Newsletter: City Pulse Dubai Zayed National Museum opens in Abu Dhabi Also this week: Apollo lands in Palm Jumeirah, 421 turns 10, and Design Miami heads to Dubai By Rebecca Anne Proctor In Dubai, reporting on culture
Yemen's STC separatists advance in Hadramout as UAE-Saudi rift grows The fighting between the UAE-backed southern separatists and Saudi-aligned tribal forces, nominal allies against the Houthis, has raised concerns about the division of Yemen. Yemen
Turkey defense firms break record with $10B in revenues: SIPRI Turkey set a new record with five companies in the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute's Top 100 for 2024, which included nine Middle Eastern countries for the first time amid conflict-driven arms demand. Turkey
Analysis US-Gulf critical minerals ties grow in bid to weaken China’s grip on industry Saudi Arabia and the UAE are emerging as indispensable partners to the United States in its efforts to “friend-shore” a strategic sector and supply chains dominated by China. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Analysis South Korea’s $15B jet offer expands UAE's options as US moves to sell Saudis F-35s By Francesco Schiavi In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance
Newsletter: City Pulse Dubai Abu Dhabi opens Middle East’s largest natural history museum By Rebecca Anne Proctor In Dubai, reporting on culture
UAE becomes first Mideast country with one of world's strongest passports Emirati citizens have access to 184 destinations without a visa or with a visa on arrival. United Arab Emirates
Hong Kong exchange expands Gulf presence with new Dubai commodities arm The emirate has positioned itself as a global commodities trading hub, with the UAE ranking second globally after the US in last year’s Commodity Trade Index. United Arab Emirates
Saudi Arabia grants citizenship to Uber co-founder, Red Sea Global CEO Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick and Red Sea Global CEO John Pagano have been granted Saudi citizenship. Saudi Arabia
Newsletter: Business & Tech Dar Global, Trump eye Saudi megaprojects Gulf economies saw major moves this week, from new Trump-linked real estate ventures to multibillion-dollar logistics, energy, and consumer investments. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Saudi investment minister visits Morocco, Senegal on Africa trade drive Saudi Arabia has pledged more than $41 billion in investment in sub-Saharan Africa over the next decade. Saudi Arabia
Interview Dar Global hints at Trump real estate deals in Saudi Arabia’s gigaprojects The Dubai-headquartered real estate company has worked with the Trump Organization on luxury property developments across the Gulf. Ziad El Chaar Chief Executive Officer, Dar Global
World Bank ups Middle East 2025 economic outlook as oil, tourism rebound The lender expects gross domestic product growth in the region to average 2.8% this year, up from its April forecast of 2.6%. Iran
Interview Al-Futtaim targets 2026 UAE rollout for game-changer ultrafast EV charging The technology, which has only been deployed in China, will enable up to 400 kilometers of car recharging in five minutes, roughly the same time as filling a petrol tank. Lucas Bellieud Al-Futtaim Electric Mobility Managing Director
Blackstone, Abu Dhabi's Lunate set up $5B GCC logistics investment platform The new platform will capitalize on the growing logistics sector in the Gulf. United Arab Emirates
PayPal, UAE's DP World sign MoU to speed digital payments Under the agreement, international transactions are expected to be executed in minutes rather than take up to a week. United Arab Emirates
Newsletter: City Pulse Dubai Venice Biennale 2026: Bana Kattan to lead UAE Pavilion Tuscan flavors in Dubai, Sotheby’s $150m preview and Abu Dhabi’s $11.4b plan. By Rebecca Anne Proctor In Dubai, reporting on culture
UAE wealth fund ADIA scoops into $18B Haagen-Dazs owner Froneri The UAE sovereign wealth fund has become a co-investor in Froneri in a deal valuing the global ice cream firm at about $18 billion. United Arab Emirates