Dubai-linked Confident Group chairman dies by suicide amid investigation
Multiple Indian media outlets reported that the incident occurred on Friday afternoon and coincided with an ongoing visit by Income Tax Department officials to Roy’s office premises
Dr C.J. Roy/Image: Screengrab of Dr C.J. Roy's instagram account
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Dubai-based Indian real estate entrepreneur and chairman of Confident Group, Dr C.J. Roy, has died by suicide, according to Indian media reports on Friday.
Indian authorities said Roy was found with a gunshot wound inside his office in central Bengaluru and was later declared dead at hospital. Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident and have not disclosed an official motive.
Multiple Indian media outlets reported that the incident occurred on Friday afternoon and coincided with an ongoing visit by Income Tax Department officials to Roy’s office premises. Police officials said forensic teams were called to the scene and procedural formalities, including a post-mortem examination, have been initiated.
Roy, 57, was a prominent real estate developer with business interests spanning India, the UAE and the US. According to Indian media, he is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.
A UAE Golden Visa holder, Roy was based in Dubai and split his time between the UAE and India. He was also active in film production and was a well-known public figure in Kerala, his home state.
Founded nearly two decades ago, Confident Group has delivered more than 200 residential and commercial projects across southern India. In recent years, the company expanded its footprint in the UAE, positioning Dubai as a key growth market.
Confident Group entered the Dubai property market with the Confident Lancaster project in Liwan, Dubailand. The project was delivered 11 months ahead of schedule in June 2024.
According to the company website, the group outlined a growing development pipeline in Dubai, with 11 projects currently listed in its official portfolio, spanning completed developments as well as projects in the “coming soon” and early planning stages.
While the group has delivered more than 210 projects globally, primarily across India, Dubai is emerging as a key growth market in its international expansion strategy.
Police officials in India said investigations are ongoing and that statements from family members and associates are being recorded. Further details are expected as authorities continue to examine both personal and professional aspects linked to the case.
Dubai Fashion Week, organised by Dubai Design District (d3) in collaboration with the Arab Fashion Council, will take place from February 1 to 6, bringing together a distinguished line-up of international designers and buyers from around the world.
The event reinforces Dubai’s growing status as an emerging global capital for fashion and design, underscoring its role as a key meeting point for the international creative economy.
Manish Malhotra returns to the runway
Renowned Indian fashion designer Manish Malhotra will return to the Dubai runway to present the closing show of the Autumn/Winter season, a move that underscores Dubai’s rising profile as a global hub for the fashion industry and creative innovation, a WAM report said.
His participation highlights the city’s ability to attract globally recognised designers to its fashion calendar.
Commitment to creative exchange
Malhotra said his renewed participation reflects his commitment to expanding his presence in Dubai as a global meeting point for creatives and a platform for cultural dialogue between East and West. He noted that his international collection embodies a contemporary cultural narrative and a high level of craftsmanship in design.
For her part, Khadija Al Bastaki, senior vice president of TECOM Group, Dubai Design District, said that Malhotra’s return for the second consecutive year highlights the growing confidence of leading international designers in Dubai Fashion Week as a premier global platform for creative exchange.
China has given its top AI startup DeepSeek approval to buy Nvidia’s NVDA.O H200 artificial intelligence chips with regulatory conditions that are still being finalised, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters.
Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing sources, that ByteDance, Alibaba and Tencent had been given permission to purchase more than 400,000 H200 chips in total.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang told reporters in Taipei on Thursday that his company had not received such information. He added that he believed that China was still finalising the licence. Nvidia did not respond to a request for comment on DeepSeek’s approval.
China’s industry and commerce ministries have granted approvals for all four companies, but have stipulated that they will impose conditions that are still being finalised, the sources said. These conditions are being decided by China’s state planner, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), according to one of the people.
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Ministry of Commerce and NDRC did not answer requests for comment.
DeepSeek, which rattled the global tech sector early last year by rolling out AI models that cost a fraction of those being developed by US rivals such as OpenAI, did not answer a request for comment.
The H200, Nvidia’s second most powerful AI chip, has emerged as a major flashpoint in US-China relations. Despite strong demand from Chinese firms and U.S. approval for exports, Beijing’s hesitation to allow imports has been the main barrier to shipments.
The US earlier this month formally cleared the way for Nvidia to sell the H200 to China, where the company is seeing strong appetite. However, Chinese authorities have the final say on whether they would allow it to be shipped in.
Any purchases of H200 chips by DeepSeek could draw scrutiny by U.S lawmakers. Reuters reported on Wednesday that a senior US lawmaker had alleged that Nvidia had helped DeepSeek hone artificial intelligence models that were later used by the Chinese military, according to a letter sent to U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
DeepSeek is expected to launch its next-generation AI model V4, featuring strong coding capabilities, in mid-February, The Information reported earlier this month.
