Author: Dr Issac PJ
Bitcoin has staged a sharp rebound after a week of heavy selling, climbing about 5–6 per cent to trade near the $68,000–$70,000 range and briefly revisiting its previous 2021 peak around $69,000. The recovery has helped the world’s largest cryptocurrency recoup nearly 12 per cent from its February lows, but analysts caution that the move may represent a technical rebound rather than the start of a sustained bull run.The latest rally was triggered largely by forced liquidations in the derivatives market rather than fresh bullish catalysts. Data from Coinglass shows that more than $571 million in crypto positions were liquidated in…
Small and medium enterprises across the UAE are set to drive a strong surge in online retail activity during Ramadan 2026, as digital adoption, cultural spending patterns and a rapidly expanding e-commerce ecosystem converge to create one of the busiest trading seasons for local businesses.SMEs remain the backbone of the UAE’s diversification strategy, accounting for more than 94 per cent of all companies operating in the country and contributing over 63 per cent to the non-oil economy. With the government targeting the creation of one million SMEs by 2031 — a projected rise of nearly 79.5 per cent — the…
Dubai’s prime office shortage is fuelling a sharp rise in commercial property acquisitions as investors and corporates race to secure Grade A space, even as the emirate’s residential sector shifts into a more mature growth phase marked by value-driven demand and longer holding strategies.Fresh data from Engel & Völkers Middle East shows Dubai’s real estate market entering 2026 on solid footing, with activity increasingly concentrated in high-quality assets across both residential and commercial segments. The commercial office market in particular is witnessing a surge in capital deployment, driven by limited supply of ready prime offices in core business districts and…
The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has taken another major stride in reshaping the nation’s financial landscape with the launch of the world’s first sovereign financial cloud services infrastructure — a secure, nationally controlled digital platform designed to host and protect the country’s critical banking data, applications and services.Fintech experts explained that at its core, the sovereign financial cloud acts much like a highly fortified digital vault and operating system for the UAE’s financial sector. Unlike traditional cloud environments that often rely on third-party global providers, this home-grown cloud keeps sensitive financial data within national borders and under direct…
Dubai’s residential rental market is poised to stabilise through 2026 as a wave of new supply begins to moderate price growth after several years of steep increases, according to fresh data from Allsopp & Allsopp and other industry analysts.Latest figures show the market entering a more balanced phase, with demand remaining robust but rental inflation easing across several key segments, particularly apartments. Industry experts say the shift signals a maturing property cycle rather than a downturn, with rents expected to plateau in many communities as more units are handed over.Data from Allsopp & Allsopp for January revealed a 48 per…
Ansari Exchange marked its 60th anniversary with a strong focus on the rapid surge in online transactions and the growing importance of the UAE’s advanced digital financial ecosystem, underscoring how technology is reshaping money transfers and payment services across the region.The UAE’s largest outward personal remittance and foreign exchange company, and a subsidiary of Al Ansari Financial Services, celebrated the milestone during Ramadan that was attended by Chairman Mohammad Ali Al Ansari, board members and senior executives. Founded in 1966 with a single branch in Abu Dhabi’s Central Market, Al Ansari Exchange has evolved into one of the region’s leading financial…
Bitcoin retreated sharply toward the $65,000 level on Monday as global investors turned cautious following a US court ruling on tariffs and fresh trade policy uncertainty, highlighting the cryptocurrency’s continued sensitivity to macroeconomic shocks and institutional fund flows.The world’s largest cryptocurrency fell as much as 5 per cent in early trading before stabilising near $65,000, extending a volatile stretch that has seen digital assets struggle to regain upward momentum. The latest slide comes after the US Supreme Court struck down sweeping tariff powers previously invoked by the Trump administration, only for Washington to quickly announce a new 15 per cent…
The US dollar weakened against most major and emerging market currencies, including the Indian rupee, after a landmark US Supreme Court ruling struck down sweeping emergency tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, triggering fresh uncertainty over US trade policy and growth prospects and reshaping currency dynamics for global investors and expatriates.The Indian rupee strengthened by nearly 20 paise to trade around 90.76 against the dollar in early Asian trade on Monday, recovering from Friday’s close of 90.98, as the greenback slipped broadly in global markets. The dollar index, which measures the currency against six major peers, fell about 0.35 per…
The Central Bank of the UAE has issued a comprehensive guidance note on the responsible adoption and use of artificial intelligence and machine learning across the country’s financial sector, marking a significant regulatory step to safeguard consumers while enabling innovation in digital finance.The framework applies to all licensed financial institutions and aims to ensure that the rapid deployment of artificial intelligence across banking, insurance and financial services does not compromise consumer rights, transparency or financial stability. The regulator said the move reflects its proactive supervisory approach to digital transformation and aligns with the UAE’s broader ambition to position itself as…
Global oil markets are bracing for potential volatility as geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran raise the risk of a sharp price surge, with analysts warning crude could jump by as much as $15 a barrel if the standoff escalates from rhetoric to direct action.Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate have already begun to climb amid mounting uncertainty, with Brent recently trading above $71 a barrel and US crude hovering near $66, marking their highest levels since last summer. Prices have risen steadily in recent weeks as traders weigh the probability of military escalation against ongoing diplomatic efforts to…