Author: Arabian Media staff
Syria’s economy is growing much faster than the World Bank’s 1% estimate for 2025 as refugees flow back after the end of a 14-year civil war, fueling plans for the relaunch of the country’s currency and efforts to build a new Middle East financial hub, central bank Governor AbdulKader Husrieh said on Thursday. Speaking via video link at the Reuters NEXT conference in New York, Husrieh also said he welcomed a deal with Visa V.N to establish digital payment systems and added that the country is working with the International Monetary Fund to develop methods to accurately measure economic data to reflect the resurgence.…
Image: Getty Images Turkish digital asset platform Paribu said on Friday it acquired a majority stake in the Bahrain and Dubai-based cryptocurrency platform CoinMENA in a transaction valuing the company at up to $240m. The transaction marks Turkey’s largest fintech transaction to date, as well as its first cross-border acquisition of a digital asset platform. Yasin Oral, founder and CEO of Paribu, said in a statement the deal was a “turning point” for Paribu with its expansion into the Middle East and North Africa region. “With this acquisition, we have expanded our licensed operations to a wider geography, becoming a…
Dubai SME and Google will launch a new initiative aimed at strengthening the digital competitiveness of Emirati-owned small and medium-sized enterprises. The pilot programme marks a significant step in advancing the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, particularly the goal of making Dubai the fastest-growing and most attractive global hub for SMEs. The proof-of-concept (POC) phase will support 10 selected Emirati businesses, offering access to Google’s advanced digital marketing tools, advertising credits and hands-on mentorship. Google support for Dubai SMEs The objective is to address core challenges faced by smaller companies, such as limited budgets, developing in-house digital expertise…
Mohammed Khader, chief development officer at Almal Real Estate Development/Image: Supplied Mohammed Khader, chief development officer at Almal Real Estate Development, reveals how the company is expanding its global reach through experiential hospitality, premium residences and Dubai’s emerging smart-workspace market. How is The Unexpected positioned for long-term investment growth given its proximity to the Wynn Casino and Al Marjan Island’s rapid rise? Our location beside the Wynn resort creates a long-term demand. We’re building more than a hotel; we’re creating a lifestyle-led ecosystem. By combining experiential hospitality with branded, fully managed residences, we generate recurring revenue, stronger occupancy, and sustainable…
On 20 November, Gulf Business hosted an exclusive roundtable at the Motivate Media Group boardroom in Dubai Media City, bringing together senior technology, HR and AV specialists On 20 November, Gulf Business hosted an exclusive roundtable at the Motivate Media Group boardroom in Dubai Media City, bringing together senior technology, HR and AV specialists to examine a rapidly evolving question: How is modern collaboration reshaping meeting spaces? The conversation centred on five key themes shaping the region’s workplaces: how IT decision makers are planning and implementing technology in larger rooms and auditoriums; the merging roles of AV and IT —…
Image: Getty Images Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund plans to reduce its stake in Britain’s second-largest supermarket group Sainsbury’s SBRY.L by nearly 4 per cent, a term sheet showed on Tuesday, ending its near-two-decade reign as top shareholder in the chain. Qatar Investment Authority plans to offer shares at 317.6 pence ($4.20) per share in a secondary offering with JPMorgan as the sole bookrunner, according to the term sheet. Sainsbury’s shares are up 23 per cent this year and closed at 326 pence on Tuesday. Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund has been a Sainsbury’s shareholder since 2007. That year its holding peaked at…
The first phase of oil giant Aramco’s 2222.SE Jafurah gas plant is complete and production has begun with a capacity of 450 million cubic feet per day, the Saudi finance ministry said on Tuesday. Jafurah is potentially the biggest shale gas project outside the U.S. and is expected to reach sustainable production of 2 billion cubic feet per day by 2030. The finance ministry, in its 2026 budget statement, listed the milestone as an achievement reached in 2025. Jafurah’s gas output will be used for domestic power generation, freeing up crude for export that is currently used for power in the kingdom.…
Images: Supplied The doors of the Zayed National Museum, located in the heart of Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Cultural District, opened to the public on December 3. Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Lord Norman Foster, the museum blends history, innovation, and culture. The museum reflects how the story of the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, is deeply intertwined with that of the UAE, presenting his life as a lens through which to explore the values and aspirations that underpin the nation. Visitors can enjoy immersive audiovisual displays, multisensory installations, and a collection of more than…
Image: Supplied Across the Middle East, wealth and enterprise have long been deeply intertwined. Many wealthy families preserve generational wealth through privately owned, tightly held businesses. Historically, they have relied on trusted insiders – such as CFOs or in-house legal counsels – to manage both business and personal wealth. This informal approach reflects regional norms where trust is cultivated through close-knit relationships. These informal structures are known as virtual family offices (VFOs) and allow families to selectively outsource services such as investment, legal and succession planning advice on an as-needed basis. VFOs operate without dedicated licences, office spaces or large…
Image credit: Supplied The story of Web3 in the Gulf is often told through regulation, investment, and government programmes. But look a little closer and you’ll see that some of the region’s real progress isn’t unfolding in boardrooms. It’s happening in cafés, co-working spaces, and community hubs across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, and Bahrain. Places where builders, founders, investors, and the crypto curious gather to learn, debate, and experiment together. These grassroots communities are becoming one of the Gulf’s most powerful catalysts for digital-asset adoption. What began as informal meetups has evolved into a movement that is shaping how the…