Author: Dr Issac PJ

Chinese tech powerhouse Xiaomi has stepped up its global challenge to smartphone giants Apple and Samsung with the worldwide launch of its new 15T series, alongside a lineup of smart home appliances under its Mijia brand.The launch—unveiled in Munich and rolled out in the UAE—marks a major move in Xiaomi’s strategy to strengthen its foothold in both the premium smartphone and connected living ecosystems.The company has introduced its new flagship duo—Xiaomi 15T and 15T Pro. The 15T Pro comes in black, grey, and mocha gold, while the 15T is offered in black, gray, rose, and gold. Both models are aimed…

The Indian rupee’s steep fall against the dirham has stirred mixed emotions among expatriates in the UAE.While families back home gain more rupees per dirham sent, remitters themselves are showing new restraint — a sharp contrast to earlier phases of rupee weakness that saw money transfer counters across the UAE overflowing with customers.The rupee ended last week at around Rs88.72 against the dollar, its weakest level in a month, after briefly touching a record intraday low of Rs88.80. The currency dropped about 0.7 per cent for the week amid concerns over higher US visa fees, fresh tariff uncertainties, and continuing capital…

For decades, the UAE stood out for one compelling reason: it was the land where paycheques were untouched by income tax. That simple promise, combined with pro-business regulations and glittering infrastructure, turned a federation of young cities into a magnet for global talent and investment. The story was straightforward — come to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or Sharjah, work hard, and what you earned was yours. Over the years, that simplicity became almost mythical, a cornerstone of the country’s economic brand. But as the global economy changed, so did the UAE. What once was a “tax-free” oasis is now becoming something…

The UAE’s real estate market is on course to approach a landmark valuation of nearly $700 billion in 2025, underscoring its role as a cornerstone of the nation’s economic growth.According to Statista, the sector is projected to reach $693.53 billion by the end of the year, driven by sustained foreign investor appetite, expanding off-plan sales, and a robust pipeline of development projects.This sheer scale not only underscores the UAE’s status as one of the world’s most dynamic property markets but also highlights the growing sophistication of its supporting real estate services industry, which Mordor Intelligence estimates at $18.45 billion this…

The UAE is entering one of the most consequential weeks in its economic journey, with companies across the nation facing the September 30 deadline that goes far beyond paperwork: the submission of the country’s first-ever corporate tax returns.It is not just a filing requirement but a watershed moment that will test whether businesses are ready for a new era of financial transparency, discipline, and global credibility, a leading tax consultant said, adding, “The countdown is almost over. What happens next will define the country’s economic story for decades to come.”For decades, the Emirates thrived on the simplicity of its tax-free…

The GCC is poised to defy a weak global outlook, with regional growth set to nearly double that of the rest of the world this year.According to the ICAEW’s Economic Insight Q3 2025 report, produced in collaboration with Oxford Economics, the GCC is on track for 4.1 per cent growth in 2025, speeding up to 4.6 per cent in 2026 — even as global GDP expansion slows to 2.7 per cent. That outperformance is largely anchored in surging oil output. The report notes that Opec+ began unwinding production cuts ahead of plan in April, aiming to restore roughly 2.5 million barrels…

Abu Dhabi-based Global South Utilities (GSU) has made a landmark entry into Central Asia with the acquisition of a majority stake in Uzbekistan’s Yashil Energiya, marking the first-ever Emirati acquisition of a renewable energy company in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).The 51 per cent stake purchase underscores the UAE’s rising role as a global investor in clean energy and reflects its deepening strategic ties with Uzbekistan, a country seeking to generate half of its electricity from renewables by 2030.Yashil Energiya is a vertically integrated developer of commercial and industrial distributed solar projects in Uzbekistan and is also diversifying into…

Wealthy Indians are expected to channel as much as $20 billion annually into overseas markets, with the UAE standing out as the top beneficiary, following the introduction of a more liberalised framework for outbound investment under India’s Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). The revised guidelines, covering Overseas Direct Investment (ODI) and Overseas Portfolio Investment (OPI), have widened the scope for capital mobility and are set to deepen India’s financial linkages with the Gulf.According to Amit Goenka, chairman and managing director of Nisus Finance, the regulatory changes mark a turning point for Indian high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) and corporates looking to diversify their asset…

Bitcoin is navigating a critical correction phase after a remarkable rebound this year, with analysts suggesting the pause could strengthen its long-term outlook rather than derail it.The cryptocurrency, which touched an all-time high above $124,000 in mid-August before slipping below $108,000, has since stabilised near $115,760 according to CoinMarketCap. The retreat has trimmed about six per cent from investor gains, but experts say the pullback reflects a necessary recalibration rather than the end of the rally.Linh Tran, market analyst at XS.com, noted that Bitcoin’s recent stall after climbing from $107,300 to $118,000 shows the market is cooling off to absorb…

Dubai’s property market, which has been on a remarkable rally for four years, is approaching a decisive turning point with predicted market rebalancing in the offing.Global ratings agencies Moody’s and Fitch both expect a market adjustment in the next two years as an unprecedented wave of housing supply in Dubai meets a slowing pace of demand growth. Their cues come after residential values surged nearly 60 per cent between 2022 and early 2025, fuelled by foreign capital inflows, rising affluence, and record immigration supported by long-term visa reforms.Moody’s forecasts more than 150,000 new homes will be delivered between 2025 and…