First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), the United Arab Emirates’ biggest lender by assets, beat first-quarter profit estimates on Tuesday, boosted by strong growth in non-interest income from fees and commissions.

The results come as FAB undergoes a restructuring aimed at strengthening its business in the Gulf and boosting shareholder return, according to sources.

Read-FAB reports Dhs17.1bn in net profit for 2024

Under the reorganisation, FAB is splitting its operations into four new divisions and appointed Citi dealmaking veteran Linos Lekkas as its new head of investment banking, sources told Reuters last month.

The restructuring at FAB, headed by Hana Al Rostamani since 2021, follows a series of senior management departures including its former head of global markets and chief operating officer earlier this year.

The company said that it had reorganized its operating segments during the January-March period.

Net interest income climbed 3 per cent to Dhs5bn ($1.36bn) in the quarter ended March 31, while non-interest income jumped 22 per cent to Dhs3.8bn.

Fees and commissions income rose 23 per cent in the quarter versus a year earlier.

Net profit rose 23 per cent to Dhs5.13bn, beating analysts’ average expectations of Dhs4.24bn, according to data compiled by LSEG.

The bank’s total assets rose 6 per cent to Dhs1.31tn.

OpenAI on Monday said it has updated ChatGPT’s web search capabilities to improve online shopping for users with personalized product recommendations with images, reviews, and direct purchase links.

The generative AI pioneer’s search feature has gained popularity since its introduction last year, and has become one of its most sought-after tools, with over 1 billion web searches in the past week, the company said.

Read- OpenAI’s Altman to stop in Abu Dhabi for MGX fundraising talks

The update will be available in its default AI model, GPT-4o. It will be accessible to all ChatGPT users worldwide —including Pro, Plus, and Free tiers—as well as to those using the service without logging in.

Users will receive tailored product recommendations across categories like fashion, beauty, home goods, and electronics when they pose specific questions.

The update will exclude advertisements, and the company will not receive commissions from purchases made through the ChatGPT platform, OpenAI said.

The shopping results will be independently determined, and will rely on structured metadata from third-party sources such as pricing, product descriptions, and reviews, the company said.

The move comes as OpenAI is moving to challenge Alphabet’s dominance in search by providing a more user-focused alternative, contrasting with Google’s advertising-heavy search results.

In February, OpenAI’s weekly active users surged past 400 million, a company spokesperson had told Reuters.

Etihad Airways has launched its all-new Airbus A321LR, bringing wide-body comfort and luxury to short and medium-haul routes for the first time, the airline said on Sunday.

The A321LR, part of Etihad’s strategy to redefine narrowbody travel, features an all-new First Suite, 14 fully-flat Business seats with direct aisle access, and upgraded Economy seating.

The launch marks a major step toward Etihad’s “Journey 2030” vision to double its fleet size, triple passenger numbers, and open 16 new destinations in 2025 alone.

“The A321LR is an amazing aircraft which proves our commitment to luxury, customer experience, and connectivity,” said Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways. “We’ve taken the luxury experience we are famed for on our widebody fleet and adapted it to offer guests the same experience in a single-aisle aircraft.”

A321LR: Features of First-Class Suites, Business Class on Etihad

The new First Suites offer a private, enclosed space with a sliding door, lie-flat bed, elevated dining, and a 20-inch 4K entertainment screen with Bluetooth pairing and wireless charging.

Only two First Suites are available per aircraft, offering an intimate, ultra-premium experience typically reserved for long-haul widebodies.

Business Class features 14 fully-flat beds in a 1-1 herringbone layout, each with a 17.3-inch 4K screen, wireless charging, Bluetooth headphone pairing, and personal storage space.

Meanwhile, 144 Economy seats provide up to five inches of recline and 18.4-inch width — among the widest in the industry — along with 13.3-inch 4K touchscreens and USB charging.

Passengers across all cabins can access superfast Wi-Fi, capable of speeds up to 1 Gbps, thanks to Viasat’s advanced, multi-orbit ready system, enabling streaming, social media, gaming, and live TV throughout the flight.

