News related to
Arabia

Abu Dhabi’s transformation into a leading centre for digital asset regulation is gathering global recognition, with legal and financial experts pointing to its advanced regulatory framework and investor-friendly environment as key drivers for growing crypto-sector confidence.

At the sidelines of Abu Dhabi Finance Week, compliance specialist Magdalena Boškić of Swiss firm Kellerhals Carrard declared that the UAE has firmly established itself as a global hub for digital-asset businesses, drawing major international players thanks to robust legislation and transparent licensing regimes. She highlighted the role of regulatory bodies such as the Financial Services Regulatory Authority at Abu Dhabi Global Market, the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority in Dubai, the Dubai Financial Services Authority, and the Central Bank of the UAE, describing their collective efforts as among the most advanced globally.

Under the UAE’s multi-jurisdictional model, companies involved in trading, custody, asset-management or tokenisation can select the regulatory framework that matches their business model, offering flexibility without sacrificing oversight. The regime is built on principles like technology neutrality, activity-based licensing and strict compliance with investor-protection standards — features that offer legal clarity and attract institutional as well as retail participation. Boškić noted that this environment has led several prominent Swiss digital-asset banks such as Sygnum and AMINA to expand their presence in the Emirates.

A 2025 ranking by the Global Finance & Technology Network, in collaboration with consultancy Arthur D. Little, placed the UAE alongside jurisdictions such as Switzerland and Singapore among the most advanced globally for crypto regulation. The report credited the UAE for its comprehensive approach to tokenised assets, stablecoins, virtual-asset service providers and other fintech innovations — moving the country from ambition into execution.

Institutional adoption has risen sharply. Data on inflows between mid-2023 and mid-2024 show digital-asset investments of more than US$30 billion — roughly 10 percent of the Middle East and North Africa region’s total — with institutional-sized transfers jumping about 55 percent year-on-year. Simultaneously, retail participation has surged; the number of daily active crypto traders in the UAE has reportedly crossed 500,000, underscoring broad public engagement with digital-asset markets.

Fiscal incentives have added to the appeal. The absence of personal income tax or capital-gains tax, combined with exemptions on value-added tax for trading and conversion of virtual assets, offers one of the most favourable tax regimes globally. These conditions, combined with regulatory clarity, help explain the influx of both specialized crypto firms and traditional financial institutions adapting to digital-asset offerings.

The expansion also includes the tokenisation of real-world assets — such as real estate, aviation and even sovereign bonds — indicating that the UAE’s digital-asset market is evolving beyond speculative cryptocurrency trading into structured financial instruments. This opens pathways for sophisticated investors and enterprises seeking to integrate blockchain-based financing or asset-tokenisation into mainstream operations.

Still, rapid growth is not without risks. Observers caution that heightened crypto activity brings exposure to money laundering, unregulated peer-to-peer trading, cybersecurity threats and uneven investor protection. Regulators must balance fostering innovation with safeguarding financial integrity.

A milestone for regulatory trust came this week when Binance secured a global licence under the ADGM framework granted by the FSRA. The approval of the world’s largest crypto exchange underlines the UAE’s drive to cement its status as a credible, regulated base for digital-asset operations.

India stands out among emerging economies for its high adoption of generative artificial intelligence, according to a new report by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development together with Cisco. The study shows that India, along with a few other emerging markets, leads global usage and trust metrics — even as sharp generational and geographical divides become evident.

Under-35s represent the bulk of this surge, with more than half of that demographic reporting active use of generative AI tools. Over 75 percent of young adults across the studied countries say they find AI useful. In India specifically, the share of adults actively using generative AI has been estimated at 66.4 percent, making the country the top performer among the 14 surveyed nations.

The appeal of AI appears to be shaped not only by age, but also by regional context. Emerging economies — India, Brazil, Mexico and South Africa — feature among the highest users globally, showing not only strong AI uptake but also greater eagerness to undertake AI-related training. In these countries, engagement with AI training programmes is broad, and a substantial number of respondents have expressed plans to deepen their familiarity with AI tools over the coming year.

