Category: Talking Point

Capital markets across the Middle East and North Africa recorded ten initial public offerings that raised a combined $1.7bn in the fourth quarter of 2025, signalling continued investor engagement despite broader market headwinds. According to the EY MENA IPO Eye Q4 2025 report, the MENA region sustained momentum in public market activity as companies across diverse sectors tapped equity markets for capital.Morocco’s Société Générale des Travaux du Maroc dominated fundraising during the period, securing $525.4m on the

 Dubai has moved to kick off the first phase of the Dubai Loop, an underground high-speed transport network to be built by Elon Musk’s Boring Company, marking one of the most ambitious urban mobility projects announced by the emirate. The initial phase is set to begin immediately, according to a statement by a senior transport official, signalling a rapid transition from concept to execution.Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Dubai’s Roads and

Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company is preparing to establish a branch in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City, positioning the insurer among a growing list of Gulf financial firms seeking a foothold in India’s offshore financial hub and signalling a sharper international expansion strategy. The move, expected to culminate in an operational launch in the latter part of 2026, follows approval from the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates, with regulatory clearances in India anticipated to be secured in the coming

Oil prices extended gains as OPEC+ signalled it would keep production levels unchanged, choosing caution over a pre-emptive response to higher prices driven by geopolitical tension linked to Iran and fragile demand signals from major economies.Benchmark Brent crude traded above the mid-$80s a barrel during the session, supported by concerns over potential supply disruption in the Middle East and tighter physical markets in parts of Asia. West Texas Intermediate followed a similar trajectory, narrowing the discount to Brent as inventories

Civil aviation stands at the centre of economic expansion, tourism development and global connectivity as governments and industry leaders recalibrate policies to meet rising passenger demand and shifting trade patterns, Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri said while addressing a high-level ministerial gathering in Hyderabad.Speaking at the “Wings of India 2026” conference, the Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Civil Aviation Authority underlined that aviation has moved beyond transport to become an

Video games once trained patience through repetition and failure, according to a senior psychologist who says the design logic of modern titles has altered how younger players engage with attention, effort and reward. Speaking in his professional capacity, the president of Drugzone Pharmaceuticals Inc said the shift from finite, skill-based progression to systems built around constant engagement marks a decisive break from the gaming culture of the 1990s.Games of that era, he explained, placed players in closed loops of learning.

 Abu Dhabi has begun consolidating its $263 billion wealth fund ADQ under the umbrella of a newly established sovereign entity, L’imad Holding Co., marking one of the most significant restructurings of the emirate’s investment architecture in years. The move adds another heavyweight to a capital ecosystem already dominated by state-backed investors controlling assets estimated at close to $2 trillion, underscoring the emirate’s push to sharpen coordination and global influence.L’imad Holding Co. is chaired by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled

Saudi Arabia has begun a broad recalibration of its most ambitious development schemes, signalling a more pragmatic approach to spending after months of official messaging about fiscal discipline. Authorities have ordered sweeping reviews across several headline projects spanning Neom, Jeddah and Riyadh, as pressure mounts to balance long-term transformation goals with near-term economic realities.The shift became visible with the decision to delay the 2029 Asian Winter Games, a centrepiece of the kingdom’s sporting and tourism push. The event, awarded to

Severe weather across large parts of the United States and planned airport infrastructure works in Europe have forced major Gulf carriers to cancel and suspend flights, highlighting how environmental shocks and logistical constraints can ripple through tightly connected aviation networks.Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai and Qatar Airways have issued a series of travel advisories as winter storms in North America disrupted air traffic control operations and ground handling, while runway and terminal works at key European hubs constrained capacity. The overlapping

A shift in global technology talent flows is becoming clearer as companies and professionals reassess the United States’ immigration environment, with India emerging as a leading beneficiary. Tightened visa scrutiny, policy uncertainty and prolonged processing timelines linked to Trump-era approaches to skilled migration have altered career calculations for engineers, researchers and founders who once saw the US as the default destination.Technology firms across Silicon Valley and other hubs report that hiring friction tied to the H-1B visa programme has persisted

AD Ports Group has agreed to acquire full ownership of Balenciaga Astilleros Shipyard, one of Spain’s long-established shipbuilding and repair facilities, for a total consideration of €11.2 million, extending the Abu Dhabi-based group’s industrial footprint across the Mediterranean and reinforcing its push into offshore wind support services.The transaction is being executed through SAFEEN Drydocks, a subsidiary within Noatum Maritime, marking a further step in AD Ports Group’s strategy of pairing port operations and maritime services with specialised industrial assets in

United States authorities will suspend the processing of immigrant visas for applicants from 75 countries later this month, marking a significant tightening of the pathway to permanent residency as Washington undertakes a sweeping review of immigration screening and eligibility rules. The move, announced by the US Department of State, applies only to immigrant visas and does not affect non-immigrant categories such as tourist, student or business visas, which will continue to be processed.The pause is part of a broader policy

