Falling oil prices after Iran said the Strait of Hormuz was open to commercial shipping have eased one of the sharpest inflation threats facing the US Federal Reserve, giving policymakers more room to consider rate cuts later this year if the decline in energy costs holds. Brent crude fell below $90 a barrel on Friday, April 17, for the first time since March 10, after dropping by […]
Louvre Abu Dhabi has opened its signature dome to visitors for the first time through a new guided “Architectural Experience”, giving the public access to the museum’s most recognisable feature as it broadens its appeal beyond galleries and exhibitions into design-led cultural tourism. The new 90-minute tour begins this month and runs on Saturdays, with separate time slots for individuals and groups. The move marks a notable […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Oil prices fell sharply on Friday after Iran’s foreign minister said the Strait of Hormuz would remain open to commercial shipping during a ceasefire, easing immediate fears of a prolonged choke on one of the world’s most important energy routes. Brent crude and US West Texas Intermediate both tumbled by more than 11% at one stage of trading, as investors unwound risk premiums […]
Search poisoning aimed at users looking for the open-source recovery utility TestDisk is being used to slip a trojanised installer on to Windows machines, abuse a Microsoft-signed binary for DLL sideloading and install ConnectWise ScreenConnect, giving attackers remote access under the cover of a legitimate administration tool. The campaign centres on a rogue site, testdisk. dev, that imitates the branding and download flow of the genuine TestDisk […]
Singapore Gulf Bank has launched a USDC mint-and-redeem service on the Solana blockchain, opening a round-the-clock channel for corporate and high-net-worth clients to move between fiat currency and digital dollars directly from their bank accounts as it pushes deeper into cross-border payments and treasury services. The bank said the product is designed to bypass delays tied to correspondent banking and standard settlement windows, offering near-instant conversion and […]
Netflix is set to roll out a redesigned mobile app by the end of April, adding a vertical video discovery feed that mirrors the swipe-driven format popularised by short-form platforms as the streaming group pushes to make browsing faster and more intuitive on phones. The company disclosed the change in its April 16 shareholder letter, saying the updated mobile experience follows a period of testing and is […]
By Dr. Gyan Pathak Showing its impatience, PM Narendra Modi led government, has notified the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam 2023. The government implemented it from April 16, 2026, the same day after it introduced an amendment to the Act in the Lok Sabha, after convening a three-day special session of the parliament on April 16-18. […]
The article Avoiding Voting On Bills, Modi Govt Brings Women’s Reservation In Force From April 16 appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).
Recruited from 12 universities, including Hainan University and Hainan Normal University, as well as other local organizations, the volunteers share the common nickname “Little Deer.” The name is derived from Sanya’s nickname, “Deer City,” and is meant to reflect the volunteers’ lively, warm, and friendly spirit.
“See ya in Sanya” is both the slogan of the Asian Beach Games and the guiding principle for its volunteers. Liang Zihan, a student from Hainan Tropical Ocean University, said: “Since the launch of the volunteer recruitment drive, whether it is learning about the Games, mastering multilingual communication, or taking part in scenario-based drills and emergency exercises, I have given it my all. I hope to convey Sanya’s warmth, openness, and inclusiveness to every friend who comes from afar.”
Alongside local students, the volunteer team also includes many young people from across China brought together by the Games. Wu Yujia, a sophomore at the Hospitality Institute of Sanya, is one of them. “I want to show a warm, caring, and energetic Sanya,” she said. When asked about her future plans, she did not hesitate: “I want to stay in Sanya.” In her eyes, the city’s pleasant climate and beautiful scenery have deepened her affection for it and strengthened her commitment to volunteering.
