Pine Labs has announced a strategic partnership with Wio Bank to build a modern, cloud-native acquiring infrastructure designed specifically for digital-first banking. The collaboration will enable Wio Bank to deploy a next-generation acquiring stack without legacy technology dependencies, supporting faster merchant onboarding, real-time settlement capabilities, and scalable multi-mode payment acceptance.

As part of the partnership, Wio Bank will implement Credit+, Pine Labs’ modular, API-first acquiring platform, as the foundation for its core acquiring operations. Built for speed, scale, and configurability, Credit+ enables intelligent rule-based workflows, data-driven decisioning, and optimisation of payment acceptance rates, while managing the full merchant acquisition and lifecycle journey through a developer-friendly architecture.

Designed on a cloud-native, microservices-based framework, Credit+ allows Wio Bank to efficiently scale acquiring volumes with high availability, enterprise-grade security, and regulatory compliance. The platform supports rapid feature rollouts, real-time insights, and operational resilience—capabilities that are increasingly critical for digital-first banks operating in high-growth, cashless markets.

Commenting on the announcement, B Amrish Rau, CEO, Pine Labs, said, “Our partnership with Wio Bank brings a modern acquiring processing platform to one of the most innovative digital banks in the region. Credit+ is built to deliver high transaction throughput, rapid feature deployment, and seamless scalability through its API-driven, microservices architecture. This collaboration reflects how a modular acquiring stack can help banks move faster, iterate smarter, and scale reliably in a digital-first payments ecosystem.”

Jayesh Patel, CEO of Wio Bank, said, “At Wio, our focus is on building a banking platform that supports how businesses operate and grow. This partnership with Pine Labs strengthens our ability to deliver simpler, more efficient payment capabilities, from faster onboarding and settlements to easier acceptance across channels. It allows us to continue evolving our infrastructure while building the next generation of payments and value-added services around customer needs, so they can stay focused on running and growing their business.”

Pine Labs works with banks and enterprises globally to modernise legacy financial infrastructure through modular, cloud-native platforms. As the UAE accelerates its transition toward a cashless economy, partnerships between digital-native banks and global fintech providers with strong regional execution capabilities are increasingly shaping the future of payments, merchant services, and embedded finance.

Read: Wio Bank surpasses Dhs50bn in deposits as digital banking gains ground

The Petshop, the UAE’s specialist pet retailer, has entered into a strategic partnership with Mars to expand access to premium pet nutrition across the country, as demand accelerates for informed, quality-driven pet care.

Under the collaboration, The Petshop will significantly broaden its curated product portfolio by introducing a wide range of Mars Petcare brands across its physical stores and e-commerce platforms. The move strengthens The Petshop’s position as a specialist destination for trusted, research-backed pet nutrition and daily care solutions.

The expanded offering spans core nutrition, functional treats, and hygiene products. Key nutrition brands include Sheba, Whiskas, Pedigree, IAMS, Cesar, and Trill, catering to pets across different life stages and dietary requirements. These are complemented by treat brands such as Dreamies, alongside hygiene solutions including Catsan and Thomas, enabling a more comprehensive approach to everyday pet care.

The partnership comes as the UAE pet food market surpasses Dhs367m in value and continues to grow, with purchasing behaviour increasingly shifting toward premium, science-led nutrition. This trend is reinforcing the importance of specialist retailers that combine product expertise with scale, availability, and consistent brand execution.

“For more than fifteen years, we’ve built deep trust and an unmatched footprint in the UAE pet market,” said Amr Hazem Youssef, CEO of The Petshop. “That scale gives us both reach and responsibility. Pet families today expect easier access, stronger availability, and clearer choices from the brands they rely on. Partnering with Mars allows us to leverage our nationwide network, omnichannel presence, and close relationships with pet families to accelerate growth, strengthen category leadership, and set a new benchmark for how pet care brands are distributed, understood, and experienced in the UAE.”

Mars’ petcare portfolio is underpinned by research from the WALTHAM Petcare Science Institute, the company’s global centre for animal nutrition and wellbeing. Mars continues to invest in alternative ingredient innovation and sustainable sourcing, supported by a Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) approved commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 50 per cent by 2030.

“At Mars, we believe that pets make the world a better place,” said Ekaterina Pichugova, general manager, Gulf, Mars. “This partnership with The Petshop is an exciting expansion of how we bring our trusted Petcare brands to pet families in the UAE. By combining our nearly 90 years of expertise with The Petshop’s local market leadership and omnichannel reach, we’re creating new opportunities to support pet families with the nutrition, education, and care their pets deserve, while continuing to bring more innovative and sustainable choices to the region.”

