As demand for gold continues to rise across the UAE, Dubai Gold District has unveiled a new concierge-style home delivery service, allowing customers to purchase gold and jewellery through private consultations without leaving their homes.

The initiative, introduced in collaboration with select retailers, is designed to bring the trusted in-store experience directly to customers, combining convenience with the high standards that have long defined Dubai’s gold market.

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Dubai Gold District, often referred to as the “Home of Gold,” brings together some of the world’s most recognised gold and jewellery retailers under one destination. The new service reflects a shift in consumer behaviour, as more buyers seek flexibility, privacy and ease when making high-value purchases.

How the service works

The service has launched with participating retailers Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Kanz and Kalyan Jewellers, with more expected to join in the coming months.

Customers can contact retailers directly to arrange private consultations, during which they can explore options ranging from gold bullion and coins to fine jewellery. Once a selection is made, purchases are securely delivered to the customer’s doorstep, ensuring a discreet and tailored experience.

The move comes at a time when gold continues to attract attention as a reliable store of value, particularly amid global economic uncertainty.

Blending tradition with modern convenience

Dubai has long held a reputation as one of the world’s most trusted destinations for buying gold, supported by transparent pricing, competitive rates and a rich trading heritage.

“With this delivery service, we are extending the trusted Dubai Gold District experience beyond the store,” said Muath AlRais, Senior Operations Manager at Dubai Gold District. “Customers can now purchase gold from the comfort and privacy of their homes, while maintaining the transparency and service that define gold shopping in Dubai.”

Industry players say the initiative reflects a broader effort to modernise the gold-buying journey without compromising on trust.

Retailers respond to changing consumer needs

Retailers participating in the programme say customer expectations are evolving, particularly among those purchasing investment-grade gold or high-value jewellery.

Malabar Gold & Diamonds noted growing demand for more personalised and private shopping experiences.

“We are seeing increasing interest from customers who want greater convenience and privacy, particularly when selecting investment pieces or high-value jewellery,” the retailer said. “Personal consultations and secure home delivery allow us to guide customers through their selection while bringing the same trusted in-store experience directly to their homes.”

Kalyan Jewellers echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the importance of trust and transparency in the buying process.

“Our customers value the transparency and competitiveness of Dubai’s gold market,” the company said. “By offering personalised consultations and secure delivery, we are making it easier for customers to purchase gold while still benefiting from the expertise and guidance they expect.”

Retail experience continues unchanged

Despite the introduction of home delivery, Dubai Gold District and the Dubai Gold Souk will continue to operate during normal business hours, with retailers welcoming customers in-store.

The new service is intended to complement, rather than replace, the traditional shopping experience, giving customers more flexibility in how they choose to engage with the market.

As global gold prices continue to draw interest, the initiative positions Dubai Gold District to meet rising demand while reinforcing its reputation as a leading hub for gold trading.

Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority has issued new Guidance on its Virtual Assets Issuance Rulebook, establishing what it describes as the world’s first dedicated regulatory framework governing how digital assets are created, disclosed and distributed within a licensed environment.

The Guidance is designed to complement VARA’s existing issuance rulebook by providing market participants with a practical reference on how the regime applies across different types of virtual assets and issuers.

First-of-its-kind issuance framework

The document outlines three distinct issuance pathways: Category 1 Virtual Asset Issuances, which require licensing and apply to fiat-referenced and asset-referenced assets; Category 2 Issuances, which are facilitated through licensed distributors; and Exempt Virtual Assets, which are subject to limited requirements due to their restricted functionality.

Matthew White, chief executive officer of VARA, said: “Clear issuance standards are fundamental to building resilient and transparent Virtual Asset markets. This Guidance provides practical clarity on how VARA’s framework applies across different issuance models, ensuring that innovation is supported by strong governance, robust disclosures, and accountable market practices.”

The Guidance reinforces VARA’s disclosure-led regulatory approach, requiring issuers to publish detailed whitepapers and risk disclosure statements that are clear, accurate and accessible to users. These measures are intended to support informed decision-making and improve transparency across the virtual asset ecosystem.

It also clarifies the roles and responsibilities of issuers and licensed distributors, particularly for Category 2 issuances, where distributors must conduct due diligence and ensure ongoing compliance with regulatory requirements.

Ruben Bombardi, general counsel at VARA, said: “Trust is built through clarity, and clarity begins with disclosure. By strengthening the standards around how virtual assets are issued and communicated to the market, this Guidance reinforces Dubai’s position as a jurisdiction that enables responsible innovation while safeguarding market integrity.”

Governance and compliance expectations

The framework sets out requirements around governance, ongoing disclosure obligations and the treatment of asset-referenced virtual assets, including rules covering reserve assets, redemption rights and legal structuring.

VARA emphasised that compliance with issuance requirements does not amount to regulatory endorsement of any virtual asset or issuer, with responsibility remaining on market participants to assess risks and ensure adherence to applicable regulations.

The Guidance forms part of VARA’s broader efforts to build a transparent and well-regulated virtual assets ecosystem in Dubai, as demand for digital asset products continues to grow globally.

The Guidance on Virtual Asset Issuance is available on VARA’s official website.

King Street Capital Management and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) said on Tuesday they have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding for PIF to become an anchor investor in a new private credit fund targeting Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East and North Africa region.

The announcement was made during the FII Priority Miami Summit 2026.

The planned fund will focus on providing private capital solutions to corporates and offering asset based lending in Saudi Arabia and MENA, with scope to invest in public market credit opportunities and select special situations.

PIF partnering with global asset managers

PIF has been expanding financial partnerships with international asset managers as part of its efforts to deepen the local capital market and draw global capital into the kingdom.

The new partnership aims to address rising demand for credit among regional businesses and is expected to attract additional long term foreign investment.

