Category: Latest Updates

Radisson Hotel Group has ramped up its presence in Saudi Arabia, now anchoring half of its Middle East portfolio within the Kingdom, a senior company executive confirmed amidst the Future Hospitality Summit in Riyadh. With 50 of the group’s 100 regional properties either operational or under construction based in Saudi Arabia, the expansion underscores its strategic prioritisation of the country’s ambitious hospitality landscape.

Elie Younes, Executive Vice President and

Binghatti Holding Ltd has launched Binghatti Capital in the Dubai International Financial Centre, aiming to manage approximately $1 billion in Shariah-compliant private credit and real‑estate investments. Licensed by the Dubai Financial Services Authority to deal exclusively with professional clients, the firm marks Binghatti’s strategic pivot from pure property development to full-spectrum asset management.

The new entity will implement dual strategies: acquiring and selling off‑plan residential assets and developing residential projects; and

Gulf states have entered a heightened state of alert amid intensifying hostilities between Israel and Iran, as regional leaders warn the confrontation risks dragging the Gulf into a wider, destabilising war.

Leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council convened an emergency ministers’ meeting chaired by Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Al‑Yahya, with Secretary‑General Jassim Al‑Budaiwi declaring the situation had deteriorated into “extremely dangerous and unprecedented escalation,” and entering “full alert” mode

Tehran has entered a state of widespread panic as thousands of residents flee the capital following the latest wave of Israeli airstrikes targeting military, nuclear, energy, and regime-linked sites.

Cities in northern provinces such as Mazandaran, Gilan and Alborz have reported being inundated with evacuees, many travelling along the Tehran–North and Tehran–Qom highways, with gridlock stretching for miles. Fuel stations in Tehran and Karaj are overwhelmed, and shoppers report

Leaders at the 51st G7 summit convening in Kananaskis, Canada, are confronting an abrupt surge in hostilities between Israel and Iran, marked by intensified airstrikes, rising civilian casualties, and mounting diplomatic tensions. With missile barrages and pre‑emptive assaults already claiming hundreds of lives, the summit agenda has shifted dramatically, prioritising strategies to contain the conflict and avert a broader regional war.

Israeli forces launched “Operation

Turkish authorities have clearly denied that Turkish Technic conducted any maintenance on the Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner of Air India Flight 171, which crashed on 12 June 2025 near Ahmedabad, resulting in 279 fatalities. The Directorate of Communications' Centre for Countering Disinformation labelled the claims "false" and "disinformation", emphasising that existing agreements with Air India in 2024–25 strictly covered Boeing 777 aircraft—not the 787‑8 model involved in the disaster.

Flight AI 171 had

Turkish Airlines and TAP Air Portugal have deepened their codeshare collaboration, extending shared services to a host of new international destinations. Under the broadened agreement unveiled at the IATA Annual General Meeting on 4 June, travellers can now book seamless flights on routes to Brazil, Morocco, Qatar and Mauritius, while Turkish domestic holiday hotspots Dalaman and Bodrum are also integrated into the expanded arrangement.

Bilal Ekşi, chief executive of

Abu Dhabi hosted the culminating round of the Grand Prix Grappling World Tour at Mubadala Arena, Zayed Sports City, drawing hundreds of athletes from over 50 nations yesterday. The UAE secured top position in the overall standings, with 31,000 points, narrowly surpassing Brazil’s 30,600 and Russia’s 19,000, highlighting Emirati athletic rise in combat sports.

Leading the charge was Khaled Al Shehhi, who seized gold in the professional division after a

Ajman has emerged as the host for the 58th Asian Fitness and Bodybuilding Championship, taking place from 15 to 17 June 2025 at the Emirates Hospitality Centre. The emirate, hosting the event for the first time, extends a formal welcome under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman and Chairman of the Executive Council, with the presence of Sheikh Abdulaziz

A blaze in the upper levels of the 67‑storey Marina Pinnacle tower in Dubai Marina was extinguished after nearly six hours of intense firefighting effort on Friday night, authorities confirmed, with no reported injuries.

Flames erupted at approximately 9:30 pm from one of the upper floors, prompting urgent deployment of Dubai Civil Defence teams. Thick smoke was seen billowing around the 60th floor, and emergency crews

Abu Dhabi‑based IHC, in collaboration with BlackRock and Lunate, has officially launched Reinsurance Intelligence Quotient—RIQ—a global, AI‑native reinsurance platform headquartered in the Abu Dhabi Global Market. Anchored by over US $1 billion in initial equity, RIQ aims to underwrite more than US $10 billion in liabilities, spanning property and casualty, life, and specialty lines.

