in an interview with TRENDS.

GCC countries are prioritizing actions like near-shoring, international partnerships, and technology adoption to ensure supply chain adaptability and responsiveness, says a report by Oliver Wyman.

Business travelers worldwide are drawn to the GCC countries due to their rapidly growing economies, strategic geographic locations, and ambitious infrastructure development plans.

The region's luxury goods market was worth US$ 10.52 billion in 2023, with long-term growth expected, reaching US$ 13.70 billion by 2028.

A tech-savvy population sees cryptocurrencies a safe investment option as governments adopt progressive regulatory frameworks, offering innovation and investor protection.

Flooding hit many areas of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital, and cut off major roads, snarling traffic and leaving cars stranded.

Gulf states are grappling with the widening Middle East conflict as hostilities between Iran and Israel threaten their security and ambitious plans to reshape their economies.Leaders of the resource-rich Gulf monarchies engaged in a rapid round of diplomacy after last weekend's Iranian drone and missile strikes on Israel raised the...

In light of the military escalation and developments in the Middle East region, the Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council held its 44th extraordinary meeting on April 15, 2024, at the headquarters of the Qatari Embassy in Tashkent

The UAE especially has become a regional hub for remote work, attracting digital nomads and businesses with its visa programs.

GCC equity markets experienced a March downturn, influenced by seasonal selling pressure during Ramadan, leading to a 3.0% drop in the MSCI GCC index with Qatar suffering the steepest decline at 6.0%.

Clean hydrogen could be bigger than the oil and gas economy for the region, says Jo Bamford, chairman of HYCAP, which invests in net zero and hydrogen economy.

GCC countries collaborate on comprehensive tourism strategy, leading global recovery post-pandemic with remarkable growth rates and ambitious plans for sustainable development.

The banking sector across the GCC has demonstrated formidable growth and profitability, with Qatar leading in several key performance indicators, say KPMG, Fitch reports.

For the first time in its 43-year history, the bloc has set a strategic vision that prioritizes diplomacy and dialogue over force to boost regional security and stability.

Saudi Arabia leads GCC efforts towards defense self-reliance by creating the first military industries committee, aiming to reduce foreign imports and enhance local capabilities.

Eti Bhasin, a trailblazing restaurateur in Dubai's thriving hospitality scene, navigates challenges with resilience and innovation at her popular eatery, Dhaba Lane.