Author: Dr Issac PJ

Abu Dhabi sovereign investor Mubadala Investment Company has reaffirmed confidence in its long-term global investment strategy despite ongoing regional tensions, with chief executive Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak saying the fund is drawing on the UAE’s proven resilience to “create opportunity from disruption.”In a message to partners and stakeholders worldwide, Al Mubarak said the UAE’s institutions had responded to the conflict with “determination, agility and a clear priority on the safety and well-being of the country’s residents,” while emphasising that Mubadala continues to operate normally across its global portfolio.“Each challenge reinforces the path we are on, with dexterity and coordination enabling…

Abu Dhabi has introduced a new package of regulatory decisions to strengthen governance across its real estate sector, reinforcing investor protection and transparency at a time when the emirate’s property market is posting record growth and attracting rising foreign participation.The reforms, announced by the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), implement amendments to the emirate’s real estate law and introduce clearer rules governing escrow accounts, jointly owned properties, owners’ committees and compensation procedures linked to cancelled off-plan projects.The measures come as Abu Dhabi’s property market recorded a record Dh142 billion in transactions across 42,814 deals in 2025, representing about a…

Dubai’s Emirates NBD has secured regulatory clearance from the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) for its proposed majority acquisition of India’s RBL Bank, marking one of the most ambitious overseas expansion moves by a UAE lender and reinforcing a broader trend of Gulf banks scaling operations in India.The approval clears the way for Emirates NBD’s planned investment of about $3 billion for a stake of up to 60 per cent in RBL Bank, subject to remaining regulatory approvals in India. The transaction — the largest foreign direct investment in India’s banking sector — will allow the Dubai lender to…

Dubai’s real estate sector is demonstrating strong resilience despite geopolitical tensions triggered by the Iran conflict, with investors holding firm positions, transactions continuing at scale and developers reporting stable cash flows — reinforcing the emirate’s status as a global safe haven for capital even during periods of regional uncertainty.Market sentiment remains anchored by strong fundamentals and institutional confidence.Mohamed Alabbar, founder of Emaar Properties, said capital inflows into the property sector remain steady and installment collections from off-plan buyers continue at healthy levels despite temporary disruptions linked to regional tensions. He noted that visitor traffic at Dubai Mall has eased from…

As tensions escalate across the Middle East and crude oil prices surge past $100 a barrel, global markets are witnessing a puzzling divergence. Oil has jumped sharply on fears of supply disruptions, yet gold — traditionally the world’s most trusted safe-haven asset — has struggled to mount a comparable rally, hovering near the $5,000-per-ounce level instead of surging decisively higher.The contrasting movements highlight how modern financial markets are responding to geopolitical shocks in a more complex way than in past crises.Oil’s rise has been driven primarily by real supply risks. The conflict has disrupted shipping routes around the Strait of…

The UAE has successfully raised Dh1.1 billion through the March 2026 issuance of dirham-denominated Treasury Bonds, underscoring strong investor confidence in the country’s financial strength and economic stability even amid heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.  The auction, conducted by the Ministry of Finance in collaboration with the Central Bank of the UAE as issuing and payment agent, marked the first sovereign bond sale since the latest regional escalation. It forms part of the UAE’s scheduled Treasury Bonds issuance programme for 2026.Treasury bonds, commonly known as T-bonds, are government debt securities issued to raise funds for public spending and…

India’s rapidly expanding economic strength, diversified energy strategy and proactive policy measures are helping shield the world’s fourth-largest economy from the worst effects of the oil market turmoil triggered by the conflict in the Middle East.Even as crude prices surge above $100 a barrel and shipping disruptions threaten global energy supplies, policymakers in New Delhi say the country has sufficient fuel stocks, fiscal buffers and contingency plans to maintain stability in domestic energy markets and support economic growth.Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said the country currently has adequate fuel supplies and robust contingency planning to deal with volatility…

Global oil markets are bracing for renewed volatility as escalating military tensions in the Gulf push crude prices toward the $100-a-barrel mark and raise fears of the largest supply disruption in modern energy history.Benchmark crude prices have surged in recent days amid mounting concerns that the conflict between the United States and Iran could severely disrupt oil flows through the Gulf — the world’s most critical energy artery. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) is trading close to $99 per barrel, while Brent crude is hovering near similar levels after briefly spiking above $100 earlier this week as traders priced in intensifying…

Global financial institutions, credit rating agencies and economists are reaffirming strong confidence in the resilience of GCC economies, especially the UAE, despite escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, highlighting powerful fiscal buffers, vast sovereign wealth assets and accelerating economic diversification as key pillars supporting stability.Recent assessments by S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings underscore that Gulf economies remain among the strongest in the emerging markets universe, with the UAE retaining its AA/Stable sovereign credit rating thanks to exceptionally strong government balance sheets and large external assets.  S&P Global Ratings said the UAE’s fiscal and external positions remain among the…

India’s equity markets have suffered a sharp setback amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, wiping out nearly $240 billion in investor wealth in a single week and prompting the country’s market regulator to urge investors to remain cautious as volatility grips global financial systems. Benchmark indices extended their losing streak for a third consecutive week as global investors pulled money from risk assets following the outbreak of the US-Iran conflict and fears of wider disruption to energy supplies. The BSE Sensex dropped 1,471 points, or 1.93 per cent, on Friday to close at 74,563.92, while the Nifty 50 fell 488…