The UAE is set to experience fair to partly cloudy conditions through the end of February, with a noticeable dip in temperatures and rough sea conditions in parts of the country, according to the National Center of Meteorology (NCM).

In its latest five-day forecast, the NCM said Wednesday will remain fair to partly cloudy, with humidity levels rising by night and into Thursday morning. Fog or mist formation is expected over some internal areas, potentially affecting early morning visibility for commuters and logistics operators. Winds are forecast to be light to moderate, gradually freshening westward by evening, while sea conditions in the Arabian Gulf are expected to shift from slight to moderate, becoming rough by evening. The Oman Sea will remain slight.

On Thursday, February 26, temperatures are projected to decrease, offering a brief respite from recent warmer spells. Conditions will remain fair to partly cloudy, with continued humidity overnight and into Friday morning across internal areas, again raising the likelihood of fog or mist. Northwesterly to southwesterly winds are expected at speeds of 10–25 km/h, reaching up to 40 km/h at times, particularly over the sea. Maritime conditions will be moderate to rough in the Arabian Gulf and slight to moderate in the Oman Sea, becoming rough by evening.

By Friday, February 27, similar weather patterns will persist. Humidity will extend into coastal areas overnight and into Saturday morning, with a probability of fog or mist formation. Winds will remain northwesterly to southwesterly at 10–25 km/h, with gusts up to 40 km/h. Sea conditions are forecast to be rough in the morning before easing to moderate to slight in both the Arabian Gulf and Oman Sea later in the day.

Temperatures are expected to gradually rise again on Saturday, February 28, under fair to partly cloudy skies. Humidity will continue overnight into Sunday morning, particularly across northern coastal areas, with mist formation possible. Southeasterly winds will shift northwesterly at speeds of 10–20 km/h, reaching 30 km/h. Sea conditions will be slight in both the Arabian Gulf and Oman Sea.

On Sunday, March 1, fair to partly cloudy weather will prevail, with humid conditions by night and into Monday morning over some western areas. Winds will be southeasterly to northeasterly at 10–20 km/h, reaching 30 km/h, while seas remain slight.

Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has launched the first report in its 2026 Future of Finance series, outlining a structural shift in global wealth management as high-net-worth individuals rethink growth strategies amid volatility, demographic change and shifting capital flows.

The report, titled Global Wealth Outlook: Rethinking growth in a changing world, said the world’s nearly 23 million high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) hold close to $87tn in wealth, underscoring their influence on global capital markets.

It highlighted a “structural realignment” in wealth strategies, with geography increasingly viewed as a portfolio consideration alongside asset allocation. Persistent market volatility, geo-economic uncertainty and uneven investment outcomes are prompting wealthy families to prioritise jurisdictional stability and long-term resilience.

A key driver is the projected $124tn inter-generational wealth transfer expected by 2048. As younger heirs assume greater control, portfolios are shifting towards private markets, artificial intelligence and sustainable investments, while still targeting returns.

Women, who account for more than 10 per cent of ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs), are expected to receive 95 per cent of an estimated $54tn in inter-spousal transfers, the report said.

Female heirs tend to prioritise investments aligned with ethical and social impact objectives, including sustainability and innovation.

Renewable energy is forecast to see one of the fastest growth trajectories among preferred sectors, alongside AI, as wealthy investors move from sustainability pledges to capital deployment.

The report also said wealth advisers face rising expectations to structure private deals, identify credible growth-stage partners and integrate data-driven analytics, while maintaining trust-based relationships in what remains a people-centric business.

Arif Amiri, CEO of DIFC Authority, said families are increasingly focused on risk, resilience and geographic diversification. He added that Dubai and DIFC offer regulatory clarity and global connectivity for long-term capital allocation.

DIFC now host over 1,200 family-related firms

DIFC said it hosts more than 1,289 family-related entities, forming the largest family wealth ecosystem in the UAE. Citing Henley & Partners, the report noted the UAE attracted around 9,800 new millionaires in 2025, the highest net inflow globally, with most settling in Dubai.

The centre said it continues to expand its wealth infrastructure, including through the DIFC Family Wealth Centre, aimed at supporting multi-generational family offices and private capital.

