Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Lending growth at the UAE’s 10 largest listed banks slowed in the second quarter of 2026 as regional disruption from the US-Iran conflict intensified, while profitability and asset quality remained broadly resilient. Net loans and advances increased 4.2 per cent from the previous quarter, down from about 5.8 per cent in the first three months of the year, according to the latest UAE […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Oil prices edged higher on Tuesday, snapping a four-session decline as traders balanced persistent Middle East supply risks against the possibility of diplomatic contacts between the United States and Iran during the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Brent crude futures for November rose $1.14 to $101.48 a barrel in early trading, while US West Texas Intermediate for October gained 87 cents […]
G7 foreign ministers have called on Iran to stop arming and supporting Yemen’s Houthis, warning that the group’s military operations risk widening instability across the Middle East and disrupting international trade. The ministers of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States issued the demand after meeting on Monday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. They condemned continuing Houthi […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai RcrutAI has expanded its Panther real estate intelligence platform into commercial and mixed-use development, adding tools for site analysis, tenant planning, parking demand, pricing and project feasibility. The Cairo-based artificial intelligence company announced the move on September 21, extending a platform that was initially built to support residential development decisions. RcrutAI said the new commercial capabilities are intended to connect decisions that developers […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Visa Direct is expanding its Saudi Arabia footprint as digital money transfers accelerate, with card-based transaction volumes in the kingdom rising by more than 50 per cent year on year, according to Visa. The growth reflects stronger demand from consumers and financial institutions for faster domestic and cross-border payments, particularly remittances, as Saudi Arabia’s payments market continues shifting towards digital channels. Visa said […]
Greenlogue/AP Qatar’s greenhouse industry is projected to more than double in value by 2034 as investment in controlled-environment farming accelerates efforts to raise domestic food production and conserve water resources. Market research firm IMARC Group estimates the sector will expand from $226.9 million in 2025 to $600.1 million by 2034, equivalent to about QR2.18 billion at Qatar’s fixed exchange rate. The forecast implies compound annual growth of […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai has begun 10 days of official mourning following the death of Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Chairman of Dubai Police and Public Security and the younger brother of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The Court of Sheikh Mohammed announced Sheikh Ahmed’s death on Monday morning, September 21, […]
South Korea and Taiwan led the regional gains, reflecting renewed buying in semiconductor companies tied to expanding demand for data centres, memory chips and advanced computing. South Korea’s Kospi rose about 1.4%, while Taiwan’s benchmark gained around 1% and reached a three-month high. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan added roughly 0.9%.
Chinese blue-chip shares were also firmer, rising about 0.2%, while Japan’s cash market was closed for the Silver Week holiday. Nikkei futures nevertheless edged 0.2% higher. Trading across parts of the region was thinner than usual because Japanese markets will remain shut through Wednesday.
The strength in Asian technology shares followed continued investor focus on the capital spending required to support generative AI and cloud computing. Samsung Electronics rose sharply in Seoul, while Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co gained in Taipei, reinforcing the technology-heavy tone across major regional bourses.
US equity futures also pointed higher during Asian trading. S&P 500 futures gained about 0.4% and Nasdaq futures rose 0.6%, while European futures indicated a firmer opening, with EUROSTOXX 50 and German DAX contracts advancing.
Oil prices moved in the opposite direction. Brent crude fell about 1.7% to just above $102 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate dropped close to 2% to around $98.50. Both benchmarks had already weakened at the end of last week.
The decline reflected signs that more crude and other energy cargoes were moving through the Gulf despite continuing disruption linked to the conflict in the region. Data from Kpler showed Saudi Arabian crude exports recovering to just above 4 million barrels per day so far in September after dropping to about 2.4 million barrels per day in August.
Saudi shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have increased after disruption to the East-West pipeline and reduced flows through the Red Sea export hub of Yanbu. JPMorgan analysts estimated that total Middle East oil flows averaged 17.1 million barrels per day over the previous 10 days, suggesting that physical supply had proved more resilient than traders initially feared.
Energy markets were also monitoring the possibility of diplomatic engagement this week, which helped reduce part of the geopolitical risk premium built into crude prices. However, tensions remained high after further attacks involving Saudi targets, leaving traders cautious about assuming that supply risks had disappeared.
Bond markets remained another constraint on risk appetite. The US two-year Treasury yield was around 4.76%, after rising sharply over the previous two weeks. Futures markets were pricing a greater-than-even chance of another Federal Reserve rate increase in October following the central bank’s hawkish guidance last week.
Higher borrowing costs have complicated the outlook for equities even as technology stocks continue to attract capital. Investors are balancing the earnings potential created by AI-related investment against the prospect that restrictive monetary policy could persist as central banks attempt to contain inflation.
