Author: Dr Issac PJ

The UAE is positioning itself to become one of the world’s top five exporting nations within five years, building on its historic entry into the global top 10 exporters after total trade in goods and services surged to $1.637 trillion (Dh6 trillion) in 2025, according to the latest World Trade Organisation data released this week.The country ranked ninth globally in goods exports, marking a rapid climb from 17th place just five years ago and underscoring a structural shift from a regional re-export hub to a diversified global trade platform spanning hydrocarbons, aluminium, gold, machinery, electronics and high-value services.“The UAE’s rise…

Abu Dhabi’s tourism sector delivered a record-breaking performance in 2025, welcoming 26.6 million visitors across the emirate and reinforcing its emergence as one of the Middle East’s fastest-growing cultural and leisure destinations, with India leading the surge in international arrivals, according to the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi.Strong hotel revenues, rising global air connectivity and expanding cultural infrastructure powered the growth, highlighting steady progress toward the emirate’s long-term Tourism Strategy 2030, which targets 39 million visitors annually and tens of billions of dirhams in sector contribution to GDP.Hotel revenues climbed 19.5 per cent year-on-year to Dh9.1 billion,…

The UAE’s non-oil private sector continued to expand in March despite regional conflict disrupting supply chains and raising costs, underlining the economy’s structural resilience and the strength of domestic demand even as business confidence softened.The seasonally adjusted Purchasing Managers’ Index compiled by S&P Global slipped to 52.9 in March from 55.0 in February, remaining comfortably above the neutral 50 mark that separates growth from contraction. Although the reading was the joint-lowest since mid-2021, it still signalled a solid improvement in operating conditions across the non-oil economy.The moderation largely reflected the impact of the Middle East conflict on logistics routes, tourism…

Global food prices climbed in March as rising energy costs linked to the Middle East conflict began filtering through agricultural supply chains, raising inflation concerns across war-hit economies and import-dependent regions — even as the UAE’s diversified sourcing strategy and strong reserves helped keep domestic pressures contained.The latest Food Price Index compiled by the Food and Agriculture Organisation averaged 128.5 points in March, up 2.4 per cent from February, reflecting higher fuel, fertiliser and transport costs across global food markets. While the increase remains moderate by historical standards, economists warn that prolonged disruption to shipping routes and farm inputs could…

Dubai’s real estate market maintained strong momentum in the first quarter of 2026, recording transactions worth Dh138.7 billion across 44,150 deals, underlining sustained investor confidence and resilient end-user demand despite regional geopolitical uncertainty.The latest market data shows transaction values rose 21.2 per cent year-on-year while volumes increased 4.35 per cent, highlighting a continued shift toward higher-ticket purchases and premium residential assets.“The market is holding firm, supported by a depth of demand driven by long-term investors and end-users who view Dubai as a strategic destination for capital,” said Farooq Syed, CEO of Springfield Properties.Industry analysts say the widening gap between value…

Fresh warnings that the US will intensify military operations against Iran have sharply raised the economic stakes for the Middle East, with new projections showing the conflict could wipe out up to $200 billion from Arab economies and trigger global losses running into trillions if energy exports through the Gulf remain disrupted. The tougher stance from Donald Trump has shifted market expectations from a short-lived confrontation to a prolonged geopolitical shock, reviving fears of supply-chain disruptions, renewed oil-price volatility and tightening financial conditions across emerging markets and Europe. Economists warn that continued pressure on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz could…

Gold’s remarkable two-year rally is losing momentum, with analysts warning the yellow metal could be headed for its sharpest monthly decline in nearly two decades as a stronger US dollar, fading hopes of interest-rate cuts and surging energy prices reshape investor sentiment.Although bullion briefly stabilised above $4,700 an ounce this week after a sharp sell-off, the recovery is widely seen as fragile. In Dubai, prices edged higher on Wednesday, reflecting short-term bargain buying rather than a structural rebound. At 8pm, 24K gold traded at Dh576 per gram, up from Dh563.25 a day earlier, while 22K rose to Dh534 from Dh521.50 —…

The UAE’s Ministry of Finance has introduced sweeping amendments to the country’s tax procedures framework, tightening refund timelines, extending audit powers and clarifying disclosure rules in a move aimed at strengthening compliance and improving transparency across all federal taxes.The changes, which take effect from April 1, 2026, update the Executive Regulations of the UAE Tax Procedures Law following earlier amendments introduced under Federal Decree-Law No. 17 of 2025. Together, the reforms reshape how businesses handle tax errors, refunds, documentation and regulatory oversight.One of the most significant updates affects tax refund claims. Under the revised framework, companies can no longer carry…

Dubai’s residential leasing market is entering a more selective phase amid regional geopolitical tensions, but fresh data from property consultancies suggests the emirate’s real estate sector remains fundamentally resilient, supported by steady landlord confidence, continued off-plan activity and sustained end-user demand across key communities.New insights from Betterhomes, one of Dubai’s longest-established real estate brokerages, and Smart Bricks, a proptech analytics platform tracking landlord behaviour across UAE property portals, show that while tenant enquiries have softened compared with last year’s exceptionally strong cycle, the market is adjusting rather than weakening — reinforcing Dubai’s reputation as one of the region’s most shock-resistant…

The Middle East war is sending fresh tremors through the global economy, but Gulf heavyweights such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia are emerging as anchors of stability, supported by strong sovereign wealth buffers, resilient non-oil growth and robust external balances even as fuel-importing economies across Asia, Europe and Africa face mounting inflation and widening deficits.IMF economists say the shock is global but sharply uneven in its transmission, with energy exporters benefiting from stronger fiscal positions while import-dependent economies absorb the brunt of higher fuel and supply-chain costs.“The shock is global, yet asymmetric,” said Jihad Azour, director of the IMF’s…