The platform unites human talent with advanced artificial intelligence to refine risk selection, cost control, underwriting, and customer service.

Ahmedabad authorities have recovered both black boxes from the wreckage of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner that crashed shortly after departure en route to London Gatwick, killing 241 of the 242 people aboard and dozens on the ground. Emphasis now is on analysing flight data and cockpit voice recordings to establish whether engine thrust, control surfaces or pilot actions led to the fatal descent. India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is

Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone has been awarded the globally recognised “Great Place to Work” certification for the second year running, underscoring its commitment to cultivating a top-tier workplace. The accolade, granted by an independent authority with over three decades of experience in measuring workplace culture, reflects outstanding performance across key employee experience metrics.

Employees gave the organisation exceptionally high ratings, with 94 per cent satisfaction in workplace hospitality, 90 per cent

Qatar has embarked on the printing stage of an ambitious architectural endeavour, deploying what are now the world’s largest 3D construction printers to build two public schools. Spearheaded by UCC Holding alongside the Public Works Authority, Ashghal, the project forms part of a broader plan to erect 14 new educational facilities under a public–private partnership, but these two structures alone span 40,000 m²—roughly 40 times larger

An Air India Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner operating as Flight 171 bound for London Gatwick took off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 13:38 IST on 12 June 2025, issued a mayday call shortly after lift‑off, lost contact at approximately 625 ft altitude and plummeted into a doctors’ hostel at B.J. Medical College in the Meghani Nagar neighbourhood. Authorities confirm that at least 204 bodies have been recovered from the crash site, with numerous

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth informed the Senate Appropriations Committee on 11 June 2025 that the United States and Qatar have not yet formalised any agreement transferring a Boeing 747‑8 jetliner gifted by the Qatari royal family for potential use as Air Force One. Lawmakers pressing for details were met with repeated deferrals, as Hegseth invoked security and confidentiality concerns.

Senators voiced concern over the lack of transparency surrounding the gift. Senator

The World Bank has raised its forecast for the UAE’s gross domestic product to 4.6 percent in 2025, marking a notable upward revision of 0.6 percentage points from its January outlook. The renewed projection is driven by strong momentum in non‑oil sectors—tourism, construction, transportation and finance—while the phased easing of OPEC+ production cuts is expected to support oil output growth.

Overall GCC growth is also tipped to rise to 3.2 percent

Dubai master developer Emaar Properties has introduced VYOM, a digital resale platform designed to streamline the sale of Emaar homes through secure, transparent and user‑controlled processes. Available now to global users, the platform enables homeowners and investors to manage listings, upload images, set prices and handle inquiries—all within an integrated, intuitive interface.

Mohamed Ali Alabbar, Emaar’s founder, emphasised that VYOM reflects a shift towards autonomy, trust and speed in

Deyaar Development PJSC has officially launched Downtown Residences, a twin-tower residential project rising to a striking 445 metres in Dubai’s golden triangle where Sheikh Zayed Road meets Downtown Dubai and Business Bay. The development will house 522 units across one- to three-bedroom apartments, duplexes, penthouses and an exclusive Royal Palace perched at the summit, marking a new milestone in vertical luxury living.

Dubai is amid a surge of super‑tall

Miral is set to launch an interactive Ferrari-themed workshop on 21 June at Cinema Maranello in Ferrari World, Yas Island, offering young learners an immersive glimpse into automotive engineering and innovation. Open to participants aged 10 and above, the two-hour session will feature hands-on demonstrations, a quiz, and an exploration of Ferrari’s technical journey—all crafted to ignite curiosity and build skillsets in a dynamic setting.

Leading the workshop, Miral

ENOC Group and DP World have formalised a significant Memorandum of Understanding today in Dubai to enhance emergency response capabilities across the emirate’s energy and logistics infrastructure. The agreement mandates an annual coordinated drill and shared updates to crisis protocols, underlining a commitment to reducing response times and bolstering resilience.

The pact was signed at ENOC's headquarters by Saif Humaid Al Falasi, Group CEO of ENOC, and Abdulla Bin

Wipro has officially transferred its Middle East regional headquarters from Al Khobar to a new, upgraded facility in Riyadh, signalling an intensified drive to anchor itself in the Kingdom’s digital economy. Mohamed Mousa has been appointed Managing Director and Regional Head for the Middle East, steering Wipro’s regional operations from the new Riyadh base.

