Real Estate Rental platform Silkhaus plans new Saudi home Silkhaus, a property technology platform specialising in short-term rentals, plans to launch in Riyadh after more than doubling its revenues last year and completing a pre-series A financing round this month. The size of the round, with San Francisco-based Partners for Growth, was not disclosed. Silkhaus launched in Dubai in 2021 and entered Abu Dhabi […] February 5, 2024
Food & Drink Air corridor for Abu Dhabi aims to support food security Abu Dhabi is planning to establish an air corridor for perishable goods in a bid to develop new trade routes and support the UAE’s food security efforts. Etihad Cargo, Abu Dhabi Airports and Abu Dhabi Food Hub – Kezad have signed a tri-party memorandum of understanding. Abu Dhabi Food Hub is the country’s first dedicated […] February 5, 2024
Sustainability Dubai records 59% surge in EV charging sessions in 2023 Dubai recorded a 59 percent year-on-year increase in electric vehicle (EV) charging sessions last year, as green mobility rapidly accelerates in the emirate. The EV green charger initiative recorded 1,145,427 charging sessions in 2023, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) said in a statement. Through this initiative, the Dubai utility provider provided 23419.821 megawatt hours (MWh) of […] February 5, 2024
Logistics AD Ports to invest $150m to upgrade Karachi cargo port The UAE’s AD Ports Group has signed an agreement for bulk and general cargo operations with the Pakistani-government-backed Karachi Port Trust (KPT), allocating $150 million for the port expansion. Under the terms of the 25-year concession agreement, Karachi Gateway Terminal Multipurpose Limited (KGTML), a joint venture between AD Ports Group, a majority shareholder, and UAE-based […] February 5, 2024
Economy UAE and India to sign new investment treaty Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan are to sign a bilateral investment treaty (Bit) during the former’s visit to the emirate this month. The UAE is India’s third-largest source of foreign direct investment and the seventh-largest trade partner. The Indian government cleared the treaty on February 1, after which the […] February 5, 2024
Business of Sport Sobha Realty strikes sponsorship deal with Arsenal Dubai real estate developer Sobha Realty has secured the naming rights for the training ground of English Premier League football club Arsenal. Arsenal’s facility in Hertfordshire will be known as the Sobha Realty Training Centre. It is the first time the naming rights have been sold. The deal is part of Sobha’s plan to expand […] February 2, 2024
Opinion Media & Advertising ‘Street of Shame’ can’t lecture about editorial independence Desire of media owners to influence the content of their publications is as old as the hills February 2, 2024
Real Estate Millennial ‘co-living’ concept gains momentum in Gulf The appetite for “co-living”, a form of communal housing that offers private rooms and shared spaces, is on the rise in the GCC, and more investors are entering the sector. Co-living as a sub-segment of residential property has gained in popularity in markets such as the UK and the US, as developers seek to provide […] February 2, 2024
Tourism Emirates visa on arrival ‘huge’ boost for Indian visitors Emirates airline has introduced a pre-approved 14-day single-entry visa on arrival for Indian travellers. Industry experts told AGBI the initiative will open up a fresh segment of travellers to Dubai and revive plateauing tourist inflow from India, while also helping Emirates compete against more economical Indian airlines. The service is designed to expedite the entry […] February 1, 2024
Analysis Health Gulf embraces a personalised approach to healthcare The Gulf is shifting towards a more personalised approach to healthcare, but the growth of the sector faces challenges in terms of talent and data management according to experts. Traditional medicine tends to address only the initial health issues without tailoring solutions to the unique requirements of each patient, says Vadim Fedotov, CEO of Bioniq, […] February 1, 2024
Analysis Retail The perks and pitfalls of the UAE’s retail loyalty sector When customers consistently fly with Emirates or buy their daily coffee at Tim Hortons, the chances are high that they are members of a loyalty programme – and companies deploy them to ensure they return to the brand. But UAE consumers are increasingly discerning about the brands and products with which they interact. “The direct […] February 1, 2024
Health Training and tech to tackle healthcare staff shortage Technology and training combined can aid the impending recruitment crisis in UAE healthcare, experts say. Globally there will be an estimated shortfall of 10 million workers in the industry by 2030, primarily in low and middle income countries, according to the World Economic Forum. The UAE has not been spared. Research from Colliers showed there […] February 1, 2024
Industry Borouge’s 2023 profit falls 29% on produce price drop Abu Dhabi-listed petrochemicals major Borouge said net profit fell 29 percent to $1 billion in 2023 from $1.41 billion in 2022. The slide in profit was attributed to a 16 percent decline in average selling prices as global polyolefins demand reduced from peak levels in 2022. This was partially offset by a one percent increase […] February 1, 2024
Banking and Finance FAB to pay out record $2.1bn cash dividend The board of First Abu Dhabi Bank, the UAE’s biggest lender by assets, has recommended the bank’s highest cash dividend payout since 2020. At AED 7.8 billion ($2.12 billion), the dividend represents around half of FAB’s net profit for 2023, which surged 56 percent year on year to AED16.4 billion. Total income increased 32 percent […] February 1, 2024
Economy UAE economy to grow 5.7% despite global challenges The UAE economy is projected to grow by 5.7 percent in 2024 despite prevailing global economic challenges, according to the Gulf state’s finance ministry undersecretary Younis Haji Al Khoori. “Our efforts to diversify the economy and promote sustainable growth have proven effective. The country expects non-oil GDP growth to reach 5.9 percent in 2023 and […] February 1, 2024
Construction Five Holdings plans ultra-luxury Pacha Ibiza residences Dubai developer Five Holdings plans to build ultra-luxury residences in Ibiza following the completion of a $57 million hotel and land deal. The UAE real estate and hospitality group has acquired El Hotel Pacha and an adjacent land plot where it plans to build Pacha Residences, using the branding of the Balearic island’s most famous […] January 31, 2024
Food & Drink Dubai drinks supplier raises a glass to Dry January Drink Dry, a Dubai-based supplier of non-alcoholic beverages, has reported a 20 percent bump in sales during Dry January, defying a traditional post-festive period slump in the hospitality sector. Dry January is an initiative launched in the UK by Alcohol Change in 2013. It involves consumers abstaining from alcohol for the first month of the […] January 31, 2024
Opinion Education Dubai v Dublin: UAE and Ireland battle for teachers Irish teachers are in demand both in the Gulf and at home January 31, 2024
Manufacturing US commercial EV company to launch UAE factory Californian commercial electric vehicle manufacturer HummingbirdEV has announced plans to establish a micro-factory in the UAE. The highly automated manufacturing facility aims to accelerate adoption of commercial electric vehicles (EV) in the Middle East and North Africa, southeast Asia and India. HummingbirdEV said the factory will produce commercial EVs for an existing e-commerce customer as […] January 31, 2024
EXCLUSIVE Health Dubai mulling ratings for hospital performance, says Aster founder Dubai is considering the introduction of performance ratings for healthcare providers, Dr Azad Moopen, the founder and chairman of Aster DM Healthcare, has told AGBI. The system would allow operators to adjust their insurance tariffs – the prices that insurers agree to pay for medical services or procedures – based on their classification, providing an […] January 31, 2024