However, this fast-paced adoption brings warnings of uneven benefits and rising risks. Populations in these emerging economies report significantly higher levels of recreational screen time and digital-only social interaction — patterns correlated with lower life satisfaction and well-being. The OECD-Cisco report warns that over five hours of daily screen time for leisure is linked to deteriorating well-being.

The divides cut deep: while younger adults readily embrace AI, older age groups remain largely disengaged. Among those over 45, many say they either do not use AI or are uncertain about trusting it. This uncertainty, according to the study, may stem more from unfamiliarity than explicit distrust. Expectations about AI’s impact on work also diverge sharply — under-35s in emerging economies overwhelmingly anticipate that AI will reshape job roles, while older respondents are more sceptical.

The findings challenge assumptions that advanced economies would lead in AI adoption, reflecting instead a reversal where developing nations leapfrog into new technologies. The data underscores how infrastructural improvements, rising digital literacy among younger generations, and perhaps lower legacy technology constraints are accelerating AI uptake in countries such as India.

AceVector Ltd, the parent company of the e-commerce marketplace Snapdeal, has submitted an updated draft red herring prospectus to the Securities and Exchange Board of India, signalling that the company is advancing toward an initial public offering. The filing proposes a fresh issue of shares worth ₹300 crore, accompanied by an offer-for-sale of up to 6.38 crore equity shares held by existing investors.

The IPO proceeds are earmarked for scaling the business. AceVector plans to deploy funds towards marketing and promotion of the Snapdeal marketplace, bolstering the technological infrastructure underpinning its operations, and pursuing inorganic growth opportunities including potential acquisitions. A portion of the financing will also support general corporate purposes.

AceVector is not just Snapdeal: the company also owns the e-commerce enablement SaaS provider Unicommerce and the consumer-brands arm Stellaro Brands. Unicommerce, which had listed in 2024, reportedly saw significant investor interest, and adding Stellaro Brands gives AceVector a diversified presence across marketplace, software services, and private-label retail.

Despite being backed by long-standing investors such as SoftBank, Nexus Venture Partners and Foxconn, the company’s co-founders Kunal Bahl and Rohit Bansal — together owning roughly 34.63 per cent — are not offering any shares in the OFS, signalling confidence in the firm’s long-term prospects.

AceVector’s financials for the first half of fiscal year 2026 paint a picture of recovery. The company reported an operating revenue of ₹244 crore, up from ₹181 crore in the corresponding prior period — a growth of 34–35 per cent. The performance appears to have bolstered its public listing readiness.

Industry observers note that the renewed IPO attempt reflects changing market conditions and renewed investor appetite for technology-led and value-oriented e-commerce platforms. AceVector’s diversified structure — marketplace operations via Snapdeal, SaaS services through Unicommerce, and owned-brands via Stellaro — gives it a broad base that may appeal to a wide set of investors, especially in a market increasingly inclined toward asset-light, ecosystem-driven business models.

This filing follows a prior confidential DRHP submission in July 2025 and regulatory clearance from SEBI in November. That earlier ambition to raise a larger amount had been scaled down, possibly reflecting more conservative valuations and a recalibrated approach to public listing.

A federal lawsuit filed on 24 October 2025 in the US District Court for the Northern District of California alleges that Pi Network and its parent company SocialChain Inc. secretly sold roughly 2 billion Pi tokens, engaging in what the plaintiff describes as securities fraud and market manipulation. The claimant, an investor from Arizona, seeks US$10 million in damages, claiming that the covert sales and misrepresentation caused his holdings—and those of many others—to plummet in value.

The complaint targets the project’s co-founders, Chengdiao Fan and Nicolas Kokkalis, alongside related entities, charging that the insiders misled users about token distribution, retained disproportionate control over supply, and withheld access to liquidity while off-loading large holdings to third-party IOU-markets without disclosure. As per the filing, the transfers and sales occurred despite the mainnet not being officially open for trading, raising serious doubts over fairness and transparency.

Defenders of Pi Network point out that the lawsuit appears to focus on third-party IOU markets rather than the mainnet-bound Pi coin itself. The project has always warned users that such markets are speculative and unofficial, with no guarantee of liquidity. They argue that the circulating IOU valuations, sometimes cited in arguments over alleged losses, reflect nothing more than unregulated speculation rather than legitimate market price.

