How I got to the top Entrepreneurs Abdulrahman Ali Alolayan Abdulrahman Ali Alolayan is founding CEO of Dammam BioTech Valley, a leading biotech innovation and research hub in Saudi Arabia. He is also founder of the Taibah Valley biotech investment company and a board member of various private and public companies. What does your company do? At Dammam BioTech Valley we pave the way for […] November 11, 2022
Economy Influx of rich expats pushing up UAE inflation, says IMF panel The influx of affluent migrants into the UAE has contributed to the country’s rising inflation, but also presents new opportunities for the Gulf state. A Henley Global Citizens report published in August forecast that the UAE will record the largest net inflow of millionaires on record, adding an additional 4,000 high net worth individuals this […] November 1, 2022
Exclusive Retail Kuwait classified giant 4Sale aims to double up on business The oldest form of classified ads can be traced back all the way to 2000BC, when the Egyptians invented outdoor advertising as they carved public notices into steel. This earliest example of the ‘first mover advantage’ strategy is not lost on the CEO of 4Sale, Kuwait’s largest online classifieds platform, which has big ambitions to […] October 31, 2022
Economy Rishi Sunak to be UK prime minister: What you need to know Rishi Sunak will be Britain’s next prime minister after his rivals quit the race, following one of the most turbulent periods in British political history. Politics Sunak, the 42-year-old former finance minister, will become Britain’s third prime minister in less than two months. His predecessor Liz Truss was brought down after just six weeks in […] October 24, 2022
Exclusive Real Estate Six Senses sells 75% of branded Dubai units ahead of 2024 debut The first Six Senses Residences in Dubai is planned for 2024 as the CEO of the global luxury hospitality brand reports demand from affluent and existing UAE residents. Neil Jacobs said the progressing construction of Six Senses Residences The Palm, alongside a 61-room hotel, represents a “new milestone for the brand”. “The property price growth […] October 23, 2022
Opinion Development Truss’s exit has battered Britain’s global image Next week the UK will get its third prime minister in four months, who has the unenviable job of getting it back on track domestically and internationally October 20, 2022
Economy Pensions in demand as expats stay longer in the Gulf Expats are staying in the Gulf longer than the global average, leading to greater demand for pension services in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. “We have observed an increase in interest and discussion in the Middle East around offering pension type savings for expatriate employees,” said Robert Ansari, head of investment and retirement for India, […] October 20, 2022
Aviation Etihad names new CEO as airline confirms Tony Douglas exit Etihad Aviation Group named Antonoaldo Neves its new CEO today after confirming the departure of Tony Douglas, who is understood to be taking the helm at a new airline in Saudi Arabia. Neves was announced as group CEO while Douglas will serve during his transition period as an advisor to the board of ADQ Aviation […] October 19, 2022
Development UAE and UK partner to support women entrepreneurs The UAE-UK Business Council announced a new partnership with the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women on Monday as it rallies business leaders to mentor more female entrepreneurs in the least developed countries. The 100,000 Women Programme has already secured the participation of over 100 business leaders in the UAE but it plans to turbo-charge the […] October 17, 2022
Opinion Employment Companies must find ways to improve workplace wellbeing Investing in staff wellbeing will be small compared to the costs associated with replacing top performers, rising health insurance premiums, and increased absenteeism October 14, 2022
Banking & Finance Zand CEO quits just months after UAE licence win Zand, the digital banking platform that secured its licence from the Central Bank of the UAE in July, is on the hunt for a new CEO. The bank, which has launched corporate services with personal banking to follow soon, announced a leadership change on Tuesday with Olivier Crespin, co-founder and CEO, moving on “to pursue […] October 11, 2022
Opinion Employment Seven ways leaders can deal with toxic employees A bad atmosphere in the workplace can crush morale and affect profitability October 3, 2022
Real Estate Dubai’s latest property craze: luxury underground bunkers A Swiss design firm is tapping into the latest must-have property desire for the UAE’s super rich – luxury underground bunkers. Prices start from $10 million and the developments are used for everything from pools and garages to panic rooms and secure meeting rooms. Oppidum, a design firm established in 2015 in Lucerne by entrepreneur […] October 2, 2022
Venture capital firms back female business founders in MENA Playfair Capital and Dubai-based Global Ventures have launched ‘Female Founder Office Hours’ across MENA – with 150 leading venture capital funds hosting virtual mentoring sessions for more than 400 women founders on November 10. The eighth edition of Female Founder Office Hours since it was launched in the UK in 2019 is part of a […] September 26, 2022
Economy New CEO named for Saudi’s $1.3trn private sector push A new CEO has been appointed to the Private Sector Partnership Reinforcement Program which aims to facilitate investments of $1.33 trillion from Saudi private sector businesses by 2030. Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al-Arifi, advisor to the Secretariat General of the Cabinet and a former CEO of finance at Jadwa Investment, has been hired to lead the […] September 21, 2022
Lifestyle Bahrain pearls given royal stamp of approval The UK’s Princess of Wales put Bahraini pearls back in the spotlight this week when she wore a pair of earrings made from the precious stone for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. Her timing was perfect as Bahrain aims to re-establish itself as the global centre for sustainable pearls. Catherine, Prince William’s wife, sported […] September 21, 2022
In pictures Arab leaders attend Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral Royals and leaders from the Middle East are among the dignitaries attending the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey in London. Britain’s longest-reigning monarch died on September 8 aged 96. Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is not expected to attend the funeral, Reuters reported, citing a source at the British […] September 19, 2022
How I got to the top Lifestyle Medhat Karam, ArpuPlus Medhat Karam is CEO and managing director of ArpuPlus, a telecommunications service which provides entertainment and communication solutions across the Middle East and North Africa. ArpuPlus was set up in 2003 and is a subsidiary of A15, a Cairo-based venture capital firm. What does your company do? Entertainment-wise, we specialise in affordable music, video, gaming, […] September 16, 2022
Queen Elizabeth’s death: Reaction from politicians and officials State heads and officials from around the world have offered their condolences for Queen Elizabeth, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, after she died on Thursday 8 September. Middle East royals and leaders pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II The world mourns Queen Elizabeth II: 1926 – 2022 UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said the queen was widely […] September 8, 2022
Lifestyle ‘House of the Dragon’ renewed for second season “House of the Dragon”, the highly anticipated “Game of Thrones” prequel, has been renewed for a second season after its first episode proved a hit. Based on George RR Martin’s “Fire & Blood”, the drama is set 200 years before the events that played out in “Game of Thrones” and focuses on how the House […] August 28, 2022
Exclusive Energy UAE biofuel firm in talks with global investors A Dubai-based company which converts waste cooking oil into biofuel is in investment talks with major energy firms, as demand grows among climate-conscious global companies. The sector is expected to be worth over $200 billion by 2030. “I moved to Dubai in 2009. I’d been working for three years by then on sustainability, so it’s […] August 22, 2022
Tourism Tokyo diners can nosh on food at ‘Stranger Things’ cafe Japanese fans of the sci-fi hit “Stranger Things” can chow down on demonic pasta and rock out to retro 1980s tunes at a pop-up cafe inspired by the Netflix Inc horror drama. The shop, a partnership with local restaurant chain Pronto Corp, recently extended its run in the fashionable Shibuya district of Tokyo several months […] August 15, 2022
