GCC is rewriting the narrative on cultural diplomacy
Partnerships with institutions like the Victoria & Albert Museum, Venice Biennale, and Hollywood productions elevate the GCC’s cultural landscape.
Beauty, fashion brands eye NFT advantage
There is enormous potential for NFTs in the fashion and beauty business, says Louis Chen, EVP and Chief Strategy Officer at Perfect Corp.UAE: Where sustainable shopping can be a way of life
If there is one country in the GCC where the idea of sustainable shopping can take off, it is the UAE. Yet, there is a lot for it to do in order to make the concept work.TOP CEO to discuss post-Covid GCC business scene
CEOs and market veterans from the region will review how the pandemic, which accelerated digital transformation, has given a competitive edge to innovative businesses.Eid holidays boost Gulf tourism as COVID curbs ease
From overseas to the domestic circuit, the tourism industry in the Gulf Cooperation Council is witnessing a welcome resurgence, especially after two years of the Covid-19 pandemic.Surging ecommerce boon for GCC businesses
A rising number of tech-savvy millennials, 60 percent of whom shop online, is one of the most important factors responsible for the rising ecommerce sales.Ramadan brings $6bn windfall for MENA
The spending through the month of April has been widespread, including a broader increase in sales volume and a diversification of family-oriented retail options that enhance the prosperity of the local market.Relative debt of GCC countries
Here’s a look at which countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have how much debt, and how they compare to their GDP.UAE and KSA stock markets remain flat this week
Against the backdrop of mounting concerns about the supply of crude oil, the stock markets in Saudi Arabia and the UAE remained subdued this week.GCC FMCG market faces headwinds
Certain FMCG companies benefited from the pandemic since people spent more time at home baking and spending time together. As a result, sales of packaged foods, for example, surged during the pandemic.Abu Dhabi to trade carbon credits like assets
Carbon credits can be traded on legal carbon markets, such as the Emissions Trading System of the European Union. They can also be generated and traded on voluntary carbon markets worldwide, with examples developed in Singapore, Sydney, New York, and London.UAE hotel industry basks in festive Ramadan spirit
Now, hotel bookings will rise for Eid Al-Fitr, with Gulf markets predicted to see a considerable spike in travel bookings from April 28 to May 5, 2022, which coincides with the resumption of large exhibitions in several GCC capitals.Arab economies expected to grow by 5% in 2022: AMF
The expected growth rate for 2022 reflects the rise in the growth of the Arab oil-exporting economies to 5.6 percent due to the anticipated increases in the output of the oil and gas sectors.GCC luxury market grows despite supply chain woes
The GCC personal luxury market will continue to be on a ‘strong growth trajectory,’ Chalhoub Group Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) Jasmina Banda tells TRENDS.Increase in demand helps GCC real estate recover
From the UAE to Saudi Arabia, Qatar to Kuwait, the GCC countries have posted robust growth in the real estate sector, with the transactions touching $137.4 billion in 2021.Policy eyed as Mideast bears brunt of climate change
Disasters caused by climate change since 2000 have killed approximately 2,600 people, affected seven million others, and caused $2 billion in direct material damage. It may have also reduced annual economic growth by 1-2 percentage points on a per-capita basis, it adds.GCC exchanges recoup their losses
From the UAE to Saudi Arabia, the main indexes made up for their losses as the week came to a close.Demand surges as Ramadan returns
The shopping behavior has changed a lot in the region in past two years as consumers are looking for promotions and offers especially in food, perishables, groceries and home appliances. Studies suggest that consumers are spending more on cross-border goods, particularly consumer packaged products, during Ramadan this year.Covid, digital transformation push GCC cloud growth
Businesses in the region are increasingly adopting cloud to protect their data, apps and infrastructure from fraudulent activities while supporting compliance and confidentiality.Sustainability drives region’s luxury car demand
UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are the three top performing GCC markets when it comes to appetite for high-end cars, Hamid Haqparwar, MD of BMW Group Middle East, tells TRENDS.AI plays crucial role in GCC’s economic progress
Artificial Intelligence, wired into the economic plans of many GCC countries, is likely to contribute 12.4 percent to Saudi GDP and 14 percent to the UAE's GDP by 2030.GCC keeps pace with global solar, wind trends
Countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Oman appear on track to take giant strides in diversifying their portfolios when it comes to power generation.Islamic banking tipped to grow in GCC
Of recent, Islamic banking has been getting quite a boost from governments and financial institutions in the Gulf Cooperation Council.Gulf countries warm up to waste-to-fuel plans
Here’s a broader look at how the region has prioritized solid-waste recycling and the production of alternative fuels to deal with the trash they generate.UAE and Saudi stocks post gains this week
The UAE and Saudi stock markets posted considerable gains this week even as oil prices took a dip with the US tapping into its reserves to tame high crude oil prices.GCC pharma industry: Leaders and innovators
GCC countries have a highly dynamic environment characterized by growing populations, a broad diversity of patient demands and increasing healthcare budgets, says Rodrigo Rodriguez, the Middle East Cluster General Manager of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company.Saudi hosts talks on Yemen war, but without Houthi rebels
Ahmed Al-Emad, a spokesman for the rebels' foreign ministry said that the recent meeting on Yemen conflict held in Riyadh "has nothing to do with the issue of peace."DFM, DME to jointly explore financial products opportunities
The Dubai Financial Market (DFM) and Dubai Mercantile Exchange (DME) will jointly explore financial products opportunities following the signing of an agreement, which will cater to DFM’s large and diversified investor base of over 852,000 investors. As the first initiative under this agreement, the two exchanges are planning to create...How can UAE firms adapt to corporate tax?
