Retail Indians buy homemade jewellery for less in Dubai Indians are travelling to Dubai to purchase jewellery made in their home country as it costs less in the emirates. Import duties, previously at 5 percent, were waived for jewellery exported from India to the UAE under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (Cepa) signed between the two nations last year. “The prices are better,” said […] January 26, 2023
Analysis Retail Diamonds (from a lab) are the Gulf’s best friend Basma Chaieri began her business after watching the season two finale of Netflix’s hit series Explained. The November 2019 episode, which explored the growing popularity of lab-grown diamonds, prompted the Dubai resident to quit her travel job and enrol in gemology school to study the trade. “I thought why would anyone buy a real diamond […] January 20, 2023
People & Lifestyle Jacinda Ardern to step down as New Zealand leader New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Thursday made a shock announcement she had “no more in the tank” to continue leading the country and would step down no later than early February and not seek re-election. Ardern, holding back tears, said that it had been a tough five and a half years as prime minister and […] January 19, 2023
EXCLUSIVE Retail Saudi Arabia’s bid to be the next global fashion powerhouse It will not be long before Saudi Arabia produces a global fashion powerhouse brand to rival Louis Vuitton and Chanel, according to the man tasked with fulfilling the kingdom’s catwalk ambitions. “I have no doubt about that, the sky is the limit,” Burak Cakmak, CEO of the Saudi Fashion Commission told AGBI as designers from […] January 15, 2023
Analysis Travel & Hospitality Dubai’s alcohol tax cut met with some cheers but more booze Dubai’s move to suspend the 30 percent tax on alcohol has triggered differing views about its impact on retail and hospitality businesses and their customers. Some experts say it will result in a short term boost in sales and will deter residents from travelling to other emirates to buy cheap liquor. But industry insiders disagree […] January 3, 2023
Banking & Finance Mena professionals vow to build up their savings in 2023 Saving money is the top new year’s resolution for Mena professionals, a survey has found. In the poll by jobs site Bayt.com, almost two-thirds (63 percent) of the 2,988 respondents said building a nest egg was their No 1 priority for 2023. Keren Bobker, a Dubai-based independent financial adviser and senior partner at Holborn Assets, […] January 2, 2023
People & Lifestyle Majid Al Futtaim opens Mena’s largest indoor snow park in Oman UAE-based Majid Al Futtaim has opened Snow Oman, the largest indoor snow park in Mena. The snow park in the Mall of Oman covers an area of 14,830 square metres with a “Desert Blizzard” theme. The park has rides such as the Mountain Thriller, Snow Bullet, Slide Winder, Cloud Climber, and Zorb Ball, unique attractions […] December 25, 2022
Analysis Real Estate Ski chalets are hot property for Middle East buyers Demand for high-end ski chalets from affluent Middle East buyers has surged, even though the price of a home on the slopes is rising at its fastest rate for almost a decade. Despite the pandemic’s impact on international travel, the specialist property market has benefitted from an influx of remote workers looking for semi-permanent bases […] December 25, 2022
How I got to the top People & Lifestyle Kemal Yazici, founder, Bedia Gallery Kemal Yazici is founder of Bedia Gallery, an art gallery and studio located in Al Khayat Avenue, Al Quoz, Dubai. What does your company do? Currently Bedia Gallery is exhibiting my artworks. However, in the very near future we will work together with Turkish and German artists and curators. Also, in the long term we […] December 23, 2022
Opinion People & Lifestyle Youthful optimism can help overcome our challenges Our Arab youth survey reveals a confident population seeking stability and opportunities for progress as well as greater civil liberties December 23, 2022
People & Lifestyle Tariff hike squeezes struggling Lebanese as reforms stall Every time a part of his old grey Mercedes breaks, 62-year-old Beirut cab driver Abed Omayraat faces a tough choice: go into debt to import an expensive car part, or raise fares for customers whose wallets are already drained by a severe economic crisis. It’s a dilemma he says has become more acute in recent […] December 19, 2022