Specialty retail currently accounts for around 50 per cent of total pet food sales in the UAE and continues to gain share as pet owners seek expert guidance and education. The Petshop’s omnichannel model ensures consistent visibility across physical stores and digital platforms, enabling data-driven engagement and seamless customer journeys while supporting brand growth at scale.

World leaders from the Middle East, the US, Europe and Asia extended Republic Day greetings to India, using the occasion to reaffirm strategic partnerships, democratic values and growing cooperation across defence, trade, technology and geopolitics.

President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan sent a message of congratulations to Droupadi Murmu on the occasion of India’s Republic Day, WAM reported. Similar messages were dispatched by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan to both the Indian President and Narendra Modi, underscoring the depth of UAE–India relations across trade, investment and people-to-people ties.

India’s 77th Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi are being marked by high-level international participation, with Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, attending as chief guests at the Republic Day parade. The presence of Europe’s top leadership highlights the growing strategic alignment between India and the European Union.

Von der Leyen said India and Europe were building “mutual resilience” through strategic partnership, dialogue and openness. Writing on X, she added that cooperation between India and Europe demonstrated that “in a fractured world another way is possible,” signalling the EU’s intent to deepen engagement with India across trade, supply chains and geopolitics.

From Washington, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulated India on Republic Day, noting that cooperation between the two countries continues to deliver “real results” in defence, energy and emerging sectors. He described India and the US as sharing a historic bond and said collaboration through the Quad had strengthened stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Rubio added that he looked forward to advancing shared objectives with India in the year ahead. The US Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs also marked the occasion, highlighting the adoption of India’s Constitution as a milestone.

France also extended its greetings, with the French Embassy in India recalling its role as chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations in 2024 and reaffirming its commitment to working with India and European partners on peace and prosperity.

In Asia, China’s President Xi Jinping sent a message to President Murmu, describing China and India as “good neighbours, friends and partners,” according to China’s state media. Xi said the two countries should strengthen cooperation and maintain stable bilateral ties.

Japan and Australia also marked the occasion. Japanese Ambassador to India Keiichi Ono extended warm greetings on behalf of Japan, while Australian High Commissioner to India Philip Green highlighted the significance of 26 January as a shared national day for both India and Australia, reinforcing the growing strategic and economic partnership between the two countries.

Taken together, the messages reflect India’s expanding global footprint and its central role in shaping economic, diplomatic and security partnerships across regions, as New Delhi positions itself as a key anchor in an increasingly multipolar world.

The world’s largest annual food and beverage event, Gulfood 2026, opened its doors in Dubai on Monday across both Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and the Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai.

Organisers say the show is the first major international trade event to operate simultaneously across two venues, as thousands of visitors descend for the five-day exhibition running from 26–30 January.

Since 2025, Gulfood has doubled in size, delivering a 100 per cent expansion and selling out more than 280,000 square metres of exhibition space across the two mega venues, say organisers.

“This is a world-record moment for Gulfood, Dubai and the global food and beverage industry,” said Trixie LohMirmand, executive vice president of Dubai World Trade Centre and CEO of KAOUN International, organiser of Gulfood.

“In a single year, we have achieved 100 per cent growth, delivering the world’s largest annual F&B event across two mega venues simultaneously – a first in global exhibition history. This milestone goes beyond scale to impact, redefining how giga-scale events are designed, delivered and experienced.”

The expansion comes as the global food and beverage market accelerates towards $11.37tn by 2030, with the Middle East emerging as one of the world’s fastest-growing hubs.
Gulfood 2026 brings together more than 8,500 exhibitors, showcasing 1.5 million products from 195 countries.

This year’s edition further features 40 per cent first-time exhibitors, alongside participation from major producing markets including India, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and the US. New country participants include Luxembourg, Maldives, Rwanda, Slovakia, Sweden and Uganda, further expanding the show’s global footprint.

India has been confirmed as the official country partner for Gulfood 2026, represented by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). The country is delivering its largest-ever presence at the show, with more than 600 exhibitors, including brands such as Amul and Rasna.

“We are excited to be part of Gulfood 2026 as the partner country, particularly as the show enters a new chapter with the expansion to Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City,” said Abishek Dev, Chairman of APEDA.

“As partner country, we are committed to strengthening India’s presence in global markets, and Gulfood continues to play a vital role in accelerating our agri-export growth story.”

Day one highlight: Australian red meat exports hit record

One of the first major announcements on the opening day of Gulfood 2026 came from Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), which revealed that Australian red meat and livestock exports to the MENA region reached a record A$2.2bn (Dhs5.37bn) in 2025, with growth to the region outpacing all other global markets over the past five years.

The figures point to a shift towards premium consumption, with the UAE emerging as a key market.

Australian beef exports to the UAE reached a record A$316m (Dhs771m) last year, driven by strong demand from the foodservice and hospitality sectors.

