Aston Martin is exploring the sale of branding rights linked to its Formula One team as the luxury carmaker warns that losses are set to deepen, underscoring the financial strain facing one of Britain’s most storied automotive marques. The company said it is assessing options to monetise the commercial value of the Aston Martin name within Formula One, a move that could involve selling or licensing branding […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Former title holders are set to cross paths at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships after the official draw for the ATP 500 event produced a string of high-profile match-ups that promise a week of elite competition at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium. The men’s tournament, one of the most established stops on the ATP Tour’s Middle East swing, has again attracted […]
United States import tariffs have largely been paid by domestic businesses and households rather than foreign exporters, according to a growing body of economic research, sharpening debate in Washington over the long-term costs of trade protection. Studies by Federal Reserve economists and leading academic institutions show that the bulk of duties imposed during the trade disputes of the past decade were passed through to American importers in […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Rolling road closures will be enforced across parts of Abu Dhabi on Sunday afternoon as the UAE Tour concludes with its final stage, prompting authorities to advise motorists to plan ahead and expect delays. Abu Dhabi Police and the Integrated Transport Centre confirmed that temporary traffic diversions will be introduced along key corridors linked to the race route, with closures moving in tandem […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai A strategic partnership signed in Riyadh this week is aimed at transforming veterinary vaccine production in Saudi Arabia through domestic manufacturing and advanced technology transfers, marking a decisive shift in the Kingdom’s approach to animal health and biosecurity. Under the patronage of Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadhli, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture and chairman of the National Livestock and Fisheries Development Program, Saudi […]
The United Kingdom has moved to impose legally binding obligations on technology companies to take down abusive or non-consensual intimate images within 48 hours of them being flagged, aiming to strengthen protections against online harms that disproportionately affect women and girls. Under amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill, firms that do not comply could face fines of up to 10 per cent of their global revenue […]
The United Kingdom has moved to impose legally binding obligations on technology companies to take down abusive or non-consensual intimate images within 48 hours of them being flagged, aiming to strengthen protections against online harms that disproportionately affect women and girls. Under amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill, firms that do not comply could face fines of up to 10 per cent of their global revenue […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dell Technologies and Ooredoo have unveiled a strategic collaboration aimed at accelerating artificial intelligence deployment across the Middle East, with a focus on delivering AI-as-a-Service through Ooredoo’s Sovereign AI Cloud platform. The partnership brings together Dell’s infrastructure and AI solutions portfolio with Ooredoo’s regional data centre footprint and telecom capabilities, positioning the companies to serve governments, enterprises and regulated sectors seeking advanced AI […]
Iran has signalled progress in indirect negotiations with the United States over its nuclear programme, days after heightened tensions in the Gulf led to a partial disruption of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global energy supplies. Officials in Tehran said discussions aimed at easing sanctions and placing constraints on uranium enrichment had moved forward, describing the latest round of contacts as “constructive”. […]
Cucumber prices across Russia have climbed sharply, prompting public frustration and drawing scrutiny from lawmakers and regulators as households grapple with food inflation during the conflict in Ukraine. Data published by the federal statistics agency show that the retail cost of cucumbers has risen markedly since the start of the year, outpacing overall food inflation. In several regions, consumers have reported prices doubling compared with the same […]
Ripple has ranked ahead of Bitcoin and Ethereum in a global survey measuring emotional connection between consumers and cryptocurrency brands, underscoring how perception and trust are emerging as competitive factors in a volatile digital asset market. The San Francisco-based blockchain company placed fourth overall in MBLM’s Brand Intimacy Study for cryptocurrency projects, outperforming both Bitcoin and Ethereum in the latest assessment of how strongly users feel bonded […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Smart Accommodation for Residential Complexes Company, a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, has signed a non-binding Heads of Terms agreement with Tamimi Group to develop a 4,000-bed staff accommodation complex in Riyadh, marking one of the larger purpose-built housing projects aimed at supporting the kingdom’s expanding