Gold demand during one of India’s key buying festivals stayed muted on Sunday as record prices curbed jewellery purchases, offsetting a modest uptick in investment demand.

Indians celebrated Akshaya Tritiya, the second-biggest gold-buying festival after Dhanteras, when purchasing precious metals is considered auspicious.

“The sharp rally in prices curbed jewellery demand. In volume terms, buying was lower as consumers held back, though in value terms spending was higher due to elevated prices,” said Amit Modak, chief executive of PN Gadgil and Sons, a Pune-based jeweller.

Read more-What gold’s surge really says about currency confidence

Gold prices hit a record high of $5,594.82 per ounce on January 29 and are now trading at around $4,861.

Gold futures in India, the world’s second-biggest gold consumer, closed at 154,609 rupees ($1,670) per 10 grams on Friday, nearly 63 per cent higher than at the last Akshaya Tritiya festival.

Except in a few southern Indian states, demand was lower than normal across the rest of the country, said Surendra Mehta, national secretary at the India Bullion and Jewellers Association.

Retail buyers have been shifting toward gold coins, which are easier to liquidate, even as jewellers offered discounts on fees for crafting jewellery to attract buyers, said a Mumbai-based jeweller.

India’s jewellery demand in 2025 fell 24 per cent from a year earlier, while investment demand rose 17 per cent to its highest since 2013, according to data compiled by the World Gold Council.

Gold-buying patterns in India are changing, with purchases no longer concentrated only during festivals as price-sensitive buyers make purchases throughout the year whenever prices dip, said a Mumbai-based bullion dealer with a private bank.

India issued an order on Friday listing banks authorised to import gold and silver, providing relief for banks that were forced to halt imports because the list’s publication was delayed.

Dubai’s hospitality sector is entering a new upgrade cycle, with several hotels across the city undergoing major renovations as operators reposition assets to meet evolving guest expectations.

From luxury icons to business hotels, these refurbishments reflect a broader push to enhance competitiveness, extend asset lifecycles, and align with Dubai’s long-term tourism growth strategy.

1. Burj Al Arab, Dubai

Dubai’s flagship ultra-luxury hotel has entered a major 18-month refurbishment, marking its most significant upgrade since opening.

The project is focused on modernising interiors while preserving the property’s iconic identity, reinforcing Dubai’s long-term positioning in ultra-luxury hospitality.

2. Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Media City

The Radisson Blu Hotel in Dubai Media City is set to close from April 30, 2026, for a planned renovation, marking one of the latest additions to the city’s refurbishment pipeline.

Catering operations are expected to continue until the end of the year, while the property is also undergoing a broader repositioning, with a potential operator transition from 2027.

The move reflects a growing trend of business hotels upgrading to remain competitive amid shifting corporate travel demand and mixed-use district evolution.

3. JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai

One of the world’s largest five-star hotels has launched a full-scale renovation of its 1,600+ rooms and suites, alongside upgrades to key dining venues and executive spaces.

However, the property is not closing. In a statement to the media, JW Marriott stated that “the hotel will remain fully operational throughout the duration of the project, with works being carefully phased to ensure continuity of operations and guest experience”.

4. Park Hyatt Dubai

The Park Hyatt Dubai resort is entering its final renovation phase, with a temporary closure scheduled from May 2026.

Phased refurbishments like this are increasingly being used to minimise operational disruption while enhancing long-term asset value.

5. St. Regis Dubai, The Palm

The hotel has begun a partial closure from mid-April 2026 as it undergoes refurbishment, with selected facilities temporarily unavailable.

Unlike full shutdowns, partial closures allow operators to maintain revenue streams while upgrading core infrastructure.

6. Armani Hotel Burj Khalifa

The Armani Hotel Dubai, located within the Burj Khalifa, has temporarily closed from April 1, 2026 for a comprehensive, property-wide renovation.

Operator-level booking platforms confirm the hotel is closed through at least December 31, 2026, with dates subject to change, pointing to a full-scale refurbishment rather than phased upgrades.

Industry booking data and partner listings indicate the property is targeting a reopening in late 2026 (fourth quarter), although availability on some platforms only appears from early January 2027—suggesting a soft relaunch window extending into early 2027.

Concerns grew on Monday that the ceasefire between the US and Iran might not hold after the US said it had seized an Iranian cargo ship that tried to run its blockade and Iran vowed to retaliate.

