Living and working in a region as diverse and dynamic as this one, change is something we have come to expect. Our region is shaped by momentum, by its ability to adapt, modernise and translate ambition into action. But periods of heightened uncertainty, particularly at a regional or global level, test that adaptability in different ways, pushing organisations and leaders to respond with greater resilience and clarity.

The changes of the past few weeks have been different from those we are used to. Yet they have served as a powerful reminder of the adaptability of our markets and their intent to make a meaningful difference: from governments that met the moment with conviction and clarity, to businesses and individuals who remain as curious about the present as they are focused on shaping the future.

In moments like these, what stands out is our collective search for clarity. When circumstances are complex and fast‑moving, data becomes more than just information: it becomes a stabilising force. It helps leaders, institutions, and businesses understand where they stand, make informed decisions, and maintain confidence in the path ahead.

Across the GCC region, there is a strong tradition of transparency coupled with forward-looking leadership. Economic indicators, data and market signals are shared to help communities and businesses navigate uncertainty with greater assurance. We saw data from the UAE Ministry of Defence, for instance, that demonstrated the effectiveness of national defenses. There were charts showing the gradual day-by-day recovery of regional flight capacity – with some airlines already at 65 per cent – a tangible sign of our region’s tenacity in restoring mobility and movement.

Data from the UAE Cyber Security Council (CSC) underlines the scale of the ensuing cyber challenge.

The country is now fending off around 800,000 cyberattacks every day, up from an estimated 200,000 daily attempts prior to recent regional tensions. Authorities have identified more than 350 organised groups, 320 individual hackers and 120 malware‑linked entities, with activity spanning around 20 countries.

This should serve as a call to organisations – both small businesses and enterprise level companies – for even greater awareness and active preparation. Because in the digital economy, cyber resilience is taking on ever-increasing importance every day. The opportunism of bad actors during times of geopolitical uncertainty, just magnifies the reality.

Our daily lives and our economies are built on digital foundations. And as we rely more on this infrastructure, we must also be diligent in protecting it. During times of global disruption, digital risks tend to rise. The digital environment becomes busier and more complex, and with that comes an increase in cyber threats.

Global research underscores just how material this risk has become for businesses in our region. Analysis cited by IBM cost of data breach report 2025 – shows that the average cost of a data breach in the Middle East is now close to $7.29m per incident – nearly 61% higher than global average – highlighting why cyber resilience today is firmly a leadership and board‑level concern.

According to Gartner, cybersecurity spending in the region is growing at around 9 per cent annually. Encouragingly, investment in cybersecurity across the Middle East and North Africa continues to grow reflecting a sustained focus on resilience, regulatory readiness, and secure digital transformation.

Large organisations need to see their role clearly: help turn insight into action, support businesses, financial institutions, and governments as they navigate an increasingly connected world. By applying intelligence gained from operating at the heart of the global digital economy, this work focuses on strengthening systems, reducing exposure, and supporting confidence at scale.

Drawing on insights from billions of transactions processed across global payment networks like ours, partners are equipped with more advanced approaches to cybersecurity and fraud prevention. This is further strengthened through the integration of threat intelligence capabilities from Recorded Future – acquired in 2024 – helping anticipate risk, enhance resilience, and safeguard trust across digital ecosystems.

This is underpinned by sustained investment in cybersecurity innovation and the application of advanced data science to detect vulnerabilities earlier and respond with greater precision. Since 2019, we have invested approximately $12.6bn in cybersecurity innovation. In 2025 alone, we processed 175 billion transactions, leveraging our insights and advanced data science to detect vulnerabilities faster and with greater precision, enhancing protection across the ecosystem.

Around the world, public and private sector entities are collaborating to reinforce digital trust. Collaboration, shared intelligence, and collective learning play a critical role in raising resilience across markets and industries.

Resilience, after all, is not about standing still. When businesses can operate with trust and confidence, they grow. They hire more people, they invest in their communities, and they drive the innovation that will power sustainable growth.

Trust is the foundation of the digital economy; but it is not automatic. It must be earned, reinforced, and protected over time. In a region that continues to lead on digitisation and ambition, our ability to thrive will be shaped by how effectively we build resilience into the systems we all rely on.

During times of uncertainty, that resilience is not just a safeguard. It is what allows progress to continue.

The writer is the executive vice president of Services for Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa at Mastercard.

TA’ZIZ and Alpha Dhabi Holding announced on Wednesday a strategic collaboration agreement for about $10bn (Dhs36.7bn) in capital investment in new industrial chemicals within the TA’ZIZ industrial chemicals ecosystem in Al Ruwais Industrial City in Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra region.