workforce. The proposed development, announced on 17 February, will be located in the capital and is […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi Judicial Department has begun rolling out facial recognition technology for notary transactions, marking a significant shift in how legal documents are verified and authenticated in the emirate. The first phase of the initiative, announced by the department, integrates biometric identification into selected notary services, enabling clients to complete procedures through digital platforms without the need for physical attendance. Officials describe the […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Yango Group says its artificial intelligence-driven routing system saved users more than five million hours in 2025, with riders in Dubai and Abu Dhabi alone reclaiming over 34,000 hours through dynamic route optimisation. The mobility and technology company, which operates ride-hailing and delivery services across the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Latin America, reported that its AI models analysed billions of data points […]
Microsoft has completed the global rollout of a new AI Workflows feature within the Teams Workflows app that uses Microsoft 365 Copilot to help users automate complex tasks and daily operations, marking a significant advance in intelligent productivity tools for organisations worldwide. Users with Microsoft 365 Copilot licences can now access preset workflow templates that harness scheduled Copilot prompts to handle repetitive actions like project summaries, data […]
Singapore’s drive to harness artificial intelligence as an engine of economic growth is entering a decisive phase marked by abundant ambition and clear signs of strain across company ranks. Government fiscal policy and private-sector deployment are converging on AI, but weak data infrastructure, skills gaps and uneven returns are tempering expectations even as enterprises escalate investments and policy support grows.
Last week, the nation’s Budget for the 2026 fiscal year unveiled a suite of measures aimed at elevating AI adoption across multiple industries. Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong confirmed the establishment of a National AI Council, to be chaired by himself, tasked with coordinating research, regulation and investment to align public and private interests in developing AI capability. The plan also includes National AI Missions focused on advanced manufacturing, connectivity and logistics, finance and healthcare, sectoral areas where government and business leaders see the most potential for productivity gains and value creation. The budget expands fiscal incentives with enhanced tax deductions for AI-related expenditures over the next two assessment years and widened grant schemes to support adoption, workforce training and enterprise transformation. Leaders of major consultancies said these measures signal a shift from experimentation to enterprise-scale adoption and give firms a clearer pathway to embed AI into core operations.
Despite this policy momentum, data from industry surveys and corporate research paint a more nuanced picture of utilisation and outcomes. Adoption of AI tools in Singapore is now near universal among larger firms, with about 96 per cent reporting some level of use. But a significant gap remains between deployment and measurable returns on investment. Only a minority of organisations consider themselves leaders in achieving strong, sustained ROI, indicating an emerging disconnect between AI deployment at scale and operational readiness to turn it into business value. Executives widely acknowledge that sprawling and complex data environments, coupled with cybersecurity concerns, are contributing to operational friction and risks that constrain potential gains.
Private forecasts and vendor research suggest that enterprises are committed to accelerating AI spending even as returns lag. Surveys of business leaders show average investments in AI of around SG$18.9 million, with expectations for investment growth of roughly 38 per cent over the next two years and ROI projections rising to an average of 29 per cent during the same period. Yet analysts note that these returns will depend significantly on firms’ ability to bridge gaps in data readiness and workforce capability. Many Singapore companies acknowledge limited internal training, fragmented data integration and widespread informal use of ungoverned AI tools, all of which undermine robust enterprise-level strategy and governance structures.
Structural issues are as salient as technical ones. Industry leaders point to weaknesses in reliable data foundations and the need for stronger leadership alignment to embed AI into strategic operations rather than relegated to pilot projects or isolated business functions. Senior executives contend that competitive advantage over the coming decade will be determined less by technology choice and more by how effectively organisations build hybrid human-AI teams and integrate AI into everyday workflows.
Talent acquisition and retention also feature prominently in conversations around Singapore’s AI trajectory. Advanced AI, cloud and cybersecurity skills are in high demand globally and Singapore is no exception, with firms reporting difficulty scaling teams with the specialised expertise needed to support complex AI systems. This talent shortage both drives up costs and slows the pace at which organisations can absorb and leverage new technologies.
