The UAE ranks highest among GCC economies and 12th overall in the first edition of the Circular Carbon Economy Index that focuses on energy management of the countries.

Firms in the region are increasingly augmenting their focus on operational transformation with new approaches to manage and optimize energy consumption, says an expert.

The UAE leads the region with adoption of developed regulations as technologies such as AI and VR have revolutionized the diagnostics and treatments in the aesthetic sector.

'Eco-friendly travelers' are gradually putting pressure on hospitality businesses in the Gulf region to incorporate green concepts and sustainability practices into service delivery.

The only Gulf state with a fully elected legislature, the key oil producer has been hit by regular feuding between the ruling Al-Sabah family and the assembly. The current government was formed at the start of August after the previous cabinet resigned in April, just three months after being sworn...

Despite ease in the measures set to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, electronic payments in the Gulf countries surged more than cash transactions in several other Arab countries.

It's crucial to identify the right working model to fix the challenges of digital transitions in the GCC, Nick Curran, Business Development Manager at Endava, tell TRENDS.

Smaller banks may be left behind if they don't invest appropriately in digitalization, Redmond Ramsdale, Head of Middle East Bank Ratings at Fitch Ratings, tells TRENDS.

Dr. Nayef Al Hajraf, Secretary-General of the GCC, voiced hope that the talks would lead to an ambitious Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and open new horizons for joint investment.

Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said in an interview with Bloomberg that OPEC+ has the commitment, the flexibility, and the means within the existing mechanisms to deal with such challenges, including cutting production at any time. He said that the volatility and thin liquidity send erroneous signals to markets at times...

Market experts predict a hard summer for the GCC retail industry as rising costs keep shoppers away from malls and stores amid soaring inflation and high cost of fuel.

Post pandemic, the logistics sector is best placed to support e-commerce businesses in tapping the unlocked potential of the large and still untapped market. The Middle East, which is continuing to experience rapid growth in e-commerce, may get an additional push from the logistics sector, she adds.

GCC countries are accelerating economic integration by activating the financial links between companies, banks, and stores to make life smoother for citizens and residents.

Though GCC markets witnessed an IPOs rush in the first half of 2022 due to the rising investment interest, the future is not comforting for the rest of the year, says an expert.

The GCC region is now witnessing an increase in adoption of open banking system and implementation plans are being put in place as regulators set new market policies.

Even as only half of the significant insurers in the region are disclosing ESG information, sustainability has gained significant traction in financial services in last few years.

GCC countries have witnessed financial surpluses in their budgets for the first time in a long time on the back of increase in oil prices, strengthening their credit ratings.

The dollar's first-quarter increase of about 10% against a basket of international currencies may reduce the impact of imported inflation due to dirham's peg to the US currency.

As the Gulf country sets aside about US$163bn to achieve zero-emission, the number of enterprises focusing on renewable energy is growing, Simon Birkebaek of BCG tells TRENDS.

The Covid-19 pandemic, regional lockdowns, and Ukraine war have been disrupting trading lane in air and maritime freight, affecting the global supply chain, say experts.

Net sentiment for traditional banks is higher than those for challenger banks as the former have a long history in the market and have proved to be trustworthy and reliable.

This expansion created new economic opportunities, narrowing the gender gap in account ownership, and building resilience at the household level to better manage financial shocks across the world, including GCC countries.

A high penetration of digital technologies and a tech-savvy younger consumer base among the factors that make the region a fertile ground for the flourishing of online banking. The present laws and regulations in most GCC countries have significantly influenced this sector's development. Aiding the region in its embrace of...

Forward-leaning financial institutions are ready to seize strategic opportunities to secure their stake in the future of Web 3.0. Right strategies will help traditional banks in giving an edge to their competitors in the cyberspace.

The real estate sector in the Gulf region is set to accelerate in the second half of the year as regulations effectively mitigate the market cycle swings, especially during inflation.

The performance of the Gulf stock exchanges varied this week, affected by several factors and events, most notably the tension that rose between the US and China.

Market experts predict a hard summer for the GCC retail industry as rising costs keep shoppers away from malls and stores amid soaring inflation and high cost of fuel.

Abu Dhabi Ports and Hutchison Ports have signed an MoU to identify joint investment and business opportunities related to feedering, logistics, and port activities across the GCC, Africa and Asia. The two organizations will also form a partnership to operate within Tanzania, where they will work closely together to explore...

Diminished leverage in the Gulf region makes Washington a less compelling partner than it once was, says Chas W Freeman, Former US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

Mohammed bin Salman's recent Europe visit after US President Joe Biden’s trip to Jeddah suggests that KSA wants to diversify its partners amidst global uncertainties, say experts.

Equities in the GCC posted modest gains this week while concerns persist about surging global inflation and how central banks across the world found upping interest rates a tool to tame it.

Real-time shopping platforms accessible via multiple channels and featuring high-definition live streaming as well as personalized services are boosting client engagements.

The countries discussed working papers on global best practices on a number of issues related to the work of the committee.

A survey in the GCC region reveals that almost all the respondents believe that rising inflation will impact their cost of living by at least 10 percent while over two-thirds said they still view equity markets favorably.

The US president could not dispel the view that the Washington is no longer a reliable ally and he also failed to connect at a personal level with the young GCC leaders, say experts.

Only the GCC countries score high on the Index that measures women’s inclusion, justice and security in 170 countries. UAE was the highest ranked country in the MENA region.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi said the Middle East has been affected by climate change, water crisis, dangers of desertification, health challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and called for joint efforts to confront them.

In a joint statement following the summit -- attended the GCC member states, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq and the US -- the leaders also vowed to enhance regional cooperation and integration, and build joint projects to achieve sustainable development and collectively address the climate challenges.

Bahrain will permit nationals of the Gulf Cooperation Council to enter into the kingdom with just an identity card or a passport, according to the Bahraini Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA). A statement carried by Bahrain News Agency (BNA) said the move follows the decision of GCC countries to...

US President Joe Biden will meet Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas in the occupied West Bank Friday, with talks expected to focus on economic measures but without striking any major diplomatic breakthrough.  Bethlehem marks the latest stop on Biden's Middle East tour, following meetings with Israeli officials and ahead of a...

The tighter monetary policy from US Fed and the continued raising of interest rate will have an impact in the GCC, says Simon Ballard, chief economist of First Abu Dhabi Bank.

GCC nationals are expected to pour in investments in the UK real estate market in spite of global inflation, supply-chain disruption, and hiked interest rates.

The Gulf countries have taken several measures to increase the local employment, especially in UAE and Saudi Arabia. This week's TRENDS Infographic looks at job situation in the region.

The region is better placed to deal with global slowdown as oil and gas prices will stay high due to supply restrictions, Jean Claus, CEO of Allianz Trade Middle East, tells TRENDS.

The global economic stagnation is expected to impact the GCC growth due to the decline in industrial and economic activities even as the region is benefiting from high oil prices

Leaders of the GCC countries have expressed their shock and condemnation at the assassination of the former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in a city in western Japan. Police arrested the suspect identified as Tetsuya Yamagami, a 41-year-old unemployed former member of Japan's maritime defense force.

Based on the mutual market access model, Tabadul will allow investments across Bahrain Bourse and Abu Dhabi and enable investors to trade directly on both exchanges through licensed brokers in both markets.

Inflation is an opportunity for a company to review strategically the portfolio of plans it offers, says L'azurde CEO.

IMF has said food prices accounted for about 60 percent of last year’s increase in headline inflation in the MENA region, excluding the GCC countries.

Artificial Intelligence market is growing in the Middle East by an estimated 20 percent to 34 percent annually, with GCC region taking the lead.