Efforts to build a more lasting peace in the region likewise appeared to be on shaky ground, as Iran said it would not participate in a second round of negotiations that the US had hoped to kick off before the ceasefire expires on Tuesday.

The US has maintained a blockade of Iranian ports, while Iran has lifted and then reimposed its own blockade on marine traffic passing through the Strait of Hormuz, which typically handles roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply.

The US military said it fired on an Iranian-flagged cargo ship headed towards Iran’s Bandar Abbas port on Sunday after a six-hour standoff, disabling its engines.

Read more-Hormuz Strait shut again: Iran halts key oil route, blames US blockade

US marines then rappelled from helicopters onto the vessel, US Central Command said.

“We have full custody of their ship, and are seeing what’s on board!” President Trump wrote on social media.

Iran’s military said the ship had been traveling from China. “We warn that the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will soon respond and retaliate against this armed piracy by the US military,” a military spokesperson said, according to state media.

Oil prices jumped more than 5 per cent and stock markets wobbled as traders fretted that the ceasefire would collapse and traffic in and out of the Gulf would remain at a bare minimum.

Iran rejects peace talks

Iranian state media reported that Tehran had rejected new peace talks, citing the ongoing blockade, threatening rhetoric, and Washington’s shifting positions and “excessive demands.”

“One cannot restrict Iran’s oil exports while expecting free security for others,” Iran’s first vice president Mohammadreza Aref wrote on social media. “The choice is clear: either a free oil market for all, or the risk of significant costs for everyone.”

Trump earlier warned Iran that the US would destroy every bridge and power plant in Iran if Tehran rejected his terms, continuing a recent pattern of such threats.

Iran has said that if the US were to attack its civilian infrastructure it would hit power stations and desalination plants of Gulf Arab neighbors.

Preparing for talks that might not happen

Trump said his envoys would arrive in Islamabad on Monday evening, one day before a two-week ceasefire ends.

A White House official told Reuters the US delegation would be headed by vice president JD Vance, who led the war’s first peace talks a week ago, and also include Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner. But Trump told ABC News and MS Now that Vance would not go.

Pakistan, which has served as the main mediator, appeared to be preparing for the talks. Two giant US C-17 cargo planes landed at an air base on Sunday afternoon, carrying security equipment and vehicles in preparation for the US delegation’s arrival, two Pakistani security sources said.

Municipal authorities in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad halted public transport and heavy-goods traffic through the city. Barbed wire was rolled out near the Serena Hotel, where last week’s talks were held. The hotel told all guests to leave.

Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who has led Iran’s side in the talks, had earlier said the two sides had made progress but were still far apart on nuclear issues and the Strait.

European allies, repeatedly criticised by Trump for not aiding his war effort, worry that Washington’s negotiating team is pushing for a swift, superficial deal that would require months or years of technically complex follow‑on talks.

Now in its eighth week, the war has created the most severe shock to global energy supplies in history, sending oil prices surging because of the de facto closure of the strait.

Thousands of people have been killed by US-Israeli strikes on Iran and in an Israeli invasion of Lebanon conducted in parallel since the war began on February 28.

Dubai Holding Real Estate has partnered with Emirates NBD to introduce integrated mortgage financing solutions for off-plan residential developments across Meraas, Nakheel and Dubai Properties.

The agreement marks a shift in Dubai’s off-plan property market, enabling buyers to access mortgage financing at the early stages of purchase, rather than relying solely on developer-led payment plans.

Early-stage financing integrated into buyer journey

Under the partnership, eligible customers can secure mortgage pre-approval during the off-plan stage, providing clarity on affordability, competitive rates and long-term financial planning from booking through to project handover.

The initiative will be available to both UAE residents and non-residents, subject to approval, and is designed to streamline the homebuying process while reducing uncertainty for buyers.

By embedding financing directly into the sales process, the collaboration aims to improve transparency and support more structured decision-making among buyers, while reinforcing responsible lending practices across the real estate sector.

Dubai Holding Real Estate will integrate Emirates NBD’s mortgage solutions across its portfolio, offering buyers greater liquidity planning throughout the construction lifecycle.

The move aligns with broader policy objectives under the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, which focuses on enhancing housing accessibility and building a resilient, well-regulated property market.

Khalid Al Malik, chief executive officer of Dubai Holding Real Estate, said: “Dubai’s real estate market continues to evolve as a global benchmark for growth and investment. In partnership with Emirates NBD, we are enhancing the way off-plan homes are purchased by embedding structured mortgage solutions directly into the customer journey. This creates a more structured and predictable pathway for buyers throughout the development lifecycle.”

