The UAE’s Fuel Price Committee has approved new retail fuel rates for the month of November, reducing diesel prices as global oil prices fall with expected low demand and upcoming supply boost, according to state news agency, WAM.

– Diesel: Dhs2.67 per litre a slight increase from Dhs2.66 per litre in September

– Super “98”: Dhs2.63 per litre a slight decrease from Dhs2.70 per litre last month

– Special “95”: Dhs2.51 per litre a slight decrease from Dhs2.58 per litre in the previous month

– E-Plus “91”: Dhs2.44 per litre a slight decrease from Dhs2.51 in September

The global oil prices eased on Friday, heading for a third consecutive monthly decline, as a stronger US dollar and weak China data capped gains while rising supply from major producers globally offset the impact of Western sanctions on Russian exports.

Brent crude futures slipped 12 cents, or 0.18 per cent, to $64.88 a barrel by 0744 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude was at $60.36 a barrel, down 21 cents, or 0.35 per cent.

“A stronger USD weighed on investor appetite across the commodities complex,” ANZ analysts said in a client note.

The greenback was boosted after US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said on Wednesday an interest rate cut in December was not guaranteed.

Oil also slipped after an official survey showed China’s factory activity shrank for a seventh month in October.

Both Brent and WTI are set to fall about 3 per cent in October as rising supply is set to exceed demand growth this year, with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and major non-OPEC producers ramping up output to gain market share.

More supply will also cushion the impact of Western sanctions disrupting Russian oil exports to its top buyers China and India.

OPEC+ is leaning towards a modest output boost in December, people familiar with the talks said ahead of the group’s meeting on Sunday.

The eight OPEC+ members have boosted output targets by more than 2.7 million barrels per day – or about 2.5 per cent of global supply, through a series of monthly increases.

Meanwhile, crude exports from top exporter Saudi Arabia hit a six-month high of 6.407 million bpd in August, data from the Joint Organizations Data Initiative showed on Wednesday, and are set to climb further.

A US Energy Information Administration report also showed record production of 13.6 million bpd last week.

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that China has agreed to begin the process of purchasing US energy, adding that a very large-scale transaction may take place involving the purchase of oil and gas from Alaska.

However, analysts remained sceptical as to whether the US-China trade deal will boost Chinese demand for US energy.

“Alaska produces only 3 per cent of total US crude oil output (not significant), and we think Chinese purchases of Alaskan LNG likely would be market driven,” Barclays analyst Michael McLean said in a note.

(With inputs from Reuters)

In a significant digital upgrade to its citizen services, the Consulate General of India in Dubai has announced the rollout of the Global Passport Seva Programme (GPSP 2.0) for all passport services starting October 28, 2025. The move marks a major step toward enhanced efficiency, security, and user convenience in the passport issuance process.

All applicants will now be required to use the new online portal for availing passport-related services beginning October 28, 2025, through the link.

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Applicants can register on the portal by clicking on the “Register” link and then log in using their credentials. After logging in, they can generate a new application, complete the submission online, and print a copy of the submitted form.

Once the form is completed, applicants must book an appointment through the following link and visit their respective BLS International Center with the necessary documents:

This new system promises a smoother process, eliminating much of the paperwork and in-person delays previously experienced at passport service centers.

Key features of GPSP 2.0

Under the upgraded PSP 2.0 system, e-passports will now be issued to applicants. These passports come embedded with a secure electronic chip containing digitised personal and biometric data, facilitating faster and safer clearance at immigration checkpoints.

Applicants can also upload their ICAO-compliant photographs, signatures, and supporting documents directly on the portal. The Consulate has encouraged users to make use of this feature to minimize waiting times at BLS centers.

For guidance on photograph standards, applicants can refer to the ICAO-compliant photo guidelines

Additionally, minor corrections in applications can now be made by the service provider at their end, without any extra charge, removing the need to retype the entire application at BLS centers.

More details about the rollout can be found on the Consulate’s official website

The e-passport advantage

An e-passport, or electronic passport, combines a traditional paper booklet with a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip and antenna embedded within its inlay. This chip securely stores the passport holder’s personal and biometric information. The e-passport can be visually identified by a small gold-colored symbol printed below the front cover.

The primary advantage of the e-passport lies in its enhanced data security and integrity. Each e-passport contains data both in printed form and as a digitally signed electronic record stored on the chip. Immigration officials worldwide can authenticate this data securely, reducing risks of forgery, tampering, and fraudulent use.

The system’s security backbone relies on Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) technology, a robust framework that ensures the authenticity, integrity, and confidentiality of the personal data stored within the passport chip.

No immediate replacement needed

The Consulate clarified that it is not mandatory for holders of existing valid passports to replace them with e-passports. All passports currently issued by the Government of India will remain valid until their expiry.

