Author: Arabian Media staff
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 hereGood morning and welcome back to FirstFT. Here are today’s highlights:Trump meets Syria’s new president in RiyadhUS warns companies not to use Huawei AI chips FT investigates Elon Musk’s DogeWhich airlines serve the best in-flight champagne? Donald Trump has met Syria’s new president Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh one day after he announced that the US would lift sanctions on the country and consider restoring relations. Here’s…
UAE telecom major du announced a strategic partnership with Ignyte, a dynamic digital platform curated by Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), to accelerate AI innovation, support startups, and expand digital inclusion across the UAE. The initiative is in line with du’s commitment to fostering the growth of SMEs through advanced digital transformation solutions for entrepreneurs, the company said. The partnership will benefit from the du business ecosystem, offering bundled value and exclusive telecom integrations through a strategic platform collaboration designed to empower the business community. Startups are expected to gain from mentorship in business, technology, and telecom, which boosts their…
Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.Elliott Management still knows how to play tough. The seemingly ubiquitous activist investor is poised to take four board seats at Phillips 66 at the US energy company’s annual meeting next week. After a few cases where Elliott was welcomed almost with open arms by companies it targeted, this new battle is the bloodiest corporate America has seen in a some time.Elliott insists it tried a co-operative approach at Phillips after it first took a stake in 2023. The fearsome fund, with…
The race to establish “Y’all Street” as a legitimate competitor to the duopoly of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq on Wall Street has kicked into high gear, with billions in potential listing fees at stake. NYSE Texas opened in Dallas in March 2025, securing Trump Media and Technology Group Corp. (DJT) as its first listing, while the Texas Stock Exchange (TXSE) has secured $161 million in backing from giants like BlackRock, Inc. (BLK) for a 2026 launch. “Texas’s $2.7 trillion economy is very large (second in the U.S., eighth in the world) and rapidly-growing (fastest-growing large state…
Image: Supplied Talabat, the region’s leading delivery platform, and global mobility company Bolt have partnered to bring added convenience and savings to UAE users. The collaboration offers talabat pro subscribers exclusive discounts on Bolt rides, combining two of the most widely used apps in the daily routines of residents across the UAE. For users, the result is simple: fewer apps, more savings, and a more connected lifestyle. Whether ordering a favourite meal or booking a ride, convenience is now just a tap away. How talabat customers will benefit Under the initiative, talabat pro members will receive 10 per cent off…
Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.One of the world’s biggest toymakers, which supplies retailers including Walmart and Target, plans to move all US-bound production away from China and warned that tariffs meant American consumers would “inevitably” end up paying more for toys. Allan Wong, chair and chief executive of Hong Kong-based VTech, said on Wednesday that the toy maker was “aiming to complete the transfer of its production of US-bound products away from China” before the end of next year. VTech, which specialises in educational toys, plans to…
This represents a 135 per cent increase compared to the same period last year, reflecting the chamber’s ongoing efforts to cement Dubai’s position as a preferred global hub for tech startups. During Q1 2025, the chamber organised four events aimed at supporting the business community, empowering startups, nurturing talent, building partnerships, and enhancing the ease of doing business in Dubai. Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy In addition, 729 participants received training through the chamber’s digital upskilling programmes, which are designed to enhance the capabilities of specialised talent in advanced technology sectors and build a future-ready workforce. The chamber also continued…
A free zone in Dubai is offering entrepreneurs an express business licence service to get up and running in one hour. Meydan Free Zone officially launched Fawri, a new service that enables entrepreneurs to obtain a complete business licence in just 60 minutes. Meydan Free Zone says the platform redefines the speed and simplicity of company formation in Dubai, empowering founders to launch their businesses with unprecedented efficiency. Dubai free zone licence Fawri is a fully digital, all-in-one licensing solution designed specifically for solo entrepreneurs. With a seamless application process, eligible individuals can receive all core legal documents in an…
Unlock the White House Watch newsletter for freeYour guide to what Trump’s second term means for Washington, business and the worldQatar has agreed to buy up to 210 aircraft from Boeing in what US President Donald Trump hailed as the largest order of jets in the history of the American aerospace company as he visited the Gulf state. The White House announced economic deals worth more than $243bn as Qatar became the latest oil-rich country to earn plaudits from the president for buying into his “America first” investment policy as he toured the Gulf in pursuit of headline-grabbing business deals.Qatar Airways,…
Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.“If Europe wants to avoid war, Europe must get ready for war,” Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, said in March. Most European countries have finally confronted the need to spend big on rearmament, and started to mobilise the financing. Now they need to spend the money wisely. They must avoid the trap of preparing to fight the last war, and instead leapfrog ahead in developing the technologies needed to fight, or hopefully deter, the next one.The last time European…