Now entities that typically have strong brand equity, control over distribution, and very few competitors, have a competitive edge that makes it difficult for rivals to emulate their products and services. What of the rest? Lovrenc Kessler, Managing Partner of Simon-Kucher & Partners Middle East, explains.Metaverse set to transform banking in GCC
Regional players eye big share as Metaverse is expected to become a US$800 billion market. Some analysts believe it will hit $30 trillion by 2030.Aramco lifts TASI as UAE stocks see weekly gain
The Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange achieved weekly gains of 1.7 percent, while that for the Dubai stock exchange was 1.9 percent.Why GCC should heed Fed rate changes
Four Gulf Arab central banks followed in the footsteps of the US Federal Reserve and raised interest rates by a quarter percentage point for the first time since 2018.GCC members lead Arab nations in happiness report
Four of the six GCC members feature within the top 50 of the World Happiness Report, and are atop the rankings among the Arab countries.Yemeni-Yemeni dialogue an opportunity to end conflict: GCC Secretary General
Al-Hajraf said that the dialogue represents a platform to all Yemenis to end the dispute.Houthi attack on Aramco facility in Saudi Arabia
The latest attack comes after an oil refinery in Riyadh was targeted on March 10 by a drone, an operation claimed by the Houthis.GCC airfares soar as oil prices rise
The amplifying factors include sanctions against Russia’s aviation sector, which cast a global pall over the aviation industry.GCC looks to ease fiscal burden with privatization
The privatization move will also help the regional governments in maintaining better economic growth, increasing private participation and attracting foreign investments.GCC retail electronics set for boost as buyers return
The retail electronics sector has proliferated in GCC countries, with demand rising not only due to the urge to own the latest technologies but also because more and more people are working and learning from home, he adds. Dubai Chamber, meanwhile, has claimed ecommerce businesses might generate up to $8...Skills gap challenge for GCC digitization, says du CEO
GCC companies should work closely with digital and software companies to expedite digital transformation, says Fahad Al Hassawi, CEO of du, in an exclusive interview with TRENDS.GCC countries lead the world in remittances
Over the past four years, GCC members have seen billions of dollars being remitted to other countries.KSA, UAE lead GCC’s push for hydrogen economy
Striking partnerships with companies in the West have helped the two Gulf countries emerge as one of the major exporters of hydrogen to the world.Female empowerment key to Gulf economic growth
Several initiatives taken by Gulf states demonstrate women will play a key role in achieving the transformational goals.GCC nations see varying CPI in last 5 years
GCC countries have been witnessing a varying degree of change when it comes to Consumer Price Index performance.New UAE law boosts family business growth
Haoula considers it extremely important to sustain family businesses as a recognition for their efforts historically, and for the advantages they could bring to the future of the UAE. “The new legislation makes everybody [feel] welcomed, and that for sure will make it a very approachable place for employment and...Is Gulf luxury sector immune from inflation?
However, just because there is inflation doesn't mean that people aren't spending, but they are spending differently. The that sales are expected to rise from US$ 317 bn in 2021 to between US$ 336 bn and US$ 347.5 bn in 2022.Technology makes Saudi farms more sustainable
The Kingdom's startup Red Sea Farms woos regional and global investors with a technology that grows crops without using freshwater in humidity-controlled greenhouses.Israel stock exchange eyes GCC investors
In an exclusive interview, Tel Aviv Stock Exchange CEO Ittai Ben-Zeev speaks on his strategy to attract investors from the Arab world, especially the UAE and the GCC.GCC wants to expand strategic partnership with India
The remarks were made during the GCC Secretary General Al-Hajraf’s meeting with the Indian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Dr. Ausaf Sayeed.PCR testing is a business success in the region
A large number of kits of the PCR test has been manufactured and used across the world in general and the GCC in particular.Inflation pinches GCC consumers’ pockets
The wave of inflation continues to put pressure on consumers not just in the United States, Europe, and the Arab world, but also in the Gulf region. Economies in the Middle East are exposed to the global price fluctuations because of heavy import dependence. Localized factors like rental deflation and...Rising inflation hobbles SMEs in Gulf countries
Diversifying, and strengthening local production structures is the most appropriate way to reduce inflation. Entrepreneurs and start-up companies may come forward to help their respective governments in finding more sustainable development solutions. The menace of inflation cannot be managed alone.