Category: Latest Updates

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Flowdesk has secured a full broker-dealer licence from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, allowing its local entity to provide regulated digital-asset services to qualified and institutional investors from the emirate.The authorisation for Flowdesk Omega FZE completes a regulatory process that moved from in-principle approval in June to full licensing in August. It gives the digital-asset trading and technology company an operating base under Dubai’s specialised virtual-asset framework as it expands services for professional market participants

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Qatar’s inward foreign direct investment rose 3.3% in the first quarter of 2026 to QAR172.2 billion, while the country’s investments abroad climbed 3.5% to QAR221.7 billion, strengthening signs of expanding cross-border capital activity.The figures, covering January to March, show foreign investment positions increasing on both sides of Qatar’s balance sheet as Doha pursues a strategy of attracting international capital while expanding its own exposure to overseas markets. The inward FDI figure was up from QAR165.4

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Qatari Diar has launched the first phase of its $29.7 billion Alam Al Roum development on Egypt’s North Coast, advancing one of the largest integrated real estate and tourism investments planned along the Mediterranean.Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly attended the launch at the project site alongside senior government officials and Qatari Diar executives. The development is being implemented in partnership with Egypt’s New Urban Communities Authority and is designed as a year-round coastal city rather than

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Saudia ranked as the world’s most punctual global airline for a third consecutive month in July, maintaining its operational lead despite the pressures of the peak summer travel season. The carrier recorded an on-time arrival rate of 87.24% across 16,406 flights during the month.The performance extended a run that began in May and continued through June, giving the Jeddah-based flag carrier three successive monthly first-place finishes in the global airline category. The achievement also underlined

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin have discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation while calling for intensified diplomatic efforts to ease tensions across the Middle East.The two leaders held a telephone conversation on Friday, reviewing cooperation under the UAE-Russia strategic partnership and reaffirming their commitment to expanding ties in areas of mutual interest. Their discussions also covered regional and international developments, with particular attention to security and stability in

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Former Union minister and actor Smriti Irani has triggered a wider conversation about motherhood, caregiving and parental separation after describing raising children as a deeply fulfilling process that ultimately requires parents to prepare them for independence.A video of Irani speaking at the Mom Power Conference 2026 in Mumbai has drawn strong engagement on social media, with the clip crossing 124,000 views on X as her remarks resonated with parents confronting the emotional transition from daily caregiving

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai Police have launched Horizon X, a new initiative aimed at turning future opportunities into practical projects that can strengthen institutional readiness and advance the force’s approach to next-generation policing.The initiative is designed to provide a structured pathway for identifying emerging opportunities, developing innovative responses and moving promising concepts towards implementation. Its introduction extends Dubai Police’s wider effort to make foresight, technology and experimentation part of everyday institutional planning rather than treating innovation as a standalone

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Sharjah’s property market recorded AED7 billion in transactions during July, marking a 61.8% increase from AED4.4 billion in June as sales, mortgages and ownership registrations accelerated across the emirate.The number of transactions rose 25.3% month on month to 9,376, while the total area covered by sales transactions reached about 27.2 million square feet. The figures extend the strong performance seen during the first half of 2026, when Sharjah recorded AED29.5 billion in property transactions.Ownership certificate

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Gold prices strengthened on Friday, putting the precious metal on course for its biggest weekly gain since January as easing energy costs reduced inflation concerns and investors awaited US employment data that could reshape expectations for Federal Reserve policy.Spot gold rose 0.6% to about $4,262 an ounce during Asian trading, after touching its highest level in seven weeks. Prices have gained more than 5% this week, extending a recovery that has taken the metal decisively

Dubai businessman Satish Sanpal has denied claims that UAE authorities ordered a temporary freeze on assets linked to him, his wife and several companies during a money laundering investigation. Sanpal, who appeared with his wife Tabinda Sanpal in the Netflix reality series Desi Bling, said no competent enforcement or regulatory authority had publicly announced action against him. UAE authorities had also issued no public comment confirming the reported directive by the time he made his statement. “It is disappointing to see information

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai The Central Bureau of Investigation has secured the deportation of Vishakha Avinash Rathod from the United Arab Emirates over an alleged ₹88-crore investment fraud investigated by Pune Police.Rathod arrived in India on August 3 after UAE authorities acted on an Interpol Red Notice issued at the request of law-enforcement agencies. The operation was coordinated by the CBI, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs, with Maharashtra Police taking custody of the accused

