Category: Latest Updates

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiDubai shares posted their strongest one-day rise in more than a decade on Wednesday after a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran eased fears over a wider regional conflict, soothed concern over energy shipping routes and triggered a broad relief rally across Gulf markets. Dubai’s benchmark index jumped as much as 8.5% intraday, while Abu Dhabi’s main market also recorded its biggest gain in years as investors moved back into banks, property developers and

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiPhysical crude prices for immediate delivery have surged to levels close to $150 a barrel for some grades, leaving paper benchmarks lagging and exposing the depth of the supply strain caused by the Hormuz crisis. European and Asian refiners have been forced to pay sharply higher premiums for cargoes that can be processed now, as the disruption to flows through the Strait of Hormuz tightens the prompt market far more severely than futures contracts suggest.That

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiAirlines and energy traders are bracing for a prolonged squeeze in aviation fuel supplies even after the Strait of Hormuz reopened under a two-week ceasefire arrangement announced by US President Donald Trump, with the head of the International Air Transport Association warning that disruption to jet fuel availability could take months to unwind. Oil prices dropped sharply below $100 a barrel after the truce was disclosed, but the fall in crude has not removed concern that refined

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Sharjah authorities said on Tuesday that a ballistic missile fired from Iran hit an administrative building belonging to Thuraya Telecommunications Company in the emirate’s Central Region, wounding two Pakistani nationals and underlining how the wider regional conflict is reaching civilian and commercial sites in the UAE. Officials said both men suffered moderate injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment.State news agency WAM, citing the Sharjah authorities, identified the site as a Thuraya administrative building.

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai BNW Developments, which describes itself as Ras Al Khaimah’s largest private developer, has entered Dubai’s off-plan market with Orvessa Residences by Michel Adam, a branded residential scheme in Al Furjan that marks the company’s latest push beyond its fast-growing base in the northern emirate. The move extends BNW’s branded-homes strategy at a time when Dubai continues to draw both end-users and investors into projects carrying lifestyle and hospitality labels.The Dubai launch is significant because BNW has built

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai UAE businesses are sharply increasing their use of artificial intelligence to cut costs, raise output and strengthen resilience, with AI-related spending rising 521 per cent over the past 13 months, according to a new market snapshot based on corporate payment data. The findings point to a shift from trial use to operational deployment, particularly among smaller businesses seeking quicker productivity gains in a more uncertain regional and global environment.The report, published by Dubai-based spend management

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiIran said on Monday it wanted a durable end to the war with the United States and Israel rather than a temporary truce, rejecting pressure to reopen the Strait of Hormuz on Washington’s timetable as President Donald Trump warned the country could be “taken out” if it failed to meet his Tuesday night deadline for a deal. Tehran’s stance underscored how far apart the sides remain even as intermediaries continue to press for a formula to

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Jazeera Airways has postponed a decision on its cash dividend for 2025, saying the move reflects caution rather than financial weakness as the Kuwait-based low-cost carrier responds to mounting regional disruption. In a board decision disclosed on 6 April, the airline said it had amended its recommendation to shareholders and would instead revisit the payout after first-quarter 2026 results, with the annual general assembly scheduled for 9 April.The company framed the step as a temporary

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiDubai Precast has secured a contract to deliver a full precast building system for a residential scheme in Meydan, adding another marker to the steady use of factory-made concrete components in Dubai’s fast-moving housing market. The award covers the design, supply, delivery and installation of 93 G+2 townhouses and two villas, with completion of installation targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026.The scope is substantial for a low-rise housing package. Company-linked disclosures said the project

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai AirAsia X has raised ticket prices by between 31% and 40% and lifted fuel surcharges by as much as 20% after jet fuel costs surged following the Iran war, according to Group Chief Executive Officer Bo Lingam, underscoring how quickly conflict in the Middle East is feeding into Asian aviation costs and passenger fares.The Malaysia-based low-cost carrier said average jet fuel prices had climbed to about $200 a barrel from around $90 before the conflict,

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Alramz Real Estate has moved to deepen its presence in Saudi Arabia’s housing market after signing an agreement with Oud Capital to establish a Shariah-compliant real estate investment fund worth about SAR650 million to develop a 900-unit residential community in Jeddah, in a deal that underlines how listed developers are using capital-market structures to expand amid sustained demand for urban housing. The project, branded Al Ramz Front, will rise in Al Firdous district in north Jeddah and

