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Blockchain

The number of expats in Saudi Arabia fell but female nationals found more work

Saudi unemployment rate drops as over 1 million expats leave

The unemployment rate among Saudi nationals, especially women, continues to decline, as the latest data from the Saudi General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) also showed that over a million expats left the kingdom during the pandemic. The population at the mid-year point in 2021 was 34.1 million, a 2.6 percent year-on-year decrease. Foreign workers and […]

Hamad Buamim, second from right, says organisations must not be afraid to disrupt

‘Embrace digital, don’t just change the cushions’ says official

Dubai’s biggest companies must embrace digital transformation as a way to advance the financial sector, instead of joining the “innovation theatre”, according to a government official. Hamad Buamim, president and chief executive of Dubai Chamber of Commerce, said large organisations, especially banks, need to steer clear of superficial efforts if they are truly to make […]

Changpeng Zhao

Binance CEO warns Gulf banks they must adapt

Banks that fail to catch up with blockchain and decentralised finance technologies will have a “hard time in the future”, the chief executive of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange has warned. Changpeng Zhao, CEO and co-founder of Binance, told a conference in Dubai today that embracing these tech advances allowed entrepreneurs to raise tens of […]

Many amateur investors took a hit when cryptocurrencies crashed but there is now a gap to exploit by those with a solid business plan

Crypto crisis will weed out the Gulf’s weak players, say analysts

The region’s cryptocurrency industry has grown rapidly – and is now being hit hard by the worldwide plunge in prices, but experts and businesses are welcoming the shake-up The value of the cryptocurrency market has slumped by more than $2 trillion since November, with bitcoin’s price dropping 70 percent and some in the sector laying […]

  • Analysis

What the metaverse actually means for your business

Should you believe the hype or is this yet another marketing buzzword? Not a day goes by without a brand or celebrity broadcasting their foray into the “metaverse”. While some naysayers may dismiss this nascent Web3 sector as unfounded hype, swathes of metaverse advocates envision trillions of dollars worth of opportunities in this new digital […]

  • Analysis

Mena region has record year for startup investment

The geographic location of the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) provides access to large markets in Europe, Africa and Asia, and is home to a large, young population.  In a context of geopolitical instability and high unemployment, many of these young people are increasingly seeking new opportunities and looking to improve the world via […]

Blockchain allows secure transactions of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin

UAE blockchain firm links with powerhouse Roland Berger

Crypto Oasis, a Dubai-based organisation claiming to represent more than 1,000 startups and stakeholders in the blockchain industry, has formed an alliance with management consultancy Roland Berger to help grow the Middle East’s crypto economy. The strategic tie-up will combine Roland Berger’s industry-leading management consulting expertise with Crypto Oasis’s talent, innovation and infrastructure, the two […]

The Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. Owner Majid Al Futtaim Group is one of the few companies praised by a report into net zero targets

Beware the NFT bandwagon, crypto lawyer warns shoppers

As Gulf retail brands venture into non-fungible tokens (NFTs), customers need to be careful not to fall for fear-of-missing-out (FOMO) syndrome, and jump on the digital bandwagon without fully understanding what they’re buying into, a leading cryptocurrency and blockchain lawyer has said.  Her warning comes as Dubai-based retail giant Majid Al Futtaim (MAF) and blockchain […]

Why Pyypl power will accelerate MENA fintech growth

The founder and CEO of Pyypl tells AGBI about ambitious expansion plans for the UAE-based company Already one of the fastest-growing fintechs in the Middle East and Africa region, UAE-based Pyypl is planning to “inject more petrol into the tank” in a new phase of expansion. Antti Arponen, founder and CEO, told AGBI that the […]

Digitisation costs, but UAE banks need to take the plunge

Banks in the United Arab Emirates are seeing their profits squeezed due to the cost of digitalising their operations, but experts believe lenders still need to invest more to keep up with global benchmarks. The latest S&P Global UAE Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), released earlier this month, found that costs are at their highest levels […]

Blockchain is high on the agenda at this year's World Economic Forum in Davos

Crypto Oasis smashes Blockchain ambition in the UAE

The United Arab Emirates has set a new goal to attract 1,500 Blockchain-related entities by the end of 2022, after achieving its initial target of 1,000 seven months early. In January 2020, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) announced a partnership with Switzerland’s Crypto Valley to develop the […]

Cryptocurrencies have their ‘Lehman brothers moment’

Despite the crash of cryptocurrency stablecoin ecosystem, retail investors still see the contraction of currencies like Bitcoin as an opportunity As billions of dollars of value are wiped off cryptocurrency markets worldwide, retail investor strategies are diverging from those in the institutional space — the former senses cheap assets, while the latter worries of a […]

Launch, Rocket, Vehicle

High-growth firms set to fly with $250m “venture debt” boost

Natasha Hannoun, head of debt at SHUAA Capital, tells AGBI why the investor’s alternative capital solution is a game changer for the region’s startup ecosystem Fintech is the number one target for SHUAA Venture Partners, a new $250 million (AED 918 million) Shari’ah fund, focused on venture debt investments. Other sectors being eyed include healthtech […]