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Abu Dhabi — The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security has introduced sweeping changes to the UAE’s visa regime, adding four new visit-visa categories tailored to specialists in artificial intelligence, entertainment, events, and cruise or leisure-boat tourism, while also rolling out humanitarian and widow/divorcee residence permits.

Under the new framework, the AI Specialist Visit Visa allows single or multiple entries, provided applicants submit a sponsorship letter from a recognised technology or AI institution. The Entertainment Visit Visa is intended for individuals engaging in licensed entertainment or gaming activities, while the Event Visit Visa covers attendance at festivals, exhibitions, conferences, sports, or cultural events, sponsored by public or private hosts. The Cruise & Leisure-Boat Visit Visa offers multiple-entry permits for travellers arriving via marine routes, on condition of submitting a detailed itinerary and engaging a licensed host in the tourism industry.

Alongside these targeted visit visas, the ICP now issues a Humanitarian Residence Permit, valid for one year, with possible extension under certain conditions. This permit is designed to assist individuals from countries experiencing conflict, natural disasters, or severe unrest. Notably, it can be granted without a guarantor or host, though it may be cancelled or voided if the holder departs the UAE. In exceptional cases involving relatives or in-laws, the authority may waive requirements like financial solvency or degree of kinship.

The revisions also extend protections to foreign widows and divorcees. A one-year renewable residence permit is available to foreign women whose UAE-based husband died or divorced, provided applications are submitted within six months. If the husband was a non-UAE national, eligibility depends on whether the woman held residency at the time, whether she has custody of children, and whether she was previously sponsored. Provisions for adequate housing and financial stability apply, and custody disputes will be adjudicated by a designated committee.

Revised rules for sponsoring friends or relatives now incorporate income thresholds: sponsors must earn at least AED 4,000 per month to sponsor first-degree relatives, AED 8,000 for second- or third-degree relatives, and AED 15,000 to sponsor friends. The updated system also introduces a structured schedule defining visit-visa durations and extension rules.

Other key visa reforms include tightening the Business Exploration Visa criteria and easing Truck Driver Visas—allowing single or multiple entries provided drivers are sponsored by licensed freight or transport companies and meet health, fee, and financial guarantee conditions.

In a statement, Major General Suhail Saeed Al Khaili, Director General of ICP, said the reforms emerge from “careful studies and forward-looking assessments” that considered global residency trends, client feedback, and the UAE’s strategic demands. He described the changes as intended to “meet the needs of customers while considering humanitarian and economic circumstances” and to drive technology, tourism, and economic diversification.

Bitcoin miners now hold approximately 1.8 million BTC, down from about 2.5 million in 2019—a shift that signals diminishing influence over the market and illustrates their evolving role in the ecosystem.

At their peak influence, miners were among the few entities controlling large pools of newly minted coins. Over time, however, many mining operators have adopted a business-like approach: periodically selling part of their mined yield to cover operational expenses, upgrade hardware, and manage liquidity. Those sales dilute their concentrated sway over supply movements.

On-chain data indicates miner outflows have shrunk sharply. CryptoQuant reports daily outflows dropped from 23,000 BTC in early 2025 to about 6,000 BTC in the most recent windows, with no extreme outflow days since February. Transfers from miner addresses to exchanges remain subdued, reinforcing the trend.

Despite dips in miner revenue—for example, daily earnings fell to about US$34 million in June—there is no evidence of forced liquidations. Instead, many miners are accumulating reserves while selectively monetising operations.

Publicly listed mining firms are increasingly decoupling their revenue streams from pure blockchain activity. CleanSpark, for instance, expanded a $100 million crypto-backed credit facility tied to its Coinbase holdings, with plans to fund growth across energy infrastructure and compute assets. Meanwhile, Cipher Mining struck a 10-year colocation deal with AI‐cloud provider Fluidstack, which could generate up to $3 billion in revenue over time and repurposes its infrastructure toward high-performance computing.

