BlackBerry’s journey from a pioneering mobile device manufacturer to a leader in secure communications and embedded software has been one of the most significant transformations in the tech industry. Under the leadership of chief executive officer John Giamatteo, the company has undergone a strategic reinvention that has reshaped its business model and positioned it for sustainable growth.

“When we pivoted from the device business into the software and services business, we got into a lot of different areas,” Giamatteo explained. “Over the past two years, we really approached our business with an intense level of focus and analysis. What we discovered was that a lot of small initiatives and investments were distracting us. So we decided to double down on two core businesses: embedded software, which we now call our QNX division, and secure communications.”

That renewed focus has been the foundation of BlackBerry’s comeback. By concentrating on these two lines, the company has streamlined operations, sold or shut down non-core businesses, and cut its cost structure by more than $150m. “Now we’re a leaner, meaner, more focused company that is growing again,” Giamatteo said. “Last quarter we grew 3 per cent, it was our most profitable quarter in a long time, and we generated cash.”

Driving growth through QNX and secure communications

QNX remains one of BlackBerry’s most successful and recognisable brands. The operating system powers more than 255 million vehicles worldwide, providing real-time reliability for automotive systems. “Chances are your car is being powered by BlackBerry right now,” Giamatteo said with a smile. “QNX is a great business. It is growing, and our secure communications business continues to serve all G7 governments globally.”

Governments now represent about three-quarters of the company’s revenue, underscoring BlackBerry’s continued strength in mission-critical environments. While QNX is growing faster than secure communications, both divisions are profitable and cash-generating. “That stability gives us a solid foundation for future growth,” he said.

In the second quarter of its current financial year, BlackBerry delivered what Giamatteo described as a “significant turnaround.” The company reported overall revenue growth of 3 per cent with EBITDA margins of 20 percent. The QNX division grew by 15 per cent with margins above 30 per cent, making it what Giamatteo called “a rule-of-40 company.” In the software world, achieving the sum of growth rate and profit margin above 40 per cent is a key marker of strong performance.

“Our QNX business is really the driver,” he said. “The secure communications side was flatter at the top line but delivered 20 percent EBITDA margins. Together, they make for a high-performing software company.”

Reintroducing BlackBerry to the Gulf region

Giamatteo said the Gulf region is an important part of the company’s growth strategy. “One of the reasons we’re here at GITEX is to increase our profile,” he said. “When you reinvent a company, it’s important to get out there and let people know who you are and what you’re doing. There couldn’t be a better event for that.”

BlackBerry has established strong partnerships in the region, including a collaboration with Midis Group, a leading technology distributor and solutions provider. “Midis has a lot of reach in the region,” Giamatteo noted. “We work very closely with them to bring our products and solutions to customers across the Gulf.”

At GITEX 2025, the company showcased its entire portfolio, with a particular focus on secure communications. One highlight is the SecuSUITE product, which provides encrypted voice, data, and video communications. “It’s encrypted voice, data, and video. We originally bought a company years ago that offered hardware-based encryption through an SD card,” Giamatteo explained. “We invested heavily to turn that into a software-based solution, so you don’t need any hardware. Now it’s basically an app on your phone. Once you log in, anything you do inside that app is completely encrypted.”

The product meets NATO-certified, top-secret security classifications, making it suitable for government and enterprise clients. “For everyday consumers, WhatsApp or Telegram might be fine,” he said. “But if you’re a Fortune 500 company or a government, you need to ensure your communications are fully secure, fully encrypted, and fully managed in your own environment. The data doesn’t come to us—it stays with the customer.”

SecuSUITE is one of BlackBerry’s fastest-growing offerings, reflecting the increasing global demand for trusted communication platforms in the wake of high-profile breaches and surveillance concerns. “We’re seeing a lot of traction with governments in North America, Europe, and here in the Gulf, as well as with large banks and corporations,” he said.

Looking ahead: expanding the embedded software ecosystem

After completing its structural transformation, BlackBerry’s next phase will focus on scaling its core businesses and expanding into adjacent sectors that require real-time operating systems. “We have tremendous market share in the automotive sector—every major car manufacturer works with us,” Giamatteo said. “Now we’re looking at other verticals that need real-time operating systems, such as robotics, industrial automation, and medical instrumentation.”

These areas, he explained, have similar demands for precision, reliability, and performance. “Our goal is to take the expertise we’ve built in the automotive sector and apply it to other industries that need that same level of reliability,” he said. “That’s where we see future growth.”

