Dubai, UAE -- The UAE, the European Union and humanitarian organizations met in Brussels on Thursday to discuss strengthening global humanitarian supply chains as conflicts, maritime disruptions and other geopolitical tensions increasingly threaten the delivery of aid worldwide. The event, co-hosted by the UAE Embassy in Brussels, Dubai Humanitarian and...
Bridging skills gap: UAE, Singapore lead the way
The two countries have adopted a people-centric and collaborative upskilling approach, says Till Leopold, Interim Head of Knowledge Communities at WEF.WEF Dubai: UAE fosters global dialogue
The UAE has agile governance and it is not beholden to short-termism, Maroun Kairouz, Head of Regional Agenda for the MENA region at WEF, tells TRENDS.
BRICS integral to Arab trade diversification strategy
The UAE and Saudi Arabia’s trade with China and India far exceeds their trade with the US and UK. This shift highlights the growing importance of BRICS partners in the Arab economic strategy, signaling a rebalancing of trade priorities to ensure sustainable growth, economic resilience, and diversified global partnerships.Putin thanks UAE president for positive role in prisoner exchange with Ukraine
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed meets his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to discuss bilateral ties and Middle East. Sheikh Mohamed will also attend BRICS Summit in the Russian city of Kazan.Dubai’s night beaches a cool solution to summer heat
With temperatures regularly topping 40 degrees Celsius, outdoor activities are severely limited. More than one million people have visited the night beaches since last year.
Casino operator Wynn wins UAE’s first commercial gaming license
Dubai, United Arab Emirates -- US casino operator Wynn has received the first commercial gaming operator's license to be issued in the United Arab Emirates where gambling is currently banned. The license was issued by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority, which was set up last year to allow for commercial...
UAE to host 2025 Asia-Pacific amateur championship at Emirates Golf Club
Gotemba, Japan -- The Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC), the Masters Tournament and The R&A has announced that the 16th Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship will be contested at Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis Course in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), 23-26 October 2025. The Championship will return to Dubai and the Middle East...
UAE backs Egypt’s Ras El Hekma megaproject, aims for $110 billion investment
Abu Dhabi, UAE - The UAE Ministry of Investment (MoI) announced today its support and key role in the advancement of the Ras El Hekma project and the participation of Emirati companies in its expansion and growth plan. This project is one of Egypt’s most ambitious coastal city developments. Located...Updates: President Biden says ‘discussing’ possible Israeli strikes on Iran oil facilities
Oil prices shoot up as Biden suggests that Israel might target Iranian oil facilities, while GCC Arab states, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, reassure Iran of neutrality in the conflict between Tehran and Israel.
Foreigners and institutions pour $4.9 billion into UAE equities
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- Net investments by foreigners and institutions in UAE equities amounted to AED 18.3 billion ($4.9 billion) as a result of purchases during the first nine months of this year, distributed by AED 15.6 billion in the Abu Dhabi market and AED 2.64 billion in the Dubai...Qatar outpaces Saudi Arabia and UAE in tourism growth with 147% surge
Doha, Qatar - Qatar has emerged as the leading player in the Middle East tourism sector, boasting an impressive 147% increase in tourist arrivals during the first half of 2024 compared to pre-pandemic levels, as reported by UN Tourism. This growth positions Qatar ahead of its regional competitors, with Saudi...UAE airports see 14.2% passenger traffic surge in H1
Abu Dhabi, UAE -UAE's airports experienced a 14.2 percent increase in passenger traffic, in the first half of 2024, handling over 71.7 million travelers compared to 62.8 million in the same period last year, latest data issued by the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) showed. “Passenger traffic at the...United by innovation and progress: The enduring US-UAE partnership
‘’In close partnership, we are working to advance multilateral diplomatic solutions and provide urgently needed humanitarian assistance in Gaza and Sudan. Our ongoing defense and counterterrorism cooperation makes our countries and the world more secure. U.S. and UAE troops have stood shoulder to shoulder in six conflicts over the last...
UAE banks’ Q2 investments in Islamic certificates, cash bills surge to $61.81bn
The banking sector in the country maintained strong capital adequacy, exceeding Basel 3 requirements, according to the Central Bank.Israel faces risks of global isolation and losing UN membership over Gaza genocide, say UN experts
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...
Dubai tourism shines: 25 percent repeat visitors, rising AI use
Dubai, UAE -- Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM) has confirmed that 25 percent of visitors to Dubai are repeat visitors, reflecting their satisfaction with the experience the city has to offer. Speaking at a keynote session on the second day of the Dubai AI and Web 3...
