Author: Arabian Media staff

Image credit: Supplied Driven | Forbes Global Properties has been named the exclusive sales partner for the residences at Corinthia Dubai, covering both branded and non-branded units. Developed by Dubai General Properties, the twin towers along Sheikh Zayed Road will also host Dubai’s first Corinthia five-star, ultra-luxury hotel. “This project stands out for its clarity of vision: an iconic address that pairs a five-star hospitality experience with a versatile residential offering. It’s the kind of development that creates long-term value for residents and investors alike,” said Abdullah Alajaji, founder and CEO of Driven | Forbes Global Properties. “Our team is…

Delegrates from Mubadala Energy and PLN Energi Primer Indonesia at HOA signing/Image: Supplied Mubadala Energy, the Abu Dhabi-headquartered international energy company, has signed a Heads of Agreement (HoA) with PLN Energi Primer Indonesia (PLN EPI), a subsidiary of Indonesia’s national electricity provider, to supply gas from its Andaman Sea fields. The agreement represents a major step forward for Indonesia’s energy sector as the country works to strengthen supply resilience and reduce reliance on imported LNG. Under the proposed partnership, Mubadala Energy and PLN EPI will collaborate to improve energy security in Indonesia by prioritising domestic gas supply for North Sumatra…

Image: Supplied UnionPay International (UPI) and Amazon Payment Services have announced a strategic collaboration to expand digital payment acceptance across key markets in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon. The agreement was signed by Luping Zhang, general manager of UnionPay International Middle East, and Pablo Londono, managing director of Amazon Payment Services, in the presence of senior officials from both organisations. Zhang commented: “We are excited to collaborate with Amazon Payment Services to enhance UnionPay card acceptance in the region. This partnership aligns with our commitment to…

Family-owned conglomerates remain the backbone of Gulf economies, but the leadership equation inside these businesses is undergoing its most profound shift in decades. According to Nicolas Manset, head of Middle East at Russell Reynolds Associates, the region is now at a pivotal moment: increasing numbers of family enterprises are considering non-family CEOs for the first time. Economic transformation, global competition and emerging governance expectations are accelerating this transition — bringing the GCC closer to global family business trends while presenting distinct regional challenges. In this interview, Manset shares what is driving the shift, the barriers families face when welcoming external…

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…