For Giamatteo, BlackBerry’s reinvention has been as much about discipline as innovation. By returning to its roots in secure technology and focusing on the areas where it leads globally, the company has regained stability and relevance. “If it’s not secure communications and it’s not embedded software, we’re not doing it,” he said. “That focus is what’s driving our growth, profitability, and confidence in the future.”

Amazon on Tuesday announced the expansion of its fastest delivery service yet, Amazon Now, offering deliveries of everyday essentials in as little as 15 minutes across the UAE as it builds more micro-fulfilment centres to bring products closer to customers.

The new service, now available to all Amazon.ae customers, will deliver a range of items including groceries, fresh produce, electronics, and personal care products, while Prime members receive free delivery on orders above Dhs 25.

The company said some customers in select areas have already received deliveries in under six minutes.

“We are continuing to take convenience to the next level with Amazon Now, our fastest delivery service yet in the UAE,” said Ronaldo Mouchawar, VP of Amazon Middle East, Africa, and Turkey. “Every innovation at Amazon starts with our customers, and Amazon Now is designed for their pace of life here, bringing everyday essentials to customers in minutes.”

The company is embedding micro-fulfilment centres within neighbourhoods across the country to shorten delivery distances and ease traffic congestion.

The service operates 24/7 across major areas including Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Beach Residence, Business Bay, Dubai Silicon Oasis, and Abu Dhabi Central, among others.

Amazon launches two-hour delivery option

Alongside Amazon Now, the company also launched a two-hour delivery option for thousands of items across more than 30 categories, including electronics, grocery, health, and baby products.

Both services are part of Amazon’s broader push to speed up last-mile delivery and improve convenience for UAE shoppers.

Prime members can access free two-hour delivery on orders above Dhs100 or pay Dhs3 for smaller orders. Amazon said that customer adoption has been strong, with daily orders growing by more than 40 per cent month-on-month and Prime members doubling their shopping frequency after using Amazon Now.

“Customers get even more value through exclusive savings, faster delivery, and added benefits on top of what they already enjoy year-round,” Mouchawar said.

The new micro-fulfilment network uses advanced inventory systems and proximity-based logistics to anticipate hyperlocal demand and optimise delivery routes.

The company said the initiative is part of its ongoing commitment to enhance operational efficiency and sustainability by reducing delivery distances and congestion.

Read: Amazon Bazaar launches in UAE: products as low as Dhs4

Kuwait’s Ministry of Public Works has signed a contract with Turkish construction company Kuzu to build a wastewater treatment plant and its related works for the South Al Mutlaa city project, it said on Tuesday.

The contract, valued at KWD149.6m ($488.9m), will use a hybrid system combining conventional and renewable energy sources, ministry spokesperson Ahmed Alsaleh told Reuters.

Read more-Kuwait moves ahead: Gulf rail link design contract signed

The signing of the contract coincides with a visit by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to Kuwait, during which he will hold talks with the Emir and sign agreements covering the defence industries, energy, investment, and trade.

The plant will serve residents of the Al Mutlaa city development and produce around 400,000 cubic metres of tertiary-treated water per day for agricultural and other uses, the ministry said in a statement.

The Al Mutlaa city project is located in northern Kuwait, about 40 km from Kuwait City, and includes more than 28,000 housing units.

Flydubai has announced the signing of seven new interline agreements, further strengthening its global reach and expanding its list of interline partners to more than 40. The strategic move significantly enhances travel options for flydubai customers, particularly across Europe and Asia, as it aims to boost seamless connectivity and international trade routes.

Through these partnerships, flydubai passengers now have access to over 30 destinations across Europe via Aegean Airlines, Greece’s flagship carrier, and ITA Airways, the national airline of Italy. Travellers heading to the Far East and South-East Asia can benefit from enhanced connectivity to more than 90 destinations through agreements with Myanmar Airways International, along with Air China, China Eastern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, and Sichuan Airlines, according to a report from WAM.

Read more-UAE travellers alert: Free first-class tickets, seat sales and millions of miles

These interline agreements will allow passengers to enjoy a unified travel experience with single-ticket itineraries and through-checked baggage, underscoring flydubai’s continued investment in providing convenience and flexibility to its growing customer base.

With more than 135 destinations in its own network, flydubai now offers access to over 300 global destinations through its expanding list of interline and codeshare agreements.

Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO at flydubai, commented on the development:

“Since 2009, we have remained committed to enhancing connectivity and facilitating free flows of trade and tourism, which is why we are pleased to have added seven new interline partners. These agreements will provide our passengers even more flexibility and choice when planning their travel, offering access to our partners’ route networks across key markets in Asia and Europe. At the same time, more passengers will be able to access Dubai as a leading destination for tourism and business, reaffirming its position as an international aviation hub.”

