Author: Dr Issac PJ

Mashreq has reported a strong financial performance for the first nine months of 2025, with operating income rising to Dh9.4 billion, driven by expanding client activity across corporate, retail and international segments. The bank’s third-quarter operating income reached Dh3.2 billion, up 4 per cent quarter-on-quarter and 8 per cent year-on-year, underpinned by resilient net interest income and a strong rise in non-interest income. Net profit before tax stood at Dh6.1 billion for the nine-month period, reflecting the bank’s ability to sustain earnings momentum in a moderating interest rate environment. Mashreq reported a net interest margin of 3.2 per cent and maintained a…

Gopichand ‘GP’ Hinduja, the Indian-origin billionaire who co-chaired the global Hinduja Group conglomerate, has died in London at the age of 85. His passing marks the end of an era for one of the world’s most prominent business families.Hinduja was the pivotal force behind the group’s evolution from a Mumbai-based trading house into a UK-rich-list-topping empire. Under his stewardship, the company founded by his father in 1914 became a global testament to Indian entrepreneurial success.A source close to all four Hinduja brothers stated, “Gopichand was the strategic anchor. His vision was instrumental in taking a proud Indian enterprise and building it…

The UAE has been ranked the world’s most attractive destination for entrepreneurs in a new analysis by TASC Corporate Services, scoring 930 out of 1,000 and posting perfect 100 per cent scores for both business-friendliness and ecosystem support.The study assessed 15 popular business set-up destinations across accessibility, affordability, business-friendliness and ecosystem support, with the UAE posting 17 perfect component scores and a 98 per cent accessibility mark.The TASC findings amplify what independent global benchmarks have shown throughout 2025: the UAE is entrenched among the world’s most competitive economies and the top ecosystem in the Arab world for founders. The country…

The UAE’s energy sector continues to be a core pillar of the national economy, even as the country accelerates diversification into new sectors including tourism, logistics, aviation, fintech, advanced manufacturing, and the digital economy.Recent estimates from the Central Bank of the UAE suggest that overall real GDP will grow by 4.9% in 2025 — significantly higher than previous expectations — supported by a robust rebound in the hydrocarbon sector. Hydrocarbon activity is projected to expand by 5.8% this year, following phased adjustments in production and strong demand from global markets.This expansion underscores a fundamental structural reality: while non-oil activities today…

The UAE has reinforced its position as the world’s leading nation in artificial intelligence adoption, with nearly six in ten working-age residents now using AI tools in their daily work, according to the latest AI Diffusion Report released by Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab. The findings show that 59.4 per cent of the UAE’s working population actively engages with AI applications ranging from generative writing and translation tools to design automation, predictive analytics and enterprise workflow platforms, placing the nation first globally in real-world AI usage.The report shows that global AI adoption has surpassed 1.2 billion users in less than three…

HSBC has arranged financing for six new Airbus A350-900 aircraft for Emirates, marking the airline’s return to the Japanese Operating Lease with Call Option (Jolco) market after six years and reinforcing a 40-year partnership between the global bank and the Dubai carrier. Five of the aircraft have already been financed through Jolco structures, with the sixth currently in progress, in a move that allows Emirates to diversify funding sources while supporting the expansion of one of the world’s largest long-haul fleets.The deal comes as Emirates continues a major fleet modernisation and growth programme. The airline has ordered 65 Airbus A350-900s in…

Gold’s latest price movements have left investors and jewellery buyers weighing whether the recent pullback signals the beginning of a deeper retreat or simply a natural cooling period after an exceptional rally. In the UAE, gold prices edged modestly higher on Friday, reflecting resilience in local demand and broad support from global factors.According to Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group, 24-carat gold closed at Dh482.75 per gram, up from Dh479 the previous day, while 22-carat traded at Dh447, 21-carat at Dh428.50, and 18-carat at Dh367.50. The gains were measured, but notable for occurring during a week when global bullion prices have…

Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) has crossed a major global finance milestone: financial firms operating from the centre now manage $28.6 trillion in assets worldwide.In just ten years, ADGM has evolved from a new entrant into the financial landscape into one of the most rapidly expanding financial centres globally, drawing some of the world’s most influential asset managers, private equity houses, hedge funds and institutional investors to Abu Dhabi,   according to the Alternative Investment Management Association(AIMA).Since 2015, ADGM’s trajectory has been defined by accelerated growth and rising international confidence. The number of financial firms based in ADGM has surged…

Dubai is preparing to take a major step that could reshape its financial and trade architecture for the decade ahead. DMCC, the world’s largest free zone and international business district, has announced plans to launch a new financial centre that will serve as the financial engine of its fast-growing business ecosystem.The move signals a new phase in Dubai’s evolution — from a global gateway hub to a city where trade, finance, technology, and capital converge seamlessly.The announcement was made during DMCC’s latest Made For Trade Live roadshow in Vietnam, where more than 550 Vietnamese business leaders explored Dubai as a platform…

Dubai’s residential property market continued to expand in the third quarter of 2025, with a steady pace of new launches and completions aligned to the emirate’s rising population and sustained investor appetite.According to Savills’ latest Dubai Residential Market Report, the city recorded over 10,000 new residential units launched in Q3 2025, reflecting confidence among developers while signalling a more measured approach to pipeline expansion compared to the peak launch cycles of recent years.Apartments accounted for 97 per cent of all new launches during the quarter, the report notes, underscoring a broader structural shift in supply toward high-density communities where pricing, amenities and accessibility offer…