The 6th Asian Beach Games will be held in Sanya, Hainan, from April 22 to 30, 2026. Delegations from all 45 member countries and regions of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) will take part in what is the largest and most influential beach sports event in Asia. As the first major international sporting event to be held in Hainan after the independent customs operations of the Hainan Free Trade Port, the Games are not only a celebration of Asian sport but also an important opportunity for Hainan to present an open and welcoming face to the world.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Google is preparing to take its Android XR eyewear effort into luxury fashion through a partnership with Gucci, with Kering chief executive Luca de Meo saying the smart glasses are expected by 2027 rather than this year. The plan gives Google a high-end brand partner as it tries to turn experimental smart eyewear into something consumers will actually wear in public. The […]
A transfer of about $606,000 in bitcoin by the U. S. government to Coinbase has revived attention on one of the crypto market’s longest-running fallout stories, linking a small on-chain movement to the far larger question of how assets tied to the 2016 Bitfinex hack will ultimately be handled and what that could mean for Bitfinex’s outstanding recovery obligations and its UNUS SED LEO token. Blockchain-tracking reports […]
Zhu Lei, CMO of Gree Electric, stated that Gree has participated in the Canton Fair for 31 consecutive years. This year, GREE brought 130 products to the event. Facing the global market, GREE strives to fully meet the practical needs of consumers from different regions worldwide. Notably, the majority of these products are originally manufactured in and exported from China, reflecting the dedication and ingenuity of GREE’s Chinese craftsmen.
It is reported that at this year’s Canton Fair, GREE has created a full-industry-chain exhibition space ranging from core components to scenario-based solutions. To date, buyers from over 50 countries and regions have scheduled visits and business negotiations, marking a 21% year-on-year increase.
Currently, the global home appliance industry is undergoing a dual transformation. On one hand, an energy efficiency revolution driven by the “Dual Carbon” goals makes the transition to eco-friendly refrigerants an urgent priority; on the other hand, an experience revolution spurred by consumption upgrades has made quietness, health, and smart features the core demands of users. GREE’s SilenzX series ultra-quiet air conditioners, showcased at the event, serve as a precise response to this trend. Equipped with a self-developed rotary four-cylinder compressor, the SilenzX series reduces the minimum sound pressure level of the outdoor unit to a mere 29 decibels—far below the industry average of 42 decibels. Backed by 137 invention patents, the product recently won a Gold Medal at the International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva, signaling that Chinese enterprises have shifted from being “followers” to “leaders” in the realm of comfort technology.
A deeper layer of competitiveness stems from GREE’s long-term bet on a green future. Among the products showcased at this Canton Fair, over 80% are equipped with AI, green energy-saving, and other advanced technologies. GREE has comprehensively implemented R290 eco-friendly refrigerant technology across its entire product matrix, including split units, window units, and water heaters. Furthermore, its world-first photovoltaic air conditioning system has achieved a systemic breakthrough of “zero carbon emissions, zero electricity bills, and zero waste.” The AI dynamic energy-saving technology also utilizes intelligent algorithm optimization to boost annual energy efficiency by 15.8% and reduce power consumption by 13.6%. Rather than isolated technological features, these represent comprehensive green solutions that cover the entire chain of energy production, transmission, and consumption, providing the industry with a leapfrog path from “low-carbon compliance” to “zero-carbon leadership.”
Behind this systemic innovation capability lies a full-industry-chain competitive moat forged through 35 years of independent R&D. At this Canton Fair, Gree introduced three major compressors—G-Boost, G-Storm, and G-Hyper—which have successfully overcome industry challenges such as ultra-high-temperature cooling and ultra-low-temperature heating. Its star product, the GMV 9 series, is capable of operating in an ultra-wide temperature range from -35°C to 60°C, marking GREE’s achievement of full-stack technological autonomy from core components to system integration.
This strategic resolve is yielding substantial returns in GREE’s global layout. As one of the first Chinese home appliance companies to venture overseas, GREE has built a network covering more than 190 countries and regions. Independent brands now account for 70% of its total export volume, and this figure exceeds 85% in Belt and Road countries. This marks a highly successful, high-quality transformation from a traditional OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) model to an independent brand-led enterprise.
From core technological breakthroughs to a green and low-carbon transition, GREE remains rooted in technology and centered on quality. Its presence at the Canton Fair serves as a vivid microcosm of the transformation and upgrading of China’s manufacturing sector, demonstrating the powerful potential and dynamic momentum of “Made in China.”