As passport offices across India are gradually equipped with e-passport issuance technology, citizens applying through these offices will automatically receive the upgraded version. The phased rollout across India is expected to take several months.

For more information and FAQs about e-passports, visit here.

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Jones Lang LaSalle Saudi Arabia Company Limited (JLL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing cooperation and supporting the growth of Saudi Arabia’s real estate industry. The signing took place during the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in Riyadh, reflecting both organisations’ shared commitment to furthering the development of the Kingdom’s real estate ecosystem, according to a PIF media release.

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Through this MoU, PIF and JLL will combine their extensive expertise to drive innovation, improve efficiency, and accelerate development within the real estate sector. The collaboration aligns with Saudi Vision 2030’s objectives to diversify the domestic economy, expand private sector participation, and enhance quality of life across the kingdom.

The partnership will focus on several key areas, including market insights, valuation, and project management. It will also work to develop local talent, foster skills transfer, and promote the adoption of new technologies to achieve sustainable and future-ready real estate growth.

Driving transformation and urban innovation

The MoU was signed by Saad Alkroud, head of the Local Real Estate Investment Division at PIF, and Sue Asprey Price, EMEA CEO and global head of Portfolio Services, Work Dynamics at JLL. The agreement forms part of PIF’s local real estate strategy, which aims to drive economic transformation, support diversification, and advance urban innovation, all in line with the ambitious goals of Vision 2030.

PIF leads the development of transformative giga-projects and landmark real estate initiatives across Saudi Arabia, positioning itself as one of the world’s most impactful investors. The Fund continues to fulfill its strategic mandate to achieve significant economic impact for the Kingdom while securing sustainable returns. Through such partnerships, PIF reinforces its role in driving diversification, enabling the creation of new sectors, and shaping opportunities that influence the global economy.

Shure MEA has unveiled its Experience Zone in Dubai, a dynamic and multi-faceted training hub designed to demonstrate how cutting-edge audio solutions can transform collaboration, government meetings, and education across the region. Opened in October, the facility aims to provide immersive, hands-on demonstrations in realistic settings, aligning with the Middle East’s growing appetite for advanced AV technologies that support modern workspaces, digital governance, and interactive learning.

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The Experience Zone places a strategic focus on three sectors driving the region’s digital transformation. In unified communication, Shure showcases seamless integration with leading conferencing platforms that enhance meeting efficiency. In government, the company highlights secure and resilient systems designed to ensure clarity and confidentiality for official proceedings and public addresses. In education, advanced audio solutions support both in-person and remote learning, promoting interactivity and accessibility in classrooms and lecture halls.

Immersive demonstrations

The Experience Zone features four dedicated demo spaces replicating real-world environments. Small rooms emphasize compact and easily deployable systems, while medium spaces illustrate scalable setups adaptable to organisational growth. Larger rooms highlight robust, flexible solutions that ensure comprehensive coverage, and the auditorium demonstrates high-performance systems designed for clear, consistent audio delivery to large audiences.

“The Experience Zone will demonstrate how audio can empower sector-specific needs. By immersing visitors in real-world scenarios, we’re not just showcasing products, we’re demonstrating how Shure solutions are shaping communication experiences,” said Antony Lovell, sales director, Shure MEA.

A regional resource for innovation

Beyond product demonstrations, the Experience Zone serves as a regional resource center for partners, customers, and IT decision-makers. It combines interaction with knowledge-sharing, reinforcing Shure’s position as both a technology innovator and a trusted partner within the Middle East’s fast-expanding digital ecosystem.

With Dubai’s reputation as a global innovation hub and the region’s rapid digital transformation, Shure MEA’s latest initiative underscores its long-term commitment to driving sustainable growth and setting a new benchmark for audio excellence in the Middle East.

Just like any other industry, the health and wellbeing industry has its trends, and right now longevity is the buzzword.

Leaders are obsessing over their biological age, tracking their HRV scores and discussing sleep optimisation as much as their company numbers.

Data is a critical tool in ensuring executives and entrepreneurs not only lead better but also live better. However, we strongly believe the longevity conversation needs a reframe.

In essence, we think longevity shouldn’t be a goal per se, it should be the inevitable byproduct of doing the right things in the present.

Just as importantly, adding years to your life means nothing if you haven’t added life to your years – the quest to live longer is a hollow one without a sense of purpose and meaning.

Fundamentals over fads

The lure of quick fixes is seductive for time-poor leaders, but the reality is that nothing beats the fundamentals.

How you sleep, eat and move will have a massive impact on your performance and wellbeing. Nail the basics consistently and you’ll not only be adding years to your life, you’ll be showing up better in the present – more energy, greater focus and feeling on your A-game.

