SHIPPING REMAINS DISRUPTED

Oil prices tumble as US-Iran pause raises hopes for talks

Mon, 27 Jul 2026

Oil prices fell sharply on Monday after the United States and Iran halted hostilities over the weekend, raising hopes that a diplomatic breakthrough could ease tensions in the Middle East. However, shipping through the region's two critical maritime chokepoints – the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait – remains severely disrupted, keeping concerns over global energy supplies alive.

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BIG ECONOMIC BOOST

GCC countries secure top global rankings in competitiveness report

Sun, 26 Jul 2026

GCC states have achieved advanced IMD World Competitiveness global rankings across key indicators including - economic performance, government efficiency, business competitiveness and infrastructure - underscoring the impact of reforms aimed at boosting growth and attracting investment.

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GCC QUIET AS US PAUSES STRIKES

Iran war spreads to Caspian as Ukraine ‘opens new front’

Sun, 26 Jul 2026

The Iran war ​broadened over the weekend despite a pause in US strikes, as Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis attacked Saudi oil installations along the Red Sea coast and Iran ‌accused Ukraine of targeting one of its vessels in the Caspian Sea resulting in the death of a sailor.

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SEPANG TO HOST FORMULA 1 BAHRAIN

Malaysia to host Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in October

Sun, 26 Jul 2026

Formula 1 and the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) have confirmed that Malaysia will host the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang International Circuit from October 2–4, 2026, subject to final agreements and approval by the FIA World Motor Sport Council.

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ANALYSIS

Renewed US-Iran tensions put inflation risks back on investors' radar

Tue, 14 Jul 2026

Oil prices are climbing once again, and with them, fears that inflation could make an unwelcome return. Renewed tensions between the US and Iran have shifted investors' attention back to the impact of higher energy costs on the global economy, said a leading global market strategist.

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Top This Week

US tariff shock for 60 trading partners; Gulf states among hit

Fri, 24 Jul 2026

The United States has imposed fresh tariffs ranging from 10% to 12.5% on imports from 60 major trading partners, including several Middle Eastern countries, after concluding that they had failed to take sufficient action to prevent goods produced with forced labour from entering their markets.

Dubai tops most photographed cities list; Burj Khalifa most tagged landmark

Fri, 24 Jul 2026

With an Instagrammability score of 100, Dubai tops the ranking of the most photographed cities in the world. It has been tagged 147 million times on Instagram and more than 43 million times on TikTok, says a report.

Houthis warned of 'major military punishment' as Red Sea attacks send oil above $100

Fri, 24 Jul 2026

US President Donald Trump has threatened "major military punishment" against Iran and Yemen's Houthi movement after two Saudi oil tankers were attacked in the Red Sea, as fears of a widening threat to global shipping pushed oil prices above $100 a barrel for the first time since May.

Trump says Saudi must join Abraham Accords for US nuclear deal

Fri, 24 Jul 2026

US President Donald Trump has thrown the future of a newly signed civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia into uncertainty by declaring that it will take effect only if the kingdom normalises relations with Israel, a condition that was not publicly attached to the deal when it was signed.

Saudi Arabia tops global road connectivity rankings, says WEF

Thu, 23 Jul 2026

Saudi Arabia ranks first globally in the World Economic Forum's Road Connectivity Index, reflecting years of investment that have expanded the kingdom's road network to more than 73,000 km and improved connectivity across its cities and governorates.

Oil tops $100 again amid Red Sea attacks; stock markets down

Thu, 23 Jul 2026

Brent crude touched $100.64 a barrel on Thursday, a jump of 7%, after Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed to have struck two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea.

FAB H1 profit before tax hits $3.59bn, up 3%

Thu, 23 Jul 2026

First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), the UAE’s global bank and one of the world’s largest and safest financial institutions, delivered a strong performance in the first half of 2026.

ADCB reports record H1 pre-tax profit of $2bn, up 28%

Thu, 23 Jul 2026

ADCB, a leading UAE bank, has reported record H1’26 profit before tax of AED7.607 billion ($2.07 billion), up 28% YoY, amid a resilient operating environment in the country.

Chinese group Shanxi wins $222m Oman solar plant EPC deal

Thu, 23 Jul 2026

Leading Chinese group Shanxi Installation Company has secured a contract worth RMB1.5 billion ($222 million) to provide engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services for the 500MW Al Kamil I Solar Independent Power Project (IPP) in Oman.

SharpMinds Consulting Engineers opens new Dubai office

Mon, 27 Jul 2026

SharpMinds Consulting Engineers, a UAE-based multidisciplinary engineering and advisory firm, has announced the opening of its new Dubai office. The new studio located in Jumeirah will serve as a strategic hub for its regional growth in addition to the head office in Abu Dhabi.