Marwan Hadi, group head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management at Emirates NBD, added: “We are pleased to partner with Dubai Holding Real Estate to advance how off-plan homes are financed in Dubai. By introducing structured mortgage solutions earlier in the homebuying journey, we are giving customers greater financial clarity and confidence at the point of decision. This initiative reflects our commitment to enabling sustainable homeownership, while strengthening transparency and responsible lending across the UAE’s real estate market.”

The partnership comes amid sustained momentum in Dubai’s property market. According to Dubai Land Department, the emirate recorded more than 270,000 real estate transactions valued at Dhs917bn in 2025, with off-plan properties accounting for over 70 per cent of residential activity.

The introduction of early-stage mortgage solutions is expected to further strengthen market confidence and support continued demand for high-quality developments.

Brandon Dawson has built companies that move fast and think big. As co-founder of Cardone Ventures alongside Grant Cardone, and of 10X Health System, he sits at an unusual intersection: one part business strategist, one part precision health architect. He’s direct and wastes no time getting to what he sees as the central problem: how most people engage with their health is categorically wrong.

“People are done being passive,” he says. “For decades, the system trained us to show up when something was wrong, when you’re sick, when you’re in pain, when the numbers are bad. That model is collapsing.”

What’s replacing it, Dawson argues, isn’t simply better information. It’s a reckoning with data. The kind that used to sit exclusively inside hospital labs and research institutions is now accessible to anyone willing to look. Genetics, biomarker tracking, and real-time physiological feedback. “That’s not a niche luxury anymore,” he says. “That’s the new baseline expectation for anyone who takes their performance seriously.”

Personalisation versus precision

The word ‘personalised’ gets used loosely in wellness, and Dawson draws a firm line between it and what he’s actually building.

“The industry deserves credit for moving in that direction,” he concedes, “but what most people call ‘personalised health’ is still, in many ways, a more refined version of the same averaging problem. You fill out a lifestyle questionnaire, you get a customised supplement recommendation, maybe you track your steps and your sleep. That’s better than nothing, but it’s not precision.”
Precision, he explains, starts somewhere most wellness programmes don’t go: your DNA.

“Your genetic makeup is not a preference or a lifestyle indicator. It’s the foundational code that determines how your body processes nutrients, manages inflammation, responds to training, and metabolises hormones. It’s fixed, it’s specific, and it’s unique to you.”

At 10X Health, that genetic foundation is layered with live blood biomarker data, over 70 markers covering everything from hormone levels to inflammatory response, and integrated with real-time physiological feedback from wearables.

The result is a protocol that could only belong to one person. “Not because we customised a template, but because every recommendation is a direct response to what your specific biology is telling us across three distinct data streams simultaneously.”

The cellular machinery behind longevity

On longevity, Dawson is clear about what the word actually means to him.

“Longevity isn’t about adding years to your life. It’s about adding life to your years.” The machinery behind that, he explains, is cellular. Mitochondrial health. Metabolic resilience. Things most people have never connected to their day-to-day experience.

“Most people don’t connect their brain fog or afternoon crashes to mitochondrial inefficiency,” he says, “but that’s exactly what’s happening for a huge percentage of the population.” When mitochondria are compromised through nutrient deficiencies, chronic inflammation or poor sleep, every system pays a price. Metabolic resilience follows the same logic: blood sugar regulation and insulin sensitivity are among the strongest predictors of how well a person ages.

“We identify these vulnerabilities before they become conditions,” he says. “The goal isn’t to treat metabolic disease. It’s to ensure it never develops.”

Cutting through the supplement noise

The supplement industry is one of the most crowded, least regulated spaces in consumer health. Dawson doesn’t soften his assessment. “Our industry has earned the skepticism,” he says. “There is an enormous amount of noise, influencer-driven supplement stacks, detox protocols with zero clinical backing, marketing that exploits people’s desire to feel better.”
His advice is straightforward: demand data. Not anecdotes, not endorsements, but specific data. What deficiency does this product address? What does your bloodwork show? What genetic markers support this recommendation?

