Temu, the global e‑commerce marketplace backed by Chinese group PDD Holdings, said on Monday it has expanded its operations in the United Arab Emirates with the launch of a local seller programme aimed at boosting deliveries and broadening its product selection.

The initiative, part of Temu’s “local‑to‑local” model, allows UAE‑registered businesses with locally stocked inventory to sell on its platform, giving them access to a new distribution channel and consumers quicker delivery times, the company said.

Temu’s Local Seller Program is already active in more than 30 markets, including the US, the UK, Germany, France and Japan. Its rollout in the UAE is the latest step in the company’s strategy to support small and medium enterprises while enhancing its service offering in international markets.

“With our local‑to‑local initiative, we aim to create new growth opportunities for UAE businesses, while giving consumers access to a wider selection of affordable, quality products with faster delivery,” a Temu spokesperson said.

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Temu launched in the UAE in 2023

Temu launched in the UAE in September 2023 and has gained traction among shoppers drawn to its broad assortment and competitive pricing. According to analytics firm SimilarWeb, Temu was the top-ranked shopping app on Android in the UAE as of January 1, 2026, based on usage data.

The expansion underscores increasing competition in the region’s e‑commerce sector, where established players and new entrants are investing in faster logistics and localised offerings to capture market share.

Electricity supply has been fully restored across Sharjah following a temporary power outage that disrupted residential, commercial and government activities on Sunday, authorities confirmed.

The Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority (SEWA) said the interruption, which occurred around midday, was triggered by a localised emergency fault in the power network that activated automatic protection systems designed to safeguard grid stability.

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The fault led to a brief loss of electricity in several neighbourhoods, including Al Majaz, Al Taawun, Al Nahda and parts of Muweilah and Buhairah Corniche, affecting homes, shops and major retail hubs such as Sahara Centre. Government services, commercial operations and ATM withdrawals were temporarily disrupted during the outage.

SEWA’s technical teams

According to Sharjah24, SEWA’s technical teams responded promptly, isolating the affected sections of the network and carrying out safety inspections before restoring supply. Power was re-established progressively across all impacted areas, with full restoration confirmed by the authority in the afternoon.

In a statement, SEWA reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining high standards of reliability and service continuity, highlighting ongoing investments in grid modernisation, preventive maintenance and rapid response mechanisms to minimise the impact of unforeseen faults.

Residents reported that the outage lasted only a few hours, with many confirming that normal operations had resumed by mid-afternoon. The authority has not indicated any lasting infrastructure damage and said regular monitoring and maintenance work will continue to bolster network resilience.

Read: How Sharjah dealt with adverse weather: Inside the emirate’s rapid response

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced the launch of the Package Preference Phase via the Nusuk Hajj platform for the 1447 AH – 2026 Hajj season, targeting pilgrims from countries under the Direct Hajj Program.

This phase enables pilgrims to review available service packages, compare offerings based on service level, content, and cost, and select up to five preferred options. The initiative aims to empower pilgrims to make informed decisions in advance of the official booking phase, while simultaneously providing service providers with insights to better prepare for the upcoming season, a Saudi Press Agency report said.

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The Nusuk Hajj platform simplifies the pilgrimage experience with digital features such as package comparison tools, preference indicators showing popularity trends, installment-based deposits via a digital wallet, and access to an officially approved list of service providers.

The ministry called on pilgrims eligible for the Direct Hajj Program to register or update their existing information through the platform, and to ensure the accuracy of all personal data and documentation. It also encouraged pilgrims to add family members wishing to perform Hajj under the same application to facilitate verification and accelerate application approvals.

Official platform and compliance emphasis

In its statement, the ministry reaffirmed that Nusuk Hajj is the sole official and approved platform for Hajj services in countries under the Direct Hajj Program. It emphasised the importance of avoiding transactions with any unauthorised entities or unaccredited service providers. All deposits and bookings must be made exclusively through the Nusuk Hajj platform to ensure procedural integrity and safeguard pilgrim rights.

For more information on the countries included in the Direct Hajj Program, visit Nusuk.sa. To register or update your details, please visit Hajj.nusuk.sa.

This announcement applies exclusively to countries.

Singapore Gulf Bank (SGB) has strengthened its strategic relationship with J.P. Morgan by opening a correspondent banking account, providing the digital bank with direct access to one of the world’s most established US dollar clearing networks. The move enhances SGB’s ability to deliver faster, more secure and efficient cross-border payment services to its clients.