Vinay Firake, CEO for Asia Pacific, India, Middle East and Africa, described the move as a

Harrison Street, a US-headquartered real assets investment firm with over $56 billion in assets under management, has formally expanded into the Middle East by establishing an office within the Abu Dhabi Global Market, after receiving regulatory approval from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority. The move is being viewed as a strategic step to tap into the region’s institutional capital base and aligns with Abu Dhabi’s ambitions to attract

Dubai’s Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has marked the commencement of work on the long-planned Dubai Metro Blue Line, laying the foundation stone for its first station—an architectural masterpiece poised to become the world’s highest metro stop at 74 metres. The AED 56 billion project will see construction of a 30 km rail corridor featuring 14 stations and 15.5 km of tunnels. When completed in 2029, it will extend

Apparel Group has marked a significant milestone by launching Go Colors’ inaugural international store at Dubai’s Silicon Central Mall, signalling the brand’s entry into the global retail market. This expansion represents a strategic step for Go Colors, which has established a strong presence in India with its vibrant and affordable fashion offerings. The move aims to capitalise on Dubai’s status as a retail hub, known for its diverse,

The UAE Football Association has imposed substantial sanctions on Sharjah FC's Khalid Al Dhanhani and Shabab Al Ahli’s Sultan Adil, levying fines of Dh500,000 each and domestic bans spanning five matches. Both clubs have expressed full support for the association’s decision and announced plans to initiate internal reviews into the conduct of the players involved.

The disciplinary measures follow an investigation into conduct deemed inappropriate during recent fixtures in

UAE’s car market is undergoing a fundamental shift as lifestyle-driven mobility rises to prominence, reshaping consumer choices from metal to experience. A surge in preference for digitally enabled, subscription-based, and autonomous transportation is aligning with the emirates’ drive for sustainable, high-tech urban living. Automakers and transport authorities are adapting, marking a new era for mobility in the region.

At the forefront is the uptake of connected and autonomous vehicles.

The Ritz-Carlton's first Australian venture, situated in Perth's Elizabeth Quay, has redefined luxury accommodation in the city since its inauguration on 15 November 2019. Occupying a prime waterfront location along the Swan River, the hotel offers panoramic views of the city skyline, river, and urban parks through its floor-to-ceiling windows. The 205 elegantly appointed guest rooms and suites are designed to provide a seamless blend of comfort and

The Dubai International Financial Centre has announced the launch of the Future Sustainability Forum, a global platform aimed at accelerating sustainable finance and innovation. Scheduled to take place on 4–5 December 2024 at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, the event seeks to foster collaboration among industry leaders, investors, policymakers, and technology innovators to address pressing environmental challenges.

Arif Amiri, CEO of DIFC Authority, emphasised the forum's role in advancing climate

DP World Trade Finance and JP Morgan have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing access to working capital in emerging markets. This collaboration seeks to address the estimated $2.5 trillion global trade finance gap that disproportionately affects small and medium-sized enterprises in developing economies.

The alliance's inaugural transaction facilitated the procurement of cocoa from Ivory Coast by a leading global food company, unlocking over $70 million

Abu Dhabi will serve as the host for the Games of the Future 2025, a pioneering global event blending physical and digital sports. Scheduled for December 18 to 23, the competition aims to redefine the boundaries of athletic contests by merging traditional sporting disciplines with cutting-edge technology. This event marks a significant step in the evolution of international sports, as organisers position Abu Dhabi at the forefront of

A Ryanair flight from Berlin to Milan was forced to make an emergency landing at Memmingen Airport in southern Germany on Wednesday evening after encountering severe turbulence that injured nine people on board.

The Boeing 737-800 aircraft, carrying 179 passengers and six crew members, was en route to Milan Malpensa Airport when it flew into a violent storm system over Bavaria around 8:30 p.m. local time. The turbulence was

Bechtel Corporation has been appointed as the delivery partner for three new terminals at King Salman International Airport in Riyadh, marking a significant advancement in one of the world's most ambitious aviation infrastructure projects.

The agreement, formalised during a high-profile visit by U.S. President Donald Trump to Saudi Arabia, entrusts the U.S.-based engineering firm with managing the development of a terminal for commercial airlines, Terminal 6 for low-cost

President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation barring entry into the United States for nationals from 12 countries, with partial restrictions on seven others, citing national security concerns. The order, effective from 12:01 a.m. on Monday, June 9, 2025, marks a significant expansion of the administration's immigration policies.

The countries facing a full entry ban include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya,