Internet slowdown: Why the Red Sea’s SMW4 and IMEWE cables matter

Many of the world’s most critical subsea fibre cables traverse the GCC region, meaning that a cable cut in one area can disrupt internet services in several countries.

Movies, TV shows available on streaming jumps 39% in two years Image Getty Images

beIN-backed ACE shuts down Streameast, the world’s largest sports piracy network

Streameast, operating through 80 associated domains, recorded over 1.6 billion visits in the past year, making it the largest illicit live sports streaming operation worldwide

Justin Smith, managing director at Ansarada

Ansarada expands Middle East presence with AI-powered dealmaking tools

Ansarada’s VDRs are designed not just for secure storage, but to deliver predictive insights that allow dealmakers to identify risks and opportunities early

Dubai property sales hit Dhs51.1bn in August, up 7.9 per cent YoY

Dubai property sales hit Dhs 51.1bn in August, up 7.9 per cent YoY

Apartment sales drove activity in Dubai, reaching Dhs30.2bn as volumes rose 29.2 per cent to 15,900 units

Middle East M&A activity rises 19% in H1 2025, shows PwC report

Middle East M&A activity rises 19% in H1 ’25, shows PwC report

Domestic and intra-regional transactions are expected to continue leading M&A activity, with mid-sized deals providing the most practical path to growth in transformative sectors

Dubai hotel occupancy tops 81% in H1 as tourism surges

Dubai hotel occupancy tops 81% in H1 as tourism surges, says Cavendish Maxwell

Occupancy rose across all segments, with upscale hotels recording the highest increase at 5.5 per cent

WHX Tech: The next frontier in healthcare innovation

WHX Tech kicks off today: Here’s what to expect on day one

Day one’s sessions offer a strong mix of regional priorities, investor insights, and breakthrough science

Slower internet in UAE, wider region amid Red Sea cable cuts

Failures affecting the SEA-ME-WE 4 (SMW4) and IMEWE cable systems have impacted internet services in the region

UAE’s du launches secondary public offering of Mubadala-owned shares

UAE’s du launches secondary public offering of Mubadala-owned shares

The price range has been set at between Dhs9 and Dhs9.90 per share, with the final offer price to be determined through a bookbuilding process and announced on September 15

Riyadh Metro: 100 million riders, bright new 5:30am start

This schedule adjustment comes in direct response to growing commuter demand and is aimed at reducing congestion during peak hours

Aldar to build UAE’s first Tesla Experience Centre on Yas Island

Aldar to build UAE’s first Tesla Experience Centre on Yas Island

Strategically located along the E12 with excellent connections to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the new Tesla centre will be completed by 2027

Dubai Metro Blue Line: Traffic diversions announced

Dubai Metro Blue Line: Traffic diversions announced

Key among these is the closure of the road leading to the multi-storey car park at Centrepoint Station from Airport Road.

DP World launches Atlas UK Morocco service

DP World launches Morocco-UK service to cut export times, emissions

DP World will formally launch the service at an event in Agadir, Morocco, on September 18

EFG Hermes and Kenzi Wealth launch intelligent risk-based portfolio advisory service

EFG Hermes and Kenzi Wealth launch intelligent risk-based portfolio advisory service

The service, called One Advisor, aims to deliver highly personalised, risk-optimised investment strategies

Dubai Sotheby's closes Dhs161m Palm Jumeirah villa sale, sets new pricing record

Dubai Sotheby’s closes Dhs161m Palm Jumeirah villa sale, sets new pricing record

The residence spans 10,900 square feet, with six bedroom suites, multiple living areas, a private cinema and a pool deck overlooking the Atlantis the Royal Resort & Residences

Dubai's traffic signal upgrade: New AI system cuts delays by up to 37%

Dubai’s traffic signal upgrade: New AI system cuts delays by up to 37%

The new system uses smart capabilities to detect congestion patterns in real time and make proactive adjustments

Cybersecurity: Why 'public-private-people' partnerships hold the key

Kiteworks survey reveals critical data governance gaps in Middle East

The report emphasises that certification frameworks and contractual safeguards offer limited protection without monitoring and measurement

Here's why AI will never replace the voice in your head, says jack Thomas Taylor

Here’s why AI will never replace the voice in your head

The real opportunity isn’t in AI replacing human creativity but in amplifying it, in creating space for the weird and wonderful ideas that only emerge when humans have the time and freedom to play

Google contributed Dhs21.8bn to the UAE economy in 2024, according to a new report by UK-based research consultancy, Public First. The findings reflect the growing role of Google’s products — powered by artificial intelligence — in supporting digital transformation, business growth, and individual productivity across the country. The Google Economic Impact Report, launched today, outlines the contribution of tools such as Google Search, Ads, Play, Maps, YouTube, and the Gemini AI assistant to people, businesses, and communities in the UAE. According to the report, Google’s Search and Ads products alone were responsible for Dhs20.2bn in economic activity in 2024, helping thousands of local businesses reach customers and grow their operations. “We're incredibly proud to be a partner in the UAE’s boundless ambitions,” said Anthony Nakache, MD for Google in the Middle East and North Africa. “The report reflects our investment in accelerating the country’s ambitious journey towards a diversified, AI-powered economy. Through strategic investments, local partnerships, and our AI-powered tools, we're bringing substantial economic value and empowering individuals, businesses, and communities in the UAE.” Training and skills development The report notes that more than 430,000 people in the UAE have received training in digital and AI skills since 2018 through Google’s Maharat Min Google initiative. These efforts support the UAE’s broader vision of becoming a knowledge-based economy. The Android and Google Play ecosystem also contributed significantly to the UAE’s digital economy in 2024, supporting around 30,000 jobs and generating Dhs455m in revenue for local developers. Impact on daily life and consumer productivity Public First estimates that Google services deliver an average monthly consumer benefit of Dhs683 per user. In the UAE, 63 per cent of adults said they had used Gemini, Google’s AI assistant, and 90 per cent of those users agreed it improved their productivity. Additionally, 71 per cent said Gemini was easier to use in Arabic than other AI chatbots. Other widely adopted tools include Google Maps and Waze, with 89 per cent of adults saying they found them useful for navigation. Meanwhile, 90 per cent of users noted that mobile payment platforms such as GPay and GWallet improved everyday convenience. Half of all adults surveyed said that Google Search was essential to their daily routines. Business productivity and AI adoption AI usage among UAE businesses is on the rise, with 91 per cent of companies reporting that they use at least one AI tool in their workflows. Nearly all public sector respondents (97 per cent) agreed that Google’s AI-powered tools helped them be more productive. Consumer behaviour also reflected strong digital engagement: 94 per cent use Google Search monthly to compare prices 86 per cent consult Google reviews before visiting businesses 80 per cent use Google Maps or Waze to locate local venues 73 per cent of 18–24-year-olds browse or shop online via Search weekly Creative and developer ecosystem The UAE's creative economy is also benefitting from Google's platforms. More than 600 UAE-based YouTube channels now have over one million subscribers — a 15 per cent increase year-on-year. In addition, more than 20,000 journalists and journalism students across the MENA region, including the UAE, have been trained by the Google News Initiative. Methodology The report is based on surveys conducted in March 2025 with 1,110 UAE-based online adults and 389 business leaders, carried out in English and Arabic. Results were weighted to ensure national representation. Google contributed Dhs21.8bn to the UAE economy in 2024, according to a new report by UK-based research consultancy, Public First. The findings reflect the growing role of Google’s products — powered by artificial intelligence — in supporting digital transformation, business growth, and individual productivity across the country. The Google Economic Impact Report, launched today, outlines the contribution of tools such as Google Search, Ads, Play, Maps, YouTube, and the Gemini AI assistant to people, businesses, and communities in the UAE. According to the report, Google’s Search and Ads products alone were responsible for Dhs20.2bn in economic activity in 2024, helping thousands of local businesses reach customers and grow their operations. “We're incredibly proud to be a partner in the UAE’s boundless ambitions,” said Anthony Nakache, MD for Google in the Middle East and North Africa. “The report reflects our investment in accelerating the country’s ambitious journey towards a diversified, AI-powered economy. Through strategic investments, local partnerships, and our AI-powered tools, we're bringing substantial economic value and empowering individuals, businesses, and communities in the UAE.” Training and skills development The report notes that more than 430,000 people in the UAE have received training in digital and AI skills since 2018 through Google’s Maharat Min Google initiative. These efforts support the UAE’s broader vision of becoming a knowledge-based economy. The Android and Google Play ecosystem also contributed significantly to the UAE’s digital economy in 2024, supporting around 30,000 jobs and generating Dhs455m in revenue for local developers. Impact on daily life and consumer productivity Public First estimates that Google services deliver an average monthly consumer benefit of Dhs683 per user. In the UAE, 63 per cent of adults said they had used Gemini, Google’s AI assistant, and 90 per cent of those users agreed it improved their productivity. Additionally, 71 per cent said Gemini was easier to use in Arabic than other AI chatbots. Other widely adopted tools include Google Maps and Waze, with 89 per cent of adults saying they found them useful for navigation. Meanwhile, 90 per cent of users noted that mobile payment platforms such as GPay and GWallet improved everyday convenience. Half of all adults surveyed said that Google Search was essential to their daily routines. Business productivity and AI adoption AI usage among UAE businesses is on the rise, with 91 per cent of companies reporting that they use at least one AI tool in their workflows. Nearly all public sector respondents (97 per cent) agreed that Google’s AI-powered tools helped them be more productive. Consumer behaviour also reflected strong digital engagement: 94 per cent use Google Search monthly to compare prices 86 per cent consult Google reviews before visiting businesses 80 per cent use Google Maps or Waze to locate local venues 73 per cent of 18–24-year-olds browse or shop online via Search weekly Creative and developer ecosystem The UAE's creative economy is also benefitting from Google's platforms. More than 600 UAE-based YouTube channels now have over one million subscribers — a 15 per cent increase year-on-year. In addition, more than 20,000 journalists and journalism students across the MENA region, including the UAE, have been trained by the Google News Initiative. Methodology The report is based on surveys conducted in March 2025 with 1,110 UAE-based online adults and 389 business leaders, carried out in English and Arabic. Results were weighted to ensure national representation.    