UAE banking sector assets exceed $1.16 trillion by the end of June
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) revealed that total banking assets, including bank acceptance certificates, rose to AED 4.31 trillion ($1.16 trillion) at the end of June, a month-on-month increase of 0.5 percent, compared to AED 4.28 trillion in May 2024. In a report entitled "Monetary...‘Beautiful thing’: hijab-wearing singer looks to inspire
Dubai, United Arab Emirates - In a Dubai recording studio, hijab-clad Ghaliaa Chaker tunes her guitar and belts out original songs as she builds a career that is turning heads for more than just her music. The 26-year-old Syrian, who was raised in the United Arab Emirates, has become a social...
UAE’s Etihad finds ‘no issues’ with engines of A350 fleet: statement
Rolls-Royce said on Thursday it was launching "a one-time precautionary engine inspection programme" which may apply "to a portion of the A350 fleet". The first A350 was delivered to Qatar Airways at the end of 2014. A total of 87 A350-1000 aircraft are currently in service worldwide.
Domestic worker visa applications in UAE up 66% in June 2024, says a report
The UAE, relying on domestic workers (5% of the population), invests $3 billion annually, highlighting the rising demand for domestic help among local and expatriate families.
Market capitalization of 20 UAE listed firms reaches $762 billion
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- The market capitalization of the top 20 listed companies in the local stock markets by market capitalization reached AED 2.8 trillion ($762.44 billion) by the end of this week, while further growth is expected in line with the markets' plans to double their market capitalization to...
UAE launches national strategy to combat money laundering, terror financing
The strategy focuses on risk-based compliance, international cooperation, effective supervision, and disrupting illicit financial activities through improved data collection, analysis, and regulation updates.Telegram boss Durov free but charged and held in France
Paris, France -- Telegram chief Pavel Durov was spending Thursday out on bail after four days of detention in France, banned from leaving the country as he faces a possible trial related to illegal content carried on his messaging app. Russian-born Durov, dressed in black and wearing dark glasses, walked briskly...
UAE seeks consular services for arrested Telegram boss
"The UAE is closely following the case of its citizen Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, who was arrested by the French authorities in Paris–Le Bourget Airport," UAE foreign ministry said in a statement. Durov, the 39-year-old billionaire founder of the messaging platform, was arrested at the Paris airport late on...
UAE national carriers fly to 606 destinations as travel demand rebounds
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- UAE national carriers continued to expand their destinations for passengers, supported by the UAE's leading position as a preferred global destination for tourism and business, as well as the recovery in travel demand. National carriers are expected to continue to fly to new heights of growth...In rare move, UAE accepts Taliban government ambassador
It became just the second country after China to do so. The UAE said it was committed to "building bridges" to help the Afghan people, after the Kabul foreign ministry announced on social media that new ambassador Mawlawi Badruddin Haqqani had been received in a ceremony in Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi Airports, Paris Airports to expand air transport infrastructure
Abu Dhabi, UAE-- Abu Dhabi Airports has expanded its existing collaboration with Paris Airports Group (ACG) to focus on collaborating on the creation of the ground infrastructure needed to provide advanced air transport applications in Abu Dhabi. Based on the agreement signed between the two parties on the sidelines of...
Dubai real estate sales hit record $13.6bn in July, growth eases
Dubai, UAE - Dubai's real estate market reached a new peak in July, with sales hitting an all-time high of AED50.1 billion ($13.6 billion). Although the market continued to grow, the year-on-year increase slowed to 33% from 53% in June, reflecting a high base effect from the same period in...
UAE, Saudi Arabia lead Middle East IPO surge in second quarter
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- The IPO market in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region remained resilient during the second quarter of this year, with 14 IPOs registering total proceeds of US$2.64 billion, up 45.3 percent compared to the same period last year. According to the Ernst & Young...Dubai welcomes record 9.31 million visitors in first half of 2024
Dubai, UAE - Dubai has reinforced its position as a global tourism leader by welcoming a record 9.31 million international overnight visitors in the first half of 2024, marking a 9 percent increase from the 8.55 million visitors during the same period in 2023. The achievement is aligned with the...
Day after UAE-Chile CEPA, Dubai Chambers and Pro-Chile sign MoU
Under the MoU, both parties will coordinate events aimed at strengthening ties between exporting companies from Dubai and Chile and supporting the expansion of these companies in both markets by creating promising business opportunities.