Global battery storage capacity to rise sixfold by 2030: GlobalData

Mon, 27 Jul 2026

Global battery energy storage system (BESS) capacity is forecast to increase sixfold between 2025 and 2030, growing at a 42 per cent CAGR, as rising electricity demand from electrification, industry and AI-driven data centres accelerates investment, according to GlobalData.

Acciona Cultura delivers premium Hafawa Lounge for Riyadh Air

Mon, 27 Jul 2026

Acciona Cultura has completed Riyadh Air’s 2,000 sq m Hafawa Lounge at King Khalid International Airport, delivering a premium, technology-driven passenger experience and marking a milestone in the launch of Saudi Arabia’s new national airline.

Mammoet boosts heavy lifting, transport capability in Saudi Arabia

Mon, 27 Jul 2026

Mammoet, a global leader in engineered heavy lift and transport sector, has expanded its fleet in Saudi Arabia with the deployment of seven Mercedes-Benz trucks, 60 Goldhofer conventional axle lines, Azobé crane mats and all-terrain and crawler cranes as part of a major investment in the kingdom.

AI hiring gains pace in Gulf, though most industries lag

Thu, 16 Jul 2026

The share of professional job vacancies in the Gulf requiring artificial intelligence (AI) skills has nearly tripled over the past four years, but for much of the region's economy the technology has yet to make a meaningful impact on hiring, according to data from Middle East recruitment platform GulfTalent.

Abu Dhabi's Reem Mall signs up TGP International to lead F&B strategy

Mon, 27 Jul 2026

Reem Mall, a $1.3 billion lifestyle destination in Abu Dhabi, has officially appointed TGP International to lead the food and beverage strategy for an innovative new dining destination. The project aims to create a dedicated F&B hub featuring a mix of regional concepts and global brands.

Tamkeen, M42 tie-up for healthcare training initiatives, launch Amana Academy

Wed, 22 Jul 2026

Bahrain’s Labour Fund “Tamkeen” and M42, a global health leader powered by AI, advanced technology and genomics, have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore areas of collaboration aimed at creating promising opportunities for Bahraini talent and driving innovation in the healthcare sector.

Saudi Arabia embeds AI literacy into national strategy to achieve economic goals

Tue, 21 Jul 2026

Saudi Arabia is embedding AI literacy into its national strategy to support economic growth, workforce upskilling, and responsible AI adoption, according to a new report.

Abu Dhabi's Reem Mall signs up TGP International to lead F&B strategy

Mon, 27 Jul 2026

Reem Mall, a $1.3 billion lifestyle destination in Abu Dhabi, has officially appointed TGP International to lead the food and beverage strategy for an innovative new dining destination. The project aims to create a dedicated F&B hub featuring a mix of regional concepts and global brands.

BlueFive Capital boosts Mideast leadership with senior appointment

Mon, 27 Jul 2026

BlueFive Capital, a global investment platform with $15 billion in assets under management, has appointed Marwan Elaraby as its new President for Mena region. An industry veteran, he brings three decades of experience in the Middle East market as a lawyer, investment banker and private equity investor.

Zain Bahrain partners with Ericsson to deploy AI in 5G network

Sun, 26 Jul 2026

Zain Bahrain, a leading provider of innovative technologies and digital lifestyle experience, said it has successfully deployed Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities within its live 5G radio network in partnership with Ericsson, becoming the first operator in the region to achieve this milestone.

Dubai Taxi Company posts $272m H1 revenue, conflict impacts results

Fri, 24 Jul 2026

Dubai Taxi Company (DTC), a leading provider of comprehensive mobility solutions in the UAE, said DTC maintained resilient operations during Q2 2026 and H1 2026 despite a challenging operating environment across much of the quarter.

Abu Dhabi Showdown Week kicks off with action-packed fan experiences

Mon, 20 Jul 2026

UFC, the world's premier mixed martial arts organisation, in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), is kicking off Abu Dhabi Showdown Week on Yas Island with an action-packed programme of fan experiences, athlete appearances and live events ahead of UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs Guskov at Etihad Arena on Saturday (July 25).

Iran war spreads to Caspian as Ukraine ‘opens new front’

Sun, 26 Jul 2026

The Iran war ​broadened over the weekend despite a pause in US strikes, as Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis attacked Saudi oil installations along the Red Sea coast and Iran ‌accused Ukraine of targeting one of its vessels in the Caspian Sea resulting in the death of a sailor.

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