But even when the need is real, ingredient quality is where most companies quietly cut corners. He uses vitamin B12 as his example. “The majority of supplements use a synthetic form called cyanocobalamin. It’s cheap, it’s stable, and it technically raises your B12 levels on a lab test.” The issue is that cyanocobalamin isn’t found naturally in the human body and requires conversion before it can be used. Methylcobalamin, by contrast, is already in a bioactive state. “Research has shown it remains in the body for a longer period and at higher levels,” he says. “That’s not a marginal difference. That’s the gap between a supplement that performs and one that merely appears to.”

Every ingredient in 10X’s product line is reviewed by medical advisors for the form, source, and delivery mechanism, not just whether the active compound is present. “The question we ask isn’t just whether an ingredient works in theory. It’s whether the specific form gives your body the best possible chance to actually use it.”

Beyond the clinic

The traditional clinic, Dawson says, was never the ideal mechanism for wellness. It was simply the only option available.

“Think about what’s already possible,” he says. “You can collect a DNA sample at home and have a comprehensive genetic profile within days. Wearables give you continuous data on heart rate variability, sleep quality, blood oxygen. Blood panels are moving toward at-home collection. AI platforms are beginning to interpret this data in real time.”

Genetics provide your baseline blueprint; bloodwork shows where that blueprint is being undermined by environment and choices; wearables provide the continuous feedback loop that tells you whether your interventions are working. “When those three data streams are integrated, the traditional clinic becomes one node in a much larger ecosystem, not the centre of it.”

He’s careful not to frame this as the end of clinical medicine. “The future isn’t clinic versus consumer technology. It’s both, working in an intelligent, connected system.”

10X Health System currently delivers this across 46 countries, operating precision IV therapy through certified medical facilities and building out a wider suite of services that includes gut health testing, hormone therapy support, and the Superhuman Protocol, a three-stage process combining PEMF therapy, oxygen therapy, and red light therapy designed to support cellular regeneration and recovery.

The next decade: personalisation, AI and the Gulf

On the decade ahead, Dawson identifies three forces he believes will define the next era of wellness: personalisation at scale, AI-powered decision-making, and the globalisation of preventative longevity medicine.

“Imagine a system that knows your genetic predispositions, monitors your real-time biomarkers, tracks your sleep and recovery from wearables, and uses all of that to help you make micro-decisions throughout your day, which foods support your hormonal balance, which type of training matches your recovery capacity right now, when to push and when to restore. That’s not science fiction. That’s where we’re heading.”

On geography, he’s equally direct. “I’m particularly energised by what’s happening in regions like the Gulf. Leaders here are not waiting for the future of healthcare to arrive. They’re building it.” The investment in infrastructure and the ambition around longevity medicine in Abu Dhabi and across the UAE, he says, is genuinely world-class. “This region is going to be central to how precision longevity medicine scales globally over the next decade.”

The Cardone blueprint, and what business taught him about health

What building Cardone Ventures alongside Grant Cardone taught him about scale and conviction turns out to be inseparable from how he thinks about health optimisation.

“Grant operates at a level of conviction and intensity that forces you to remove your own ceiling,” he says. “The biggest thing I took from building together is that your limitation is rarely the market. It’s the size of your thinking.” Speed and commitment followed as practical lessons. “Most businesses fail not because the idea was wrong but because the execution was too tentative.”

The deeper carry-over is structural. In business, you start by understanding your baseline, where you are financially, operationally, and culturally. You identify the gaps between that baseline and where you want to go, build precise and measurable interventions to close them, and track the data to know whether your strategy is working. “You don’t guess. You don’t hope. You measure, adjust, and scale what works.”

That, he says, is exactly how 10X Health approaches optimisation. “Your genetics are your baseline blueprint. Your blood work identifies the gaps, the deficiencies, imbalances, and vulnerabilities that are limiting your performance. Your precision protocol is the intervention strategy. And your ongoing testing and wearable data are your performance metrics. The feedback loop is the same.”

What he’s observed consistently across both domains is one shared characteristic among the highest performers. “They’re ruthlessly honest about where they are. They don’t rationalise the bad numbers. They face them, they address them, and they use them as a starting point. Whether it’s a P&L or a blood panel, the willingness to look at the truth without flinching is the foundation of every meaningful result I’ve ever seen.”

The importance of building community around a vision, of making people feel part of something larger than a transaction, is something he has carried from Cardone Ventures directly into 10X Health. “We’re not just selling a product or a test. We’re inviting people into a fundamentally different relationship with their own health. The mission has to be bigger than the business.”

Read: Staying calm in uncertain times: Here’s what UAE mental health professionals advise