Opinion Oil & Gas Trump’s Gulf trip will test regional nerves and alliances Presidents don’t like public embarrassment, and neither do Gulf emirs or crown princes With oil sliding and Iran talks ahead, the GCC braces for a high-stakes presidential visit Simon Henderson, Director, Washington Institute for Near East Policy
Opinion Tourism Moscow’s metro rolls out Arabic welcome for Gulf tourists Russia is increasingly trying to tailor its tourism offerings to suit Arab visitors' preferences Arabic speakers visiting Russia often struggle to find locals who speak their language. Yet Moscow is eager to welcome them Andrey Ostroukh, Comms consultant
Opinion Trade Gulf states brace for global trade upheaval As with all moments of crisis, the tariff shock can mean opportunities for the GCC US tariffs may dampen GCC growth but could also accelerate regional industrial ambitions John Manners-Bell, CEO, Transport Intelligence Insight
Opinion Economy Trump’s tariffs bring that sinking Lehman feeling After days of carnage on global equity and financial markets, I have that sinking Lehman feeling The world is in for a wild ride which will change everything, mostly for the worse Frank Kane, Editor-at-Large, AGBI
Opinion Aviation US policy rattles Middle East aviation industry US airlines have shown little interest in flying directly to the Gulf, with virtually no presence Tariffs and weak demand leave Middle Eastern carriers wary of market shifts John Grant, Partner, Midas Aviation
Opinion Media & Advertising Caracas, high fives and Covid: my passport’s eventful decade Flicking through a passport's dog-eared pages is like a conversation with an old companion Frank Kane's passport has taken him on a lot of adventures – what will the new one bring? Frank Kane, Editor-at-Large, AGBI
Opinion Business of Sport Gulf nations gain ground in sport soft power ranking The race for soft power through sport will only intensify – and Gulf states are in the mix The Gulf's three big spenders all appear on the soft power list, but might well wish they were higher Simon Chadwick, Professor of AfroEurasion sport
Opinion Trade The Gulf won’t escape the fallout of Trump’s shock tariffs Wall Street expects US economic growth to slow while Trump's tariffs cause an inflation spike US tariffs affect regional economies through inflationary pressures, lower oil prices and volatility Matein Khalid, Investor
Opinion Business of Sport Gulf funds hope for slam dunk with European basketball The worldwide expansion of basketball could throw up a surprising head-to-head Sixteen franchises could be launched across Europe and sold for a fee of about $500 million each. Gavin Gibbon, Senior editor, AGBI
Opinion Entrepreneurs Mena startups lose critical ally as USAID exits USAID's shutdown will be devastating to the humanitarian space in the Middle East The aid body has been instrumental in funding across the region Triska Hamid, Angel investor
Opinion Renewable Energy China’s solar giants take root in the GCC Benefits from the China-GCC energy partnership flow both ways The regions share aspirations over energy security and economic diversification Zeina Moneer, Climate practitioner
Opinion Economy GCC is not immune to trade wars and US stagflation Trump has undermined the globalisation paradigm in which GCC economies have operated What if Trump's tariffs trigger an inflation spike on a similar scale to the Covid-19 pandemic? Matein Khalid, Investor
Opinion Gaming Saudi Arabia’s Pokémon Go deal is a gamechanger Recognising gaming’s growing influence, Saudi Arabia has positioned itself at the forefront No longer a niche sector, gaming is driving the evolution of other cultural fields Adeline Pilon, Co-founder, Elyx Foundation & Company
Opinion Oil & Gas Data is the new oil – and the oil industry agrees AI can do a lot for the energy industry – the flip side is what the energy industry can do for AI Saudi Arabia and the UAE are both pouring billions into AI initiatives under their broader economic visions Frank Kane, Editor-at-Large, AGBI
Opinion Agriculture AI could advance farming, but don’t forget the humans The stewards of food production will soon reach retirement age. This is where AI can come in Generative and analytical AI promise efficiency, yet costs remain a hurdle Martin Keulertz, Lecturer, University of the West of England
Opinion Economy Inflation and political strife test Turkey’s stability Turkey’s middle class is eroding as inflation tightens disposable income and eats away at savings Recent events have revealed deeper vulnerabilities in the country’s economy Arda Tunca, Economist
Opinion Leisure & Hospitality Travel to and from the GCC is this year’s top Eid trend There’s something extra special about the excitement of spending Eid in a Muslim country Bookings are on the rise as tourists seek celebrations and cultural immersion Ufuk Seçgin, CMO, HalalBooking
Opinion Lifestyle Dubai and the Rolls-Royce Cullinan – a match made in heaven Dubai has overtaken London and Los Angeles as the biggest selling centre for Rolls-Royce A mixture of classic British design and German 'teknik', the car is jam packed with technology Frank Kane, Editor-at-Large, AGBI
Opinion Media & Advertising Why we launched The Crypto Radio in Dubai – and what we’ve learned There could be a good reason why there hasn't been a radio station dedicated to crypto Our thinking remained that Dubai was still the perfect place for The Crypto Radio's main hub Justin Harper, Business journalist and editor
Opinion Trade UAE sharpens focus on China for business growth If you want to understand China's economic presence in the Middle East, look to the UAE The relationship between the two countries is China's most robust in the Middle East Jonathan Fulton, Associate Professor, Zayed University
Opinion Food & Drink Ramadan’s impact on Gulf consumer trends, from dates to digital deals Ramadan is reshaping demand for traditional foods, bulk buying and sustainable practices To thrive, food and beverage companies must adapt strategies to meet customers needs Aylin Siyahhan, Consultant, Euromonitor International
Opinion Trade Why Gulf investors are betting big on Trump’s America In Trump’s America, the Gulf sees a partner who speaks their language on almost every topic Now 'their man' is back in the White House, Gulf states are backing him with their huge capital reserves Frank Kane, Editor-at-Large, AGBI
