Author: Arabian Media staff

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…

Image: Getty Images/ For illustrative purposes Investors are heading into 2026 with fading momentum across major global markets as record valuations, shifting fiscal signals and geopolitical uncertainty weigh on sentiment, according to FOREX.com’s recently published 2025/26 Market Outlook. “Major indices have tested multi-decade highs, but momentum appears to be fading,” said Razan Hilal, CMT, market analyst at FOREX.com. “We are seeing the early stages of a retracement phase across key benchmarks, suggesting that 2026 will be defined by recalibration rather than expansion.” US small-cap equities, tracked by the Russell 2000, are once again pushing up against the 2,500 resistance zone,…

Image: Supplied The ELIE SAAB MAISON is evolving into a complete luxury lifestyle entity, translating its haute couture DNA of meticulous craftsmanship and timeless elegance into architecture. Elie Saab Jr discusses the vision behind Stellar by ELIE SAAB in Abu Dhabi and the strategic expansion of their authentic, enduring branded residences across the GCC. As CEO of the Elie Saab Group, how do you balance the creative demands of the fashion house with the business strategy and growth of the real estate division? ELIE SAAB today is evolving into a complete lifestyle brand, one that extends beyond fashion to shape…

Image: Dubai Media Office/ RTA Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will expand the scope of its taxi ride-sharing service under a six-month trial, following a strong uptake since the initiative launched last year, the authority said. The existing route, which offers shared taxi trips between Ibn Battuta Mall in Dubai and Al Wahda Mall in Abu Dhabi, has seen a 228 per cent jump in ridership, RTA said. The service has become popular among commuters looking for a quicker and lower-cost transport option between the two emirates. RTA adds two new points for taxi ride-sharing service The pilot will…

Image: WAM/ For illustrative purposes Saudi Arabia’s real gross domestic product grew 4.8 per cent year on year in Q3 2025, driven by strong expansion in both oil and non-oil sectors. Figures from the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) showed oil activities rose by 8.3 per cent from a year earlier, while non-oil activities expanded by 4.3 percent. Government activities increased by 1.4 per cent. On a seasonally adjusted basis, real GDP grew 1.4 per cent compared with Q2 of 2025. Quarter-on-quarter, oil activities increased by 3.3 per cent, non-oil activities rose by 0.6 per cent, and government activities grew…