• Deadly strikes hit ‘pressure cooker’ Rafah ahead of Gaza truce push

    Hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians have fled south to Rafah since the outbreak of the war, with the former city of 200,000 now housing more than half of Gaza's two million-plus population, a WHO representative said Friday. The United Nations' humanitarian agency OCHA said it was deeply concerned about...
  • Middle East’s financial landscape transforming at rapid pace

    The digitally connected world has made the consumer the real king. With rapid technological advancement and innovation, the entire focus has shifted toward delivering services to consumers online in a secured way. The financial service industry is witnessing an upheaval with fintech startups gaining stronghold and challenging the traditional business...
  • GCC banks up against fresh challenges

    It was more about fiscal consolidation than being adventurous in 2017 for the banking sector in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which has felt the ripples of continued low oil prices most. Though banks warded off liquidity concerns by keeping capital buffers intact and adopting more stringent lending criteria, the...
  • Tech-tonic shift; AI taking the Middle East region by storm

    Artificial intelligence (AI), undisputedly the best technological gift of the digital age, together with Internet of Things, blockchain and data analytics is fueling the Fourth Industrial Revolution around the world. And, the Middle East and North Africa nations, especially those in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), have occupied a pioneering...
  • How energy landscape to evolve in the Middle East in 2018?

    A massive economic diversification exercise is underway in the Middle East to gradually end dependency on fossil fuels for a sustainable future. One sector that has immensely benefited from the exercise is that of renewable energy. Over the years, it has not only emerged as a reliable and viable means...
  • Ongoing Saudi diversification; Aramco, Alphabet to ink pact

    Making industrious efforts toward lessening its dependence on hydrocarbons and diversifying its current economic portfolio, Saudi Arabia is exploring potential joint ventures to establish tech hubs in different pockets of the nation. Working in this direction, Saudi state-owned Aramco, Middle East’s largest oil company, and Alphabet, parent company of US-based...
  • Will Kingdom Holding’s shares look up this week?

    Saudi Arabia’s billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, who was freed from nearly three-month detention on Saturday in Riyadh, is expected to return to his normal life at the earliest. Chairman of Riyadh-based Kingdom Holding Co. Alwaleed, who also owns stakes in Citigroup Inc., Twitter and the ride-hailing service Careem, will stay...
  • US Vice President’s Middle East visit evokes mixed reactions

    US Vice President Mike Pence started his three-nation Middle East visit on Saturday amidst a lot of dilemmas and confusions erupting because of US’ latest stance on the status of Jerusalem. If on one hand, many Middle East nations have expressed resentment over US’ decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s...
  • Is it a do-or-die battle for media and telecom companies?

    Historically, the advances in technology have affected all business sectors. The Industrial Revolution disrupted manufacturing sector in the 20th century and, currently, digital technologies are affecting all facets of business and economy. Companies in the telecommunications and media sectors are facing a dire need to innovate their products and services,...
  • GCC education marches forward in 2018

    When the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, attended the opening of the iconic Louvre Abu Dhabi during his visit to the UAE on November 8, the 39-year-old former Rothschild banker had a message for the youth of Arabia. “Youth has the choice to show hatred for others or to build...
  • Are sands shifting in Turkey’s Middle East policy?

    The past year has seen Turkey distance itself from some of its long-standing political alignments, easing away from the West and adopting a more Eastern-focused stance with regard to the Middle East, gravitating into an orbit that includes Iran, Qatar and Russia, though many analysts feel this shifting of poles...
  • DGCX looking forward to new highs in 2018

    2017 was exceptional on many fronts for the region’s largest and most diversified derivatives bourse, Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange (DGCX). Throughout 2017, DGCX recorded new trading highs, launched unique and innovative products and product-related initiatives, grew its strategic partnerships, received regulatory recognitions and industry plaudits too. Balanced blend of...