Hashtag: #GREE
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Dogecoin climbed on Friday, extending a 24-hour advance that outpaced some larger digital assets and lifted sentiment across the meme-coin corner of the market, as traders responded to a burst in turnover and a broader recovery in risk appetite. Market trackers showed DOGE trading near 9.8 US cents on 17 April, with daily volumes above $2.5 billion and sharply higher than the previous day, pointing to […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai has completed its first purpose-built station for electric vertical take-off and landing air taxis near Dubai International Airport, marking a tangible step in the emirate’s bid to introduce commercial aerial taxi services before the end of 2026. The four-storey facility, presented by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is designed as the main operational hub for a new urban air […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai MENA equity issuance fell sharply in the first quarter, with companies raising just $472.9 million from equity and equity-linked deals, a drop of 91% from a year earlier, as regional volatility, weak risk appetite and a thinner pipeline combined to stall activity across primary markets. The quarter produced only five transactions, according to LSEG’s MENA Investment Banking Review for the first three months […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Sequoia Capital has raised about $7 billion for a new fund, giving one of Silicon Valley’s best-known venture firms fresh firepower to back its largest and most expensive bets, especially in artificial intelligence, according to people familiar with the discussions. The fundraising marks the first major capital raise under the firm’s newer leadership era and arrives as investor appetite has swung sharply toward […]
Cookeville Regional Medical Center has begun notifying 337,917 people that personal and medical information was exposed after a ransomware attack discovered on 14 July 2025, a breach that has taken about nine months to fully assess and disclose at scale. The Tennessee hospital said an unauthorised third party accessed or acquired files between 11 July and 14 July 2025, with the compromised data varying by individual and […]
1. Constituent Review – ixCrypto Index Series
1. 1. ixCrypto Index (“IXCI”)
The number of constituents will remain at 19 with no additions and deletions.
Additions:
No addition
Deletions:
No deletion
The free float adjusted market capitalization coverage is 84.26%* (excluding stablecoins, which represents 10.90% of the total crypto universe), while the 90-day-average volume is 77.36%*. The recapping at 40% will take effect on the effective date.
Since the last review, there has been a decrease in the crypto total market capitalization from USD3.38T to USD2.62T (-22.53%)#, and a decrease in the daily volume from USD157.69B to USD108.17B (-31.40%)#. Bitcoin remains the largest crypto in the constituent list, with its price decreased by 24.58% since the last review.
1.2. ixCrypto Portfolio Indexes
1.2.1 ixCrypto 5 Equal Weight Index (“IXEW5”) and ixCrypto 5 Square Root Index (“IXSR5”)
Additions:
No addition
Deletions:
No deletion
1.2.2 ixCrypto 10 Equal Weight Index (“IXEW10”) and ixCrypto 10 Square Root Index (“IXSR10”).
Additions:
No addition
Deletions:
No deletion
1.2.3 ixCrypto Altcoin 10 EW Index (“IXAEW10”) and ixCrypto Altcoin 10 Square Root Index (“IXASR10”).
Additions: Monero
Deletions: Chainlink
1.3. ixCrypto BTC/ETH Indexes
As of the cut-off date on 31st March 2026, the ixCrypto BTC/ETH 50/50 Index (“IX5050”) maintains a 50%/50% weighting for the ixBitcoin Index “IXBI” and ixEthereum Index “IXEI”. The ixCrypto BTC/ETH Proportional Index (“IXPI”) has a weighting of 83.12% and 16.88% for IXBI and IXEI, respectively.
At the upcoming effective date, IX5050 weightings will remain unchanged at 50%/50%. IXPI weightings will be adjusted to 84.53% and 15.47% for IXBI and IXEI, respectively, reflecting the market capitalization proportions of Bitcoin and Ethereum at the cut-off date.
1.4. ixCrypto Stablecoin Index
The number of constituents will remain at 6 (Appendix 5). Stablecoin comprises 10.90% of the total crypto universe, and ixCrypto Stablecoin Index covers 98.26% of the 90-day average market capitalization in the stablecoin universe.
2. Exchange Review
To ensure the fairest price objective, all indexes are calculated based on average of multiple exchanges. As a result of exchange review, 10 exchanges passed the review process, which are as follows:
Deletion
The selected 10 exchanges will be used to generate each of the fair average prices for the IX indexes’ constituents. The exchange review covers volume rankings, exchange background checks, founders’ background checks, USD/USDT/USDC/BTC pair coverage, overconcentration rules, exchange API coverage checks, and stability, among other aspects, for an exchange.
