esports and gaming conference Image GettyImages

Transforming the gaming landscape with Web3.0

Dubai’s push to build a global esports and gaming ecosystem is encouraging home grown brands such as GameCentric to offer innovative platforms that bring a diverse audience under one umbrella

Rua Al Madinah (Image: Supplied by Accor)

Accor’s Q1 sales rise 8% as Middle-East, Africa and Asia Pacific demand picks up

The increase was more pronounced in midscale, upscale and economy hotels in the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific regions

Statevolt

Statevolt’s Lars Carlstrom on the upcoming $3.2bn battery gigafactory in UAE

Statevolt will occupy a site spanning 60 hectares in RAKEZ, and is anticipated to generate up to 2,500 direct jobs

UAE floods to impact construction projects

How UAE’s recent floods will impact construction projects

Several construction projects in the UAE will be affected, with huge potential for delays and damage to ongoing works

Red Sea

Red Sea tensions: Another cargo ship targeted in Gulf of Aden

The tensions in the region have led to a sharp drop in commercial vessel voyages through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden

Archer, ADIO to accelerate air taxi operations in UAE

Air taxi maker Archer, ADIO to accelerate air taxi operations in UAE

Archer seeks to transform urban travel, replacing 60- to 90-minute commutes by car with estimated 10- to 20-minute electric air taxi flights

food delivery

Meituan in Saudi Arabia: Chinese food delivery platform looks at expansion

Meituan is hiring under KeeTa, the brand name it uses for food delivery operations in Hong Kong

Aramco, FIFA sign four-year global partnership

Aramco signs multi-year global partnership deal with FIFA

The four-year deal will see Aramco become a worldwide partner of FIFA, including in major tournaments such as the World Cup 2026

ADIO and Regent join hands to support development and manufacture of electric seagliders Image courtesy REGENT

DRIFTx: ADIO, Regent partner to develop electric seagliders for coastal transport

The seagliders will serve routes of up to 180 miles (300km) with existing battery technology and up to 500 miles (800 km) with next-gen batteries

UAE-WEATHER-rain

Weather forecast: More rain on the way for Abu Dhabi, Dubai says NCM

The NCM has forecast rain for Wednesday, May 1 and thunderstorms for Thursday, May 2

Schengen visa process to go digital from 2028

Major Schengen visa update for Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia and India

Under the new arrangement, nationals of Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Bahrain will be eligible for five-year multiple-entry Schengen visas

Render of Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Trojena

Marriott to open Ritz-Carlton Reserve in NEOM’s Trojena

Ritz-Carlton Reserve has only six properties in destinations including Thailand, Indonesia, Puerto Rico, and Mexico

Saudi Arabia hotels sector set for growth -GettyImages-1464744716-1

Saudi Arabia: 320,000 new hotel rooms expected by 2030, reveals report

A development cost of $37.8bn is expected by 2030 toward infrastructure, tourism transformation and real estate, according to industry data released ahead of the Future Hospitality Summit Saudi Arabia

investcorp golden horizon

Investcorp announces $1bn GCC fund along with China’s CIC

This initiative, announced at Investcorp’s China-GCC Investment and Business Cooperation Summit, aims to attract institutional and private investors from the GCC, along with CIC

Egypt-ras al-hekma-UN-HABITAT

Egypt approves establishing special free zone in Ras al-Hekma

Egypt has moved ahead with administrative realignment of the region after the country signed a $35bn FDI deal with the UAE’s ADQ earlier this year

UAE allots Dhs2bn to support citizens affected by floods

UAE allocates Dhs2bn to support Emiratis affected by floods

The government tasked a ministerial committee to assess the damages and disburse compensations in cooperation with other federal and local entities

uae-kenya talks

UAE-Kenya deals: ADQ to establish investment framework

In 2023, non-oil trade between the UAE and Kenya rose by 26.4 percent year-on-year to $3.1bn

TRAFFIC

Dubai Police waives traffic fines incurred during UAE rains

Traffic violations incurred during last Tuesday’s heavy rainfall will be dropped

Miahona to float IPO on Saudi Exchange GettyImages-1179702144-e1705645076672

Saudi IPO: Miahona Company to list shares on Tadawul

Miahona was established as one of the first proponents of the public-private partnership (PPP) model in the kingdom

ADQ, QIA to boost tech driven companies and economy through the Jasoor Fund

UAE-Oman: ADQ, QIA launch $180m tech-focused fund

In 2022, ADQ and OIA identified investment opportunities worth over $bn in key sectors of Oman’s economy

ADQ acquires key stake in Australia's Plenary Group

Abu Dhabi’s ADQ acquires key stake in Australia’s Plenary Group

Set up in 2004, Plenary has a portfolio of 21 assets under management valued at over $25bn across Australia and the Middle East

ROSHN launches ALDANAH

Saudi’s ROSHN unveils new residential project in Greater Dammam

Aldanah will feature more than 2,500 homes, spread across 1.7 million square metres, catering to nearly 10,000 residents

UAE-Oman railway Hafeet Rail enters implementation phase

UAE-Oman railway Hafeet Rail enters implementation phase

The passenger train will reach a top speed of 200 km per hour covering the distance between Sohar and Abu Dhabi in 100 minutes

food

What food startups should focus on to succeed in the GCC: Key insights

WOK BOYZ CEO Gaurav Sabharwal provides insights into building and scaling a food startup in the GCC market

banking

Revolutionising banking-as-a-service: BKN301 on bridging financial markets across Europe and MENA

Stiven Muccioli’s insights shed light on BKN301’s mission to revolutionise banking services, underscoring the importance of innovation, adaptability, and cybersecurity in the ever-evolving fintech landscape

Etihad launches A380 service to New York

Etihad Airways debuts A380 service to New York

 The addition of the A380 service demonstrates Etihad’s strategy to meet the burgeoning demand and expand its network in the US

Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi returns to debt markets with $5bn bond sale

The emirate is rated “Aa2” by Moody’s and “AA” by both S&P and Fitch Ratings

ADNOC bumps up decarbonisation budget to $23bn

Mitsui says no decision yet on ADNOC LNG project tie-up after Nikkei report

ADNOC has eyed acquisitions of foreign companies in part to help boost its gas portfolio

UAE, Oman sign multi-sectoral deals worth Dhs129bn

UAE, Oman firms sign multi-sectoral deals worth Dhs129bn

The deals span renewable energy, railway connectivity and investments in digital infrastructure and technology

UAE to announce petrol, diesel prices for May

UAE to announce petrol prices for May: will rates increase further?

The fuel price committee increased the retail rates for Super 98, Special 95, and E-Plus 91 by 11 fils per litre in April