Author: Dr Issac PJ

Alpha Dhabi Holding has tightened its grip on one of the UAE’s most strategically important industrial groups, acquiring an additional 82.5 million shares in NMDC Group in a Dh1.6 billion transaction that amplifies both its influence and Abu Dhabi’s broader industrial ambitions.The purchase, completed with AD Ports Group, raises Alpha Dhabi’s stake in NMDC Group to 76.68 per cent of the company’s issued share capital.For Abu Dhabi, the deal signals a deepening commitment to industrial diversification, self-sufficiency, and global competitiveness. For Alpha Dhabi, it cements the group’s position as a central player in shaping the emirate’s long-term economic transformation.The investment…

TLR CRM, an AI-powered client and practice management platform designed for modern law firms, today announced a strategic collaboration with Kaden Boriss, one of the region’s leading international legal and business advisory groups. The partnership is set to fast-track the digital transformation of legal operations across the UAE and the global markets served by the firm. Kaden Boriss, widely recognised for its cross-border advisory expertise, corporate consultancy, restructuring capabilities and multinational legal practice, will integrate TLR CRM’s advanced automation, workflow and client-management systems into its operational ecosystem. The collaboration is expected to streamline processes, strengthen operational discipline and enhance service…

Shoppers in the UAE are once again expected to lead the charge — spending nearly three times more per order than the Mena average during White Friday 2025, as they did in previous years.A joint study by Flowwow, the UAE-based gifting marketplace, and Admitad, a global performance-marketing company, shows that customers in the Emirates are shifting away from bargain-hunting and favouring thoughtful, higher-value purchases that enhance daily life or carry emotional significance. This evolving consumer mindset is helping fuel the region’s broader e-commerce growth, with analysts projecting the Mena online market could reach $80 billion by 2029. This year’s White…

The UAE will soon introduce a sweeping set of regulations that will accelerate the digital transformation of accounting and auditing across the country, marking one of the most ambitious regulatory upgrades in the sector to date.Expected within months, the new rules will redefine how businesses maintain financial records, how auditors operate, and how financial transparency is enforced.Speaking to nearly 3,200 members of the Dubai Chapter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), Abdullah Saleh Al Hammadi, director of the Auditors Department at the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, said the upcoming framework will significantly widen the role of…

Sobha Group has taken a major step in diversifying its portfolio with the launch of The Gallery, the first flagship showroom of Sobha Furniture, marking what the company sees as a powerful new engine for growth after posting a record Dh23 billion in sales in 2024.With a workforce of 55,000 employees, the Group is positioning its new furniture vertical as a strategic pillar alongside its large-scale real estate operations.Located at The S on Sheikh Zayed Road, The Gallery signals Sobha’s ambition to evolve from a manufacturer of interiors for its own developments into a regional design and production powerhouse. Conceived…

Corporate earnings across the Gulf reached their strongest level in three years in the third quarter of 2025, with UAE-listed companies emerging as the region’s standout performers.According to Kamco Invest, aggregate net profits of listed firms in the GCC rose 7.9 per cent year-on-year to $65.6 billion, up from $60.7 billion a year earlier, and jumped 15.7 per cent from the previous quarter. Banks and real estate companies were the main drivers of this growth, supported by a modest recovery in the energy and materials sectors.The UAE delivered the biggest increase in absolute profit growth among all GCC markets, reflecting…

GCC banks are heading into 2026 with stable credit fundamentals, strong capital buffers and resilient profitability, according to S&P Global Ratings, which also cautions that geopolitical tensions and oil-price volatility remain the biggest risks to the sector.In a comprehensive new assessment, S&P says that 90 per cent of bank ratings across the Gulf carry a stable outlook — reflecting the region’s solid economic footing and conservative banking frameworks.S&P Global Ratings analysts Mohamed Damak and Tatjana Lescova said the region’s lenders are entering the new year with “broadly stable profitability, supportive asset quality and strong capitalization,” underlining the sector’s ability to…

The UAE has been named the world’s most advanced market for digital trade readiness, according to Standard Chartered’s latest “Future of Trade: Digitisation” report — a distinction that reflects the country’s rapid acceleration in digital infrastructure, regulatory innovation and corporate adoption of advanced technologies.The study, which surveyed 1,200 multinationals across 17 global markets, positions the UAE at the forefront of the shift to smarter, faster and more resilient cross-border trade. While cloud computing remains the strongest catalyst for transformation — identified as essential by an extraordinary ninety-seven per cent of UAE corporates — the country is also emerging as a…

Dubai tenants are shifting their mindset towards owning in the wake of an escalation in rents, signalling a transformation in how long-term residents approach housing. In a survey of 1,439 Dubai residents, Betterhomes’ Future Living Report 2025 survey found that 55 per cent of tenants now plan to buy a property within the next one to three years — a leap from just 25 per cent last year. Betterhomes says this jump also reflects a real transformation in tenant mindset amid rising mortgage uptake, affordability pressure and a growing commitment to making Dubai home. Betterhomes’ analysis reveals that 61 per cent of those intending to buy expect to…

Dubai’s commercial real estate sector is entering a powerful new growth phase, fuelled by increasing demand from occupiers and investors alike. According to fresh research from Chestertons Mena, average office rents are climbing, occupancy remains near record highs, and the outlook for Grade A and logistics-led space has never looked stronger. Chestertons’ latest findings show sustained demand for premium offices, especially in core hubs such as DIFC, Business Bay and Dubai Internet City. These districts continue to command the most attention, thanks to their infrastructure, prestige and proximity to international business activity. The limited availability of Grade A space has helped push occupancy…