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China-led SCO weighs membership to Iran

James M Dorsey The Taliban takeover of Afghanistan may help Iran reduce its international isolation. At least, that’s what the Islamic Republic hopes when leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) gather in Tajikistan next weekend. Members are admitted to the eight-member China-led SCO that also groups Russia, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan, by unanimous consensus. Iran, unlike its rivals in the Gulf, Saudi Arabia and the […]

Afghanistan has lessons for the Gulf

James M Dorsey The US withdrawal from Afghanistan will likely clarify what the Gulf’s security options are. Gulf states are likely to monitor how Russia and China handle the perceived security vacuum and security threats in the wake of the US withdrawal and abandonment, for all practical matters, of Central Asia. It will tell Gulf states to what degree Russia and China may be viable alternatives for […]

Afghanistan debacle puts UAE on the spot

James M Dorsey Afghanistan is showing the United Arab Emirates the downside of being a haven for deposed leaders and exiled politicians whose wealth is reportedly parked without question in Emirati financial institutions. The latest arrival in the UAE, former Afghan president Ashraf Ghani, denied this week allegations by Afghanistan’s ambassador to Tajikistan, Zahir Aghbar, that he had stolen US$169 million from state coffers and an assertion by the Russian […]

Fuel divide among Gulf states

by James M. Dorsey Personality as well as the conflation of genuine national interest with personal ambition contribute to the widening gap between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. It was only a matter of time before Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman would want to come out on his own and no longer be seen as the protégé of his erstwhile mentor and Emirati counterpart, […]

Pak PM’s ultra-conservative inklings

By James M Dorsey Widely seen as a populist with ultra-conservative inklings, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan increasingly appears to reinforce widespread traditionalist attitudes that reject religious tolerance as well as the rights of women and minorities. In doing so, Mr. Khan is aligning Pakistan in religious and social terms closer to Turkey than his country’s traditional allies, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Turkish President […]

Emirates lays on extra Saudi flights on Sunday following suspension

RIYADH: Emirates added extra flights betwen Saudi Arabia and the UAE on Sunday after the Kingdom suspended air travel to its neighbor. It doubled flights to Riyadh and Jeddah and added a Dammam

UAE artists, designers learning to break plastic habit

DUBAI: Creatives at a new UAE business center are playing their part in tackling climate change by encouraging the community to go green through a series of art and design projects. The initiative is

HSBC pledges $5bn in lending for UAE firms to go global

DUBAI: HSBC is committing $5 billion of lending to support strong companies in the UAE seeking capital to fund global expansion. Incentives will be offered to businesses that meet the required

Dubai government agency first to approve job titles for remote work

DUBAI: Dubai Municipality has become the first government agency in the UAE to approve job titles for remote work, state news agency WAM has reported. Remote work can now be done under normal

COVID-19 causes Emirates Group US$6 billion loss in 2020-21

By Saifur Rahman COVID-19 hit the Emirates Group, which includes world’s largest international airline Emirates and its ticketing and ground handling arm Dnata, with a US$6.0 billion (Dh22.1 billion) net loss in 2020-2021 financial year ending March 2021, compared with an Dh1.7 billion (US$456 million) profit for reported for 2019-2020 financial year. This is the airline’s first loss in more than three decades and the second annual […]

Singapore’s TSLC joins Aafaq to disrupt UAE consumer credit market

By Saifur Rahman Singapore’s Social Loan Company and Dubai-based Aafaq Islamic Finance announced a partnership to deliver mobile-first loan platform that could democratise and disrupt the US$90.91 billion (Dh333.88 billion) consumer credit market in the UAE. The partnership with The Social Loan Company (TSLC), a Singapore-based AI/ML-powered cutting-edge big data-driven credit enablement platform company, will help Aafaq Islamic Finance to set up a trend-setting non-bank, mobile-first loan platform to […]

Ali Mabkhout kick-starts UAE World Cup qualification bid on

DUBAI: Thursday evening was a good one for Arab teams as more returned to international action after the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) suspensions, but all still have work to do if they are to

UAE’s Ras al Khaimah reveals 20 attractions to get pulse racing

DUBAI: The UAE’s northernmost emirate has revealed a 500 million dirhams ($136 million) tourism investment plan to tempt thrill seekers and lovers of the great outdoors. Ras Al Khaimah Tourism

SAGO sells mills to UAE investors as part of KSA’s ongoing

RIYADH: The Saudi Grains Organization (SAGO) and the National Center for Privatization (NCP) announced on Thursday that the Third Milling Co. (MC3) has been sold to a consortium of UAE investors. The

UAE central bank issues first license to low-risk specialized lender

ABU DHABI: The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates has issued its first license under a system of low-risk specialized banks designed to serve UAE residents, WAM reported. The central bank set

Emirati fighters set for big impact at Abu Dhabi World Professional

DUBAI: The UAE’s top jiu-jitsu fighters warmed up in style for the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship (ADWPJJC) by capturing a total of 28 medals at the weekend’s AJP Tour’s Abu

Contractor DSI swings to profit but auditor highlights $1.3bn in

DUBAI: Contractor Drake & Scull said it swung to a profit of 95 million dirhams ($25.9 million) last year after losing 87 million dirhams the year before. But auditor EY highlighted the UAE-based

Arab Fashion Week 2021 postponed until March 28

DUBAI: The 2021 edition of Arab Fashion Week has been postponed from until March 28-April 1, following the passing of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, the UAE’s Minister of Finance and Deputy

Israel and UAE rugby teams face off in 1st after new ties

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: In the Middle East, where sport and diplomacy are closely intertwined, political passions can spill over onto the playing field. With the Palestinian cause the core issue

UAE looks to UK drone researchers for rainfall boost

LONDON: British researchers have been tasked by the UAE to explore ways to induce rainfall in the Gulf by using drones that beam electricity into clouds. The UAE has paid $1.4 million to the UK team

Smugglers protests: Iran succumbs to trauma and demons

James M. Dorsey The clashes sparked by a crackdown on cross border fuel smuggling to neighbouring Pakistan achieved what past US and Saudi machinations failed to accomplish: ethnic unrest in a strategic, impoverished and long restive majority Sunni province in predominantly Shiite Iran.Recent clashes in the Iranian province of Sistan and Balochistan highlight Iran’s vulnerabilities as well as its inability to overcome trauma and control its demons. The […]

Qatar resumes condensate exports to UAE after boycott lifted

LONDON: Qatar has resumed exports of condensate to the UAE after a three-year boycott was lifted. A tanker offloaded at Dubai’s Jebel Ali port this week, Refinitiv Eikon data showed. The Abu Dhabi

Art Dubai shifts date, location to abide by COVID-19 measures

DUBAI: The UAE’s Art Dubai is returning for its 14th edition, organizers announced on Wednesday. The exhibition is set to take place physically at a “new purpose-built venue” in Dubai International

Mars Hope Probe success strengthens UAE-Japan partnership

TOKYO: Japan’s Foreign Minister MOTEGI Toshimitsu praised the successful arrival of the UAE’s Hope Probe to Mars and its entry into orbit. Motegi also extended Japan’s congratulations to the UAE for