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Strong occupier demand and limited availability of high-quality warehouses continued to support the UAE’s industrial property market during the second quarter of 2026, even as the pace of rental increases eased from earlier highs.Dubai industrial rents rose 6.8% year on year and 2.3% from the previous quarter. Abu Dhabi recorded annual growth of 5%, reflecting continued demand from logistics providers, manufacturers, technology companies and businesses seeking to strengthen regional supply chains.The figures indicate that the

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai BNW Developments plans to build about 10,000 homes across Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah over the next four years, marking a significant expansion of its residential and hospitality-led property portfolio in the UAE.The developer is preparing projects ranging from branded residences and waterfront apartments to mixed-use communities and hotels. Its current pipeline comprises 12 developments at different stages of planning and construction, with the first handovers expected to begin in 2027.BNW has not disclosed the investment

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai A series of explosions and a fire near Dubai’s Jebel Ali industrial and port area early on Wednesday triggered claims that a missile had been launched towards the United Arab Emirates from Yemen, but no authoritative evidence had emerged to confirm an attack.Accounts circulated by Iraqi and Iranian outlets said several blasts were heard within about 20 minutes and thick smoke was visible over the area. The reports linked the incident to a possible projectile fired

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai The global oil market has lost more than 2.6 billion barrels since the US-Israeli war with Iran began on February 28, Saudi Aramco chief executive Amin Nasser has said, warning that depleted inventories will take more than a year to rebuild.The cumulative loss is equivalent to nearly one month of worldwide oil consumption and reflects the prolonged disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway connecting Gulf producers with international markets. Crude oil,

The Federal Tax Authority has reminded small businesses that claiming corporate tax relief does not remove their obligation to register, file returns and maintain adequate financial records.The clarification comes as companies with financial years ending on December 31, 2025, prepare to submit corporate tax returns and settle any amount due by September 30, 2026. The deadline falls nine months after the close of their tax period, in line with the standard filing timetable under the UAE Corporate Tax Law. Businesses eligible

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai The average cost of a data breach in the Middle East has climbed to $8 million as cybercriminals increasingly use artificial intelligence to launch faster and more scalable attacks.More than a quarter of malicious breaches examined across the region involved AI-enabled methods. Another 11 per cent of affected organisations could not determine whether attackers had used the technology, highlighting the growing difficulty of identifying increasingly automated threats.The findings show a widening gap between companies using AI

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai Residential REIT posted a 15.1% increase in first-half net profit before property valuation changes and approved an interim cash dividend of AED573.2 million, supported by higher rents, near-full occupancy and additions to its housing portfolio.Net profit before changes in the fair value of investment property reached AED716.5 million for the six months ended June 30, up from AED622.3 million in the same period last year. Revenue climbed 8.1% to AED1.04 billion from AED957.8 million as

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai Future Foundation and autonomous vehicle technology company Oxa have launched a laboratory to develop, test and commercialise self-driving logistics systems for ports, airports and other industrial sites.The Autonomous Logistics Future Lab will operate through SHIFFT, a joint venture established under the Dubai Research, Development and Innovation Ecosystem. Its first commercial deployment is planned in Dubai before the end of 2027.The initiative is designed to move autonomous logistics technologies beyond limited demonstrations and into full-scale operations.

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai The UAE has approved Lipfendra, a once-daily pill designed to sharply reduce harmful cholesterol, becoming the second country after the United States to authorise the first oral treatment targeting the PCSK9 protein.The Emirates Drug Establishment approved the medicine for adults with elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or LDL-C, including those with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia, an inherited disorder that causes dangerously high cholesterol levels. The treatment must be prescribed by a healthcare professional and used alongside diet and

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi has raised the maximum gross floor area allowed for homes within the Shuwaib National Housing Project to 900 square metres, giving beneficiary families greater flexibility to build and expand properties around changing household needs.The Department of Municipalities and Transport and Abu Dhabi Housing Authority said the planning adjustment would enable families to create larger living spaces while complying with construction rules, privacy requirements and the architectural character of the neighbourhood.The decision supports Abu Dhabi’s

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Emirates NBD has agreed to acquire HSBC Egypt’s retail banking business, adding its customers, branches, cash machines and supporting employees to the Dubai-based group’s growing operations in one of the Middle East’s largest consumer markets.The transaction will be conducted through Emirates NBD Egypt, the banking group’s wholly owned local subsidiary. It remains subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions and is expected to be completed during the second half of 2027.Financial terms were not disclosed

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Lebanese authorities have arrested former central bank governor Riad Salameh at a hospital north of Beirut after he failed to appear for questioning in a widening investigation into the alleged misuse of Banque du Liban funds.Salameh was detained at Bhannes Hospital on Friday after investigators searched three addresses linked to him. An arrest warrant was issued when judicial officials concluded that he had avoided a scheduled hearing and that the medical explanation submitted by his lawyer

