Opinion Retail An advent calendar for every day in the UAE. Why not? Marketers have noticed that advent calendars can be triggers to deliver daily excitement Customers are shifting towards premium experiences, not just for the holidays but all through the year Akshata Kamath, Business and finance journalist
Opinion Finance Powell’s ‘foggy night’ will affect weather in the GCC Inflation risk haunts US economics to an extent that was just not the case in Trump's first term Jerome Powell talked of driving at a slower speed in the face of unknown challenges ahead Matein Khalid, Investor
Opinion Banking and Finance Politics will rule in the surreal world of Syrian banking Can there be optimism about Syria's banks? Much depends on who enters the market Do not expect the country to have an efficient system any time soon Andrew Cunningham, Middle East banking consultant
Opinion Energy BP could be a savvy investment for Gulf buyers Adnoc would be the most obvious Gulf oil buyer for BP and its world-class trading business Rarely does the opportunity to buy an international energy leader arise Robin Mills, CEO, Qamar Energy
Opinion People & Lifestyle An Art Basel deal will take UAE culture to the next level A possible $20m partnership with Art Basel will elevate the Abu Dhabi Art Fair's global role The world’s largest arts fair is rumoured to be taking a stake in Abu Dhabi’s local offering Adeline Pilon, Co-founder, Elyx Foundation & Company
Opinion Construction Dubai has no plans to give up its crown. Now DIFC 2.0 is coming Dubai will not rest on its laurels, regardless of the competition from Abu Dhabi and Riyadh The masterplan for the next two decades of Dubai International Financial Centre is being implemented Frank Kane, Editor-at-Large, AGBI
Opinion Infrastructure Rebuilding Syria would revive its nexus status Stability in Syria and regional integration is of more than just marginal interest to the GCC A stable environment in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq would encourage an influx of foreign capital John Manners-Bell, CEO, Transport Intelligence Insight
Opinion Business of Sport Taking Saudi Arabia’s World Cup 2034 from ambition to reality Saudi Arabia must avoid building 'iconic' stadiums that then turn into empty symbols of ambition It should focus on multipurpose, practical stadiums that serve communities long after the final whistle Alexey Milovanov, Founder, Stadium Management Consulting
Opinion Aviation How to flaunt it with the Dubai jet set I’ve flown in private jets just twice in my life, so I'm not really in Vista's target market The world of private jets is changing – but the clients are very much the same Frank Kane, Editor-at-Large, AGBI
Opinion Trade Kaizen meets Vision 2030: Japan’s expanding role in Gulf growth Japan’s 'kaizen', or continuous improvement, chimes with the Gulf’s focus on the future Trade with the GCC is already almost $100 billion in imports and exports David Walker, Head of corporate banking, Citi, Japan
Opinion Economy Syria after Assad: a long road to recovery Hopefully, the new Syria will be pluralist, pragmatic and capitalist The failed state needs a government of technocrats, not warlords Matein Khalid, Investor
Opinion Construction Oman’s heritage is at stake as it seeks investors for ‘lavish’ city However ambitious Oman's plans are for Muscat, it should remain mindful of its heritage The growth of Muscat must be handled with sensitivity Saleh Al-Shaibany, Journalist, Al-Safa Press & Publishing
Opinion Oil & Gas Seismic events in Syria will not affect oil markets. Here’s why For oil traders, the historic events in Syria are fascinating but don't really affect the day job Syria does have some oil but has been a footnote in global markets Frank Kane, Editor-at-Large, AGBI
Opinion Agriculture We need an agency to fight AMR, the region’s silent killer Regulating antibiotic use in agriculture requires the creation of a regional food safety agency A lack of government financial resources and little, if no, regulatory frameworks add to the problem Martin Keulertz, Lecturer, University of the West of England
Opinion Real Estate Dubai home renovations: enough to drive a man to drink Constant drilling and hammering. Dubai home renovations are enough to drive a man to drink Real estate may be peaking if the work in my apartment block is anything to go by Frank Kane, Editor-at-Large, AGBI
Opinion Trade Gulf is not immune to Trump’s tariff threats When it comes to the Brics, the challenges facing them to create their own currency are myriad President-elect’s de-dollarisation warnings are likely to flounder amid complex economic realities Tim Fox, Partner, Capital Gate Advisors
Opinion Entrepreneurs How to fund and launch your business in Mena and beyond Investors want businesses that can scale fast, are built for growth and are a little different Funding is a marathon, not a sprint Helen McGuire, Tech business founder
Opinion Tech Time to give some of that fintech funding to R&D Billion-dollar ideas exist in Mena, but many struggle to raise investment from the region’s VCs Governments must help the private sector to fund more complex tech research Triska Hamid, Angel investor
Opinion Cop28 Saudi Arabia goes on the offensive on climate change There is a chasm between how Saudi Arabia and 'green' Westerners see the world Over the next 10 days in Riyadh, the kingdom will have the chance to demonstrate its commitment Frank Kane, Editor-at-Large, AGBI
Opinion Media & Advertising Who do Middle East marketers think they are talking to? Advertisers in the GCC must think about who they are talking to – we are not all the same The GCC is a melting pot of non-native nationalities from countries with very different mindsets Austyn Allison, Middle East advertising expert
Opinion Infrastructure Libya prepares final phase for giant man-made river Libyan water engineers have amassed substantial expertise in this gigantic undertaking It is hoped that all Libyan villages and cities will gain access to fresh Saharan water Salem Maiar, Consultant in Libyan natural resources and geopolitics
Opinion Transport Now on platform 1 … a stylish ride for Riyadh commuters The Dubai Metro has become a seething mass of people, but the Riyadh Metro is a joy to ride Riyadh Metro's bright and spacious trains will have a huge impact on the city’s productivity Justin Doherty, Chairman, Hemington Consulting
