Category: Latest Updates

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Gold prices have swung with an intensity more often associated with speculative equities, unsettling investors who have long treated the metal as a steady store of value. Sharp intraday moves, rapid reversals and heavy retail participation have given bullion trading a momentum-driven character that echoes the behaviour of so-called meme stocks, challenging assumptions about how gold responds to risk, inflation and monetary policy.Spot gold has logged wide daily ranges through January and early February, with futures

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan held substantive talks with His Excellency Guy Parmelin, President of the Swiss Confederation, in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, emphasising cooperation on artificial intelligence, economic partnership and water security while reinforcing diplomatic commitment to global peace and stability. The discussions at Qasr Al Shati brought forward agreements aimed at deepening bilateral relations between the two nations and aligning strategic priorities in technology and sustainable development.Sheikh Mohamed underscored

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiMajor refiners based in New Delhi have signalled that transitioning away from Russian crude will require an orderly wind-down period before imports can be fully halted, even as leaders from the United States and India have proclaimed a landmark trade agreement that hinges on this shift. Refineries say they are bound by previously booked cargoes set to load and arrive over the coming weeks, creating operational and contractual constraints that cannot be unwound instantaneously. Two industry

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiQatar Islamic Bank has entered into an exclusive partnership with Alfardan Automotive to roll out a bespoke, Shari’a-compliant vehicle financing programme aimed at reshaping premium car ownership in Qatar, a move that aligns banking innovation with the country’s high-end automotive retail market.The agreement brings together one of Qatar’s largest Islamic lenders and a dominant luxury automotive group, covering financing solutions across Alfardan Automotive’s portfolio of global premium brands. Under the arrangement, customers purchasing vehicles through Alfardan

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiHouse of Shipping, a Dubai-headquartered advisory and execution firm serving the logistics and maritime sectors, has moved to deepen its technology and operations footprint by setting up a Global Capability Center in India, signalling a broader push by Gulf-based logistics specialists to tap skilled digital talent and scalable engineering capacity.The company has signed an agreement with InfoSun to establish the centre, which will support Exol, a robotic logistics platform positioned as a commercially deployable system for

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Money managers at some of the world’s largest asset firms are repositioning portfolios to guard against inflation risks they believe are being underestimated by wider financial markets, even as headline measures show easing price pressures across major economies.Executives and portfolio managers at BlackRock, Bridgewater Associates and Pacific Investment Management Co. have signalled that persistent cost pressures, supply-side constraints and policy uncertainty could reignite inflation volatility, challenging assumptions that central banks are on a smooth path towards sustained

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Washington has approved a potential sale of Patriot interceptor missiles and associated equipment to Saudi Arabia with an estimated value of about $9 billion, marking one of the largest US arms packages proposed for the kingdom in several years and underscoring a renewed focus on air and missile defence cooperation in the Gulf.The clearance, granted by the US State Department and notified to Congress through the Pentagon, covers the possible transfer of up to 730 Patriot Advanced

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai Electricity and Water Authority has received five awards from the British Safety Council for 2025, reinforcing its standing in occupational health, environmental management and organisational wellbeing, according to official announcements from the utility and the London-based safety body.The awards include the Sword of Honour for Health and Safety, the Globe of Honour for Environmental Management and the Shield of Honour, distinctions that are granted only to organisations achieving the highest audit scores under the British Safety

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiDubai-based luxury property developer Damac Real Estate Development Limited has returned to the debt capital markets with a $600 million Islamic bond that drew strong investor demand, signalling sustained appetite for Gulf real estate credit despite higher-for-longer global interest rates. The 3.5-year benchmark sukuk attracted an orderbook topping $1.7 billion, excluding interest from joint lead managers, allowing pricing to tighten materially from initial guidance.The transaction was marketed by Alpha Star Holding X Limited, a special purpose

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiA new investment cooperation pact between the United Arab Emirates and Scotland aims to widen capital flows, align priority sectors and give institutional backing to a growing commercial relationship between the Gulf state and one of the UK’s devolved governments.The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the UAE Ministry of Investment and the Scottish Government, setting out a framework to promote two-way investment, improve information sharing and coordinate investor support. Officials on both sides described the

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai-based Danube Properties has appointed former Australia fast bowler Brett Lee as its Global Ambassador, a move aimed at strengthening the developer’s international presence and sharpening its brand messaging across key overseas markets.The announcement, made by founder and chairman Rizwan Sajan, positions the retired cricketer as the face of Danube Properties’ outreach to global audiences, leveraging Lee’s worldwide recognition and credibility to underline the company’s emphasis on performance, reliability and trust. The partnership comes as Dubai’s residential