The collaboration reinforces SGB’s growing global payments ecosystem, which already includes a network of correspondent banks and its proprietary real-time settlement platform, SGB Net. By combining traditional international payment rails with advanced digital infrastructure, SGB aims to offer clients enhanced omnichannel settlement capabilities and more effective global liquidity management.

Wire 365 solution

As part of the expanded partnership, SGB has become one of the first digital banks in the MENA region to implement J.P. Morgan Payments’ Wire 365 solution. The service enables USD clearing 365 days a year, allowing payments to be received and credited in near real time, including weekends and public holidays. By removing traditional cut-off times, Wire 365 supports improved liquidity planning and gives clients greater flexibility in managing cash flows and meeting payment obligations.

Ali Moosa, executive vice chairman of Singapore Gulf Bank, stated: “This collaboration is a major step forward for digital banking in the Gulf Corporation Council and further strengthens our position as the financial bridge between Asia and the Gulf. Joining J.P. Morgan’s global network allows us to offer clients a convenient route for USD clearing, and ensures that their capital moves with the speed, certainty, and security required in today’s global economy. Singapore Gulf Bank’s adoption of Wire 365 highlights our commitment to innovation and enhancing the banking experience for our clients. This advancement places Singapore Gulf Bank at the forefront of digital transformation in the financial sector, setting a new standard for efficient and reliable USD payment processing.”

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Nawaf Humood, executive director, Financial Institution Group Sales at J.P. Morgan Payments, said: “We are pleased to provide Singapore Gulf Bank with the Wire 365 payment solution. This collaboration highlights SGB’s expanding position as a leading digital bank in the market and underscores the Kingdom of Bahrain’s commitment to supporting Innovation.”

The collaboration was formalised during a signing ceremony at SGB’s headquarters in Bahrain. J.P. Morgan Payments delivers treasury services, trade and working capital solutions, and card and merchant services, processing more than $10tn in payments daily across over 160 countries and 120 currencies.

The announcement follows a series of recent milestones for SGB, including the launch of its corporate banking services in late 2024, the rollout of its multi-currency real-time clearing network SGB Net in May 2025, and a partnership with digital asset infrastructure provider Fireblocks to support secure treasury management and digital asset custody.

Oil prices are likely to drift lower this year as a wave of supply creates a market surplus, although geopolitical risks tied to Russia, Venezuela and Iran will continue to drive volatility, Goldman Sachs said in a note on Sunday.

The investment bank maintained its 2026 average price forecasts of $56/$52 per barrel for Brent/WTI, and expects Brent/WTI prices to bottom at $54/50 in the last quarter as OECD inventories build up.

“Rising global oil stocks and our forecast of a 2.3mb/d surplus in 2026 suggest that rebalancing the market likely requires lower oil prices in 2026 to slow down non-OPEC supply growth and support solid demand growth, barring large supply disruptions or OPEC production cuts,” Goldman Sachs said.

Brent crude futures LCOc1 were trading around $63 a barrel, as of 0412 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 holds ground at $59. Last year, both the benchmarks posted their worst annual performance since 2020, with an almost 20 per cent decline. O/R

US policymakers’ focus on strong energy supply and relatively low oil prices will keep sustained oil price upside in check ahead of the midterms, analysts at the bank noted.

Prices are expected to gradually start recovering in 2027, with the market returning to a deficit as non-OPEC supply slows down and solid demand growth continues, Goldman analysts said in a note.

Read: Most Gulf markets ease on weak oil prices

The investment bank expects Brent/WTI to average at $58/54 in 2027, although $5 lower than its prior estimate, citing upgrades to 2027 supply in the US, Venezuela and Russia by 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5mb/d, respectively.

Goldman said it expects a substantial price recovery later this decade as demand grows through 2040 after years of low long-cycle investment, with 2030–2035 Brent/WTI prices averaging $75/$71, $5 below its previous estimate.

Risks to the price forecasts are skewed modestly to the downside given a further increase in non-OPEC supply, Goldman said, adding that it expects no OPEC production cuts, despite geopolitical risks and low speculative positioning.

“We still recommend investors short the 2026Q3-Dec2028 Brent time-spread to express the 2026 surplus view, and oil producers hedge 2026 price downside.”