Armenia has extended its temporary visa-free entry scheme for eligible Gulf travellers until July 1, 2027, allowing qualifying GCC citizens and residents to visit without a visa for up to 180 days, subject to nationality and residency requirements.
The Gulf's wave of investment in new cities and mixed-use developments presents a major opportunity to expand on-site renewable energy, with large-scale projects able to meet up to 35% of their electricity demand through solar power, an industry expert said.
Large-scale urban developments across the Gulf could generate up to 35 per cent of their electricity needs through on-site solar power while reducing costs by a similar margin, according to a new report by Boston Consulting Group (BCG).
Liquidity-management instrument availability for Islamic banks has expanded across many core markets over the past decade, supporting funding needs, according to Fitch Ratings. However, gaps remain relative to conventional banks, more so in countries where Islamic banks remain niche.
In a major move, Blackstone, the world’s largest alternative asset manager, is set to open its office in Kuwait during the third quarter of 2026, as it expands its presence in the region. The New York-based group plans to open additional offices across the GCC over the coming year.
Affluent GCC travellers are booking private flights later than ever, with XO forecasting August 1–2 as the busiest weekend of the 2026 summer season, as flexibility shapes travel decisions amid evolving family and business commitments.
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.
AIREV, the Abu Dhabi-based creator of the OnDemand autonomous AI platform, has signed an agreement with Redington, a leading technology aggregator and innovation catalyst, to distribute its agentic AI platform, OnDemand, across the GCC and the whole of Africa.
Corporate profitability across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is expected to come under pressure through the end of 2026 as the prolonged Middle East conflict drives up logistics costs, weakens business confidence and delays investment, according to a new report by S&P Global Ratings.
Novo Nordisk, a leading global healthcare company headquartered in Denmark, has appointed Venkat Kalyan as the new General Manager for its Gulf operations. An industry veteran, he brings nearly 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sector to this new role.