These developments reflect a broader industry evolution. With Paul’s halving in April 2024 slashing block rewards in half, miners now balance hash power growth against diminishing direct coin yield. To survive and scale, many operators are diversifying into hosting, AI, carbon credits, and “mining-as-a-service” models.

Smaller miners are under intense pressure. Rising energy costs, grid constraints, and compliance burdens marginalise those without scale or access to cheap power. Major operations are increasingly concentrated in jurisdictions with deregulated energy markets or surplus renewable capacity.

From a market impact perspective, miners’ strategic behaviour brings both stability and constraints. On one hand, their reduced dominance helps prevent supply shocks triggered by sudden bulk sales. On the other, their periodic selling still exerts friction on price rallies. Analysts suggest that sophisticated off-exchange OTC arrangements increasingly cloak miner sales, making their impact less visible but persistent.

QNB Group has shifted its US dollar corporate payment operations in Qatar onto JPMorgan’s blockchain-based platform, enabling business clients to execute dollar payments within minutes, around the clock. The move marks a notable milestone in the uptake of decentralised ledger technology in mainstream banking.

The Doha-based lender will use JPMorgan’s Kinexys Digital Payments system to facilitate 24/7 USD transfers for its corporate clientele. Traditional banking rails, by contrast, typically operate during business days and may take several days to complete a transfer. The QNB–JPMorgan tie-up underscores the intensifying push by major financial institutions to modernise payment infrastructure.

Kinexys, previously known as JPMorgan’s payments and tokenisation arm, has seen growing traction across the Middle East and North Africa. QNB became one of the first banks in the region to adopt the system, following Saudi National Bank’s earlier deployment. The platform allows programmable payments, enabling banks to embed automated rules or compliance checks directly into settlement flows.

Under its new arrangement, QNB clients in Qatar will now enjoy significantly improved settlement speed and liquidity management. Instead of waiting for traditional cut-off windows, funds flow without interruption, reducing operational risk and improving cash-flow efficiency. Internally, the system allows QNB to manage its USD liquidity more dynamically across its branches and treasury operations.

JPMorgan’s wider strategy with Kinexys spans tokenised deposit accounts, cross-border settlements, and programmable payment capability. Earlier this year, the firm announced a GBP-denominated blockchain deposit offering, complementing its USD tokenisation efforts. JPMorgan has also piloted USD deposit tokens built on its Base blockchain in collaboration with institutional clients.

Across the MENA region, several leading banks have gone live on Kinexys. Commercial Bank of Dubai, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Bank ABC are among the adopters. Saudi National Bank currently uses the system for its U. S. dollar-denominated flows and plans to extend the infrastructure to large corporates in its domestic market.

Dubai police have announced an extensive set of security measures and entry restrictions for spectators attending the Asia Cup 2025 final between India and Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Violations of the rules could trigger fines of up to Dh30,000 and imprisonment under federal law governing sports venues.

Every seat for Sunday’s showdown has been sold, with organisers confirming a full capacity of 28,000 spectators. With the historic match being the first final between these arch-rivals in Asia Cup history, expectations of heightened emotions have driven authorities to step up security preparations.

The police directive mandates that attendees arrive at least three hours before the start and that each ticket admits a single entry—re-entry will not be allowed. All spectators must enter through gates assigned by organisers, follow instructions from stewards and security staff, and park only in specified areas. Any departure from the stadium during the match will forfeit re-entry.

The list of prohibited items is comprehensive. Fireworks, flares, laser pointers, and any flammable or hazardous materials are banned outright. Sharp objects, weapons, toxic substances, remote-controlled devices, large umbrellas, camera rigs, tripods, selfie sticks, and unauthorised photographic equipment are also barred. Flags, banners, or placards without official approval, pets, bicycles, skateboards, scooters, glass items, and outside food or drink are disallowed. Smoking or carrying any item that could endanger public safety will attract penalties.

