The UAE is gearing up for its largest-ever delegation to the 9th Asian Winter Games, set to take place in Harbin, China, from February 7 to 14. The National Olympic Committee announced on Sunday that seven athletes—six men and one woman—will represent the country in three events: alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, and snowboarding. This marks...
The UAE’s insurance market witnessed remarkable growth in 2024, with gross written premiums (GWP) reaching AED64.5bn ($17.6bn), up by 21% from AED53.3bn in 2023. The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) highlighted this surge in its annual statement, underscoring the nation’s continued leadership in the region’s financial sector. This growth in the insurance sector aligns...
Samsung E&A, a leading South Korean engineering and construction company, has won a major contract worth $1.69 billion to build a methanol plant in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The deal was officially announced on Monday. The project, commissioned by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), will focus on designing, procuring materials, and constructing...
The Arab Parliament has stressed the importance of developing the artificial intelligence (AI) industry within Arab countries. Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Yamahi, President of the Arab Parliament, highlighted the need for clear plans and adequate financial and human resources to compete globally in this rapidly growing field. Speaking at the Arab Dialogue Circle on “Artificial...
The GCC region has emerged as a global hotspot for tourism, attracting 68.1 million visitors in 2023 and generating a record $110.4 billion in revenue. According to data from GCC-Stat, this marks a 42.8% increase in tourist arrivals compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019. The Gulf countries are making steady progress towards their 2023-2030 tourism...
The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (SEF) 2025 kicked off with a celebration of innovation, as the winners of the SEF x 1Tank Startup Pitch Competition were crowned on the festival’s first day. This year, AED 200,000 in cash prizes and access to up to AED 500,000 in investments were awarded to promising startups from different sectors....
Emirates has unveiled its biggest lounge outside of Dubai at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, following a $5 million refurbishment. Located in the Satellite 1 Terminal (SAT-1), the lounge now spans 1,454 square meters, offering space for up to 250 passengers. Designed to cater to premium travelers, the lounge serves First and Business Class passengers as well...
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, launched an initiative called ‘Erth Dubai’ on Sunday. This initiative is focused on documenting the rich history and heritage of the emirate by gathering and cataloguing...
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced that public transport and shared mobility services in the city facilitated 747.1 million riders in 2024. This figure represents a 6.4 percent increase from the 702 million riders recorded in 2023. The transit services encompassed various modes, including Dubai Metro, Dubai Tram, public buses, marine transport options like...
Abu Dhabi’s real estate market recorded AED10.6 billion in transactions during January 2025, marking a strong start to the year. According to the Department of Municipalities and Transport’s DARI platform, this total came from 2,514 property deals, highlighting the sector’s ongoing growth. Sales transactions were a major contributor, reaching AED6.5 billion from 1,730 deals. Mortgage...