Author: Arabian Media staff

Image: Getty Images/ For illustrative purposes The journey from start-up to a thriving and sustainable business is challenging and complicated, requiring entrepreneurs to wear many hats along the way. From visionary to operations manager, human resources director and chief marketing officer, business owners are required to fulfil all these roles and more, until the entity has gained a foothold in the market and has a real fighting chance of survival in its sector. But now, as founder, you’ve reached a crossroads, wondering whether you should stay on as CEO or step down. As passionate as you are, this is the…

Exxon Mobil XOM.N, Saudi’s Aramco 2222.SE and Samref on Monday signed an agreement to evaluate a significant upgrade of the Samref refinery in Yanbu, and an expansion of the facility into an integrated petrochemical complex. The companies intend to explore capital investments to upgrade and diversify production, including high-quality distillates that result in lower emissions and high-performance chemicals, Aramco said in a statement. Earlier this year, the Saudi state oil giant had signed a memorandum of understanding with Exxon to evaluate an upgrade to the Samref refinery. Samref is an equally owned joint venture between Aramco and Mobil Yanbu Refining Company, which is…

Farhan Badami, market analyst at eToro/Image: Supplied Gold is on track to close 2025 as one of the strongest-performing assets worldwide, gaining almost 60 per cent year-to-date — its best annual performance in more than four decades — according to Farhan Badami, market analyst at eToro. Despite a slight pullback from the record highs reached in October, sentiment around the metal remains robust as markets head into the Federal Reserve’s final policy meeting of the year. “Markets remain convinced that a December rate cut is coming, and the backdrop still supports that view,” Badami said. He noted that although inflation…

In what is swiftly becoming the most dramatic takeover contest in media history, Paramount Skydance has launched a hostile, all-cash bid for Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), directly challenging Netflix’s blockbuster acquisition agreement. Two radically different blueprints for WBD On December 5, 2025, Netflix announced a deal to acquire WBD’s studios, streaming services and content libraries, including HBO/HBO Max, DC Entertainment/DC Studios, and Warner Bros. production, in a cash-and-stock agreement valued at roughly $82.7bn enterprise value (≈ $72bn billion equity value). Under the deal, WBD linear-TV networks (cable and traditional channels) would be spun off into a separate entity. Just days…

Image credit: Wynn Resorts/Website Wynn Al Marjan Island is accelerating toward its Spring 2027 debut in Ras Al Khaimah, announcing major developments across art, hospitality, dining, events and guest experience. The $5.1bn integrated resort, one of the region’s most ambitious tourism investments, is being positioned as a global luxury destination where museum-calibre art, world-class culinary concepts, cutting-edge design, and expansive entertainment converge across more than 60 hectares of oceanfront real estate. In a series of milestone updates, the resort is spotlighting its signature art collection, previewing its event spaces, unveiling its first restaurant partnerships, and offering a first look at…

Image credit: WAM/Website Sharjah Digital Department, in collaboration with Sharjah Municipality, has launched a revamped package of rental services on the Aqari platform, under the umbrella of the Digital Sharjah Platform. The strategic rollout establishes a unified and integrated real estate ecosystem, positioning Aqari as the central digital destination for all rental-related transactions in the emirate. The move marks a major transition from traditional, paper-based procedures to a sustainable, fully digital model aligned with Sharjah Government directives and the UAE’s national vision to embed advanced technologies across public services, a WAM report said. Read more-UAE real estate is the world’s…

Dr. Saeeda Jaffar/Image: Supplied Circle Internet Group, one of the world’s leading internet financial platform companies, has secured a key regulatory approval in the UAE as it continues to expand its presence in the Middle East. The company announced that it has obtained a Financial Services Permission (FSP) license from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) to operate as a Money Services Provider within the international financial centre. In tandem with this milestone, Circle has appointed Dr. Saeeda Jaffar as managing director for the Middle East & Africa (MEA). Dr. Jaffar, who currently serves…

Sissel Nielsen, founder and CEO of PaySelect/Image: Supplied PaySelect, the UAE’s first independent digital comparison platform for payment solutions, has expanded its capabilities to help businesses optimise and scale their cross-border payment operations. Through a new dedicated Cross-Border Payments section on payselect.ae, companies can now compare international payout solutions from ten leading regional providers, offering greater transparency, efficiency, and control as they grow across global markets. Launched earlier this year, PaySelect brings together specialist payment providers on a single platform. The enhanced focus on cross-border capabilities reflects the rising demand from UAE-based companies — particularly SMEs — seeking faster, more…

Image credit: Saudi Press Agency Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, and Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani have jointly witnessed the signing of a landmark agreement to develop a high-speed electric passenger railway connecting the two Gulf nations. The move underscores the deep-rooted fraternal ties and expanding economic cooperation between Riyadh and Doha. Read more-Bags to boarding: How Etihad Rail’s DWC stop will redefine UAE travel The agreement, signed by Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistic Services Saleh Al-Jasser and Qatar’s Minister of Transport…

Image: Dubai Media Office Dubai has introduced a major overhaul of bereavement services, aiming to simplify and digitise all procedures linked to the death of a family member, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) said. The move is part of the government’s wider “City Makers” initiative and is designed to offer faster, more humane support during what officials described as one of the most difficult periods for families. The transformation is driven by a new system called ‘Jabr’, which centralises processes that previously required visits to multiple government offices. Under the model, each case is assigned a government service oficer who…