The agreement was announced during the Make it in the Emirates platform and is being progressed through a joint feasibility and market study in line with the UAE’s industrial strategy and the Make it in the Emirates initiative.

The agreement was signed by Mashal Saoud Al-Kindi, CEO of TA’ZIZ, and Engineer Hamad Al Ameri, MD and group CEO of Alpha Dhabi Holding.

Subject to final investment decisions and regulatory approvals, the partnership could produce up to 14 new chemicals, delivering about 2.2 million tonnes per annum of additional chemical capacity within the TA’ZIZ industrial chemicals ecosystem.

The proposed chemicals include styrene and polystyrenes, acrylic acid and derivatives, polyols, MDI, epoxy resins and linear alpha-olefins, which are used across construction, automotive, packaging, consumer goods, infrastructure and advanced manufacturing.

Alpha Dhabi to support TA’ZIZ’s mission to boost industrial growth

TA’ZIZ CEO Mashal Saoud Al-Kindi said the collaboration had the potential to expand the company’s industrial growth plans in the UAE.

“This strategic collaboration with Alpha Dhabi offers significant potential to expand TA’ZIZ’s mission to drive industrial growth, enable import substitution and create new economic opportunities in the UAE. We look forward to working with our partners to swiftly progress the joint study and unlock the industrial and economic potential from the new chemical products,” Al-Kindi said.

The companies said the proposed chemicals are anchored on domestic demand and could substitute key products currently imported into the UAE, while strengthening local supply chain resilience.

Engineer Hamad Al Ameri said the partnership reflects Alpha Dhabi’s commitment to investing in industrial platforms linked to the UAE’s economic transformation.

“Our partnership with TA’ZIZ reflects Alpha Dhabi’s commitment to investing in strategic, future-focused industrial platforms that support the UAE’s economic transformation. The proposed chemicals derivatives will strengthen domestic manufacturing, unlock export opportunities and create sustainable long-term value,” he said.

Read: Alpha Dhabi Q1 profit jumps 81 per cent on diversified portfolio growth

The companies said new chemical production would be integrated within the TA’ZIZ and broader ADNOC ecosystems through synergies across feedstock sourcing, utilities, infrastructure and facilities integration, enhancing competitiveness and capital efficiency.

TA’ZIZ said its Phase 1 production portfolio is expected to reach 4.7 million tonnes per annum of marketable products by the end of 2028, including low-carbon ammonia, methanol and PVC.

Dubai’s residential rental market is entering a phase of measured recalibration in 2026, as a wave of new master-planned communities expands tenant choice and gently moderates pricing across several emerging and established districts.

While headline trends suggest softening in select areas, market experts emphasise that this movement reflects a broader rebalancing rather than a uniform downturn.

At the centre of this shift are newer supply hubs such as Dubai Creek Harbour and Mohammed Bin Rashid City, which are increasingly shaping rental dynamics in surrounding communities by absorbing demand and offering competitive lifestyle alternatives.

New supply hubs expand tenant choice

New developments are steadily reshaping Dubai’s rental landscape by introducing fresh inventory and broadening tenant options across key corridors.

From the start of the year to late April 2026, “we observed a slight softening of 2 to 7 per cent in advertised rental price per square foot in Dubai Creek Harbour, Mohammed Bin Rashid City, and Sobha Hartland,” Bayut property experts said.

Read more-Dubai property values are falling, with rents under pressure

According to Bayut, this movement is closely tied to the steady arrival of new units. “In practical terms, this points to the steady introduction of new inventory, which is giving tenants more options. These communities also benefit from their proximity to established hubs such as Business Bay and Downtown Dubai, while offering similar appeal in terms of views, amenities, and lifestyle,” they added.

Dubai Creek Harbour is increasingly positioning itself as a lifestyle-led destination. “Dubai Creek Harbour, for example, is fast emerging as a vibrant lifestyle destination, with a growing mix of dining, entertainment, and sporting experiences,” Bayut property experts said.

Meanwhile, Mohammed Bin Rashid City has developed a distinct identity. “Mohammed Bin Rashid City, meanwhile, has established itself as an attractive family-oriented community, supported by schools, hotels, and wellness facilities,” they added.

Overall, the emergence of these communities is not triggering a broad-based correction, but rather a structural adjustment. “Overall, what we are seeing is a healthy rebalancing of the market, where new developments are helping to fine-tune pricing across neighbouring communities rather than placing broad downward pressure on rents city-wide,” the experts said.

