Category: Latest Updates

Pressure on the rupee is poised to intensify after the Reserve Bank of India ordered banks to sharply cut net open rupee positions in the onshore market, forcing a scramble to unwind large arbitrage trades that had linked domestic and offshore pricing.Bankers have warned that the adjustment could amplify volatility, strain treasury books and unsettle corporate hedging activity even as the central bank seeks to restore control over the currency market. The trigger was the RBI’s directive issued late on

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Gold edged higher on Tuesday but remained on course for its sharpest monthly decline since October 2008, as investors weighed a powerful mix of delayed hopes for US rate cuts, a surge in energy prices linked to the Iran war and a stronger dollar through much of March. Spot gold was up about 3.2% at $4,652.31 an ounce by Tuesday, yet still showed a monthly fall of 11.8%, a retreat that underlined how sharply the market’s mood

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Emirates NBD Group has closed $2.25 billion in long-term financing, in a deal that ranks among the largest syndicated borrowings in the Gulf and underscores the lender’s ability to attract offshore funding even as markets navigate geopolitical tension and higher funding costs. The package comprises a $1.75 billion five-year sustainability-linked syndicated term loan and a $500 million five-year club commodity murabaha facility.The Dubai lender said the sustainability-linked tranche was launched at $1 billion and drew demand of

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Distance learning across the UAE will continue until 17 April for schools and universities, extending a policy first introduced earlier this month as authorities maintain a cautious approach to student safety and operational continuity. The Ministry of Education said the arrangement would remain under weekly review, leaving room for further changes depending on how conditions develop.The decision covers nurseries, kindergartens, public and private schools, as well as higher education institutions across the country. Officials said

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Sharjah Islamic Bank is pressing ahead with a rights issue worth up to AED2.59 billion, or about $705 million, in a move designed to reinforce its capital base, fund balance-sheet expansion and preserve financial flexibility as the lender pushes for further growth. The bank said the offer will raise issued capital from about AED3.24 billion to as much as AED4.31 billion through the sale of up to 1.08 billion new shares priced at AED2.40 each.Under

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi has widened its self-supply solar policy to households, allowing villa owners and eligible residential buildings to generate electricity from rooftop solar systems, store power in batteries and use it alongside grid supply, in a move that pushes distributed clean energy beyond commercial and agricultural users and into the emirate’s housing stock.The second phase of the Solar Energy Self-Supply Policy, announced by the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy on March 31, marks the first

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi Global Market has reported a 36 per cent rise in assets under management for 2025, capping a year in which the international financial centre also expanded its workforce by 51 per cent and lifted active licences to 12,671. The figures, released as ADGM marked its 10th year of operations, underline how strongly Abu Dhabi has been drawing global fund managers, banks and advisory firms seeking closer access to the emirate’s deep pools of capital

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiDubai authorities were battling a fire aboard a Kuwaiti oil tanker on Tuesday after a drone struck the vessel in waters near Anchorage “E”, with officials saying no injuries had been reported and emergency teams were working under established maritime safety protocols.The incident unfolded off Dubai’s coast as maritime firefighting units moved to secure the tanker, contain the blaze and prevent any wider hazard to shipping or the surrounding waters. Dubai Media Office said competent authorities

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai European shares held their ground on Monday as investors waited for German and euro zone inflation readings that could show how sharply the Middle East war is feeding through into prices, after a surge in oil left the STOXX 600 heading for its worst month since the first pandemic shock of March 2020.The pan-European STOXX 600 was up about 0.2 per cent at 576.55 in early trading, clawing back a slice of the losses from

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Sharjah Islamic Bank is seeking to raise as much as AED2.59 billion through a rights issue that would give the lender more room to expand its balance sheet, reinforce capital buffers and support the next stage of growth after a year of stronger profit and asset gains. The plan would lift issued capital from about AED3.24 billion to about AED4.31 billion through the sale of up to 1.078 billion new shares.The transaction is structured at

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiDonald Trump has triggered fresh controversy after using crude language about Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Future Investment Initiative Institute summit in Miami Beach, telling the audience the Saudi leader had not expected to “be kissing my a” and adding that “now he has to be nice to me.” The remarks, delivered on 27 March at the Saudi-backed forum, drew attention because they came at an event designed to showcase Gulf investment power

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Nabil Fahmy is set to become the next secretary-general of the Arab League after Arab foreign ministers unanimously backed Egypt’s nominee in a virtual meeting on 29 March, clearing the way for the veteran diplomat to take over in July when Ahmed Aboul Gheit’s second term ends. The ministers’ decision still requires formal endorsement at the next Arab summit in Saudi Arabia, but that step is widely treated as procedural.Fahmy, a former foreign minister and