President Donald Trump said on Monday that any country conducting business with Iran would face a 25% tariff on trade with the United States, signalling a sharp escalation in Washington’s economic pressure as the White House weighs its response to unrest inside Iran marked by widespread anti-government protests.The warning was delivered via a post on Truth Social, where Trump said the measure would take effect immediately and apply to “any and all business” conducted with the United States by countries

Public spaces across Downtown Dubai were restored in under 55 minutes after New Year’s Eve celebrations, as Emrill completed a large-scale overnight clean-up following one of the city’s biggest annual events. More than 308 team members were deployed across the district to clear waste, reset streets and pedestrian zones, and return key public areas to normal use before early-morning activity resumed.The operation, delivered for the thirteenth consecutive year, formed part of Emrill’s long-standing collaboration with Emaar and highlighted the logistical

A newly identified vulnerability affecting Google’s Gemini artificial intelligence system has heightened concerns about the exposure of Gmail users to sophisticated phishing and account compromise, sharpening the debate around how large language models interpret and act on hidden instructions embedded in everyday digital content.Security researchers and policy analysts say the issue stems from indirect prompt injection, a technique that allows malicious instructions to be concealed inside emails, documents or web pages in ways that are invisible to human readers but

President Donald Trump pressed executives from major oil companies on Friday to commit at least $100 billion of private capital to rebuild Venezuela’s depleted oil industry, but several leaders voiced deep reservations about the risks and structural barriers to doing business in the South American country. The meeting, held in the East Room of the White House and attended by representatives from ExxonMobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips and other global energy firms, underscored the tension between Washington’s strategic ambitions and corporate caution.

Riyadh is moving to sideline Abu Dhabi’s influence in Yemen as strains deepen between the two Gulf neighbours, according to people familiar with the matter, marking a sharper turn in a rivalry that has simmered alongside years of cooperation. The push centres on bringing armed factions backed by the Emirates under Saudi control while reshaping the balance of power along vital shipping lanes stretching from the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.Officials briefed on the situation say Saudi authorities

ADNOC Drilling has formally entered Oman’s onshore drilling services sector, marking a strategic expansion beyond its core home market after completing the purchase of a controlling stake in a land-rig joint venture with SLB that operates six rigs in the sultanate. The move positions the company to participate more directly in Oman’s upstream development plans at a time when regional producers are prioritising operational efficiency, drilling intensity and long-term capacity growth.In a filing to the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange dated

A landmark agreement between Caracas and Washington will see up to $2 billion worth of Venezuelan crude oil exported to the United States under terms announced by President Donald Trump, marking a major shift in energy geopolitics and offering a potential reprieve to Venezuela’s embattled oil sector. The arrangement, underscored by negotiations that could divert barrels previously bound for China, elevates the United States into a key market for Venezuelan crude while signalling deeper engagement between the two governments amid

Venezuela’s state-run oil industry continued operating without interruption on Saturday despite a dramatic United States operation that led to the capture of President Nicolas Maduro, according to people familiar with the operations of Petróleos de Venezuela, known as PDVSA. Production, refining and internal logistics remained stable, the sources said, with no damage reported at oilfields, pipelines or export terminals that underpin the country’s energy revenues.The announcement of Maduro’s capture by President Donald Trump followed months of escalating pressure from Washington,

Europe’s ambitions in semiconductors, embedded software and advanced electronic systems have been sharpened with the release of the Electronic Components and Systems Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda 2026, a document that sets priorities for research, industrial deployment and public investment across the continent’s technology base. The updated agenda outlines how Europe plans to strengthen technological sovereignty in electronic components and systems at a time of intense global competition and structural change in supply chains.The 2026 agenda, developed through broad consultation

Public schools across the UAE will operate under revised Friday hours from January 9 after authorities standardised the Friday sermon and congregational prayer at 12:45pm nationwide, a change designed to align school routines with worship while preserving teaching time.The Ministry of Education said the adjustment ensures students and staff can observe religious obligations without disrupting learning outcomes. Under the updated arrangement, schools will reorganise Friday timetables so lessons conclude in time for prayers, with campuses resuming or completing the day

The United Arab Emirates reinforced its position as a centre for advanced technology and space sciences through 2025, recording a sequence of policy, industrial and scientific advances that underscored a broader shift towards an innovation-led, knowledge-based economy. Government agencies, research centres and private firms aligned capital spending with skills development, deepening international cooperation while scaling domestic capabilities across satellite manufacturing, Earth observation and deep-space research.At the heart of the push was the expansion of orbital infrastructure, led by the Mohammed

A sharp fall in Iran’s rial has triggered demonstrations in the heart of Tehran, exposing mounting pressure on household budgets and traders as prices of basic goods accelerate amid tightening financial conditions and long-running sanctions.State television on Monday broadcast blurred footage it described as limited unrest by merchants at Grand Bazaar, while videos circulating on social media indicated wider participation, with shopkeepers pulling down shutters and chanting slogans against rising costs. The broadcaster said security forces were deployed to restore