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai GEMS School of Research and Innovation will launch a Motorsport Academy in September, giving pupils structured access to racing, engineering, simulation technology and the wider business of competitive motorsport.The programme will be introduced for the 2026-27 academic year and will initially accept students from Years 4 to 9. Applications are open, with enrolment numbers expected to be limited to maintain personalised coaching and close supervision during practical sessions.Participants will attend extended weekly sessions at Dubai Autodrome

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Investcorp has acquired a majority stake in Berger Financial Group, entering North America’s wealth management market through a platform overseeing more than $3 billion in client assets.Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Berger’s management team and financial advisers will retain a significant ownership interest, while the company’s existing leadership will continue to manage its day-to-day operations. Investcorp will gain representation on the firm’s board.The deal gives the Bahrain-founded alternative investment manager a foothold in

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai-based DeNet has launched the fourth version of its decentralised storage protocol, opening infrastructure supported by more than seven million registered users to the public.Storage Protocol v4 connects customers seeking encrypted data storage with independent operators supplying unused device capacity. DeNet said its operating ecosystem includes more than 2,000 active storage providers, known as Datakeepers, and about 2.9 million Watcher Nodes that verify whether files remain available across the network. Its users span 194 countries.The

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai The UAE has abolished 15 capital-market fees while raising selected charges linked to public offerings, combining broad cost relief for financial firms with higher pricing for regulatory work on complex transactions.The Capital Market Authority approved the changes after reviewing fees covering services and activities under its supervision. The overhaul is intended to simplify the charging structure, remove costs that no longer serve a regulatory purpose and improve services for licensed companies and financial professionals.Charges for approving

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal has acquired a 5 per cent stake in Lucid Group, investing about $129.5 million as the electric vehicle maker battles heavy losses, weak demand and concerns over its funding needs.A regulatory disclosure showed that Prince Alwaleed beneficially owns roughly 19.5 million Lucid shares. The investment is separate from the controlling interest held by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which has supplied billions of dollars in capital and credit facilities to

MERA Oil has shortlisted three Gulf locations for a planned $5 billion refinery and energy export complex, with the US-Saudi consortium aiming to select a host jurisdiction before the end of 2026. The proposed development would include a 200,000-barrel-a-day refinery, deepwater port facilities, large crude and refined-product storage capacity and marine export infrastructure. The shortlisted sites are outside the Strait of Hormuz, reflecting growing commercial interest in export routes less exposed to disruption at the strategic waterway. MERA Oil was formed by

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Aldar Properties posted an 18% rise in first-half net profit after tax to AED 4.9 billion, supported by the conversion of its development backlog into revenue and stronger recurring income from its investment properties portfolio.Revenue for the six months ended June increased 8% year on year to AED 16.8 billion, while gross profit climbed 17% to AED 6.2 billion. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation rose 19% to AED 6.3 billion, and earnings per share

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai Aerospace Enterprise has completed its acquisition of Macquarie AirFinance, lifting the value of the transaction to about US$9 billion and creating the world’s third-largest aircraft lessor by fleet value and the number of owned and managed aircraft.The Dubai-based aviation services group acquired 100% of Macquarie AirFinance’s outstanding share capital and its consolidated subsidiaries. The final enterprise value includes changes in the acquired company’s fleet between the announcement of the transaction in February and its completion

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai A claim that the United States and the UAE have launched their first joint military artificial intelligence initiative under the name Task Force Talon Synapse has circulated online, but no official announcement confirming the programme could be identified.The assertion, promoted by the social media account BRICS News, described the purported project as a new bilateral defence effort. However, neither the US Department of Defense nor the UAE Ministry of Defence has published details of an initiative

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Saudi Aramco has shut its 400,000-barrel-a-day Jazan refinery after an attack damaged the Red Sea facility, intensifying concerns over fuel supplies and the security of the kingdom’s western energy infrastructure.The refinery was taken offline following the assault on Aramco installations in Jazan, also spelt Jizan, near the border with Yemen. The extent of the damage, the units affected and the expected duration of the shutdown were not immediately clear. Aramco had not issued a detailed public

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai International Financial Centre has surpassed 10,000 active registered companies for the first time, sustaining rapid growth despite war-related disruption, weaker regional confidence and pressure on several parts of Dubai’s economy.The number of active companies operating from DIFC reached 10,018 at the end of June, up 30 per cent from a year earlier. The centre attracted 2,318 additional active businesses over the 12-month period, including 1,506 that joined during the first half of 2026, a 39