Logistics Dubai veg market to double despite warehouse shortage Dubai plans a massive expansion of its fruit and vegetable market to make it the world’s largest, despite the fact warehouse rents in the emirate keep increasing amid a lack of quality supply. On Wednesday Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum oversaw the signing of a deal between Dubai Municipality and ports operator DP World […] July 11, 2024
EXCLUSIVE Artificial Intelligence AI regulations double investment costs, says Mashreq Bank Differing rules surrounding artificial intelligence and the lack of a global regulatory environment is doubling the cost of new investments and complicating business expansion, a leading UAE financial institution has revealed. Amith Rajan, executive vice-president at Mashreq Bank, told AGBI that a “patchwork” AI regulatory landscape has prevented the bank from entering some countries, and […] July 11, 2024
Analysis Construction French construction major chases growth in Middle East Saint-Gobain’s $1 billion takeover of Dubai’s Fosroc highlights the growing importance of the Middle East to the company and the construction industry, according to executives at the French conglomerate. The all-cash transaction for Fosroc, which makes construction chemicals, was agreed at the end of last month. Saint-Gobain expects the deal to close in the first […] July 10, 2024
Video length: 03:25 VIDEO Development Dubai Humanitarian and the Mena aid challenge The Mena region requires nearly $14 billion in humanitarian aid, according to the UN. Dubai Humanitarian, formerly known as International Humanitarian City, plays a vital role in bringing together aid organisations and mobilising both funds and relief to countries affected by conflicts and climate emergencies. Dubai Humanitarian sends 1,300 dispatches of aid worth up to […] July 10, 2024
Aviation Dubai entrepreneurs draw closer to launching Air Kerala Two Dubai-based businessmen are on the verge of launching Air Kerala, an ultra low-cost carrier in the Indian state, with long-term plans to offer flights to the Gulf. The venture by Afi Ahmed, chairman of the travel company Smart Travels, and Ayub Kallada, chairman and managing director of Kallada Food Industries, made progress this week […] July 9, 2024
Analysis Economy UAE economic growth brings rise in court disputes, say lawyers Debt recovery cases in Dubai and the wider UAE are increasing, a pair of local law firms told AGBI, citing anecdotal evidence from their practices. Behind the trend, they said, are various factors, chief among them being the influx into the emirates of new businesses from around the world. Also contributing are a host of […] July 9, 2024
Sustainability Forests in the desert: more than just a pipe dream Planting trees in the sand has been done before and can be done again, but when water is so scarce it is a remarkable challenge, says Valentina Pasquali July 8, 2024
Education Taaleem’s premium schools strengthen bottom line UAE-based schools operator Taaleem has reported net profit before tax of almost AED278 million ($76 million) for the nine-month period through to the end of May. Profits at the Dubai-listed company, which operates 32 schools across the UAE, increased by close to 39 percent year on year. Revenues over the period were up 15 percent […] July 5, 2024
Analysis Retail Does Dubai need more malls? The people say yes In a city that already has more than 60 million square feet of leasable retail space, one of the highest per capita in the shopping-crazy Gulf, it is perhaps surprising to see more malls being built or added to the pipeline. Yet that is exactly what is happening in Dubai, where this week Sobha Realty […] July 4, 2024
Finance Dubai’s Sidara wins extension in John Wood Group bid Dubai engineering and consulting company Dar Al-Handasah – known as Sidara – has been granted an extension in its quest to buy London-listed contractor John Wood Group. Sidara had proposed an offer of 230 pence sterling per share, giving Wood a valuation of £1.58 billion ($2 billion), significantly higher than the first of three bids, […] July 4, 2024
Video length: 05:09 VIDEO Markets Dubai and Abu Dhabi need some IPO diversity “You want your capital markets to be a mirror of your economy on the ground,” says Saad Chalabi, CEO of brokerage platform xCube. In the UAE, however, that has not been the case. The markets in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are “mostly real estate and banking in terms of weight”, though more oil, utilities and […] July 4, 2024
Construction DIFC Square launched to meet Dubai’s growing office demand More than 500,000 sq ft of office space is to be added to the heart of Dubai International Financial Centre with the launch of three new towers. DIFC Square will be built over 1 million square feet, 60 percent of which will be dedicated to grade A office space. At a cost of around $270 […] July 3, 2024
Analysis Employment Abu Dhabi court rulings strengthen UAE arbitration Recent court rulings in Abu Dhabi further tighten the UAE’s embrace of arbitration as the go-to mechanism to resolve commercial disputes, according to industry attorneys. Arbitration in the emirates has gone through a “groundbreaking” evolution ever since the Dubai ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, issued Decree number 34 in September 2021, closing the […] July 2, 2024
Video length: 03:27 VIDEO Real Estate CEO calls for regulation to raise Dubai real estate standards Loai Al Fakir, founder and CEO of Provident Real Estate, says a lack of regulation and a culture of kickbacks, in which agents are asked to forgo commission, is damaging the real estate industry in Dubai. “When the agent’s not compensated for his efforts at work, it devalues the whole industry,” he says. “If we’re […] July 1, 2024
Transport Dubai begins work on ‘20-minute city’ concept Dubai has approved a plan to support the “20-minute city” concept by developing land close to metro stations. The emirate’s executive council gave the green light to a plan to develop areas around metro stations by incentivising developers, UAE state-owned Wam news agency reported. The move will provide additional services, support the 20-minute city concept, […] July 1, 2024
Analysis People & Lifestyle Handbags and gladrags: price not an issue for Dubai’s fashionistas Fashion Avenue in Dubai Mall reads like a Who’s Who of luxury brands. Discerning — and well-heeled — residents and visitors can casually survey the latest from Boss, Christian Louboutin, Chanel, Tiffany and Louis Vuitton, undaunted by a cost of living crisis that has marked much of the world. Dubai has just been named the […] June 28, 2024
Opinion Media & Advertising Hacks, flacks and the power of persuasion Bahri Bar buzz about the regional media scene June 28, 2024
Opinion Lifestyle A tale of two city states The commonality between Singapore and Dubai runs deeper than finance and bricks and mortar June 28, 2024
Finance Drake & Scull opens nominations for new board Dubai contractor Drake & Scull International (DSI) has opened nominations for new board members, after the completion of a lengthy restructuring process. DSI is looking to fill seven positions, according to a filing to Dubai Financial Market (DFM), with nominations open until July 11. Earlier this week the board of directors tendered their resignations in […] June 27, 2024
Finance Global legal saga continues for Dubai entrepreneur Riad Tawfiq Al Sadik, a construction entrepreneur based in Dubai, must pay 85 percent of the legal costs incurred by Clyde & Co after his suit against the law firm was thrown out in April, a UK court ruled this week, according to a report from City AM. The case stemmed from Al Sadik’s staggering […] June 27, 2024