New aircraft starts services on August 1

The A321LR enters service on August 1, 2025, flying from Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport to destinations including Algiers, Athens, Bangkok, Chennai, Chiang Mai, Copenhagen, Dusseldorf, Kolkata, Krabi, Medan, Milan, Phnom Penh, Phuket, Riyadh, Tunis, and Zurich.

Ten A321LR aircraft are expected to join the fleet this year.

Etihad is also expanding its First class offering across more routes, supported by new premium services launching alongside the A321LR. These include personalised travel planning via the new Etihad Concierge, private chauffeur services to and from airports, dedicated First Check-In, and luxury transfers to aircraft doors at Zayed International Airport.

“First isn’t just a seat – it’s an experience that starts the moment you choose to fly with us,” Neves said. “We’re bringing First to more destinations and elevating it at every touchpoint, combining the elegance of champagne and caviar with the convenience of modern luxury.”

Etihad said the new aircraft will play a key role in supporting Abu Dhabi’s tourism and economic development while delivering a world-class travel experience.

Abu Dhabi has expanded its autonomous RoboTaxi service in partnership with Autogo and Baidu’s Apollo Go, marking a key step towards a full-scale launch of driverless taxis by 2026, the Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility) said on Sunday.

The trials, led by Abu Dhabi Mobility — an affiliate of the Department of Municipalities and Transport — are part of the emirate’s broader strategy to deliver smart, efficient transport solutions that support digital transformation and enhance quality of life.

The latest expansion involves the deployment of sixth-generation RoboTaxi vehicles (RT6), developed to meet the evolving needs of modern cities.

What sets the RoboTaxi apart

Featuring an electric design and AI-powered systems, the RT6 offers intelligent navigation and real-time responsiveness to road conditions, aimed at boosting road safety and reducing emissions.

“The expansion of the autonomous RoboTaxi service in Abu Dhabi marks a pivotal milestone in our journey towards smart mobility,” said Dr Abdulla AlGhfeli, acting DG of the Integrated Transport Centre. “We are committed to leveraging the latest technologies to make mobility smarter and safer, while reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s position as a global leader in this field.”

Developed in collaboration with Autogo — a subsidiary of Kintsugi Holding — the initiative is designed to ensure compliance with local transport strategies, regulatory frameworks, and infrastructure requirements across the emirate.

Shift in urban mobility

Sean Teo, general manager of Kintsugi Holding, said: “The start of a new operational phase of the RoboTaxi service in Abu Dhabi marks the beginning of a transformative shift in urban mobility.

Autonomous taxis serve two vital objectives: improving road safety and enabling more sustainable transport.”

The trials represent a preparatory phase ahead of the service’s full rollout, with Abu Dhabi Mobility planning gradual scaling based on real-world performance and user engagement.

Emirates and flydubai carried more than 5 million passengers on their joint network over the past year, marking a record high and a 36 per cent increase in joint travellers compared to the previous year, the two airlines said on Sunday.

The milestone underscores the success of the strategic partnership between the Dubai-based carriers, which began in 2017 and now spans 240 destinations across more than 100 countries.

“The Emirates and flydubai partnership has been a gamechanger for both carriers,” said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and chief executive of Emirates Group and chairman of flydubai. “It is a testament to collaborative excellence that has delivered more flight options and a better experience for travellers.”

Highlights of the Emirates-flydubai network

Since launching with 29 cities, the joint network has grown significantly, offering an average of 295 daily codeshare flights.

More than 330 weekly flydubai flights now operate from Emirates’ Terminal 3 hub, connecting passengers to destinations such as Zanzibar, Kathmandu, Krabi, Riyadh and Naples.

Emirates customers currently have access to over 132 flydubai destinations, while flydubai passengers can reach more than 142 cities served by Emirates.

The partnership also includes an integrated check-in process, efficient baggage transfers and access to the Emirates Skywards loyalty programme, which has over 35 million members.

Premium cabin demand across both airlines rose 31 per cent over the last year, reflecting continued appetite for enhanced onboard offerings.

Emirates recently launched flights to Bogota and Antananarivo, with Da Nang, Siem Reap and Shenzhen joining its network this summer. flydubai added 10 cities, including Basel, Antalya and Al Alamein.

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