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiSaudi-listed Saudi Arabian Refineries Company has moved to expand its property footprint after confirming the acquisition of a commercial land parcel in Riyadh for SAR 33 million, equivalent to about $8.8 million, following a successful public auction. The transaction places the capital’s commercial real estate market back in focus as listed companies selectively add assets aligned with long-term development and diversification strategies.The company, widely known as SARCO, said the plot is located within Riyadh city limits

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiProperty Finder has raised $170 million in fresh capital from Mubadala Investment Company alongside other UAE sovereign-backed investors, a funding round that underscores sustained confidence in the region’s digital property platforms amid shifting real estate cycles.The Dubai-headquartered company said the investment will be used to simplify the home-search experience, improve productivity tools for brokers and developers, and reinforce data accuracy, trust and transparency across listings. The round values Property Finder as one of the Middle East’s

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiDubai has approved the launch of three new projects under the Dubai 10X Initiative, reinforcing the emirate’s push to place government performance and public services a decade ahead of global benchmarks. The approval was granted by H. H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation, signalling renewed momentum for a programme designed to

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Global advertising revenue is projected to climb to about $1.22 trillion in 2026, marking year-on-year growth of roughly 7.1% as digital channels tighten their grip on marketing budgets and traditional linear television continues to lose ground. Digital formats are expected to command close to 83% of total spend, underscoring a structural shift that has been gathering pace for more than a decade but is now accelerating through advances in data, automation and commerce-linked media.Industry estimates indicate that

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiDubai has unveiled a landmark expansion of its international financial hub, launching a $27 billion development designed to scale the city’s role in global finance as demand from overseas firms pushes existing capacity to its limits. The project, known as the DIFC Zabeel District, will extend the Dubai International Financial Centre across a substantial new area and is slated to reshape the emirate’s economic landscape over the coming decade.Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum,

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiSaudi Arabia is broadening its hunt for funding by engaging some of the kingdom’s wealthiest families, a move aimed at easing pressure on public finances while underwriting an ambitious pipeline of economic transformation projects. The approach marks a shift from a strategy that has leaned heavily on state balance sheets and foreign investors, signalling a desire to mobilise domestic private wealth alongside sovereign resources.Officials and advisers involved in the discussions say the government is encouraging leading

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiAbu Dhabi–based energy investor XRG is deepening its engagement in one of the world’s largest liquefied natural gas export facilities, moving to acquire an additional equity interest in the Rio Grande LNG project in Texas, industry participants confirmed. The move extends XRG’s ownership beyond its earlier holding and marks a significant step in executing its global gas strategy, signalling confidence in long-term demand for LNG.XRG said it will acquire a further 7.6 per cent stake

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiPureLab and LODD have launched a pilot programme in Abu Dhabi to transport blood samples using drones, marking a step towards integrating unmanned aerial vehicles into routine medical logistics and emergency healthcare supply chains. The initiative is designed to cut transit times for critical diagnostic samples, reduce reliance on road transport, and strengthen the resilience of laboratory networks during peak demand or traffic disruption.The pilot focuses on the movement of blood samples between collection points and

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiCasagrand has begun construction of Casagrand Hermina at Dubai Islands, signalling the Chennai-headquartered developer’s formal entry into the emirate’s premium waterfront housing market and marking a strategic expansion beyond South Asia. The ground-breaking ceremony, held at the project site, brings Casagrand’s development playbook to one of Dubai’s most closely watched island clusters, where large-scale regeneration plans are reshaping the northern coastline.Casagrand Hermina is positioned as a mid-rise residential community overlooking the Arabian Gulf, with the developer

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiThe United Arab Emirates is set to make its first appearance at the Winter Olympic Games, marking a significant expansion of the country’s sporting footprint beyond its traditional strengths in summer and indoor disciplines. The UAE has qualified to compete at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, scheduled for February 2026 in Italy, becoming the first Gulf nation to debut at the Winter Games through athlete qualification rather than invitation.The country will be represented by two

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai GivTrade has rolled out a major regional brand campaign in collaboration with Spain’s top professional league, LaLiga, designed to amplify its visibility across the Middle East and North Africa during key league fixtures featuring marquee clubs such as Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and Atlético Madrid. The marketing drive places GivTrade prominently on broadcast screens and digital channels during match coverage, giving the trading platform widespread exposure among millions of football followers across the region.The

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiRas Abu Fontas Power, the company behind one of Qatar’s key power and water infrastructure projects, has secured a financing agreement worth about $990 million with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, strengthening the long-term funding base for the Facility E power and desalination project south of Doha. The JBIC funding represents part of a larger co-financing package totalling approximately $2.97 billion, assembled with support from a mix of private banks and export credit agencies, underscoring robust

