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.

Are China and Russia taking over the US power in the Gulf Cooperation Council region? Khaled Janahi, chairman of Vision 3, tends to disagree. “I would question the question because there are a lot of people thinking that already China and Russia are taking over. There is difference between relationship...

To expand and upgrade the metaverse, 6G, Wi-Fi 6, and edge computing capabilities will be critical. Just as the internet created safety, privacy, and security challenges, the metaverse will add even more challenges, he says.

The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic teaches several lessons to regional businesses, says UAE Minister Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi.

TRENDS takes an in-depth look at how the regional govts are reshaping their policies to make the technological ecosystem more lucrative and useful for metaverse and blockchain.

The Gulf countries still need to develop more laws since the use of Metaverse and Blockchain will expand in only some regions, something that "undermines the idea of a single, cohesive region in this sector, he adds.

Qatar Chamber (QC) said in its quarterly report that the export value of private sector in Q1 2022 hiked to QAR 7.7 billion($2.11bn) with a 46 percent growth compared to QAR 5.3 bn($1.46bn) in Q1 2021. The report also mentioned the impact of the certificates of origin on the exports'...

Saudi Stock Exchange's general index fell by nine points. Abu Dhabi market was below 9,200 points, Dubai market rose above 3,200 points

Payment on metaverse will take place through cryptocurrencies. NFTs and virtual goods will become popular once metaverse becomes mainstream. Therefore, it is curcial for the metaverse that NFTs and virtual property be implemented. Additionally, banks will need to accept cryptocurrency as a form of payment for these products.

As the complexity of the pandemic and supply chain challenges have affected building material prices, the region should look for alternatives, says Nizam Abdul Baki of Purity.

The global aviation sector's losses, which rose to around S138 billion in 2020, dropped to nearly $42 billion in 2021. The IATA hopes that making profits this year appeared is within reach for the airlines as people are traveling in greater numbers and freight is doing very well despite economic...

Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, UAE’s Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, has said UAE is keen to enhance efforts aimed at building sustainable food and agricultural systems in GCC. She was speaking at the 32nd Meeting of the GCC Agricultural Cooperation Committee. Almheiri commended the Committee and hoped that...

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the UK began negotiations in Riyadh to boost trade, which stands at $34 billion.

In spite of high inflation, residents of the GCC countries are seeking newer destinations in Europe and beyond to travel to, Trupt Shah of Musafir.com tells TRENDS.

The global inflation wave -- affecting the US, EU and China and spreading to the Gulf countries -- is forcing common people to look for solutions away from the govt actions.

The Gulf region seems to have a better fiscal positions thanks to high oil prices and the recovery of the economies from the Covid-19 related woes.