For more details about our exchange selection criteria, please email [email protected]. More information on the ixCrypto Indexes, including their constituents and constituents’ weights, is provided in the Appendices, or refer to the website https://ix-index.com/.
*Exclude stable coins and coins that trigger conflict of interest (based on conflict-of-interest rule methodology 3.9, effective on Oct 2, 2020)
#As of 31th March 2026, based on the past 90 days average
XXXX (ADDITION)Newly introduced exchanges as of 2026 Q1
Appendix 1
| Universe | All crypto coins traded in at least two different exchanges around the world |
| Selection Criteria | Cryptocurrencies ranking in the top 80% of cumulative full market capitalization (“MC”) coverage and within an acceptable range in accordance with the Volume Buffer Rule in terms of 90-day average trading volume |
| Number of Constituents | 19 in Q1 2026 |
| Launch Date | 12th December 2018 |
| Base Date | 3rd December 2018 |
| Base Value | 1,000 |
| Reconstitution Rule | If the coverage is below 75% or any of constituents is not within an acceptable range in accordance with the Volume Buffer Rule in terms of 90-day average trading volume, IXCI will be reconstituted to bring MC coverage back and do liquidity screening. |
| Reconstitution and Rebalancing Frequency | Quarterly and with a fast entry rule |
| Weighting Methodology | Free float adjusted market capitalization weighted with a cap of 40% |
| Currency | US Dollar / HK Dollar [EOD in 14 currencies] |
| Dissemination | Every 5 seconds for 24×7
(On Bloomberg, Reuters and major information vendors) |
| Website | https://ix-index.com/ |
| Bloomberg Page | IXCI <GO> |
Appendix 2
| Crypto | 90-day-average- Market Cap | 90-day-average-Volume | Cut-off Price |
Cumulative Market Coverage | Weighting (%) After 40% Cap# | |
| 1 | Bitcoin | $1,533,407,044,481 | $43,779,443,111 | $66,691.44 | 58.59% | 40.00% |
| 2 | Ethereum | $291,140,668,312 | $23,907,396,435 | $2,023.51 | 69.71% | 25.84% |
| 3 | BNB | $99,700,601,834 | $2,038,341,597 | $608.55 | 73.52% | 8.78% |
| 4 | XRP | $98,820,126,064 | $3,218,693,555 | $1.32 | 77.30% | 8.59% |
| 5 | Solana | $58,322,802,634 | $4,336,158,111 | $82.44 | 79.53% | 5.00% |
| 6 | TRON | $27,802,977,066 | $657,701,996 | $0.32 | 80.59% | 3.20% |
| 7 | Dogecoin | $18,028,347,533 | $1,341,528,833 | $0.09 | 81.28% | 1.47% |
| 8 | Cardano | $11,055,216,118 | $608,106,281 | $0.24 | 81.70% | 0.93% |
| 9 | Bitcoin Cash | $10,617,756,282 | $424,111,900 | $459.70 | 82.10% | 0.97% |
| 10 | Hyperliquid | $8,515,529,227 | $338,272,606 | $36.79 | 82.43% | 1.00% |
| 11 | Monero | $7,415,161,010 | $124,095,526 | $321.29 | 82.71% | 0.63% |
| 12 | Chainlink | $7,273,963,510 | $623,444,392 | $8.61 | 82.99% | 0.65% |
| 13 | Stellar | $5,965,923,096 | $147,863,725 | $0.17 | 83.22% | 0.59% |
| 14 | Zcash | $4,956,891,601 | $450,471,925 | $225.56 | 83.41% | 0.40% |
| 15 | Litecoin | $4,745,674,586 | $397,678,356 | $53.20 | 83.59% | 0.43% |
| 16 | Avalanche | $4,565,289,028 | $327,621,719 | $8.79 | 83.76% | 0.40% |
| 17 | Sui | $4,558,926,661 | $688,122,173 | $0.86 | 83.94% | 0.36% |
| 18 | Hedera | $4,371,988,560 | $136,144,137 | $0.09 | 84.11% | 0.40% |
| 19 | Shiba Inu | $3,987,578,330 | $135,856,575 | $0.00 | 84.26% | 0.36% |
As of 31 March 2026
# Weighting (%) after 40% Cap is adjusted according to the cut-off price, the arrangement of order may not the same as 90-day-average-Market Cap
Selection of index constituents is based on the past 90-day-average market capitalization and volume.