Qatar Airways has installed Hamad Ali Al-Khater as its new Group Chief Executive Officer, effective 7 December 2025, replacing Badr Mohammed Al-Meer. The handover was confirmed in a brief statement by the airline today.

Al-Khater comes to the top position from his previous role as Chief Operating Officer at Hamad International Airport. His prior career also includes senior positions at QatarEnergy, where he led major deals and strategic initiatives, signalling a strong background in both aviation operations and energy-sector business development.

The announcement by Qatar Airways Group’s Board, chaired by Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, expressed gratitude for Al-Meer’s service and emphasised the intention to build on the airline’s existing global network, experience, and commitment to innovation under the new leadership.

Al-Meer had assumed leadership of the carrier in November 2023, succeeding long-time CEO Akbar Al Baker, who stepped down after 27 years. Under Al-Meer’s tenure, Qatar Airways pursued expansion in fleet connectivity and network reach, including increased flights to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other growth initiatives.

Observers note the move reflects a pattern of high-level leadership transitions at the airline — with two CEO changes within a span of around two years — underscoring possible strategic shifts at the top of the state-owned carrier.

Al-Khater’s operational experience at HIA, where he led efforts to ensure safety, reliability, infrastructure expansion and enhancement of passenger experience, suggests a potential focus on reinforcing operational efficiency and leveraging synergies between the airport and airline operations. His deep connections with QatarEnergy add a dimension of financial and strategic oversight which could influence future fleet and investment decisions.

While no public explanation was offered for Al-Meer’s exit, industry insiders describe the change as swift and unexpectedly quiet. Some analysts speculate the reshuffle may reflect evolving priorities for Qatar Airways as it navigates changing global aviation dynamics, competitive pressures, and ambition for expansion.

A dramatic shift in digital asset markets unfolded as one of the year’s fastest-rising crypto trades, which surged more than 2,600% at its peak, unravelled with an 86% wipeout, shaking confidence across a sector already grappling with volatility, liquidity strains, and shifting regulatory expectations. The abrupt reversal, mirrored in the steep fall of smaller token clusters linked to speculative momentum strategies, highlighted how rapidly sentiment can turn in an ecosystem vulnerable to leverage-driven cycles.

Market data from major exchanges showed that the trade, centred on a group of micro-capitalisation tokens propelled by algorithmic buying, began losing momentum after a wave of profit-taking by early entrants. Traders close to proprietary desks reported that liquidation cascades—triggered as automated systems unwound positions—accelerated the decline. The severe downturn echoed patterns seen during previous speculative surges, where liquidity gaps magnified losses within hours.

Analysts tracking blockchain activity noted that the rally’s ascent had attracted retail inflows, partly due to social-media-driven narratives framing the tokens as high-growth opportunities. As prices climbed, leverage amplified exposure, drawing in traders seeking outsized returns. Once selling pressure gained traction, that leverage turned into a critical vulnerability, forcing positions to unwind just as liquidity thinned. Several independent market researchers observed that the velocity of the downturn suggested a structural fragility, rather than a simple correction.

The collapse also revived discussion about the role of automated strategies in amplifying market instability. Many of the instruments involved were linked to quant-driven flows, where bots responded to volatility triggers rather than underlying fundamentals. As one portfolio strategist explained, these systems can cause price swings that move far beyond what traditional finance would consider tolerable, adding that crypto lacks the circuit-breaker mechanisms that help stabilise other asset classes. This dynamic, according to several fund managers, remains one of the most persistent challenges for institutions considering deeper exposure to decentralised markets.

Regulatory uncertainty added to the unease. Authorities in key jurisdictions have been scrutinising high-risk digital asset structures, and policymakers have signalled the possibility of tighter oversight for tokens driven by momentum rather than intrinsic value. Market observers said that while there is no direct link between regulatory commentary and the downturn, the broader environment has weighed on risk appetite. Investor caution intensified as questions resurfaced about transparency in the trading strategies behind the surge.

