Author: Arabian Media staff

Stay informed with free updatesSimply sign up to the Artificial intelligence myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox.President Donald Trump and his United Arab Emirates counterpart have revealed plans to build the largest group of artificial intelligence data centres outside the US, boosting the UAE’s ambitions of becoming a global AI hub. The announcement came during a Trump visit to Abu Dhabi to meet its president, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, and other UAE officials. It was the American president’s third stop of a Gulf tour this week that he says has raised trillions of dollars in investment for the…

Running a business is not easy, sometimes it feels like you’re constantly balancing on a tightrope with cash flow issues, competitors, declining sales and decreasing customer engagement trying to knock you off at every opportunity.  Sound familiar? It might be time to consider pivoting your business model. How do you know when it’s time to make that change? Let’s dive into the world of business pivots and how they can help your business stay on track. Key Takeaways  Most businesses will have at least 1 business model pivot – in some cases this is unavoidable due to changes in economy,…

This article is an on-site version of our FirstFT newsletter. Subscribers can sign up to our Asia, Europe/Africa or Americas edition to get the newsletter delivered every weekday morning. Explore all of our newsletters hereToday’s agenda: Trump on Ukraine deal; Ofwat’s offers for investors; Nvidia’s Shanghai R&D centre; AI groups focus on memory; Kyiv’s lost millions for weapons; and Merz on Alternative for GermanyGood morning. We begin with Japan, which has signalled it is prepared to hold out for a better deal with US President Donald Trump over trade tariffs, pushing for full removal of his 25 per cent duty…

Image credit: WAM/Website US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced deals totaling more than $200bn between the United States and the United Arab Emirates, including a $14.5bn commitment between Boeing, GE Aerospace and Etihad Airways, the White House said. Read-UAE President Sheikh Mohamed holds talks with US President Trump Etihad confirmed on Friday it was ordering 28 wide-body Boeing aircraft with GE engines, adding that the deal reflected the airline’s “ongoing approach to aligning its fleet with evolving network and operational needs.” The Abu Dhabi-based airline said the planes were expected to join the fleet starting in 2028. Etihad’s commitment…

Saudi fintech company JeelPay announced securing $6.6 million (SAR 25 million) in a Pre-Series A funding round. Joa Capital, AlJazira Capital and other angel investors participated in the startup’s latest funding round. The fresh capital is to be deployed for funding the company’s expansion plans. The Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) firm, which provides education financing, is one of the latest businesses to attract significant interest from investors looking to cash in on the GCC’s growing start-up community. Middle East food tech start-up Calo has recently raised SAR 94 million in a Series B funding round. The firm intends to…

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.Commercial landlord Land Securities said London office rents are rising quickly, with property valuations steady, as it prepares to sell £2bn of office blocks to fund a pivot into residential property. The FTSE 100 landlord reported net rental income growth of 6.6 per cent in the year to March, on a like-for-like basis, across its £6.7bn central London portfolio of mostly City and west end offices. “In London, office utilisation across our portfolio continues to grow,” said chief executive Mark Allan. “In…

Ever wonder how the most successful businesses in the world started? How did they create a globally recognised brand?  Well, we take a deep dive into eight of the top brands in the world and outline their lessons and guidance on building a strong brand identity. It addresses the challenges many businesses face when creating a brand that resonates with their target audience, how to stand out in the market, and how to foster long-term loyalty.  The article provides actionable steps and insights from top entrepreneurs to help business owners craft a memorable and impactful brand identity. Key Takeaways Resilience…

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.This article is an on-site version of our Unhedged newsletter. Premium subscribers can sign up here to get the newsletter delivered every weekday. Standard subscribers can upgrade to Premium here, or explore all FT newslettersGood morning. Walmart’s CEO warned yesterday that tariffs would force it to raise prices this year — even after the recent decrease in duties on China. The retail giant said last quarter that it did not know how much tariffs would affect the core business. It appears to…

Image: Supplied One of the largest publicly traded steel and building materials manufacturers in the region, EMSTEEL has reported Q1 revenue of Dhs2.2bn for 2025, a 1 per cent increase year-on-year despite lower average steel prices and minimal semi-finished product sales. The group’s strong operational performance saw finished goods steel production rise 17 per cent and sales volumes increase 21 per cent YoY to 811,000 tonnes, buoyed by robust construction activity in the UAE and effective market positioning. In contrast to Q1 2024, when nearly 100,000 tonnes of billets were sold, all semi-finished products in Q1 2025 were converted into…

2025 is predicted to be a break-out year for startup funding in the UAE, poised to soar several notches up from the estimated $2 billion last year – which itself is estimated to have tripled from the previous year’s level, on the back rising investor confidence amidst stability and growth in the sector in the region. Artificial intelligence, fintech, climate tech and health tech are expected to dominate the funding landscape in the region in the current year, with AI, especially generative AI, expected to draw massive investor attention due to its transformative potential across industries in the region, a sector expert said. The…