Pre-tax net profit of Dubai Financial Market rises 74% to $53m in H1 2024
Dubai, Saudi Arabia - Dubai Financial Market (DFM) today announced its consolidated financial results for the period ended June 30, 2024, with net profit before tax growing to AED 195.4 million (USD 53.2 million), marking a significant 74 percent increase over the same period in 2023. The first half of...GCC countries host nine million Indians, UAE alone home to 3.55 million
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...
UAE urges ‘temporary international mission’ for post-war Gaza
Washington has said repeatedly that it opposes post-war government of Gaza by either Israel or Hamas and has called for a reformed Palestinian Authority to take charge instead. The Palestinian Authority has had no presence in Gaza since Hamas seized sole control of the territory in 2007.
ADNOC Gas awards $550m contracts
The company aims to expand UAE gas infrastructure, increase customer reachAl Noor Island listed among top 10 attractions in Middle East
Sharjah, UAE -- Sharjah's renowned landmark and award-winning family-friendly destination, Al Noor Island, has secured its place among the top 10 attractions in the Middle East by winning the prestigious 'Best of the Best' title for 2024 on the leading travel-review platform TripAdvisor. Developed and managed by the Sharjah Investment...Shell, TotalEnergies and BP take stakes in UAE gas project
Dubai, United Arab Emirates -- Energy majors TotalEnergies, Shell and BP will each take a 10 percent stake in a liquefied natural gas project in the United Arab Emirates, state energy giant ADNOC said Wednesday. Japanese trading company Mitsui & Co. will also acquire 10 percent of the Ruwais LNG plant,...Dubai-based rowers brave Arctic this July to highlight plastics pollution
At an indoor pool in Dubai, three rowers battle artificial rain and simulated waves as they train for an Arctic voyage intended to highlight the perils of marine pollution with focus on plastics. Their quest will take the team from one extreme to the next. Home base is the United...
UAE in top 10 global trending destinations: Travel Trends 2024
Dubai, UAE -- The Mastercard Economics Institute has revealed in its latest Travel Trends 2024 report a major shift in the travel industry this year, characterized by a significant increase in travel spending and strong growth in traveler traffic. This latest global report provides comprehensive insights into the evolving landscape of the...UAE realty sector poised for growth as central bank forecasts 6.2% GDP growth in 2025
Factors such as increased foreign investment, ambitious urban projects, and favorable regulatory reforms are expected to propel the real estate market forward, creating new opportunities for investors and stakeholders alike.
RTA launches Phase II Study of Intelligent Traffic Systems Initiative
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has started the study and design of Phase II of ITS Improvement and Expansion Project, WAM reported. This phase aims to cover 100 percent of the emirate's main roads and adopt the latest intelligent technologies and software, such as the Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems...UAE ranks among the world’s most competitive economies in 2024, says Switzerland’s IMD ranking
The country has risen to the 7th spot in the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking, highlighting its robust economic growth, strategic advancements, and commitment to innovation and sustainable development.Dubai to build $8 bn stormwater runoff system after record floods
Dubai, UAE -- Dubai on Monday announced an $8 billion plan for a stormwater runoff system, two months after an unprecedented deluge and widespread flooding brought the desert state to a standstill. The rainwater drainage network announced by Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum on social media platform X is set...
UAE energy giant ADNOC offers $12.8bn for Germany’s Covestro
Covestro's shares surged more than six percent in Frankfurt following the announcement, which comes after it first disclosed talks were ongoing with the UAE firm in September last year. "The discussions so far have shown that Covestro and ADNOC can generally reach a common understanding regarding core aspects of a...Chinese electric car company Nio to enter UAE this year
Chinese electric car company Nio plans to expand to the Middle East this year, CEO William Li said on an earnings call Thursday, at a time when rivals have been increasing their global footprint, CNBC reported. The nearly 10-year-old company will also start shipping its lowest-cost brand, Firefly, in the...Concerns and optimism on World Environment Day as Arabian Gulf takes bold initiatives
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.
Exhibition of art and poetry in Dubai celebrates women
Featuring the work of international women artists, "La Belleza" celebrates the deep connection between art and poetry.UAE president on state visit to S Korea, meets top business chiefs
President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is the first sitting UAE president to make a state visit to Asia's fourth-largest economy. During Seoul's President Yoon Suk Yeol's visit to the country last year, the UAE said it would invest $30 billion in South Korea.The Middle East fastest growing Real-Time Payments market globally
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,...
UAE tax authority issues corporate tax guide for free-zone persons
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) has issued a guide outlining the application of Corporate Tax to Free Zone Persons in line with the Free Zone Corporate Tax regime, which enables Qualifying Free Zone Persons to benefit from a zero percent Corporate Tax rate on Qualifying Income....