Supply and demand imbalances drive select market corrections

While newer hubs are easing pressure in some locations, other parts of the city are experiencing more pronounced rental adjustments driven by supply-demand imbalances.

Alec Smith, head of Sales and Leasing, Residential Agency at Savills Middle East, pointed to structural imbalances in certain high-density districts.

“The primary driver is a supply vs demand imbalance,” he said. Areas such as Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC), Dubai South, and Business Bay are “heavily dominated by investor-owned units, high-density apartment supply, and short-term and transient residents.”

He explained that demand has softened in these segments while supply continues to rise. “Demand from tenants (particularly transient or investor-driven demand) has softened, and supply continues to increase due to new completions and owners shifting from sales to leasing.”

In contrast, villa and townhouse communities are demonstrating greater resilience. These areas typically house long-term residents and families, resulting in more stable demand conditions.

Prime districts see stabilisation, not sharp declines

Dubai’s ultra-prime and prime residential districts are also undergoing adjustments, though these are largely characterised by moderation rather than significant correction.

Smith noted that “prime areas are not immune; they will also see rental declines, but the extent is typically more controlled.” In many cases, what is being observed is “a normalisation or stabilisation following a period of rapid rental growth, rather than a sharp correction.”

He added that key structural factors continue to support these markets, including continued global demand for prime Dubai assets, limited supply in ultra-prime segments (such as Palm villas), and strong appeal to high-net-worth individuals and international tenants.

Villa communities show strong segmentation in performance

Within the villa segment, market performance is far from uniform, with clear distinctions between different property tiers.

Cherif Sleiman, chief revenue officer at Property Finder, highlighted that “performance within villa communities is clearly segmented, rather than moving as a single block.”

He noted that the only category currently experiencing both quarterly and annual declines is mid-sized townhouses.

“The only segment showing both quarterly and annual decline is 3–4 bedroom townhouses, with rents down 6.4 per cent versus the Q1 2026 average and 3.7 per cent year-on-year,” Sleiman said.

However, other villa segments remain resilient or strongly positive. “Mid-sized 3–4 bedroom villas are up 8.1 per cent year-on-year, even after an 11.1 per cent quarterly adjustment,” he said.

At the upper end, momentum is even stronger: “5–6 bedroom villas rose 14.0 per cent year-on-year, while the 7+ bedroom luxury tier remains in a league of its own, posting a 47.4 per cent annual surge and a further 1.8 per cent quarterly increase,” Sleiman added.

He concluded that the pressure is not widespread. “The pressure is not broad-based; it is concentrated in the mid-market, while larger villas continue to drive the market’s overall expansion.”

Dubai’s rental landscape in 2026 reflects a market in transition rather than decline.

The introduction of large-scale communities such as Dubai Creek Harbour and Mohammed Bin Rashid City is redistributing demand, easing pricing in select areas, and offering tenants greater choice. At the same time, structural demand in prime and villa segments continues to underpin long-term stability, ensuring that adjustments remain measured and largely segment-specific rather than systemic.

Parkin Company, Dubai’s largest provider of paid public parking facilities, reported a 41 per cent rise in first-quarter revenue, supported by higher tariffs, expansion in developer parking and a sharp increase in seasonal card sales.

The company posted total revenue of Dhs384.2m for the three months ended March 31, compared with Dhs273.3m a year earlier, while net profit rose 36 per cent to a record Dhs185.1m.

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased 31 per cent year-on-year to Dhs231.3m, with an EBITDA margin of 60 per cent.

Parkin’s total parking portfolio saw 23 per cent growth in Q1

Parkin said its total parking portfolio expanded by 23 per cent to 258,000 spaces, driven largely by growth in developer parking, which more than tripled to 59,100 spaces following several contracts signed in the second half of 2025.

Public parking spaces rose 4 per cent to 195,200, while multi-storey car park capacity increased 16 per cent to 3,700 spaces.

Despite the increase in capacity, total parking transactions fell 5 per cent to 34.7 million during the quarter, while average public parking utilisation declined to 21.8 per cent from 29 per cent a year earlier.

The company attributed the softer transaction volumes and utilisation to regional geopolitical uncertainty, a longer Eid Al Fitr holiday period and the continued uptake of seasonal cards following the introduction of variable parking tariffs in April 2025.

Weighted average public parking tariffs rose 51 per cent year-on-year to Dhs3.02 per hour following the tariff changes.

Seasonal parking card sales more than doubled to 100,600 during the quarter, with one-month cards recording the strongest growth as customers opted for fixed-price parking packages.

Enforcement revenue rose 46 per cent to Dhs119.7m, while the number of fines issued increased 33 per cent to 754,300 notices.