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Motorists in the UAE are likely to pay more for petrol and diesel in April after the Iran war sent crude prices sharply higher and intensified disruption across the Gulf’s main energy and shipping routes, raising the cost base that feeds into the country’s monthly fuel-price adjustment. April rates were due to be announced on March 31, and local pricing remains tied to global oil benchmarks, which have swung violently through March.Brent crude surged above $118 a

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiTelda has moved beyond payments and cards to add stock and fund investing to its app, opening a new front in Egypt’s fast-growing race to attract first-time retail investors. The Cairo-based fintech said on Sunday that users can now buy and sell shares on the Egyptian Exchange and subscribe to investment funds from within the same platform, without relying on a traditional broker or branch-based onboarding.The launch matters because it pushes Telda into a more competitive segment

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Gold prices climbed sharply on Friday, reversing part of this week’s slide as investors stepped back into the market after bullion fell to a four-month low, while traders also watched for any sign that tensions in the Middle East might ease. Spot gold rose more than 3% at its intraday peak before trading about 2.6% higher at $4,491.78 an ounce by afternoon dealings in New York, after touching as high as $4,554.39. US gold futures for

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Exeed has opened a new showroom in Jeddah through Arabian Heritage Motors, part of Al Ghurair Mobility, extending the premium vehicle brand’s physical presence in Saudi Arabia as competition intensifies among Chinese carmakers across the Gulf. The Jeddah launch was disclosed by Al Ghurair in a corporate post and comes after Exeed appointed Al Ghurair as its exclusive distributor in the Kingdom in early 2025.The move signals a steady build-out rather than a standalone retail

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiBanishing delivered a polished front-end result for the United States and Saudi Arabia at Meydan on Saturday, winning the $1 million Group 2 Godolphin Mile and handing a notable success to trainer David Jacobson, jockey Silvestre de Sousa and owners Sharaf Mohammed Al Hariri, David Jacobson and Lawrence Roman. The Godolphin-bred six-year-old beat Commissioner King by 2¼ lengths over the mile on dirt, with Mendelssohn Bay third in a field of 12, stopping the clock at

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Mezza, a new hospitality platform in the UAE, has launched with a model aimed at giving restaurants upfront capital in exchange for future food and beverage credit, offering operators an alternative to bank debt or equity fundraising while also promising a pipeline of diners over time. The company says partner venues can access between AED 20,000 and AED 10 million, with the credit then distributed to app members and redeemed gradually, usually across 12 months.The

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiOmniyat has moved to reassure investors that it has enough liquidity to meet its debt obligations after the Dubai ultra-luxury developer was placed on watch for a possible downgrade, arguing that its cash position and funding profile leave it well equipped to handle maturities without depending on a fresh burst of property sales or a quick return to calmer markets.The company said it held more than AED5.3 billion in cash, cash equivalents and other financial

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiAbu Dhabi Commercial Bank has secured regulatory approval to establish a wholly owned subsidiary in Kazakhstan, opening the way for one of the UAE’s biggest lenders to deepen its footprint in Central Asia and broaden access to conventional and Islamic banking services in one of the region’s most closely watched financial markets.The approval was granted by Kazakhstan’s Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market, which said the new entity would be set up as Abu

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiSaeed bin Suroor heads into the Dubai World Cup meeting with a chance to extend one of racing’s most enduring records, as the Godolphin trainer prepares Dubai Future for a prominent bid in the Dubai Gold Cup on Saturday.The veteran handler, long associated with Godolphin’s rise on the global stage, is aiming to push his tally at the meeting to a new milestone, with victories spanning nearly three decades. His record at Meydan remains unmatched among

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiShareholders of Al Ansari Financial Services have approved a full-year dividend for 2025 at the company’s Annual General Meeting, reinforcing a payout approach that signals stability in earnings and confidence in cash flow generation.The approved distribution includes a final dividend of AED 148.5 million, equivalent to 2 fils per share, for the second half of the financial year. This follows an identical interim dividend paid earlier in 2025, bringing the total annual payout to AED 297

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiMubadala Investment Company has agreed to sell its minority stake in liquid cooling specialist CoolIT Systems to Ecolab, in a transaction led by private equity firm KKR and valued at $4.75bn, marking a significant reshaping of ownership in a sector gaining momentum alongside artificial intelligence and data centre expansion.The Abu Dhabi sovereign investor confirmed that it had signed a definitive agreement, signalling the latest move in a broader strategy to recycle capital from maturing technology holdings

