Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund Mubadala is stepping up its push into artificial intelligence and robotics, positioning the twin technologies as a central driver of industrial growth and a compass for future capital allocation, according to remarks by its chief executive at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland. The $330 billion investor, formally known as Mubadala Investment Company, has been widening its exposure […]
On 8 November 2025, Dubai hosted Russian Design Forum 4, the only professional forum for Russian-speaking interior designers and architects in the Middle East. The event was part of Dubai Design Week, which highlighted its importance for the regional design industry and strengthened the position of the Russian-speaking community in the professional environment of the UAE. The forum, organised by Olga Melnikova, founder of the Russian-speaking design […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi is set to host the 30th Gulf Cooperation Council Swimming Championship from January 22 to 25, bringing together around 200 male and female swimmers from six Gulf countries in what organisers describe as the largest and most competitive edition to date. The four-day event will be staged at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Sports Center and will feature age categories ranging from […]
Markets has begun offering around-the-clock, on-chain trading of a synthetic version of Tesla stock, a move that sharpens the debate over how far crypto platforms can go in replicating traditional equities without triggering the full weight of securities regulation. The product, described by Markets as a tokenised representation of Tesla, allows traders to take leveraged positions of up to 12 times and to buy or sell at […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Sharjah’s cultural publishing push is being highlighted at one of the Arab world’s most prominent literary gatherings, with more than 1,000 publications showcased by the Sharjah Institute for Heritage at the 57th edition of the Cairo International Book Fair, opening on January 21 and running until February 3, 2026. Sharjah Institute for Heritage is presenting a wide-ranging catalogue that reflects decades of research […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai Municipality has invited bids from prequalified developers and consortiums for a key phase of the Dubai Strategic Sewerage Tunnels programme, signalling momentum on one of the emirate’s largest long-term infrastructure undertakings aimed at overhauling wastewater collection and transfer. The authority said requests for proposal have been issued for the Phase II Links Package of the project, which is designed to connect outlying […]
Dubai’s financial regulator has rolled out a strengthened framework for crypto tokens in the Dubai International Financial Centre, marking a significant step in the evolution of the emirate’s digital assets oversight as global scrutiny of the sector intensifies. The updated regime, announced on Tuesday by the Dubai Financial Services Authority, replaces and expands the rules introduced in 2022 and applies to all crypto token activities conducted within […]
MNA Ventures, a premier diversified holding group and “one-stop-shop” conglomerate, today released its 2025 Year-End Summary. The report details a transformative period of internal optimization and aggressive international growth, reinforcing the group’s position as a global parent entity across the UAE, Europe, and emerging markets. Throughout 2025, MNA Ventures continued to execute its “solutions-first” strategy—developing internal tools to resolve complex corporate challenges before scaling them into market-leading subsidiaries. […]
Tether has frozen $182 million worth of its USDT stablecoin across five wallets operating on the TRON blockchain, signalling an assertive enforcement step as the issuer tightens controls around illicit finance risks. The action was executed on January 11, 2026, and followed coordination with law-enforcement and compliance partners, according to people familiar with the move. The freeze places the affected balances beyond transfer or redemption, effectively neutralising […]
Moves to prohibit political donations made in cryptocurrency are gathering pace at Westminster, as lawmakers warn that digital assets could be exploited by hostile states and anonymous actors to influence elections and undermine democratic safeguards. Cross-party concern has sharpened following intelligence assessments that flagged the vulnerability of political finance rules to opaque funding channels. Legislators argue that while donations in cash and traditional banking systems are subject […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Saudi Basic Industries Corporation has agreed to divest its European petrochemicals arm and its engineering thermoplastics operations across the Americas and Europe, marking a significant portfolio shift by the chemical producer as it sharpens its focus on core businesses. The company said it has signed a definitive agreement with Germany’s AEQUITA SE & Co. KGaA to sell 100 per cent of its shares […]
JPMorgan Chase has played down claims that stablecoins pose a systemic threat to the banking sector, diverging from warnings issued by banking trade groups that argue the growth of yield-bearing digital tokens could drain deposits and undermine credit creation across the United States. The debate intensified after the American Bankers Association sent a letter to the U. S. Senate cautioning that certain stablecoins, particularly those offering interest […]
Senate Republicans are accelerating plans to bring a sweeping cryptocurrency bill to a vote, betting that momentum and industry pressure can overcome lingering Democratic reservations even as bipartisan talks remain unsettled. The move was confirmed late on Friday by the chair of the Senate Banking Committee, who said the panel would press ahead with scheduling despite parallel efforts by the Senate Agriculture Committee to refine a cross-party […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai is positioning itself as a magnet for global content creators, with the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy setting out the emirate’s pitch as a base where talent, technology and market access converge. The chamber says Dubai’s ability to attract specialised creative professionals, alongside its digital infrastructure and business-friendly regulation, has become a decisive advantage for creators who depend on high-end production teams […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Airlines operating from the Gulf sharply curtailed services to Iran on Friday as unrest inside the country prompted rapid operational reviews, disrupting travel links between Dubai, Doha and several Iranian cities while carriers weighed safety and regulatory considerations. Schedules published by Dubai’s airport operator showed multiple cancellations on routes linking Dubai with Tehran, Shiraz and Mashhad. A spokesperson for flydubai said all services […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi Fund for Development has unveiled a new financing push aimed at reshaping how water projects are funded and delivered across developing economies, signalling a shift towards larger-scale capital mobilisation and technology-led solutions. The initiative, branded as the Abu Dhabi Global Water Platform, sets out to mobilise $2 billion from domestic and international financiers to back projects that improve water access, […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Turkish Airlines has broken ground on a broad package of infrastructure projects valued at more than 100 billion lira, signalling a long-term commitment to expand capacity, resilience and training as global aviation demand continues to normalise. The carrier said the programme, equivalent to about $2.3 billion at prevailing exchange rates, spans eight new facilities across several locations in Türkiye and is designed to […]