Google faces temporary service disruption in Turkey and parts of Europe

Turkey’s cyber security watchdog has requested a technical report from Google

Bluewaters by Dubai Retail

Dubai Holding Asset Management launches ‘Dubai Retail’ as unified brand

With the launch of Dubai Retail, DHAM consolidates a diverse offering that spans 10 malls, 15 lifestyle destinations, and 18 retail centres across the emirate

ADNOC signs reinsurance deal with IHC's RIQ Image-ADNOC

Abu Dhabi: ADNOC, RIQ ink $500m AI-powered reinsurance deal

The partnership is designed to bolster ADNOC’s operational resilience and support energy transition efforts with innovative insurance solutions

Onam takes flight: Airlines turn skies into a grand celebration

Onam takes flight: Airlines turn skies into a grand celebration

Emirates also offers a festive mix of Indian entertainment via its award-winning ICE system, with over 6,500 channels

Rothschild & Co expands Dubai wealth management arm with LLB deal Image Liechtensteinische Landesbank_for illustrative purposes

Rothschild & Co expands Dubai wealth management arm with LLB deal

Rothschild & Co will also take over LLB’s existing Dubai office, bringing the total number of staff in its Middle East wealth management arm to around 25

HUB71 17th cohort -image-hub71

Hub71 welcomes record AI startups in latest cohort, boosting Abu Dhabi’s tech push

Six startups were selected for Hub71’s Cohort 17, which have raised over $223m (Dhs818m) – the highest to date

Majid Al Futtaim reports 23% jump in H1 profit on digital push, property growth

Majid Al Futtaim opened 42 new stores across its portfolio in the period, while free cash flow reached Dhs1.1bn and net debt was reduced to Dhs13.4bn

DP World partners with Atlantis Dubai to manage luxury resorts’ supply chains

DP World partners with Atlantis Dubai to manage luxury resorts’ supply chains

Atlantis Dubai runs a supply chain of more than 60,000 products sourced from about 70 countries, covering gourmet ingredients, merchandise and essential provisions

UAE national team wins four medals at first Asian MMA Youth Championship

UAE national team wins four medals at first Asian MMA Youth Championship

Leading the UAE’s medal tally was Omar Alraeesi, who claimed gold in the under-18 Traditional MMA men’s -60kg division

Dubai: This popular mall has been renamed

Dubai: This popular mall has been renamed

The redevelopment brings an elevated retail experience, showcasing an impressive lineup of premium brands and eateries

Jeremy Crane, group CEO of Yellow Door Energy

Yellow Door Energy marks 10 years with 1 billion kWh of clean energy generated

Yellow Door Energy has also recorded five million person-hours worked during construction and operations without a single recordable incident

Arada, Tashas Group ink Dhs100mn JV to open restaurants across GCC

Arada, Tashas Group ink Dhs100m JV to open restaurants across GCC

The investment will support the growth of two brands within the Tashas Group portfolio: tashas, the premium café concept, and Cafe Sofi, a new, soon-to-launch brand