 White House officials said diplomatic channels with Iran remain active despite Tehran’s public rejection of US overtures, underscoring a widening disconnect between rhetoric and back-channel engagement as tensions ripple across the Middle East and global markets.The White House has sought to project continuity in negotiations, signalling that intermediaries and indirect communications are still in play even as Iranian officials outline new preconditions for any de-escalation. The conflicting messages highlight the fragile state of diplomacy after weeks of confrontation that have

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiDubai’s transport regulator has entered a formal cooperation agreement with Dubai Roads and Transport Authority and Union Properties PJSC to strengthen oversight and coordination of road right-of-way management across major development projects, signalling a tighter regulatory push on urban infrastructure as construction activity accelerates across the emirate.The agreement is framed within the provisions of Law No. of 2021, which governs road regulation and usage standards in Dubai. Officials indicate that the collaboration is intended to

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Jazeera Airways is preparing to restore a significant portion of its network, planning to operate about 200,000 seats in April as it attempts to stabilise operations disrupted by a widening regional conflict that has rattled aviation and energy markets.The Kuwait-based low-cost carrier said the planned capacity would amount to roughly 40 per cent of its pre-conflict network, reflecting a cautious but deliberate effort to resume services after weeks of severe disruption caused by hostilities involving Iran, Israel

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiDaeson Technologies has launched an artificial intelligence-powered compliance co-pilot designed to assist Islamic financial institutions in aligning operations with Shariah principles, signalling a growing push to embed automation within governance frameworks across Gulf banking.The system, branded as a Shariah AI Compliance Co-Pilot, aims to support banks and financial entities in navigating complex religious and regulatory requirements by analysing transactions, contracts and product structures against established jurisprudential guidelines. The rollout reflects mounting demand among Islamic lenders for

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiDubai’s healthcare ecosystem is set for a strategic boost after Dubai Health and Dubai Future District Fund formalised a partnership aimed at building a global health technology launchpad, underscoring the emirate’s ambition to position itself at the forefront of digital medicine and biotech innovation.The agreement, structured as a memorandum of understanding, outlines a framework to accelerate investment, innovation and talent development in health technology. Officials described the collaboration as a step towards aligning clinical expertise with

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiEtihad Airways has launched its first direct service to Charlotte, marking a strategic expansion into the southeastern United States as the Abu Dhabi-based carrier seeks to strengthen transatlantic connectivity and tap into a growing business travel market.The inaugural flight landed at Charlotte Douglas International Airport on March 20, operated by the Airbus A350-1000, one of the airline’s most advanced long-haul aircraft. The route links Abu Dhabi with one of the largest financial hubs in the United

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiGross assets held by banks in the United Arab Emirates climbed to AED 5.41 trillion by the end of January 2026, reflecting steady expansion in the country’s financial system amid sustained credit growth and resilient liquidity conditions.Data released by the Central Bank showed assets rose by 1.4 per cent from AED 5.34 trillion at the close of December 2025, extending a pattern of gradual balance sheet expansion that has characterised the banking sector over the

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiSharjah Asset Management has secured a “Best Place to Work” certification, signalling growing emphasis within Gulf investment entities on employee engagement, corporate culture and organisational wellbeing as competition for talent intensifies across the region.The company, which oversees a diversified portfolio spanning real estate, infrastructure and strategic investments for the Sharjah government, said the recognition reflects sustained efforts to build a supportive and performance-driven workplace. The certification process typically evaluates employee satisfaction, leadership practices, diversity policies and

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiAbu Dhabi’s social development agenda has gained fresh momentum as the Department of Community Development signed a partnership with Mbank aimed at strengthening the financial resilience of families across the emirate, reflecting a broader policy shift towards preventive welfare and long-term economic stability.The agreement, announced as part of initiatives aligned with the UAE’s Year of Family, focuses on enhancing access to financial tools, promoting responsible money management, and supporting vulnerable households through tailored banking solutions.

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiAjman University has introduced a doctoral programme in artificial intelligence, positioning it as a research-intensive offering backed by faculty ranked among the world’s top 0.5% of scientists, as the institution seeks to strengthen its standing in advanced technology education and align with the UAE’s broader digital economy ambitions.The new PhD in Artificial Intelligence is designed to focus on high-impact research across areas such as machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing and data science. University officials

Arabian Post Staff -DubaiDiplomatic efforts are under way at the United Nations as members of the Security Council prepare to negotiate a draft resolution that could authorise military action to safeguard commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically vital energy corridors.The proposal, circulated by Bahrain, reflects mounting concern among maritime and energy stakeholders over persistent threats to vessels transiting the narrow waterway, through which a significant share of global oil supplies passes. Diplomats familiar