For the calculation methodology of the index, please refer to the “ixCrypto Index Methodology Paper” on our website
Appendix 3
| Index Constituent | ixCrypto 5 EW Index | ixCrypto 5 SR Index | ixCrypto 10 EW Index | ixCrypto 10 SR Index | ixCrypto Altcoin 10 EW Index | ixCrypto Altcoin 10 SR Index |
|
| 1 | Bitcoin | 20.00% | 47.35% | 10.00% | 38.28% | – | – |
| 2 | Ethereum | 20.00% | 20.26% | 10.00% | 16.37% | 10.00% | 25.472% |
| 3 | BNB | 20.00% | 11.81% | 10.00% | 9.54% | 10.00% | 14.848% |
| 4 | XRP | 20.00% | 11.67% | 10.00% | 9.44% | 10.00% | 14.682% |
| 5 | Solana | 20.00% | 8.91% | 10.00% | 7.20% | 10.00% | 11.199% |
| 6 | TRON | – | – | 10.00% | 5.76% | 10.00% | 8.968% |
| 7 | Dogecoin | – | – | 10.00% | 3.91% | 10.00% | 6.085% |
| 8 | Cardano | – | – | 10.00% | 3.10% | 10.00% | 4.829% |
| 9 | Bitcoin Cash | – | – | 10.00% | 3.18% | 10.00% | 4.944% |
| 10 | Hyperliquid | – | – | 10.00% | 3.22% | 10.00% | 5.005% |
| 11 | Monero | – | – | – | – | 10.00% | 3.968% |
As of 31 March 2026
Appendix 4
| Crypto | 90-day-average Crypto Market Cap | 90-day-average Crypto Volume | Index Level | Weight in BTC/ETH 50/50 | Weight in BTC/ETH Proportional |
| Bitcoin | $1,533,407,044,481 | $43,779,443,111 | 16119.86 | 50.00% | 84.53% |
| Ethereum | $291,140,668,312 | $23,907,396,435 | 17402.12 | 50.00% | 15.47% |
As of 31 March 2026
Appendix 5
| Crypto | 90-day-average- Market Cap | 90-day-average- volume |
Cut-off Price | Cumulative Market Coverage |
Weighting (%) After 40% Cap | |
| 1 | USDt | $185,014,602,798 | $90,009,449,564 | $0.9991 | 7.07% | 40.00% |
| 2 | USDC | $75,247,269,332 | $12,399,472,322 | $0.9997 | 9.94% | 40.00% |
| 3 | Ethena USDe | $6,227,533,422 | $125,083,188 | $0.9991 | 10.18% | 6.02% |
| 4 | Dai | $5,364,237,297 | $153,912,985 | $0.9997 | 10.39% | 5.50% |
| 5 | World Liberty Financial USD | $4,432,479,244 | $1,826,951,498 | $0.9995 | 10.56% | 4.48% |
| 6 | PayPal USD | $3,897,616,348 | $150,988,466 | $0.9996 | 10.71% | 4.00% |
As of 31 March 2026
Appendix 6
Real time indexes are disseminated every 5-second interval for 24×7 since 23 June 2022. The real-time indexes are available for viewing on the IX Crypto Index official webpage and Bloomberg Page IXCI <GO>. For IXCI, IXBI and IXEI, the indexes are also available through Nasdaq Global Index Data Service (GIDS) with the tickers “IXCI”, “IXBI” and “IXEI”, with dissemination interval kept at 15-second unchanged.
The vendor tickers are shown below:
| Index Name | Bloomberg Ticker | TradingView Ticker | Reuters Ticker | |
| Real-time | Delayed | |||
| ixCrypto Index | IXCI | IXCI2 | IXCI | .IXCI |
| ixBitcoin Index | IXCBI | IXCBI2 | IXBI | .IXBI1 |
| ixEthereum Index | IXCEI | IXCEI2 | IXEI | .IXEI1 |
For further information about ixCrypto Index and other available indexes including IX Crypto spot price index series and EOD indexes, please visit company official webpage https://ix-index.com or subscribe to LinkedIn: IX Asia Indexes
For data licensing and product, please contact us at [email protected].