Analysis Retail Time running out for Gulf’s luxury watch investors to cash in After a boom in haute horology over the past few years, with reports of shortages that even put royals on the waiting lists, prices for Rolex watches have started to fall. But some coveted pieces will always command a premium, collectors have said. The value of Swiss watch exports to the Middle East in 2021 […] December 17, 2022
Real Estate Dubai co-working startup eyes new funding as it goes global Hotdesk, an on-demand workspace booking platform based in Dubai, is preparing to launch a Series A round of funding as the startup continues to enjoy exponential growth throughout the region and globally. The company, which provides access to co-working spaces at the click of a button, was launched in 2021. It has since expanded into […] December 16, 2022
How I got to the top People & Lifestyle Katie Wachsberger, co-founder, Dana Global Dana Global is an Abu Dhabi-based venture builder for women-led startups in desert technology: agtech, foodtech, water solutions, circular economy, and renewable energy specifically geared for the unique desert climate of the Middle East. What does your company do? We work closely with our portfolio companies – early-stage businesses and entrepreneurs – to guide them […] December 16, 2022
Opinion Banking & Finance Life insurance: the gift of financial stability for the family left behind The point of life insurance is not just about the money but about what it means to your dependents December 15, 2022
Construction Sheikh Mohammed reveals phase 2 of Dubai 2040 plan Agricultural industry, heritage preservation and the “20-minute city” concept are key planks of the second phase of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, the government said on Monday. The plan – whose first phase was published in March 2021 – sets out a strategy for Dubai’s urban development over the next two decades. It is […] December 13, 2022
How I got to the top People & Lifestyle Caroline Ralston, founder, Proposal Boutique Proposal Boutique is a Dubai-based luxury marriage proposal planning company, helping couples enjoy an unforgettable “will you marry me?” experience. What does your company do? We work closely with men from all over the world to help them deliver the most romantic and unforgettable proposal. We source the venue, flowers, decorations, musicians, fireworks, and much […] December 9, 2022
People & Lifestyle Saudi Crown Prince in Qatar for World Cup opening ceremony Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived to Doha late on Saturday to attend the 2022 Qatar World Cup’s opening ceremony on Sunday in a show of Gulf solidarity after a three-year regional dispute ended last year. Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Thani, the deputy of Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, was at […] November 20, 2022
People & Lifestyle Black Panther stars say film changed perceptions of Africa Cameras flashed as stars of the highly-anticipated sequel to Marvel’s ‘Black Panther’ walked the red carpet at the ‘Wakanda Forever’ premiere in London. Set in the fictional African land of Wakanda, ‘Black Panther’ became a global hit and was hailed as a milestone for racial diversity in Hollywood when it came out in 2018. Released […] November 7, 2022
People & Lifestyle Giant new mural celebrates ‘warrior’ Maradona in Argentina An Argentine artist has painted a giant mural of late soccer legend Diego Maradona in Buenos Aires to commemorate what would have been the World Cup winner’s 62nd birthday at the end of October. Muralist Martín Ron filled the 1,600-square-metre wall in the heart of the city with a depiction of Maradona, based on a […] October 27, 2022
People & Lifestyle BTS reunite to back South Korea’s bid to host World Expo 2030 K-pop superstars BTS reunited on Saturday for a concert to support South Korea’s bid to host the World Expo 2030 in Busan. The free concert – dubbed “BTS in BUSAN” – drew an audience of about 52,000 people to a stadium in the southern port city, according to the Yonhap News Agency. In total, 100,000 fans […] October 17, 2022
Exclusive People & Lifestyle UAE hybrid working leads to 90% rise in demand for home cleaners The rise of hybrid working during the coronavirus pandemic has seen Gulf residents spending more time at home, leading to a surge in demand for domestic cleaning services. This has spurred growth in the wider on-demand home services industry, but investments in technology and manpower and rising business costs in the UAE has resulted in […] October 16, 2022