Energy ‘Ghost armada’ tankers go dark to ship sanctioned Iranian oil The "ghost armada" tankers are busier than ever, and shipping bigger cargos. They mostly supply Asian markets, according to analysts May 12, 2022
Exclusive Tech Why London-Dubai tech tie-up hits investment ‘sweet spot’ The London Technology Club (LTC), a community in Europe for investment opportunities in the technology sector, has announced the launch of LTC Dubai, its first international investment hub. The hub is supported by Global Ventures, the international venture capital firm focused on investing in emerging market founders. Konstantin Sidorov, founder, CEO and general partner of […] May 12, 2022
Lifestyle Who is Konstantin Sidorov? Konstantin Sidorov is an international entrepreneur and investor with over 25 years’ experience in building, developing and restructuring businesses within the tech sector. He has successfully built and sold several IT businesses. In 2016 he sold the Eastern European division of RRC Group to a leading US-listed distributor Ingram Micro. In 2020, he sold his […] May 12, 2022
Analysis Real Estate Why Dubai property prices are surging at seven-year highs Property prices in Dubai are rising at their fastest rate for seven years, according to new data released on Wednesday. Prices in Dubai’s residential market continue to expand, with prime residential prices, encompassing the Palm Jumeirah, Emirates Hills and Jumeirah Bay Island, surging by 58.9 percent over the last 12 months, said real estate consultancy […] May 11, 2022
Tourism Eco-friendly, luxury ‘nest’ hospitality project opening in the desert Dubai’s Nara Desert Escapes, the team behind the luxury dining brand Sonara Camp, has launched a new eco-friendly desert hospitality offering known as ‘The Nest’ by Sonara. The company is already looking at expansion overseas ahead of its opening later this year. Designed by Italian architect and designer Gianni Ranaulo, the high-end project consists of […] May 11, 2022
Banking & Finance Revealed: The countries leading the FDI surge into Dubai The UK is driving a surge in foreign direct investment (FDI) into Dubai as the UAE continues to launch incentives to attract money and talent from overseas. According to new data from Dubai Investment Development Agency (Dubai FDI), an agency of the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), the UK was behind more than a […] May 11, 2022
Indian media giant signs Dubai blockchain deal Eros Investments, run by India’s Lulla family, plans to develop Web 3.0 and blockchain businesses out of Dubai as part of a partnership deal to operate under Dubai’s new virtual assets regulator, the company said on Tuesday. The deal is part of a push by the United Arab Emirates to become a global hub for […] May 11, 2022
Tourism Dubai sees international visitors surge 214% Dubai hosted 3.97 million overnight international visitors in the first quarter of 2022, up 214 percent from the same period last year, the emirate’s government said on Tuesday. The Expo 2020 Dubai world fair, which ran from October to March and which Dubai looked to as a to boost its economy, saw 24 million visits […] May 11, 2022
Analysis Aviation Billion dollar battle to begin for planes grounded in Russia Lessors with hundreds of jets stuck in Russia are preparing for what one said would be a “vigorous” pursuit of insurance claims while maintaining discreet contact with some customers after Moscow blocked the jets from leaving. The loss of over 400 leased planes worth almost $10 billion since Western countries sanctioned Russia has led to […] May 11, 2022
Aviation Air travellers ‘still risk Covid infection,’ study warns Passengers are still at risk of coronavirus infection while travelling on aeroplanes and in airports, researchers have warned. A study in the Journal of Travel Medicine reported that two Covid-positive passengers infected 15 other people during a 10-hour flight from Dubai to Australia in July 2020 – despite mandatory face masks for passengers, the use […] May 10, 2022
Tourism Russian visitors ‘strong’ despite Ukraine invasion “For us Russia, Ukraine, CIS, are very important,” Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, told delegates at the Arabian Travel Market. May 10, 2022
Tourism Belgian music festival launches adults-only desert glamping Belgian music festival organiser Tomorrowland has teamed up with local partners to open an adults-only desert resort, which will include luxury glamping accommodation, it was announced yesterday at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai. The desert resort, to be named Terra Solis, will be located in Dubailand, Al Yufra, 25 minutes’ drive from Downtown Dubai […] May 10, 2022
Tech Make it happen: How to digitally transform your business Here is the first of our monthly guides to harnessing global trends with a razor-sharp regional focus May 10, 2022
Opinion Tech Will Dubai win the Web3 race? The co-founder of Tahseen Consulting, one of the MENA’s top tech policy firms, rates Dubai’s chances of becoming a hub for the decentralised web and crypto exchange May 10, 2022
Employment Food drivers stage walk-out over pay inspired by Deliveroo Foreign food delivery workers in the United Arab Emirates staged a mass walk-out yesterday, calling for better pay and working conditions in a rare instance of industrial action in the country. The strike follows similar action this month in which foreign workers forced another company to suspend plans to cut pay. In the latest episode, […] May 10, 2022
Tourism New Dubai tourism plans for world famous QE2 Hospitality giant Accor on Monday announced it has added the world-renowned cruise ship, the Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2), to its portfolio as it looks to boost its luxury offerings in the UAE. The cruise ship will undergo further upgrades and renovations prior to joining the MGallery Hotel Collection. No date has yet been confirmed for […] May 9, 2022
Banking & Finance Dubai sets up office to manage $49.4bn sovereign debt The Dubai government has established a debt management office and appointed Rashid Ali bin Obood Al-Falasi as its chief executive, it announced on Monday. The office – which analysts say will streamline debt issuance and improve transparency – will manage the sovereign debt portfolio and be responsible for meeting the government’s financing requirements, the Dubai […] May 9, 2022
Manufacturing Costs at three-year high in UAE non-oil sector Energy and material costs are at their highest levels for more than three years in the United Arab Emirates non-oil sector, forcing businesses to increase their prices, according to the latest S&P Global UAE Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) released on Monday. “The burden of rising input prices continued to be felt across the UAE non-oil […] May 9, 2022
EXCLUSIVE Banking & Finance Could crowdfunding seed the Gulf’s next Unicorn? Democratised funding is set to breed a new generation of innovative regional businesses, say experts Crowdfunding, the alternative funding concept, represents an exciting reality in the Gulf region following a flurry of regulatory reforms. This innovative practice of funding a venture by raising smaller amounts of money from a large number of people is a […] May 9, 2022
Analysis Markets ‘Savvy’ investors snap up DEWA shares Plenty of mystery surrounds the listing of Dubai utilities giant DEWA, the Middle East’s largest IPO since the floating of Saudi Aramco in late 2019. When CNBC’s Dan Murphy organised an interview with DEWA’s CEO, he hoped to extricate some details from the infamously secretive boss. Amid surging shares following news of the float, Saeed […] May 9, 2022