For free API use on academic research or trial, please contact [email protected]
Hashtag: #ixCryptoIndex
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
IX Capital International Limited is an award-winning index and investment advisory company. The index business arm- IX Asia Indexes, providing real-time digital asset and innovative indexes, disseminated 24×7 globally and built on robust infrastructure. Since the launch of the first crypto benchmark index (“IXCI”) launched in Hong Kong in December 2018, the ixCrypto index series expand into over 40 indexes designed for exchange futures products, mark-to-market, and fund managers’ portfolio construction purposes. To ensure the professionality and impartiality of the index methodologies and operations, IX Asia Indexes has established its index advisory committee with representation from different industries, including fund management, exchanges, brokerage, financial blockchain experts, crypto service providers, etc. The committee will meet quarterly a year to discuss matters relating to the IX Asia Indexes, including to review and to comment the data sources, methodologies, and operations of IX Asia Indexes, to provide guidance to the future development of new IX Asia Indexes and to handle other issues and decisions on an as-needed basis.
IX Asia Indexes was awarded the Fintech Award (wealth investment and management) 2019 and 2021 organised by ETNet. It as well won an award for Startup of the Year and Basic Technology (Big Data) from Hong Kong Fintech Impetus Awards 2022 by Metro Broadcast and KPMG. It also won Asia Pacific Enterprise Achievement Award 2024 by Echolade. IX Asia Indexes completed its IOSCO compliance statement and obtained ISO/IEC 27001:2022 UKAS certification.
Website: 
https://ix-index.com/
Advisory Committee: https://ix-index.com/committee.htm
The ixCrypto index (“IXCI”) is the first crypto index launched in Hong Kong. It was launched on 12 December 2018. It is denominated in USD with a base value of 1000 and a base date on 3 December 2018. Designed to be easy to understand while providing a good representation of the crypto market, ixCrypto index aims to cover the top 80% of the cumulative free-float adjusted market capitalization in the crypto universe and, at the same time, the crypto currencies should fall within the top liquid cryptos ranked by trading volume in the 90 days preceding the review date. The index is to be reviewed quarterly and with a fast entry rule. Real time indexes are disseminated every 5-second for 24×7 since 23 June 2022. Real time index data together with ixBitcoin Index and ixEthereum Index can be obtained from IX Asia Indexes Data Services and Bloomberg terminal on IXCI <GO>. For IXCI, IXBI and IXEI, the indexes are also available through Nasdaq Global Index Data Service (GIDS) with the tickers “IXCI”, “IXBI”, “IXEI”, with dissemination interval kept at 15-second unchanged. Wechat: 信昇亞洲指數.
By Dr. Gyan Pathak On the first day of the three-day Special Session – April 16 to April 18, 2026 – of the Parliament convened by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government, three legislations have been introduced seeking to change the electoral map of India. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has said that there […]
The article Modi Government Introduced Three Bills To Change Electoral Map Of India appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).
