People & Lifestyle Dubai ranked most overworked city in the world Dubai is the most overworked city in the world, according to a new global report out this week – but a workplace culture expert said this could be due to the type of workers the emirate traditionally attracts. Kisi, a New York-based cloud-based security systems provider, looked at the work-life balance in 100 global cities. […] May 27, 2022
People & Lifestyle Ecclestone denies arrest for carrying illegal gun Former Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone today denied he had been arrested in Brazil and said an illegal gun found in his luggage before boarding a flight was never used and had no ammunition. The 91-year-old Briton, now in Portugal, said a “silly, tiny little incident” had caused a lot of aggravation as he and […] May 27, 2022
People & Lifestyle Supermodel Tyra Banks to launch ice cream brand in Abu Dhabi Californian supermodel Tyra Banks has picked Abu Dhabi as the first international market outside the US to launch her global ice cream brand, Smize Cream, as part of a partnership with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO). The 48-year-old entrepreneur made the announcement at the Access Granted talk series on Thursday, adding that she was […] May 27, 2022
Analysis People & Lifestyle Move over Hollywood, it’s Arab time at Cannes film festival The Middle East is one of the big talking points among the international film set at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, especially the presence of Saudi Arabia which unveiled big-ticket incentives to lure Hollywood and Bollywood producers to the kingdom. “I think in the past [the Middle East] always had some sort of presence but […] May 27, 2022
People & Lifestyle Rocketman’s jet-pack set to take off in the Gulf A British technology firm which has developed jet suits allowing users to fly at altitudes of up to 12,000 feet has already sold some of its products in the region and is keen to set up a training facility in the Gulf. Based in Wiltshire, South-West England, Gravity Industries was launched in March 2017 and […] May 27, 2022
Analysis People & Lifestyle Make it happen: Get ahead in the Gulf with our networking advice This month’s guide on how to succeed in the Middle East offers essential tips on business practices and social etiquette The Middle East is rich in opportunity for businessmen and women, but entrepreneurs keen to forge partnerships need to remember that norms and practices can vary from those in Europe or the US. The region […] May 23, 2022
Exclusive Startups Make some noise for Anghami’s Elie Habib The Lebanese music streaming mogul talks to AGBI about the meteoric rise of his Nasdaq-listed company, its battles with music pirates, relocation to Abu Dhabi and his ambition to launch Arab music stars Elie Habib fell in love with coding early. He started selling software at the age of 17 and launched several companies in […] May 18, 2022
People & Lifestyle A history of music streaming Napster and BitTorrent initially changed the way people thought about music in 1999 before being taken down for unauthorised use of copyright material. iPod launched in 2001 and by the mid-2000s, Pandora and Spotify had both launched. Make some noise for Anghami’s Elie Habib The music industry shunned the new platforms at the start, with […] May 18, 2022
People & Lifestyle Juan Carlos to visit Spain after two years in UAE exile The former king of Spain, Juan Carlos, will travel to his country this weekend for the first time since he left under a cloud of scandal in August 2020, making his home in the United Arab Emirates. Juan Carlos, 84, is visiting the northern region of Galicia for a boating event, according to the mayor […] May 17, 2022
People & 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
Finance & Banking CD&R hires Amr Nosseir, CVC’s top Mideast dealmaker Private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) has hired CVC Capital Partners’ top dealmaker for the Middle East as it seeks to bolster its presence and expand relationships with investors in the region. CD&R said yesterday it had appointed Amr Nosseir as senior advisor to the firm. Nosseir previously served as managing director, chairman […] May 12, 2022
Travel & Hospitality 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
Travel & Hospitality 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
People & Lifestyle Who is Lord Udny-Lister? Edward Julian Udny-Lister is a special adviser to the UK government, a political strategist and former politician. One of Boris Johnson’s closest aides, Udny-Lister served as Downing Street chief of staff from 2019 to 2021, primarily advising on strategy. He was the deputy mayor of London for policy and planning between 2011 and 2016 – […] May 10, 2022
Exclusive Banking & Finance UK-Gulf deal will be ‘tough nut to crack,’ says top Johnson ally The co-chairman of the UAE-UK Business Council and former chief strategic adviser to Prime Minister Boris Johnson says the upcoming UK-Gulf trade agreements could be delayed but bilateral opportunities remain immense Lord Udny-Lister, co-chairman of the UAE-UK Business Council and one of Boris Johnson’s closest political allies, cuts a distinguished figure amid the sumptuous surroundings […] May 10, 2022
People & Lifestyle Netflix drops Meghan Markle’s animated series Streaming platform Netflix Inc said on Sunday it had decided to stop work on Meghan Markle’s family series “Pearl” as it reviewed animated content. Dropping several projects, including Markle’s, was part of strategic decisions on production of animated series, the company said in a statement, without providing further details on its decision. Archewell Productions, the […] May 6, 2022
Banking & Finance Buffett says inflation an issue for Berkshire, it ‘swindles almost everybody’ Warren Buffett said on Saturday that inflation “swindles almost everybody” and that it was “extraordinary” how much inflation had been seen in Berkshire Hathaway Inc’s own businesses. Inflation has surged in the United States, hitting a new 40-year annualized high of 6.6% in March, and U.S. Federal Reserve policymakers appear set to deliver a series […] May 6, 2022
Media Prince Alwaleed confirms $1.9bn stake in Elon Musk’s ‘new’ Twitter Saudi Arabian investor Prince Alwaleed bin Talal said on Thursday billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk will be an “excellent leader” for Twitter, as he agreed to roll his $1.89 billion stake into the deal rather than cashing out. Prince Alwaleed had on April 14 opposed the buyout bid, saying the price offered by Elon Musk, the […] May 6, 2022
Retail Apparel to buy Karl Lagerfeld brand in $210 mln all-cash deal Apparel Group Ltd said on Monday it has agreed to acquire the remaining 81% stake in Karl Lagerfeld for $210 million in cash, becoming the sole owner of the Parisian fashion brand. G-III, which owns brands including DKNY and Jessica Howard, will purchase the additional stake from a group of investors led by Fred Gehring […] May 2, 2022
People & Lifestyle Prince Charles to visit Canada for Queen’s Jubilee Prince Charles and his wife Camilla will visit Canada next month as part of celebrations to mark his mother Queen Elizabeth’s 70th year on the British throne, his office said on Tuesday. The trip, the 19th the heir-to-the-throne has undertaken to Canada, will see the royal couple travel more than 2000 miles from Newfoundland and […] April 27, 2022
People & Lifestyle Spain’s King Felipe says he is worth €2.6m Spain’s King Felipe VI has disclosed that his wealth is worth about 2.6 million euros ($2.8 million) in a move to make the Royal House more transparent and end the opaqueness that prevailed during the reign of his father Juan Carlos. The king’s assets include just under 2.3 million euros in checking or savings accounts […] April 27, 2022
People & Lifestyle Turkish court sentences Kavala to life in prison A Turkish court sentenced philanthropist Osman Kavala to life in prison on Monday finding him guilty of attempting to overthrow the government by financing 2013 nationwide protests, in a case that Europe’s top court and Ankara’s Western allies said was politically motivated. Kavala, 64, has been in jail for 4-1/2 years without a conviction and […] April 27, 2022