Emirates adds 6 weekly flights to London Heathrow ahead of winter travel surge

Meanwhile, flydubai’s codeshare partner Emirates is preparing for a busy winter travel season by adding six weekly flights to its existing London Heathrow schedule, starting 26 October 2025. The decision comes in response to record demand and heightened travel activity during the year-end peak, according to an official release from Emirates.

Emirates currently operates six daily flights to and from London Heathrow, all using its flagship Airbus A380. The additional six flights will bring the total to 48 weekly flights, providing travelers with more flexibility and choice. Operated with a Boeing 777-300ER, each flight will offer over 350 seats in a three-class configuration—First, Business, and Economy.

The new flights will operate on all days except Fridays and are strategically scheduled to align with key departure and arrival windows. Overnight departures from London to Dubai will offer smooth onward connections to popular destinations including Durban, Phuket, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Jakarta.

The additional flights will also benefit travelers arriving in London from major West Asian and Middle Eastern cities such as Ahmedabad, Lahore, Maldives, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bahrain, Dammam, and Riyadh, as well as Chinese hubs Beijing and Shanghai.

Key flight details include:

• Flight EK41: Departs Dubai at 13:40hrs on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday; arrives at Heathrow at 17:40hrs
• Flight EK42: Returns from Heathrow at varying times based on the day, with all flights arriving in Dubai the following morning
• Thursday schedule: EK41 departs Dubai at 12:55hrs and arrives in London at 16:55hrs; EK42 departs at 21:20hrs

All times are local to their respective departure and arrival cities.

The twin announcements by flydubai and Emirates reinforce Dubai’s strategic focus on aviation-led connectivity and its commitment to maintaining its status as a global travel and business hub. With robust interline partnerships and increased flight frequencies to key international destinations, both airlines are positioning themselves for continued growth amid rising global travel demand.

At GITEX Global 2025, du positioned itself as a strategic sovereign AI partner under the theme “AI’s not just the future. With us, it shapes your next step.” The company demonstrated how its expanding portfolio of AI, connectivity, and digital infrastructure solutions are enabling both public and private sectors to accelerate their AI transformation journeys.

Located at Digital Cities Hall 19, du’s showcase presented a forward-looking view of how sovereign AI ecosystems and next-generation connectivity will shape the UAE’s digital economy. Two standout exhibits at this year’s event were du Tech’s AI Park and du Business’ Maritime and Offshore Connectivity Services — both underscoring du’s mission to drive innovation across land and sea.

du Tech: powering sovereign AI innovation

At the heart of du’s technology showcase was the AI Park — a 44-hectare facility in Warsan that aims to position Dubai as a global hub for AI research, innovation, and deployment. The Park will feature liquid-cooled hyperscale data centres capable of delivering up to 1.5 GW of compute capacity, supporting the most demanding AI workloads in a secure, sovereign environment.

Beyond infrastructure, du’s AI Park is designed to host AI research laboratories, start-up incubators, and sovereign hybrid AI production clusters — providing a unified environment where innovators can prototype, scale, and deploy AI applications safely within the UAE.

Complementing this vision, du Tech also introduced its National Hybrid AI — an integrated platform that extends du’s National Hypercloud capabilities. It allows enterprises and government entities to develop AI applications across multiple cloud environments and deploy them securely on du’s sovereign infrastructure. By combining sovereign data compliance, advanced 5G and fibre networks, and strategic hyperscaler partnerships, du is offering a scalable, investment-light path for organisations to drive innovation.

du Business: advancing maritime and offshore connectivity

Another highlight of du’s GITEX presence was its Maritime and Offshore Connectivity Services showcase under du Business. Through a partnership with Elcome, a Tier 1 Starlink Authorized Reseller, du is delivering next-generation maritime connectivity solutions that ensure uninterrupted communication from deep sea to shore.

Vessels equipped with Elcome’s integrated systems benefit from Starlink’s high-speed satellite service during offshore operations and seamlessly transition to du’s 4G and 5G mobile networks upon approaching UAE shores. This intelligent network switching — powered by AI and real-time data applications — supports continuous connectivity for critical operations, crew welfare, and vessel monitoring.

The integration of satellite and terrestrial networks reduces communication downtime, enables data-driven decision-making, and enhances safety across maritime routes. For the UAE, it represents a significant step in reinforcing its status as a global maritime hub while accelerating the digital transformation of the shipping sector.

Through its dual focus on AI and connectivity at GITEX 2025, du demonstrated how sovereign infrastructure and intelligent networks can underpin national-scale innovation — shaping not just the future of AI, but the next phase of the UAE’s digital evolution.