Nissan’s vehicle sales across the Middle East fell sharply in March as the war centred on Iran hit consumer demand, disrupted travel and darkened business sentiment across one of the carmaker’s stronger overseas markets. A report published on April 15 said Nissan’s sales in the region dropped to about half of pre-war levels, while overall regional sales were down 40 per cent for the month, according to […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai has moved to widen the role of small and medium-sized enterprises in its property market after Dubai SME and Dubai Land Department signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at giving entrepreneurs greater access to owners’ associations and real-estate operations, as the emirate pushes ahead with a broader strategy to deepen private-sector participation in one of its strongest growth industries. The agreement, announced […]
Cyber criminals are pushing a Windows information stealer called NWHStealer through bogus software downloads that masquerade as Proton VPN installers, gaming mods and hardware utilities, in a campaign that security researchers say relies less on classic phishing and more on users searching for tools they believe are legitimate. Malwarebytes said on April 15 that it had identified multiple active distribution chains tied to the stealer, with malicious […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Object 1 has made its first formal move into Abu Dhabi with the launch of A1LA Residence on Al Reem Island, a 171-unit residential tower that signals the developer’s intention to build a longer-term presence in the capital rather than test the market with a one-off scheme. The project, announced on Thursday, is set on one of Abu Dhabi’s busiest apartment investment corridors […]
Greenlogue/AP The UAE Ministry of Investment has signed a memorandum of understanding with China’s Jereh Group to develop an integrated clean energy and industrial platform in the Emirates, in a move that aligns industrial expansion with lower-carbon power and deeper commercial ties between Abu Dhabi and Beijing. The agreement was signed by Mohammad Abdulrahman Alhawi, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Investment, and Li Weibin, Executive President of […]
The scale of that shift is visible in the medical figures. South Korea’s health authorities said 606,000 foreign patients visited in 2023, the highest number recorded since the country began tracking the sector in 2009. By 2024, the official Medical Korea platform put the figure at about 1.17 million foreign patients from 202 countries, while Seoul alone accounted for 999,642 of them, or about 85 per cent of the national total. The concentration in the capital is striking: Gangnam, Seocho, Mapo, Jung and Songpa handled the overwhelming bulk of these visits, confirming that beauty tourism is being shaped by a handful of highly specialised urban clusters rather than by the country as a whole.
Dermatology has emerged as the clearest entry point. Health ministry data for 2023 showed dermatology attracting the largest share of foreign patients, ahead of plastic surgery, and industry reporting through 2025 indicated skin treatments were outpacing more invasive procedures among international visitors. That matters because it widens the customer base. Travellers who might hesitate over surgery are more willing to book laser treatments, pigmentation care, lifting procedures, injectables or intensive facials during a short stay. The result is a form of tourism that overlaps with shopping and leisure rather than replacing them, making beauty visits easier to package into ordinary city breaks.
Government and tourism bodies have not treated this as a side trend. The Korea Tourism Organization has already built beauty directly into destination marketing through programmes such as the Korea Beauty Festival, which offers overseas visitors discounts and experiences across hair, make-up, fashion, medical treatment and wellbeing. Seoul authorities have also expanded the infrastructure around foreign patients, pointing to a jump in registered international medical centres and greater use of interpreter coordinators to help overseas visitors navigate consultations and aftercare. That kind of support helps explain why South Korea’s beauty appeal now rests not just on trendsetting products but on the ease of consuming beauty services inside a highly organised visitor ecosystem.
Another force behind the surge is the spread of Korean popular culture. K-pop, drama and celebrity social media have long influenced global beauty standards, but the commercial effect is now spilling into travel. Reuters reported on Thursday that South Korea logged an all-time monthly tourism high of 2.06 million foreign visitors in March, with first-quarter arrivals reaching 4.76 million. That growth was linked chiefly to cultural pull, including the return of BTS activity and wider interest in Korean entertainment. Beauty tourism benefits from the same soft-power halo: audiences who first encounter Korean looks through idols, actors or influencers are increasingly seeking the clinics, salons and skincare routines associated with them.
Commerce tells the same story. Reuters reported last year that South Korea overtook France as the largest cosmetics exporter to the United States in 2024, underlining how deeply Korean brands have penetrated daily routines abroad. Official trade ministry material later said cosmetics exports reached a record $10.2 billion in 2024 and were still climbing in 2025, while other official data cited in January put 2025 exports at an all-time high of $11.43 billion. Those sales matter because they function as marketing for the destination itself. Consumers who begin with Beauty of Joseon, Medicube, Biodance or similar brands often move from product loyalty to place loyalty, treating Seoul as the authentic site where innovation, testing and experience come together.
Yet the boom is not without friction. South Korea ended its VAT refund scheme for foreign cosmetic and dermatological procedures from January 2026 after allowing the incentive to run for about a decade. Industry groups warned that the move could dent price competitiveness and push more cost-sensitive travellers towards rivals such as Singapore or other regional markets. Some clinics, however, argued that the refund had become less decisive than reputation, safety and trust, especially for visitors worried about counterfeit products, opaque pricing or weaker specialist ecosystems elsewhere. That debate goes to the heart of South Korea’s position: whether it is winning mainly on affordability or on brand, quality and concentration of expertise.