Technology can help, but far too frequently leaders get fixated with the lure of cutting-edge tech and try to build on a foundation that hasn’t been properly constructed.

Data relating to factors such as sleep quality, heart rate variability, Vo2 max and grip strength can be hugely insightful in terms of determining healthspan and longevity, and the simple fact is that these can be positively influenced simply by doing the basics right on a consistent basis:

• Sleeping seven-eight hours nightly with sufficient deep and REM sleep, which is where the glymphatic system clears metabolic waste and tau proteins from the brain, critical for preventing cognitive decline
• Eating a balanced, whole foods diet rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals
• Exercising with both strength and cardiovascular training, as each triggers different neuroprotective pathways

What is frequently overlooked in the longevity conversation is the profound impact these fundamentals have on cognitive performance. For leaders operating in high-pressure environments, your brain is your primary asset (think of it as the CEO of the body!), yet to date it’s often the most neglected.

Consider what happens when you prioritise the fundamentals:

• Quality sleep enhances your memory and decision-making.
• Regular movement increases a protein called BDNF, which acts like fertiliser for your brain, it promotes the growth of new neurons (neurogenesis), strengthens existing neural connections, and protects brain cells from damage.to the brain.
• Proper nutrition provides the building blocks for neurotransmitter production, directly affecting your mood, focus and energy.
• Crucially these aren’t separate benefits. Better cognitive performance in the present naturally extends your healthspan because you’re maintaining the very organ that regulates and synchronises with every other system in your body. You’re not choosing between performing now and living longer – they’re the same investment.

Another hugely overlooked factor in determining longevity is social connection. The adage that ‘it’s lonely at the top’ isn’t just metaphorical, there are now a wide range of studies proving that loneliness literally kills.

Our provocation is that if longevity is your goal, taking active steps to build those connections outside of the workplace will constitute a far better return on your investment than jumping on board the latest trend. And as with all our recommendations, they have significant mental and physical benefits in the present as well.

So the great news is that all the evidence for significantly improving your healthspan and longevity is out there and you don’t need to be spending tens of thousands of dollars in that quest.

What’s the point?

But here’s where the conversation needs to shift fundamentally: what’s the point of living to 100 if those years lack meaning?

You may think of this as a philosophical question, but the evidence tells us that if you have a sense of purpose in your life you will literally live longer.

Research from Rush University Medical Center found people with a strong sense of purpose had a 44 per cent lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Another study published in JAMA Psychiatry showed that individuals with greater purpose in life had significantly lower mortality rates, even after controlling for other factors.

The bottom line is that it’s become increasingly clear that our sense of purpose literally affects our biology.

Yet the modern longevity movement rarely addresses this. We’ve become obsessed with the mechanics of extending life while ignoring what makes life worth extending.

As philosopher Viktor Frankl observed after surviving the concentration camps: “Those who have a ‘why’ to live, can bear with almost any ‘how’.”

For leaders, this distinction is crucial. You’re already carrying the weight of decisions that affect others. You’re already operating under pressure. If longevity is just about adding more years of that same grind, why bother?

We advocate flipping the equation: clarify your purpose first, then optimise your health to give you more time to pursue it. Longevity becomes the vehicle, not the destination.

Your roadmap to living better (and longer)

So what does our version of a longevity roadmap look like in practice?

Firstly, switch off the auto-pilot and reflect on your relationship with purpose. Not the LinkedIn version where every leader claims to be making an ‘impact’, but the honest question: if you’re looking back in years to come what do you want your story to be? What do you have to do to close that gap?

If you’re struggling to capture this, one of the tools we use with our clients may help, which is the Odyssey Plan from Stanford’s Life Design Lab. It asks you to map out three different five-year scenarios: your current path, an alternative if that path disappeared, and a ‘wild card’ version if money and status weren’t factors.

The exercise isn’t about choosing one path – it’s about recognising you have agency, that your identity isn’t locked into a single narrow definition, and that there are multiple ways to create a meaningful life. The plan reflects what we can’t stress enough – that life is about the journey, not the destination.

Simultaneously, it’s about making those foundational changes that allow you to show up in the present as the best version of yourself.

The irony is that by letting go of longevity as a goal, you’re more likely to achieve it. By focusing on living well now, you’re essentially making deposits in a longevity account without obsessing over the balance.

Because here’s what the research ultimately shows: the people who live longest aren’t the ones frantically optimising every biomarker. They’re the ones who’ve found something worth living for, who maintain deep connections with others, who move their bodies naturally throughout the day, who sleep well because they’re at peace with their choices.

They’re not trying to live longer. They’re just living better and leading better.

Jason Leavy is the founder and chief executive coach, and Samira Cutts, PhD, is a cognitive neuroscientist and chief performance coach, at Prime Performance Labs.

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