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Huawei has raised its research spending to one of the heaviest levels in the global technology industry, saying it invested CNY192.3 billion in 2025, or roughly $27.8 billion, equal to 21.8% of annual revenue. The figure came with group revenue of CNY880.9 billion and net profit of CNY68 billion, underlining how the Shenzhen-based company is continuing to prioritise long-term technology development even as top-line growth slowed sharply from the previous year.That spending push matters because

Arabian Post Staff -Dubaidu and Ericsson have completed a 5G standalone proof of concept in the UAE that they say could widen the reach of fixed wireless access for households, using millimetre wave technology to deliver faster home broadband over a broader area than is typically associated with high-band spectrum. The companies said the trial was carried out in residential areas and is intended to support stronger coverage, gigabit-class speeds and faster rollout of services for home users.The

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai and Abu Dhabi have retained places among the world’s leading smart cities in the latest IMD Smart City Index, underscoring how the two emirates have turned digital infrastructure, public services and urban planning into a defining part of their global profile. The 2026 index placed Dubai sixth and Abu Dhabi tenth out of 148 cities, while the 2025 edition had ranked them fourth and fifth respectively, showing that both remain in the top tier even as

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Uber has launched a five-day promotion in the UAE offering 20 per cent off rides to selected destinations in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, in a campaign aimed at steering more residents and visitors towards local shopping, dining and cultural districts at a time when consumer-facing businesses are navigating softer momentum across the non-oil economy. The offer began on April 3 and runs until April 7, with separate promo codes for each city and a destination list

Washington has doubled to $40 billion a US-backed maritime reinsurance facility aimed at coaxing commercial vessels back through the Strait of Hormuz, as the five-week war with Iran continues to unsettle one of the world’s most important trade arteries. The expanded programme, announced on Friday by the US International Development Finance Corporation and Chubb, adds AIG, Berkshire Hathaway, Travelers, Liberty Mutual, Starr and CNA to the scheme, lifting total available coverage from the original $20 billion.The move marks the latest

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Saudi Arabia has launched the pilot phase of “Ahlan”, a new mobile application designed to serve as a single digital identity for supporters attending football tournaments hosted by the Kingdom, as organisers step up preparations for the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027. The platform is intended to bring together trip planning, ticketing, transport and stadium access in one system, with the first live test scheduled during the knockout rounds and finals stage of the AFC

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai UAE equities ended Friday on a divided note as investors weighed the prospect of a wider Middle East conflict after U. S. President Donald Trump signalled that Washington could intensify attacks on Iranian infrastructure, a message that added to concern over energy supplies, shipping routes and regional risk appetite. Dubai’s main index fell, while Abu Dhabi’s benchmark edged higher, reflecting a market torn between fear-driven selling and selective buying in banking and energy-linked names.Dubai’s benchmark

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiPatients in the UAE are set to gain access from May to a new once-daily obesity treatment in tablet form after the Emirates Drug Establishment approved Eli Lilly’s Foundayo, known chemically as orforglipron, marking what officials described as the second national registration for the medicine and widening treatment choices beyond injections. The decision places the UAE among the earliest markets to back a new generation of oral weight-management drugs aimed at chronic obesity.The approval gives doctors and

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiKingdom Holding Company has agreed to buy Prince Alwaleed bin Talal AlSaud’s stake in Breakthrough Energy Ventures for 255 million riyals, or about $68 million, in a deal that pushes the Riyadh-listed investment firm further into climate-focused venture capital while underlining the growing role of Gulf capital in technology bets beyond conventional energy. The company disclosed the transaction on 2 April and said it would fund the purchase from internal resources.The price is notable because

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai A three-way alliance between the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank Group and the International Energy Agency has opened a new front in the battle against the widening energy and economic turmoil linked to the war in the Middle East, with the institutions agreeing to form a coordination group to help governments manage price shocks, funding strains and supply disruptions. The move, announced in Washington on April 1, comes as policymakers confront rising oil and gas

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai du Pay and GCash have moved to tighten the UAE-Philippines remittance corridor with a partnership aimed at giving Filipinos in the Emirates faster transfers, broader digital utility and fresh promotional offers in one of the region’s most active migrant payment markets. The tie-up, announced on April 2, is designed to let money sent through du Pay land in GCash wallets within minutes, allowing recipients in the Philippines to use funds straight away for bills, school payments, mobile