Under the Federal Law on the Security of Sports Facilities and Events, the penalties range from Dh5,000 to Dh30,000 for breaches such as entering the pitch, carrying banned items or misbehaving. More severe violations — including throwing objects, abusive or racist language — may lead to fines in the Dh10,000 to Dh30,000 range or imprisonment for up to three months.

Multiple specialised police units and surveillance teams will be deployed around the stadium. Authorities have urged full cooperation from fans to allow the match to proceed without incident. The Events Security Committee is jointly monitoring crowd movement, traffic, and stadium access.

On the transport front, traffic congestion is expected to peak along Al Khail Road, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, Hessa Street, Umm Al Suqeim Street, and via routes through Al Barsha, Dubai Motor City and surrounding neighbourhoods. Alternate routes such as Umm Al Suqeim Street or Al Fay Road via Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road are being recommended, especially for motorists approaching from the south.

Parking zones P1 to P4 at the stadium are allocated, and overflow areas in Dubai Motor City and Dubai Studio City will provide shuttle services. Some park-and-ride facilities near Mall of the Emirates and First Abu Dhabi Bank Metro stations will function, connecting visitors to the venue via feeder services and taxis.

Dubai police have also issued multilingual advisories to reach a broader cross-section of fans. Authorities emphasise that the cooperation of spectators will be crucial to preserving a safe environment and ensuring that the focus remains on the cricketing spectacle.

Digital asset treasury firms, which raise capital to accumulate crypto assets on their balance sheets, are being reimagined by market analysts as possible long-term powerhouses akin to Berkshire Hathaway. Ryan Watkins, co-founder of Syncracy Capital, argues that the more successful of these firms—currently seen by many as speculative vehicles—could evolve into permanent capital engines that deploy resources, build operating businesses, and influence ecosystem governance.

These treasury firms already collectively manage over $105 billion in crypto holdings, across assets such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and others. Watkins emphasises that the largest winners will be those that transition from mere accumulation into diversified operations across staking, lending, infrastructure and enterprise investment.

The model diverges from traditional crypto “hoard and hope” strategies. Rather than simply acting as passive holders, Watkins projects that top-tier treasury companies will adopt a hybrid role: asset manager, growth investor, and operational builder. In his view, they may eventually resemble conglomerates that deploy capital into promising ventures, fund ecosystem projects, and re-invest profits strategically.

Some firms already reflect parts of this shift. MicroStrategy remains a benchmark, having raised capital through equity and convertible debt to purchase Bitcoin. As of mid-2025, dozens of public and private entities have announced intentions to create treasury arms or adopt treasury strategies. Firms are expanding beyond Bitcoin into Ethereum, Solana and other networks, seeking yield diversification.

A newly announced example is AVAX One, backed by Anthony Scaramucci and Hivemind Capital, which aims to raise $550 million to acquire AVAX tokens and expand into fintech and insurance acquisitions on the Avalanche network. This signals growing appetite for treasury firms to enter adjacent sectors and integrate vertically.

At the same time, regulatory and ethical challenges loom. Critics warn that some treasury firms may disguise self-dealing as capital deployment, favouring projects in which insiders hold undue influence. Without rigorous governance, the line between strategic investment and insider enrichment can blur.

Regulatory scrutiny is also emerging: authorities like the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission and FINRA have initiated probes into suspicious trading around announcements by publicly traded firms adopting crypto treasury plans, seeking to determine whether some investors benefitted from non-public disclosures. Meanwhile, treasury entities face pressure to provide transparency in reserves and audit practices, especially as they reassure investors about balance sheet integrity.

By K Raveendran The global oil market is once again caught between geopolitics and fundamentals, as a new set of developments forces traders, producers, and consumers to recalibrate expectations. With the United States and the European Union signalling a hardening of positions on Russian oil, and with the Middle East simmering in heightened tensions, Brent […]

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