Abu Dhabi’s newest sovereign wealth fund L’imad Holding is taking control of peer ADQ, the government media office said on Friday, a major consolidation that creates a new investment heavyweight in the wealthy emirate under its crown prince.
L’imad’s board was announced earlier this month, chaired by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, now chairs the merged Li’mad.
The move places hundreds of billions of dollars in state assets including airline Etihad, utilities and ports, under his direct control.
ADQ, which managed $263bn before the merger, had been chaired by Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the national security adviser. He also chairs the emirate’s largest sovereign fund, the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, estimated by sovereign wealth tracker GlobalSWF to manage nearly $1.2tn in assets.
Abu Dhabi holds the vast majority of the UAE’s oil reserves and is home to sovereign funds estimated to collectively manage more than $1.8trn in assets.
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced extended operating hours for the Dubai Metro on Sunday, February 1, to support participants and spectators attending the Dubai Marathon 2026.
According to RTA, metro services will operate from 5am until 12am on Sunday. Under the normal Sunday schedule, Dubai Metro services begin at 8am and run until midnight.
The extended hours are intended to ease transport access for the thousands of runners and visitors expected to attend one of the region’s largest annual sporting events.
The marathon will start on Abdullah Omran Taryam Street, while the 10km Road Race and the 4km Fun Run will begin on King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Street. All three races will conclude at the parade ground of the Dubai Police Academy.
There will be three separate start points for the Marathon, 10km and 4km races. Participants are advised to enter only their designated start areas, with official route maps providing full details.
Route and facilities
The Dubai Marathon course is known for being fast and flat, with high-quality road surfaces throughout. Water stations supplied by Bisleri will be available every 5km from the 5km to 40km marks, with additional water points approximately halfway between each main station.
Vitamin Well refreshments will be available at the 10km, 15km, 20km, 25km and 30km points. Medical stations will be positioned around 200 metres after each 5km mark, while toilet facilities will be available every 5km along the route from 5km to 40km.
Transport advice and road closures
Event organisers have advised overseas visitors and residents unfamiliar with the area to use taxis to reach the start line. Recommended drop-off locations include Al Wasl Road before the turn towards the Dubai Police Academy, or the Mall of the Emirates area, followed by a walk to the venue entrance.
Participants travelling by private vehicle are warned of extensive road closures in the surrounding area from 1am onwards. Motorists are advised to park at a reasonable walking distance from the venue and arrive early to avoid congestion and delays. No parking will be available at the Dubai Police Academy.
Emirates is accelerating into 2026 with a sweeping set of initiatives that underscore its ambition to redefine premium travel far beyond the aircraft cabin.
From unveiling the world’s first Ritz-Carlton Lodge deep within Australia’s Greater Blue Mountains, to expanding chauffeur-driven airport transfers in Japan, strengthening connectivity across Africa through new airline partnerships, and enhancing customer loyalty and onboard dining experiences, the Dubai-based airline is reinforcing its positioning as a global leader in integrated, high-end travel, Emirates media reports conveyed.
Taken together, the developments highlight a broader strategy at play: Emirates is investing simultaneously in destination-led tourism, premium ground services, global connectivity, customer rewards, and evolving passenger preferences around wellness and sustainability.
For travellers, investors, and industry watchers alike, the moves point to an airline that sees its future not only in flying passengers between cities, but in shaping the entire journey, from doorstep to destination, and from farm to fork.
Below is a closer look at the key developments that define Emirates’ latest chapter.
Image credit: Emirates/Website
1-A world-first luxury play: Emirates and Marriott bring the Ritz-Carlton lodge to Australia
Emirates and Marriott International have signed an agreement to open Emirates Wolgan Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Lodge, marking the first Ritz-Carlton Lodge globally and a significant milestone for luxury tourism in regional New South Wales.
Set within a 7,000-acre conservation reserve in Australia’s Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage area, the 40-key all-inclusive lodge is expected to open in mid-2026. Designed as a purpose-built sanctuary in nature, the property aims to combine refined luxury with minimal environmental impact, drawing on the Ritz-Carlton brand’s service ethos while reflecting the surrounding wilderness.
Since 2006, Emirates has invested $150m Australian Dollars in the Wolgan Valley Resort, including the restoration of historically significant structures such as the original 1832 homestead and the planting of more than one million native trees. The airline is now committing an additional $50m Australian Dollars, in collaboration with Marriott, to transform the property into a flagship Ritz-Carlton Lodge experience.
The lodge will occupy less than two percent of the protected wilderness, offering guests rare access to pristine landscapes, native wildlife including bare-nosed wombats and brush-tailed rock wallabies, and some of the clearest night skies in the world. Guests will arrive via four-wheel drive through the Donkey Steps or by helicopter, reinforcing the sense of exclusivity and immersion.