Cloud infrastructure and advanced digital foundations are another determinant of success. Financial services institutions in Singapore, for example, are among the most advanced globally in cloud adoption, with a majority running core workloads in cloud or hybrid environments that facilitate large-scale AI deployment. This infrastructure supports use cases ranging from compliance and risk management to fraud detection and transaction monitoring. However, budget constraints, talent gaps and integration challenges remain headwinds even in these relatively strong pockets of adoption.
Commentators outside the corporate sphere emphasize the importance of inclusive growth, noting that small- and medium-sized enterprises must not be left behind in the national AI push. Business federation and consultancy leaders warn that without targeted support for smaller firms to sustain, not just adopt, AI technologies, widening capability divides could undermine broader economic innovation and productivity goals.
Nigeria has launched a sweeping industrial policy aimed at restarting idle factories, boosting domestic manufacturing and positioning Africa’s largest economy as a competitive production hub in global supply chains. Federal authorities say the framework is designed to tackle long-standing structural weaknesses that have undermined output, including erratic power supply, limited access to long-term finance, foreign exchange volatility and infrastructure gaps. Manufacturing accounts for less than 10 per […]
Harvard Management Company has reduced its exposure to bitcoin-linked holdings by about 20 per cent while initiating a new position tied to ether, signalling a recalibration of its digital asset strategy amid shifting market dynamics and valuation pressures. Regulatory filings show that the endowment’s investment arm pared back its stake in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust during the latest reporting period, cutting the value of its holding from […]
Three decades after its modest debut on a handheld console, Pokémon has evolved into one of the most lucrative entertainment properties in history, generating tens of billions of dollars in revenue and emerging as a potent instrument of Japan’s cultural influence abroad. Created by Satoshi Tajiri and launched in 1996 by Nintendo, Game Freak and Creatures, the franchise began with Pokémon Red and Green for the Game […]
Emirates has signed an interline agreement with China’s Loong Air, widening its access to 22 additional destinations across the mainland and strengthening its competitive position in one of the world’s most strategically important aviation markets. The arrangement, effective immediately, enables Emirates passengers to connect beyond its existing gateways in Hangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong onto Loong Air-operated domestic services. The added cities span eastern, northeastern, southern, central […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Saudi Arabia is accelerating a transformation of Mecca’s property market, opening parts of the holy city to foreign investment as lower oil prices strain state finances and flagship mega projects such as Neom undergo recalibration. Cranes line new promenades leading towards the Grand Mosque, where swathes of older neighbourhoods have been cleared to make way for high-rise hotels and mixed-use towers designed to […]
Turkey has withdrawn from the 2026 Munich Security Conference, citing what it describes as the unacceptable elevation of a Syrian Kurdish commander it regards as a national security threat. Ankara’s decision follows the participation and high-level meetings of Mazloum Abdi, commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces, at the annual security gathering in Germany. Turkish officials objected to Abdi’s engagement with senior Western leaders, including French President Emmanuel […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Saudi Arabia has stepped up efforts to localise vaccine and pharmaceutical manufacturing, with Industry and Mineral Resources Minister Bandar Alkhorayef holding high-level talks in Lyon aimed at accelerating biopharmaceutical production within the Kingdom. During meetings with Thomas Triomphe, Executive Vice President and Head of Vaccines at Sanofi, the minister explored pathways for industrial collaboration that would anchor advanced vaccine manufacturing in Saudi Arabia. […]
Elon Musk’s social network X is advancing plans to embed cryptocurrency and stock trading features directly into users’ timelines as part of a broader push to transform the platform into a financial ecosystem. Executives at the company have signalled that a limited external beta of its integrated financial services, known as X Money, is anticipated within weeks, marking a major milestone in Musk’s vision of merging social […]