India’s southern state of Kerala is poised for a formal name change to Keralam, after the Union Cabinet on Feb. 24 approved a proposal to initiate the constitutional process required to alter the state’s official name.

Indian media reported that the decision reflects a long-standing cultural and linguistic demand from the Kerala state government and is being advanced under Article 3 of the Indian Constitution, which governs changes to state names, boundaries or territories.

With Assembly elections scheduled in the state in 2026, the move carries both symbolic and political significance. Supporters of the change argue that “Keralam”—the name used locally in Malayalam—better reflects the state’s heritage and linguistic identity.

Process and next steps

Following Cabinet approval, the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 will be referred by the President of India to the Kerala Legislative Assembly for its views, as mandated under the Constitution’s Article 3 process. After the state legislature expresses its opinion, the central government will seek the President’s recommendation to introduce the Bill in Parliament. Only after passage by both houses of Parliament and presidential assent will “Keralam” formally replace “Kerala” in the First Schedule of the Constitution and in official records.

For businesses operating in and with the state, the eventual name change will have practical implications. Corporate registrations, legal contracts, statutory documentation and marketing materials referencing the state name may need alignment with the official nomenclature once the constitutional change takes effect.

GoDaddy forecast annual revenue below Wall Street estimates on Tuesday, a sign of slower adoption of its artificial‑intelligence tools and weaker customer acquisition.

Shares of the company fell more than 6 per cent in extended trading.

The domain registrar has invested heavily in AI tools designed to help small- and medium‑sized businesses build and automate their online presence.

The company faces intensifying competition from companies such as Wix, which has aggressively expanded its own AI‑powered website‑building tools, pressuring GoDaddy’s ability to accelerate customer additions and premium upgrades.

Airo, GoDaddy’s AI offering allows users to automatically create logos, websites and branded marketing assets using information from a customer’s existing online or social‑media footprint, reducing the time and cost involved in establishing a digital identity.

The company forecast annual revenue between $5.20bn and $5.28bn, below analysts’ average estimate of $5.29bn, according to data compiled by LSEG.

For the fourth quarter, GoDaddy reported revenue of $1.27bn, largely in line with estimates.

The company’s profit came in at $1.80 per share for the quarter ended December 31, compared with $1.36 a year earlier.

US President Donald Trump boasted of stock market gains in his State of the Union speech on Tuesday and pledged that the government would contribute to workers’ retirement savings, while saying little to reduce jitters on Wall Street about the future of his tariffs and global trade policy.

“People were probably looking for something more definitive on the tariffs and I’m not sure we’ve had that,” said Karen Jorritsma, head of Australian equities at RBC Capital Markets in Sydney.

Trump boasted of 53 stock market record highs since he won his second term in November 2024 in his address.

“Because the stock market has done so well, setting all those records, your 401ks are way up,” Trump said, referring to a widely used retirement savings account.

Trump also announced plans next year to match 401k employee contributions of up to $1,000 each for “forgotten American workers” who do not have access to retirement plans that offer employer contributions, without providing details.

Such government-funded retirement savings contributions could fuel future gains in the stock market, said Jake Dollarhide, CEO of Longbow Asset Management in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Trump’s address comes at a pivotal point for investors, sideswiped by market turbulence in recent months and craving stability. While worries about pricey valuations of AI-related companies have been behind much of Wall Street’s swings, ongoing uncertainty about US trade policy has also kept investors on edge.

After the Supreme Court overturned Trump’s emergency-powers tariffs last Friday, Trump signed an order for 10 per cent tariffs to last 150 days to replace broad duties under an emergency law that were struck down by the Court, and then on Saturday said he would increase the rate to 15 per cent.

In his speech, Trump said “almost all” countries and corporations want to stick to tariff and investment agreements previously made with the United States.

While the S&P 500 has gained 13 per cent in the 400 days since Trump’s January 2025 inauguration, the benchmark has barely increased in 2026 as Wall Street lags international stock markets and the dollar trades near 2022 lows.

State of the Union speeches have historically had little impact on financial markets, given that they tend to serve as occasions for incumbent presidents to trumpet their achievements and lay out broad policy agendas.