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiThe United Arab Emirates’ hospitality sector has posted a substantial rise in hotel revenues in 2025, with total takings reaching around AED 44.4 billion for the period from January to November, marking an 8.8 per cent uplift compared with the same span a year earlier, driven by stronger average daily rates and robust demand across key markets. This performance underscores the UAE’s ongoing success in leveraging tourism as a core economic driver and reflects broader

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiFirst Abu Dhabi Bank has been named the Official Banking Partner for the first-ever Open Masters Games to be staged in the Middle East, a move that aligns a leading regional lender with an international sporting event built around lifelong participation, health and social connection.The partnership brings First Abu Dhabi Bank into the inaugural Middle East edition of the Open Masters Games, which is designed for athletes aged 30 and above and welcomes competitors of varying

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiDubai has approved a Dh12.8bn expansion of Dubai Silicon Oasis, signalling a renewed push to scale the emirate’s knowledge economy and deepen its appeal to global technology, research and advanced manufacturing firms. The programme was launched by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and positions the zone for a new phase of growth tied to innovation, talent attraction and high-value investment.The expansion, to be

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai NMK Electronics has unveiled NMK Beyond, a 21,500 sq ft immersive technology hub positioned in Dubai’s urban core, marking a significant expansion of the company’s footprint in professional audio-visual and integrated solutions. The facility is designed to function as a live, hands-on environment where enterprise clients, systems integrators, consultants, educators and content creators can experience end-to-end technology workflows rather than static product displays.NMK Electronics said the centre consolidates audio, video, lighting, control, infrastructure and collaboration technologies

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Saudi lenders are expected to extend between $65 billion and $75 billion in new corporate loans in 2026, underpinned by sustained investment flows into real estate and utilities and a broad pipeline of state-backed projects, according to an assessment by S&P Global. The projection points to another year of robust balance-sheet expansion as banks continue to finance the kingdom’s economic transformation agenda.The forecast follows a strong lending cycle through 2025, when corporate loans reached about $70 billion

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiSaudi Arabia has moved to formalise real-world asset tokenisation with the launch of the Kingdom’s first dedicated Centre of Excellence, as Open World announced an in-Kingdom operating entity designed to support compliant digital-asset innovation aligned with Vision 2030 goals.The initiative positions Saudi Arabia to accelerate the tokenisation of physical and financial assets such as real estate, commodities, infrastructure receivables and private credit under domestic regulatory frameworks. Open World said the centre will work with sovereign bodies

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiSource of Fate, a luxury real estate developer operating under the Wheel of Fate Group, has begun construction on Miraggio, a $707 million waterfront development on Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah, marking one of the largest private luxury residential investments announced on the northern emirate’s coastline.The ground-breaking ceremony on the reclaimed island signals the company’s formal entry into the upper tier of the UAE’s branded-luxury and resort-style residential market. Miraggio is planned as a

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiUnited Arab Emirates has accepted an invitation from the United States to join the Board of Peace, a new diplomatic initiative advanced by President Donald Trump that aims to promote stability, restore dependable governance and help secure peace in conflict-affected regions, according to officials familiar with the discussions. The acceptance places Abu Dhabi among the first governments to publicly align with the proposal, signalling support for a framework that Washington says will emphasise burden-sharing, political settlements

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai EDGE, a specialised business unit operating under Trust’s industrial solutions portfolio, has signed a dealership agreement with Allison Transmission, marking a strategic step that broadens its footprint in high-performance propulsion systems and aftersales support across key regional markets.The agreement positions EDGE as an authorised dealer for Allison Transmission’s fully automatic transmissions, covering sales, service, genuine parts and technical support. The partnership aligns with Trust’s wider push to strengthen capabilities in heavy-duty mobility and industrial applications at a

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiSaudi Arabia recorded a landmark year for tourism in 2025, welcoming more than 122 million domestic and international visitors and generating close to $80 billion in total spending, according to official estimates and sector-wide assessments. The figures underline the scale and pace of change in a country long associated with pilgrimage travel but now positioning itself as a diversified global tourism destination.Data released by authorities show that domestic tourism continued to form the backbone of visitor

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiRas Abu Fontas Power, a project company linked to one of Qatar’s largest power and water complexes, has signed a financing agreement of about $990 million with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, marking one of the most substantial bilateral development-backed commitments to the Gulf’s utilities sector this year. The agreement underpins the long-term funding structure of the Ras Abu Fontas facility, a cornerstone asset supporting electricity and desalinated water supply to the Qatari grid.The JBIC-backed