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai lender Emirates NBD has won approval from the Reserve Bank of India to acquire up to 74 per cent of Mumbai-based RBL Bank, a decision that moves one of the largest cross-border banking deals in the country closer to completion and could reshape the private lender’s ownership, governance and market position. The approval, disclosed on April 2, allows Emirates NBD to become the majority shareholder, though its voting rights will remain capped at 26 per cent

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiMajid Al Futtaim has launched Ma’an, a new initiative with Dubai SME that opens parts of its retail, leisure and digital network to homegrown businesses across the UAE, giving selected small enterprises free access to high-footfall venues including Mall of the Emirates, THAT Concept Store, VOX Cinemas, Carrefour and the group’s SHARE loyalty ecosystem. The programme was announced on 1-2 April and positions one of the region’s biggest consumer-facing companies as a distribution and visibility platform

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Oil prices leapt on Thursday after President Donald Trump said the United States would keep striking Iran for at least the next two to three weeks, dashing hopes that Washington was preparing to scale back military action and easing concerns in energy markets only briefly. Brent crude rose above $108 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate climbed past $106 in early trade, reversing the previous session’s pullback as traders priced in a greater risk of prolonged

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai’s transport authority and the Ministry of Family have moved to place mobility at the centre of family policy, signing a strategic partnership that will reshape parts of the emirate’s transport system, public amenities and urban spaces under the UAE’s “Family First” programme. The agreement, announced in Dubai on 2 April, is designed to make everyday travel easier for families while aligning transport planning with the National Family Growth Agenda 2031.Officials said the partnership goes

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiThe United Arab Emirates, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, took part in the 43rd session of the Council of Arab Interior Ministers on 1 April, with the meeting held by videoconference and attended by interior ministers and senior security officials from across the Arab world. The session brought together representatives of the League of Arab States, Naif Arab University for Security Sciences and the

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Silver tumbled on Thursday, extending a volatile run in precious metals as higher oil prices, firmer Treasury yields and a stronger dollar pulled investors out of bullion. Spot silver was reported down about 4.6% on the day, while market data showed the metal trading near $72.31 an ounce and futures dipping to an intraday low around $70.35, leaving the market pressing against the $70 threshold rather than clearly breaking far below it.That left social media claims of

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Gold fell sharply on Thursday, but the viral claim that bullion had crashed below $4,600 and lost more than $1 trillion in market value in a single day appears to overstate what can be firmly confirmed from broad market data. By late trading, spot gold was quoted at $4,664.39 an ounce and US gold futures at $4,691.10, after a strong rebound a day earlier had lifted spot bullion to $4,784.22, its highest level since March 19.

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiADNOC Drilling shareholders have approved a final 2025 dividend of $250 million, taking the company’s total payout for the year to $1 billion and cementing a more ambitious cash-return policy that promises at least 5% annual dividend growth from 2026 through at least 2030.The approval, secured at the company’s annual general meeting, marks an important step for one of Abu Dhabi’s most closely watched listed energy groups. It closes out a year in which the company

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Serhii Zakharov, founder and chief executive of PayDo, has been honoured at FinTech Week Dubai 2026 with the Excellence in Financial Leadership Award in the Digital Payments Innovation category, adding a personal accolade to a year in which the London-based payments firm has been expanding its regulatory footprint and product stack. Event-linked coverage and company-linked posts place the award at FinTech Week Dubai, held in Dubai on 16-17 February, where payments, security and cross-border financial infrastructure

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Danube Properties has moved beyond its apartment-led playbook with the launch of Greenz by Danube, a master-planned townhouse and villa community in Dubai International Academic City, as developers race to capture demand for larger family homes even as caution is building around the wider property cycle. The project is the company’s first large-scale integrated community of this kind, with handover targeted for the fourth quarter of 2029 and launch prices starting from AED 3.5 million.Set

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Copper prices climbed on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump said military action against Iran could end within two to three weeks, helping trigger a wider rebound across markets that had been hit by worries over energy shocks, inflation and weaker global growth. The move in the red metal tracked a broader shift towards riskier assets as investors responded to the prospect, however tentative, of a shorter conflict and less disruption to trade and industry.The

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiEmirates NBD has closed $2.25 billion in five-year financing, completing one of the Gulf’s largest syndicated borrowings at a time when war-linked market turbulence has unsettled regional assets, shipping routes and funding sentiment. The package combines a $1.75 billion sustainability-linked syndicated term loan and a $500 million Club Commodity Murabaha term facility arranged through Emirates Islamic.The scale of demand appears to be the clearest headline in the transaction. The sustainability-linked loan was launched at $1