The US 10-year Treasury yield was close to 5%, keeping pressure on rate-sensitive assets and supporting the dollar. The currency was little changed around 157 yen, with investors alert to the possibility of intervention by Japan’s authorities during the holiday-thinned session.
The yen had strengthened sharply on Friday after Japanese authorities conducted rate checks in the foreign-exchange market. The euro was broadly steady near $1.148 after losing ground against the dollar over the previous week.
Gold prices were little changed to slightly lower as higher bond yields offset safe-haven demand generated by Middle East tensions. Copper, meanwhile, remained supported by signs of stronger demand from China and constrained inventories.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 was broadly flat, lagging the technology-led advances elsewhere in the region. India’s benchmark Sensex traded higher during the session, while Hong Kong shares also advanced as investors continued to favour large technology and internet companies.
Greenlogue/AP Beam Middle East and Masdar City Free Zone have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore the deployment of smart-energy and clean-mobility technologies across the Masdar City ecosystem in Abu Dhabi. The agreement will allow Beam Middle East to introduce and supply advanced energy systems for potential use within the sustainable urban district, including off-grid electric-vehicle charging infrastructure, solar-integrated e-bike systems and other clean-energy mobility technologies. […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai GFH Bank has signed a partnership agreement with AlNassr Club Company, making the Bahrain-headquartered bank a partner of the Saudi football club for the 2026–2027 season as it seeks to strengthen its profile in key regional markets. The agreement was signed in Riyadh by GFH Bank chief executive and board member Hisham Alrayes and AlNassr chief executive José Semedo, with senior representatives of […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai Electronic Security Centre has unveiled SARAAB, an artificial intelligence model built to detect deepfake videos, presenting the Emirati-developed system at GISEC Global 2026 as authorities intensify efforts to counter AI-enabled cyber fraud and manipulation. The open-source model was developed entirely by a team at the Dubai Electronic Security Centre, or DESC, and is designed to analyse video frame by frame for signs […]
A malware campaign using the EtherHiding technique has exploited the Polygon blockchain to conceal and dynamically rotate command-and-control infrastructure while stealing banking and cryptocurrency credentials from infected users. Security researchers tracing the operation said it has been active since at least November 2025 and has compromised at least 31 legitimate business websites across several countries and industries. The campaign has evolved from deploying a general-purpose PowerShell backdoor […]
Gold prices were little changed on Monday, holding close to a one-week high as investors balanced persistent Middle East tensions against expectations that US interest rates could remain elevated for longer. Spot gold was almost flat at about $4,379.74 an ounce in early trade, while US gold futures for December delivery slipped 0.1 per cent to $4,419.40. The metal had climbed to a one-week high on Friday […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Etihad Rail and AD Ports Group have launched a direct freight service linking Fujairah Terminals with the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi, creating a rail-based inland logistics route between the UAE’s East Coast and Abu Dhabi’s main industrial zone. The service combines scheduled rail freight with a customs-enabled inland cargo gateway at ICAD, allowing containers arriving at Fujairah to move directly to Abu […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Cosmo Developments has launched THE WADI, a mixed-use project on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island with an estimated investment of AED6 billion and plans for 3,950 homes. The company, a joint venture between Abu Dhabi-based Flag Holding Group and Reportage Group, said the development will occupy about 140,700 square metres along Yas Canal. Reportage Group, which manages Cosmo Developments, will oversee the project from […]
US President Donald Trump will expand a planned meeting with Gulf officials in New York this week to include Iraq and Jordan, broadening consultations with Arab governments as Washington weighs its next steps in the conflict with Iran. The meeting is expected on Tuesday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, where leaders and senior officials from the six Gulf Cooperation Council states are due […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Qatar’s prime minister has called for Gulf states to act together to restore regional stability and help secure a settlement between the United States and Iran, arguing that the war should force governments to rethink how security is organised across the Gulf. “We are hoping this war is a wake-up call for everyone,” Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said on Sunday at the […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai President Donald Trump returned unexpectedly to the White House on Saturday after cutting short a weekend at Camp David, as a Houthi missile attack on Riyadh pushed the renewed Saudi-Yemen conflict into the kingdom’s capital. The White House gave no explanation for Trump’s early return, which came a day before he had been scheduled to leave the presidential retreat in Maryland. The timing […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Cross-border investment in commercial property rose 56 per cent to $71.8 billion in the first half of 2026, with stronger activity in Asia and Europe helping international deals outpace the broader recovery in global real estate transactions. Data from property consultancy JLL showed overseas investment into Asian property quadrupled to $19.3 billion, while cross-border investment in Europe increased 31 per cent to $39.9 […]
The UN Security Council has condemned continuing Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia in the strongest terms and affirmed the kingdom’s right to defend itself under international law. The 15-member council said on Friday that strikes affecting civilian and energy infrastructure had injured civilians, including women and children, as cross-border attacks from Yemen continued to place Saudi cities and strategic facilities under pressure. Council members affirmed “the inherent […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Odisha has signed a memorandum of understanding with Abu Dhabi-based International Holding Company and the Adani Group to explore 14 projects carrying an indicative investment of ₹2.105 trillion across minerals, energy, manufacturing, healthcare, tourism and infrastructure. The agreement was concluded during Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s investment outreach in the UAE, with the state describing the portfolio as a major expansion of its […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence declared the danger over in Riyadh and Al-Kharj early on Saturday after a second overnight round of emergency alerts warned residents of a potential threat. The General Directorate of Civil Defence said the all-clear applied to the capital and Al-Kharj governorate and urged citizens and residents to continue following official safety instructions. The update followed warnings transmitted through the […]
Tourism Minister P. C. Vishnunadh visited the Kerala pavilion at the Dubai World Trade Centre and met UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri as the state sought to deepen engagement with one of its most important overseas visitor markets. He was accompanied by Tourism Secretary Biju K.