King Street, which manages more than $30bn in assets, said the fund will build on its three decades of experience in global credit markets, including emerging markets.

Founder and managing partner Brian Higgins said the regional private credit market may need to grow between 15 and 30 per cent annually over the next five years to support economic development, noting that this would complement the Gulf region’s banking sector and expanding capital markets.

The firm has been increasing its presence in Saudi Arabia and is in the process of opening an office in Riyadh.

The creation of the fund and PIF’s anchor commitment remain subject to definitive agreements, regulatory and internal approvals, and the completion of agreed milestones.

UAE-based supermarket chain Choithrams has partnered with PARKONIC to introduce a streamlined, ticketless parking experience across selected store locations, marking a step forward in enhancing customer convenience beyond the in-store environment.

The initiative is powered by PARKONIC OS, a digitally managed parking platform designed to deliver a frictionless parking journey. The system removes the need for physical tickets, enabling a smoother and more efficient experience for shoppers from arrival to exit.

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Three Choithrams locations, DEC Marina, JVC Manhattan, and Dubai Silicon Oasis, have been selected for the pilot phase, with the rollout expected to be completed by mid-April.

Customer-centric innovation at the forefront

The move underscores Choithrams’ continued focus on improving customer experience by addressing everyday pain points such as parking availability and access.

Under the new system, customers receive one hour of complimentary parking. Validation is completed at checkout by entering the vehicle’s license plate number, with the applicable duration automatically applied upon exit.

“At Choithrams, being customer-centric is at the heart of what we do, and we are always looking at ways to make the shopping experience as smooth as possible,” said Mark Mortimer-Davies, CEO of Choithrams. “We understand that something as simple as finding a parking space can shape the overall visit, no one wants to arrive and struggle to find a spot.”

He added: “We’re putting our customers’ needs first, not only as a retailer, but as a brand that aims to make everyday experiences easier. This marks a step towards smarter, more integrated retail infrastructure, and we’re delighted to be working with PARKONIC to make this happen.”

Smarter parking for a seamless retail journey

PARKONIC’s technology aims to improve parking flow and utilisation by introducing structured, tech-enabled management across retail locations.

“Retail today is no longer just about what happens inside the store, but how seamlessly the entire visit comes together,” said Imad Alameddine, CEO of PARKONIC. “Our collaboration with Choithrams focuses on removing everyday friction points, starting from the moment customers arrive.”

He added: “By simplifying parking into a seamless, ticketless experience, we are supporting a more effortless and enjoyable journey for customers.”

Beyond the complimentary period, parking is priced at Dhs15 per additional hour. Payments can be made via on-site options, including QR codes or automatic deductions through SALIK accounts, where applicable.

The rollout reflects Choithrams’ broader commitment to operational excellence and customer-centric innovation, as retailers across the UAE increasingly invest in technology to enhance end-to-end shopping experiences.

Meta Platforms on Wednesday unveiled Muse Spark, the first artificial intelligence model from a costly team it assembled last year to catch up with rivals in the AI race.

Shares of the company extended gains to trade up nearly 7 per cent.

US tech giants are under pressure to prove their massive AI outlays will pay off. The stakes are especially high for Meta after it hired Scale AI CEO Alex Wang last year under a $14.3bn deal and offered some engineers pay packages of hundreds of millions of dollars to staff a new superintelligence team, a bid to propel itself back into the AI world’s top ranks after a disappointing showing with its Llama 4 models early last year.

Superintelligence refers to AI machines that could outthink humans. Muse Spark is the first in a new series of models, known internally as Avocado, from that team.

The model, the first the company has released in about a year, initially will be available only on the lightly used Meta AI app and website. In the coming weeks, it will replace the existing Llama models powering chatbots on WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and Meta’s collection of smart glasses, the company said.

Meta did not disclose Muse Spark’s size, a key measure typically used to compare an AI system’s computing power with rivals. It also changed course from previous open releases of its Llama models, instead sharing only a “private preview” of Muse Spark with unnamed partners.

“This initial model is small and fast by design, yet capable enough to reason through complex questions in science, math, and health. It is a powerful foundation, and the next generation is already in development,” the company said in a blog post.

Independent evaluations of Muse Spark’s performance showed it catching up with top models from market leaders Google, OpenAI and Anthropic in some areas, like language and visual understanding, but lagging in others like coding and abstract reasoning.

The model tied for fourth place on a broad index of AI tests compiled by evaluation firm Artificial Analysis.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg had tempered expectations for early performance, telling investors in January that he thought the team’s first models “will be good but, more importantly, will show the rapid trajectory that we’re on.”

“I expect us to steadily push the frontier over the course of the year as we continue to release new models,” he had said.

Wang, who runs the new superintelligence team, acknowledged in a series of social media posts on Wednesday that “there are certainly rough edges we will polish over time in model behavior.”

He said bigger versions of the model were in development and that Meta was planning to release at least some of them openly.

With the release, Meta gave a clearer sense of how it aims to use its models to make money, teasing shopping features embedded within its Meta AI chatbot that point users directly to products they can purchase.

Broadly, the company is betting that applying AI to everyday personal tasks will boost engagement among the more than 3.5 billion users across its social media platforms, potentially giving it an edge over rivals with a smaller reach.

Muse Spark can also help users with tasks such as estimating the calories in a meal from a photo or superimposing an image of a mug on a shelf to see how it looks, the company said.

An extra Contemplating Mode, which runs multiple agents simultaneously to boost reasoning power, would allow Muse Spark to take on the extended thinking modes of Google’s Gemini Deep Think and OpenAI’s GPT Pro.

Meta said people could use the mode for efficiently planning a family vacation, having one agent draft a travel itinerary while the other looks up kid-friendly activities.