Real Estate Dubai developer releases first Palm Jebel Ali villas The first villas available to buy on Dubai’s billion-dollar Palm Jebel Ali man-made island project have been released by developer Nakheel. The 13.4 sq km mega-project – twice the size of Palm Jumeirah – will add 91km of coastline to the emirate and provide homes for about 35,000 families. The inaugural properties for purchase are […] September 18, 2023
Opinion Lifestyle Unpacking the allure of Dubai’s branded residences Buyers can expect to pay 60 per cent more for branded homes September 18, 2023
Opinion Leisure & Hospitality Gaia shouts ‘Made in Dubai’ at the world Gaia could be a rare phenomenon: a brand native to Dubai and the Middle East that goes global September 15, 2023
Opinion People & Lifestyle Dosc: a welcome slice of nostalgia amid Dubai’s bling Legendary networking spot harks back to early days of the Emirates August 25, 2023
Construction Neom appoints manager for superyacht destination Saudi’s $500 billion giga project Neom has appointed a company to head its superyacht destination on the Red Sea. JLS Yachts, a Middle East-based yacht agency and concierge service provider, will manage Sindalah, which will be home to more than 5,000 berths. Set to open in 2024, Sindalah is one of the 41 Neom islands […] August 25, 2023
Finance Jadwa acquires stake in Gissah Perfumes Jadwa Investment, a Riyadh-based investment management and advisory firm, has acquired a 35 percent equity stake in Kuwait’s Gissah Perfumes Company, with plans for a listing on the Saudi Arabian bourse. The stake was purchased through Jadwa Retail Opportunities Fund, the companies said in a joint statement. Founded in 2018, Gissah has 80 stores in […] August 24, 2023
Employment Dubai named top city for ‘executive nomads’ Dubai has risen to the top of a new index that ranks the world’s most desirable destinations for executive nomads. New entry Abu Dhabi is also emerging as a hotspot for senior professional remote workers, placing fourth. Malaga and Miami took second and third places. According to the latest Savills Executive Nomad Index, Dubai has […] August 22, 2023
Opinion Retail Brands will jump on the social commerce bandwagon in Mena Hurdles remain but e-commerce in the region must evolve August 15, 2023
Health PIF sets up company to help Saudi women get fitter Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund has launched a company aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of women in the kingdom. The business, Kayanee, will focus on fitness, apparel, personal care and treatments, nutrition and diagnostics, healthy eating and learning. The Public Investment Fund-backed company will be chaired by Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, […] August 7, 2023
Opinion Lifestyle California and the Gulf: more unites than divides The UAE, Saudi Arabia and LA have a lot more in common than they might acknowledge August 4, 2023
Infrastructure GCC needs 1,127 new schools by 2027 as enrolment rises The Gulf will need over a thousand new schools by 2027, according to a new report published on Wednesday. The prediction is based on the total number of students in the GCC growing by 1.6 percent annually to reach 14.2 million by 2027. Growth in student enrolment numbers at K-12 (kindergarten to 12th grade, or […] August 2, 2023
Analysis Lifestyle Hollywood strikes a blow to Mena film industry When it came to creating the epic sunset scenes for the upcoming Dune movie sequel, director Denis Villeneuve chose the sand dunes of Jordan and Abu Dhabi to stand in for the futuristic desert planet of Arrakis. Local fans sitting down to watch the movie this November should relish the occasion, as it may be […] July 31, 2023
Opinion Lifestyle Air-kisses and trees: all part of Saudi Arabia’s welcome Inside Riyadh’s astonishing, ongoing transformation July 28, 2023
Lifestyle Valentino’s Qatari owner to sell 30% stake for $1.9bn The Qatari owner of Italian fashion brand Valentino is to sell a 30 percent stake to the French luxury group behind rival brands such as Gucci, Balenciaga and Alexander McQueen, it was announced on Thursday. Paris-based Kering announced it will pay Mayhoola Lux Sàrl (Mayhoola), a Qatari investment company controlled by the mother of the […] July 28, 2023
Video length: 2:58 VIDEO Lifestyle Private vaults fill the gap as banks abandon deposit boxes Private vaults in Dubai are emerging to take the place of the safety deposit boxes once provided by traditional banks. Costs, concerns over legal liability and the rise of online banking have made providing safety deposit boxes less appealing for banking giants. Capital One, HSBC, Barclays and JPMorgan Chase have all withdrawn from the market. […] July 24, 2023
Analysis Lifestyle Personal security grows as wealthy expats flock to GCC As more and more high net worth individuals choose to call the states of the GCC home, the private personal security sector has become big business, and some providers are reporting surging demand for their services. Last year 5,200 more HNWIs relocated to the UAE than left. The Gulf state had the highest net inflow […] July 17, 2023
Video length: 03:22 VIDEO Employment Only 7% of GCC board seats are held by women Only 7 percent of board seats in the GCC are held by women compared to 20 percent globally, a report by Bain & Company says. “There is an issue in retaining, mentoring and supporting women to make it all the way to CEO positions and the board,” said Karen Khalaf, partner at Bain & Company […] July 14, 2023
Lifestyle Bahrain named best country in Middle East for expats Bahrain is ranked among the top 10 countries in the world and number one in the Middle East for expatriates to live and work, according to the latest Expat Insider Survey by InterNations. The survey ranked countries in 56 categories including quality of life, ease of settling in, working abroad, personal finance and expat essentials. […] July 13, 2023
Video length: 6.42 Video Lifestyle Dubai plans to grow creative economy by 25% Dubai’s creative economy is expected to experience steady growth over the next few years, with the sector reaching 140,000 jobs by 2026, up from 90,000 in 2020. The GDP contribution target for the industry is set at 5 percent. This is up from the current 4 percent for creative industries including the arts, culture, music, films, […] July 7, 2023
Opinion Lifestyle Tip to Arabs abroad: Don’t ditch the dishdash They have impact – to westerners they are the very essence of Arab-ness July 7, 2023
Exclusive Lifestyle Saudi fashion has designs on the international stage Saudi Arabia has long been a major draw for the world’s fashion houses. Princesses devoted to haute couture, fashionistas with expensive tastes, and plenty of young people make for a winning combination. The value of luxury fashion purchases in the GCC hit $9.6 billion in 2021, and Saudi Arabia accounted for more than $7 billion […] July 2, 2023
Lifestyle Animated film helps revive Turkish cinema An animated film about children who help aliens stranded on Earth return to their home planet has helped revive the Turkish cinema industry after it slumped during the Covid lockdown. Rafadan Tayfa: Galaktik Tayfa, the third in a series of films spun off from a popular Turkish children’s TV show, has earned $6.7 million so […] June 28, 2023