The company said it continued to expand its technology-enabled enforcement operations, with smart inspection vehicles scanning 20.6 million vehicle registration plates during the quarter, up 64 per cent from a year earlier.

Engineer Mohamed Abdulla Al Ali, CEO of Parkin, commented: “I am pleased to report that we began 2026 on a strong footing, delivering total revenue of Dhs384m, a 41 per cent increase on the same period last year, alongside a 36 per cent increase in net profit to a record Dhs185m. During the quarter, we continued to expand our operational footprint, adding both public and developer parking spaces to our portfolio, while seasonal card sales reached a record 100.6k, a 129 per cent year-on-year increase. Total transaction volumes and utilisation were softer, reflecting the impact of the regional geopolitical situation and a longer Eid Al Fitr holiday period relative to last year. It is also worth noting that utilisation comparisons with Q1 2025 are not directly meaningful, as variable pricing had not yet come into effect during that period. On the enforcement front, we continued to leverage our technology-enabled smart scan car inspection fleet, complemented by targeted, data-driven field deployment to reinforce compliance across the network.

“Looking ahead, we remain confident in the structural strengths of our business and in Parkin’s ability to navigate the current operating environment. We are keeping our FY 2026 revenue guidance under review and expect to provide the market with a revised assessment alongside our Q2 2026 results in early August.”

The company said free cash flow to equity increased 48 per cent to Dhs503.9m during the quarter, while cash conversion improved to 99 per cent.

It added that its full-year 2026 revenue guidance remains under review due to the impact of external factors, including evolving regional geopolitical developments, and said it expects to provide an updated outlook alongside second-quarter results.

International Holding Company (IHC) reported a 98.5 per cent rise in first-quarter profit on Wednesday, supported by strong operating performance, investment income and growth across its diversified portfolio.

The Abu Dhabi-based investment company posted net profit of Dhs8.2bn for the three months ended March 31,

Revenue rose 33.2 per cent year-on-year to Dhs31.4bn.

IHC said performance during the quarter was supported by broad-based contributions across its core segments, margin expansion, portfolio optimisation, a resilient balance sheet and a strong liquidity position.

Total assets stood at Dhs445.3bn as of March 31, compared with Dhs428.6bn at the end of 2025. Total equity reached Dhs249.1bn, while cash and bank balances stood at Dhs74.7bn. The group reported a quick ratio of 2.7 times.

“Q1 2026 marks a strong start to the year, reflecting the continued execution of our strategy to scale high-performing platforms and optimise capital allocation across the portfolio,” chief executive Syed Basar Shueb said in a statement.

“Our performance demonstrates the strength of our diversified model, with broad-based growth, margin expansion, and a significant uplift in profitability,” he added.

IHC announced strategic partnerships in Q1

During the quarter, IHC announced a series of strategic transactions and partnerships across sectors including finance, energy, infrastructure, healthcare and technology.

The company entered a strategic collaboration with the US International Development Finance Corporation to support investments across emerging markets.

IHC, Sirius International Holding and First Abu Dhabi Bank also received approval from the UAE central bank for DDSC, a UAE dirham-backed stablecoin aimed at enabling institutional payments, settlement and trade flows.

In India, IHC completed the acquisition of a 26.7 per cent stake in Sammaan Capital for $600m, expanding its presence in the country’s financial sector.

The group also announced a partnership with IFZA at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026 to co-develop free zones and economic platforms.

Among other deals, ePointZero signed an agreement to acquire 100 per cent of Traverse Midstream Partners for $2.25bn, expanding its presence in global gas infrastructure, while IRH Global Trading signed a 20-year LNG sale and purchase agreement securing 1 MTPA of supply.

IHC’s subsidiary 2PointZero Group invested in WHOOP’s Series G financing round and acquired a 60.8 per cent stake in ISEM Packaging Group, strengthening its presence in the wellness and European packaging sectors.

Read: UAE’s 2PointZero unit acquires stake in US wearable tech firm Whoop

Elsewhere, Beltone Capital acquired a 100 per cent stake in Baobab Bank to expand in African microfinance markets, while Al Seer Marine expanded its partnership with Harris Technologies to develop maritime unmanned systems.

IHC also highlighted global engagement and sustainability initiatives during the quarter, including participation at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026, a multi-year partnership with Global Citizen, and sustainability-related recognition for subsidiaries including Aldar, NMDC Group and Burjeel Holdings.

The group said it remains focused on sustaining growth through capital allocation discipline, portfolio optimisation and international expansion across sectors including technology, infrastructure, financial services and consumer industries.