Darren Watson, regional manager for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at MLA, said: “Across the MENA region, demand is not only growing but becoming more discerning and premium-led, driven by tourism, rising incomes, and the rapid expansion of fine dining. Australian beef and lamb are well positioned to support this shift, underpinned by consistent high quality, trusted Halal assurance, and a reliable year-round supply.”

Dubai reinforced its position as one of the world’s leading destinations for international business events in 2025, securing the rights to host 504 global business events across key economic sectors and professional fields over the next four years. Led by Dubai Business Events (DBE), the official convention bureau of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), the performance represents a 15 per cent year-on-year increase in successful bids, underscoring Dubai’s growing competitiveness as a global business events hub aligned with long-term economic priorities.

The events secured during 2025 are expected to attract 272,262 delegates to Dubai through 2029, marking a 29 per cent increase compared to the 209,545 delegates secured in 2024. The pipeline will deliver direct economic impact across Dubai’s meetings, incentives and conferences segments, while also bringing global expertise, talent and investment opportunities to the city. Beyond tourism metrics, the events are expected to reinforce Dubai’s role as a platform for knowledge exchange, innovation and cross-sector collaboration.

Alongside its future pipeline, Dubai also recorded strong delivery performance in 2025. The city hosted 481 DBE-supported business events, up from 429 in 2024, representing 9 per cent year-on-year growth. These events were delivered as a direct result of DBE-led bids, highlighting the depth and consistency of Dubai’s international and domestic business events calendar. Bid activity also increased, with 747 bids submitted in 2025, compared to 669 in 2024, an 11 per cent rise.

Dubai’s sustained success reflects the strength of its destination proposition and the coordinated efforts of public and private sector stakeholders. The city’s accessibility, safety, world-class infrastructure and proven experience in hosting complex, high-profile international gatherings continue to support its performance. Business events remain a core contributor to the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, supporting Dubai’s ambition to consolidate its position as a leading global city for business and leisure.

Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, said: “Guided by the vision of our leadership, business events continue to play a pivotal role in supporting Dubai’s economic growth, knowledge economy, and global positioning. The strong performance delivered in 2025 reflects the confidence international associations, corporates and incentive planners place in Dubai as a destination that consistently delivers excellence, scale and impact.

“As we look ahead to 2026, we remain focused on deepening collaboration with our partners and stakeholders alike, elevate Dubai’s standing in the global business events landscape, in line with the ambitions of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, and to create long-term value for the city, organisers and delegates alike,” he added.

Future-facing global congresses

During the year, Dubai secured several major future-facing global congresses across high-value knowledge sectors. These include the World Engineers Congress 2027 (3,000 delegates), Apimondia 2027 (5,000 delegates), SICOT World Congress 2027 (2,700 delegates), World Congress of Intensive and Critical Care 2028 (4,500 delegates), SPE ATCE Annual Congress 2028 (8,000 delegates), and the World Ophthalmology Congress 2028 (12,000 delegates). A standout win was SIBOS 2029, one of the world’s leading financial services conferences, expected to attract 12,000 delegates to Dubai.

Dubai also strengthened its position in the corporate and incentive segments, securing major global programmes such as The Africa Energy Forum 2026 (2,000 delegates), UNLEASH Middle East 2026 (2,000 delegates), and the Herbalife India President Retreat 2026 (2,500 delegates), reinforcing the city’s ability to attract large-scale, complex events with long-term economic and reputational impact.

To maintain momentum, DBE sustained an active international engagement programme throughout 2025, participating in leading industry platforms including IMEX Frankfurt, IMEX America, IBTM Barcelona, and IBTM World, alongside year-round sales and study missions across priority markets. These efforts ensured Dubai remained top-of-mind among international event organisers across association, corporate and incentive segments.

DBE also continued to strengthen strategic initiatives such as the Al Safeer Congress Ambassador Programme, which mobilises UAE-based subject-matter experts to attract international congresses. Partnerships with global industry bodies including BestCities Global Alliance, IAPCO, ASAE, and ICCA further supported Dubai’s international connectivity and bid success.

The strong year-end performance builds on Dubai’s continued recognition by global benchmarks, including ranking #1 globally for average attendance per association meeting, and #1 in the Middle East and Africa for meetings hosted by ICCA and Cvent. Dubai’s broader competitiveness was further reflected in its rise to fourth place in the IMD Smart City Index 2025, alongside record air connectivity, with Dubai International Airport recording its busiest half-year on record in H1 2025.

As Dubai enters 2026 with a robust forward pipeline of confirmed international business events, the city remains firmly positioned to drive sustained economic impact, global visibility and long-term knowledge-led growth through its business events strategy.

Read: Dubai World Trade Centre to host 71 events in H1 2026