Beyond tourism, the project is positioned as a regional economic catalyst, with the potential to recreate nearly 150 local jobs and expand opportunities for local suppliers. Emirates has maintained a locally employed workforce even during periods when the property was nonoperational following road closures in 2023.
Sir Tim Clark, president of Emirates Airline, described the lodge as both an extraordinary destination for discerning travellers and a powerful engine for local economic growth, reinforcing Emirates’ long-standing commitment to Australia.
The lodge will complement The Ritz-Carlton’s existing Australian portfolio, which includes properties in Perth and Melbourne.
Image credit: Emirates/Website
2-Premium on the ground: Emirates expands chauffeur-drive service in Japan
Emirates is extending its signature chauffeur-drive service in Japan, further elevating the premium ground experience for First Class and Business Class customers.
From February 1, 2026, the service will be available at Narita International Airport, followed by Kansai International Airport from March 1, 2026. These additions complement the existing Chauffeur-Drive offering at Haneda Airport, making Emirates the only international airline to provide such a service across Japan.
The complimentary door-to-door service covers up to 100 kilometres per journey and allows customers to travel seamlessly between the airport and their home, hotel, or office. Coverage includes Tokyo’s 23 wards and surrounding prefectures for Narita, and Osaka City along with parts of Nara, Kyoto, Hyogo, and Osaka prefectures for Kansai.
Any additional mileage beyond the allowance is charged directly to customers, while bookings can be managed through emirates.com or the Emirates contact centre. At Narita, the service is complemented by access to Emirates’ airport lounge in Terminal 2.
The expansion aligns with Emirates’ broader strategy to ensure premium travellers receive consistent service standards on the ground as well as in the air, reinforcing its presence in a key Asia-Pacific market.
For more information on Emirates’ Chauffeur-Drive service, visit here
Image credit: Emirates/Website
3-Strengthening African connectivity: Emirates and Air Peace activate interline agreement
Emirates has activated a bilateral interline agreement with Nigeria-based Air Peace, significantly enhancing connectivity between Africa, the UAE, and the UK.
The agreement enables single-ticket travel with through-checked baggage across select routes, expanding access to destinations including Banjul, Dakar, Freetown, and Monrovia via regional hubs. It also deepens connections between Air Peace’s West and Central African network and Emirates’ global hub in Dubai.
For Emirates, the partnership expands its African footprint while supporting tourism and trade in the region. For Air Peace, it offers passengers greater access to international markets, including key UK gateways such as London Heathrow, Gatwick, and Stansted.
Passengers on the Dubai–Lagos route will continue to experience Emirates’ Boeing 777-300ER, featuring First Class cabins, regionally inspired dining, and over 6,500 entertainment channels on the ice system.
Both airlines positioned the agreement as a strategic step toward improving intra-African and global connectivity, reinforcing aviation’s role in economic development.
Image credit: Emirates/Website
4- Loyalty as leverage: Emirates Skywards partners with Jet2.com
Emirates Skywards has expanded its UK footprint through a new partnership with Jet2.com, enabling members to redeem Skywards Miles for flights to more than 75 leisure destinations.
Starting from 8,000 Miles, members can book Jet2.com flights across Europe, the Mediterranean, North Africa, and the Canary Islands. Redemptions also extend beyond airfare to include meals, baggage, and seat selection.
The partnership strengthens Skywards’ appeal in its largest global market, the UK, where millions of members can now pair long-haul Emirates journeys with short-haul leisure travel.
Examples include redeeming Miles earned on Emirates flights to Sydney or Dubai for Jet2.com trips to destinations such as Majorca or Salzburg.
With over 37 million members worldwide, Emirates Skywards continues to expand its partner network across airlines, hotels, retail, and lifestyle offerings.
Image credit: Emirates/Website
5- From Veganuary to 2027: Emirates reimagines Vegan cuisine
Emirates is shifting its approach to vegan dining, focusing on minimally processed, plant-forward cuisine rooted in global culinary traditions. New dishes currently in development are expected to launch onboard in 2027.
The airline now serves half a million vegan meals annually and offers 488 vegan recipes across 140 destinations, a 60 per cent increase since 2024. Demand continues to grow, particularly on routes to London, Sydney, Bangkok, and Melbourne.
The new philosophy emphasises legumes, grains, vegetables, and seasonal produce, with ingredients sourced in part from Bustanica, the world’s largest hydroponic vertical farm. Vegan options are available across all cabin classes and in Emirates’ lounges, including its flagship facilities at Dubai International Airport.
From Economy to First Class, Emirates is positioning plant-based dining not as a substitute, but as a premium culinary experience aligned with sustainability and wellness trends.