The downturn also exposed liquidity fragmentation across exchanges. Some platforms reported delays in order execution as volumes spiked, and spreads widened sharply during peak selling. Professional traders said this fragmentation remains a major impediment to maturing the sector, as it complicates price discovery and heightens vulnerability to abrupt swings. Several firms specialising in market-making suggested that the episode would likely prompt renewed calls for better liquidity management frameworks within decentralised ecosystems.

Amid the turmoil, major digital assets such as Bitcoin and Ether showed relative resilience, though both experienced elevated intraday volatility. Their ability to avoid the extreme swings seen in smaller tokens prompted commentary that the market may be entering a phase where speculative micro-caps detach from more established assets. Still, derivatives positions linked to broader sentiment recorded notable adjustments, indicating that traders remain sensitive to signs of systemic stress.

Industry insiders highlighted that the steep crash follows a pattern of momentum-driven phases that have punctuated crypto cycles since the first wave of retail adoption. A veteran analyst noted that while earlier episodes centred on initial coin offerings or meme-driven tokens, the current one underscores how algorithmic and social-media amplification have merged, producing sharper and faster boom-and-bust phases. The analyst added that such swings complicate long-term valuation models, as fundamental metrics often become secondary to speculative flows.

Venture-backed projects tied to the affected tokens faced heightened scrutiny as investors assessed whether the price collapse would impair broader ecosystem development. Some founders sought to reassure stakeholders by highlighting active user bases and ongoing technical upgrades, although several funds acknowledged that valuation resets were unavoidable. Market participants stressed that while token prices do not always reflect underlying project viability, extreme volatility can hinder funding conversations and stall adoption.

Gulf Cooperation Council sovereigns and corporates issued a record-breaking $226 billion in debt by November 11, 2025 — the highest single-year total this decade — boosted by surging investor demand and tight spreads across the region.

Issuance of bonds and sukuk vastly outpaced equity capital-market activity, which saw the weakest IPO fundraising since 2020.

Regional governments and major companies returned to debt markets, capitalising on favourable financing conditions. Notable sovereign issuance came from all six GCC states — Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman. Corporations also joined, including heavyweight names such as Saudi Aramco and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company.

The rebound in debt issuance reflects a shift in financing strategies. Many issuers had stayed out of markets earlier this year, waiting for better conditions. As spreads tightened sharply, they re-entered. As HSBC’s head of MENA debt capital markets, Nour Safa, put it: the tightening spreads “convinced them to return to the market.”

By the third quarter of 2025, total outstanding debt on GCC debt capital markets reached $1.1 trillion — a 12.7 per cent increase year-on-year. Sukuk issuances led the growth, rising nearly 22 per cent and now accounting for more than 40 per cent of overall debt issuance volume.

The strength emanates largely from the two biggest markets: Saudi Arabia and the UAE. As per recent analysis, these two nations comprise 46 per cent and 30 per cent respectively of total outstanding GCC debt.

Meanwhile, IPO funding has stalled. Across the GCC, 2025 saw a dramatic slump in equity issuance: a total of only 40 IPOs raised about $5.8 billion, down markedly from 2024’s 52 listings which raised $12.9 billion — the lowest fundraising level since 2020.

In the first half of 2025, IPO activity had shown modest resilience: 27 listings raised $4.10 billion, up from $3.57 billion a year earlier. But the second half slowdown reversed much of that progress.

Analysts say the divergence between bond and equity markets has several drivers. Doubts over global macroeconomic stability and trade-policy uncertainty have suppressed investor appetite for riskier equity. At the same time, Gulf issuers found debt markets more attractive: high-quality issuers, deep dollar-denominated bond markets, and relatively higher yields compared with many emerging-market alternatives.

Banks across the region added to the surge: by mid-2025 they had issued over $60 billion of debt — surpassing 2024 levels — much of it Tier-2 or hybrid debt aimed at bolstering capital under evolving regulations and funding growth tied to national development plans.

By T N Ashok NEW DELHI: Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in India Thursday evening for a two-day state visit that has become a diplomatic flashpoint, testing New Delhi’s ability to maintain strategic independence amid mounting pressure from Washington and European capitals. The arrival marks Putin’s first trip to India since the Ukraine war began […]

The article Putin’s India Visit: A Stress Test Of Strategic Autonomy Amid Global Pressure appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).