Apple has lost a senior Safari designer to an AI-focused rival, adding momentum to a broader shift of top product talent towards startups building generative tools for the web. Marco Triverio, a lead designer on Safari, has joined The Browser Company, the New York–based firm behind Arc, to work on its AI-powered browser Dia, according to people familiar with the matter. The hire comes as competition in […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Sharjah Public Libraries has drawn its centennial programme to a close after a year of events that traced a century of public access to knowledge in the emirate, ending with a children’s puppet theatre performance at the Heart of Sharjah and creative workshops at Kshisha Park. The finale brought together families, educators and cultural practitioners, reflecting the institution’s long-standing focus on literacy, learning […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Humid and changeable conditions are set to prevail across the UAE from Friday through Tuesday, with partly cloudy skies, the possibility of mist or light fog during early hours, and a chance of isolated rainfall, particularly over eastern and northern areas. Forecast guidance points to elevated humidity levels during the night and early morning, increasing the likelihood of reduced visibility in some inland […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Las Vegas — Yarbo used CES 2026 to sharpen its pitch that outdoor maintenance can be handled by a single, adaptable robot rather than a shed full of specialised machines. The company presented updates to its modular “yard robot system”, arguing that advances in onboard intelligence, perception and autonomy are bringing the category closer to everyday household use rather than niche early adopters. […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Motorola used the Lenovo Tech World Showcase alongside CES 2026 to outline a sharpened strategy for premium smartphones, unveiling a new Razr foldable and a broader flagship portfolio designed to embed artificial intelligence deeper into everyday mobile use. The announcements signal a renewed attempt by the Lenovo-owned brand to regain momentum in the high-end segment, where competition from Samsung, Apple and fast-rising Chinese […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi has announced the inaugural winners of the Abu Dhabi International Competition for Composition, marking a significant step in the emirate’s ambition to position itself as a global centre for contemporary music creation and cultural exchange. The competition, held under the patronage of Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Founding Honorary Patron […]
United Arab Emirates will assume the presidency of the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force in 2026, placing the country at the centre of regional efforts to strengthen safeguards against money laundering, terrorist financing and the proliferation of illicit funds. The appointment comes at a time when the bloc is seeking tighter coordination among member states as cross-border financial flows grow in scale and complexity.
MENAFATF brings together 21 jurisdictions across the Middle East, North Africa and neighbouring regions, representing a combined gross domestic product estimated at more than $3 trillion. The organisation functions as the regional body aligned with the global Financial Action Task Force standards, conducting peer reviews, issuing guidance and supporting members as they implement international rules designed to protect financial systems from abuse.
The decision for the UAE to lead the organisation follows its expanding role in financial regulation and enforcement across the region. Federal authorities have invested heavily in strengthening supervision of banks, exchange houses, designated non-financial businesses and professions, while also expanding cooperation with international counterparts. Officials involved in the process describe the presidency as recognition of the country’s progress in aligning domestic frameworks with global benchmarks and its capacity to convene consensus among diverse economies.
During its term, the UAE is expected to steer MENAFATF’s strategic agenda, including the scheduling of mutual evaluations, thematic studies and capacity-building programmes. These initiatives are central to helping member states address gaps identified in national risk assessments and respond to emerging typologies such as the misuse of virtual assets, trade-based money laundering and complex ownership structures.
Regulatory specialists say the presidency carries influence beyond administrative oversight. The chair country plays a pivotal role in shaping discussions on policy priorities, coordinating technical assistance and representing the region in dialogue with global standard-setters. This places added scrutiny on how effectively the bloc can balance the varied economic structures and legal systems of its members while maintaining consistent application of standards.
The UAE has signalled that cooperation and practical implementation will be key themes of its tenure. Policymakers have spoken about deepening information-sharing among financial intelligence units, enhancing public-private partnerships and supporting jurisdictions that face capacity constraints. Such measures are viewed as essential for raising overall compliance levels and reducing vulnerabilities that can be exploited across borders.
MENAFATF members span hydrocarbon-rich Gulf economies, large consumer markets in North Africa and smaller states with developing financial sectors. This diversity has historically posed challenges in achieving uniform progress. Analysts note that leadership will need to balance ambition with pragmatism, ensuring that reforms are realistic and tailored to local contexts while still meeting international expectations.
The presidency also coincides with broader shifts in the region’s financial landscape. Digital payments, fintech platforms and virtual assets have expanded rapidly, creating new opportunities for inclusion but also new risks. Addressing these developments requires updating supervisory tools, training regulators and fostering dialogue with technology providers. Observers expect the UAE to push for clearer regional guidance in these areas, building on its own experience in regulating emerging financial services.
Another area likely to feature prominently is the effectiveness of enforcement. While many jurisdictions have strengthened legal frameworks, translating laws into successful investigations and prosecutions remains uneven. MENAFATF’s peer review process increasingly emphasises outcomes, not just technical compliance. Under UAE leadership, the organisation is expected to encourage members to demonstrate tangible results in asset recovery, sanctions and international cooperation.
Diplomats familiar with the process say the appointment also reflects confidence in the UAE’s ability to engage constructively with both regional partners and global institutions. The country has positioned itself as a bridge between markets, hosting multinational financial institutions and acting as a hub for trade and investment. That role brings responsibilities, particularly in ensuring that financial openness is matched by robust controls.