Vishnunadh said the Middle East remained significant for Kerala because of the state’s longstanding links with the UAE and the region’s importance to its tourism economy. He said Arabian Travel Market provided an opportunity for tourism businesses to understand changing demand, identify emerging opportunities and present packages designed for Gulf travellers.
Kerala Tourism said 26,255 visitors from the UAE travelled to the state in 2025, underlining the market’s value as it looks to expand international arrivals and strengthen demand beyond peak seasons.
The state’s 69-square-metre pavilion, carrying the theme “Green Peace – Yalla Kerala”, used imagery of hill stations and green landscapes alongside displays promoting established and emerging tourism products. The presentation placed emphasis on Kerala as a year-round destination, with Ayurveda and wellness, beaches, backwaters, cultural experiences and adventure travel forming key parts of the pitch.
Vishnunadh also met Sudhir Sreedharan, senior vice-president of flydubai, and officials of the Dubai Police Authority during his visit. The meetings came as Kerala Tourism used the event not only for destination promotion but also for business networking with airlines, tour operators and travel-sector partners.
Six tourism businesses from Kerala joined the pavilion as co-exhibitors: Kairali – The Ayurvedic Healing Village in Palakkad, The Elephant Court in Thekkady, Somatheeram Ayurveda Group, Intersight Tours and Travels, Santamonica Tours and Travels, and Gateway Malabar Holidays. Their participation gave buyers access to accommodation, wellness and tour products directly from operators.
Arabian Travel Market 2026, held from September 14 to 17, brought together tourism authorities, airlines, hospitality companies, tour operators and other travel businesses from the Middle East and overseas markets. Organisers positioned the 33rd edition as a platform for commercial partnerships, destination marketing and discussion of travel trends.
The UAE used ATM to launch “Visit UAE”, its first unified federal tourism identity, bringing the seven emirates under a single national tourism platform. Abdulla bin Touq said the initiative was intended to present the country as an integrated destination and support stronger cooperation across tourism.
Kerala’s Gulf-focused campaign extended beyond the exhibition floor. At a Kerala travel meet in Dubai built around the same “Green Peace – Yalla Kerala” theme, officials and private-sector participants held business-to-business meetings with UAE-based buyers.
Tourism Secretary Biju K presented Kerala’s destination portfolio and invited travel-industry representatives to Kerala Travel Mart 2026, while the state highlighted its appeal across leisure, wellness, culture and nature-based travel. The engagement was designed to convert destination visibility into business links with tour operators and distributors serving Gulf customers.
Kerala has been placing greater emphasis on the Arab market because demand from the region often overlaps with the state’s monsoon and shoulder seasons, when Ayurveda, wellness and nature-based travel can help spread visitor flows more evenly through the year.
That approach also reflects growing competition among destinations for Gulf travellers, who have access to extensive direct and one-stop air connectivity through Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and other regional hubs. Kerala’s strategy at the fair focused on product differentiation rather than a single tourism segment, combining established attractions with experiential offerings.
The Maldives also maintained a presence at the Dubai event, with 165 industry representatives from 74 tourism companies participating alongside official tourism bodies. Its delegation used the fair to pursue airline partnerships and destination marketing agreements aimed at improving connectivity and widening market reach.
Saudi Arabia has sold about 60 million barrels of crude for loading in September and October from Ras Tanura, with cargoes crossing the Strait of Hormuz before being transferred ship-to-ship off Oman’s Sohar port, according to multiple trade sources. The sales are lifting Saudi Aramco’s crude exports from Gulf terminals back to an average of about 1 million to 1.5 million barrels a day, around or slightly […]
