Author: Dr Issac PJ

Gold demand surged to an unprecedented level in the third quarter of 2025 as investors worldwide sought refuge from rising geopolitical tensions, inflationary pressures and global economic uncertainty. The World Gold Council’s latest data shows that total demand, including over-the-counter transactions, reached 1,313 tonnes valued at $146 billion — the highest quarterly total on record — underscoring gold’s status not just as a crisis hedge, but as a core store-of-value asset in portfolios.The surge was driven most notably by investment flows which rose 47 per cent year-on-year to 537 tonnes, accounting for more than half of all gold demand during the…

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) has reported a sharp rise in earnings for the first nine months of 2025, driven by strong leasing demand, expanded maintenance capacity and the integration of aircraft lessor Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC), which it acquired earlier this year.DAE said its profit before tax surged 100 per cent to $653 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, compared with $326.6 million a year earlier. Total revenue climbed to $1.28 billion from $1.02 billion, reflecting strong fleet utilisation and a broader global recovery in commercial aviation.Operating cash flow increased to $1.13 billion from $904 million in the…

Majid Al Futtaim has unveiled Maravelle at Ghaf Woods, positioning it as Dubai’s first ultra-premium wellness-led residential destination designed for homeowners who place wellbeing and nature at the centre of daily life.The launch comes at a time when Dubai’s wellness and lifestyle real estate sector is surging, driven by affluent buyers seeking homes that prioritise health, privacy, green space and meaningful community living.Maravelle is located at the heart of Ghaf Woods, Dubai’s first forest community, and offers just 96 carefully curated homes across four boutique buildings. The approach is intentionally exclusive: wide open green spaces, architecture designed to breathe, and…

The initial public offering (IPO) landscape in the UAE continues to strengthen as companies tap buoyant investor appetite, regulatory reforms and supportive macroeconomic conditions. While overall Mena IPO activity saw 11 listings raising about $0.7 billion in the third quarter of 2025, the UAE remains one of the most closely watched markets in the region, with a growing pipeline of listings expected to come to market over the next several quarters.According to the latest EY IPO Eye Q3 2025 report, the number of IPOs in the wider region rose by 120 per cent compared with the same period a year earlier,…

Demand for wires and cables in the Middle East is projected to grow sharply over the next five years, driven by a wave of infrastructure expansion, renewable energy deployment, industrial capacity building, and rapid electrification across the region.Industry estimates suggest the regional market will rise from about $23 billion at present to more than $32 billion within five years, reflecting sustained investments in construction, power transmission, rail, logistics and electric mobility networks.Analysts say the UAE and Saudi Arabia are at the forefront of this surge. The UAE continues to accelerate development across real estate, clean energy and manufacturing, while Saudi…

Dubai’s commercial real estate sector continued its strong upward trajectory in the third quarter of 2025, driven by robust demand for Grade A office space, surging off-plan activity and a sharp rebound in the retail property market.Total commercial property sales reached Dh30.38 billion in Q3, up 31 per cent from a year earlier, according to CRC Property’s latest Q3 2025 Market Report — underscoring the emirate’s continued evolution as a global business and investment hub.The office market once again proved to be the engine of growth. Total office sales reached Dh3.1 billion across 1,153 units during the quarter, reflecting an…

Dubai’s economy continues to show remarkable resilience and forward momentum, supported by a diversified non-oil growth model, sustained foreign investment, robust tourism performance and a steady rise in population and business formation.  A recent analytical note by S&P Global Ratings highlights that Dubai’s strengthened fundamentals are enabling the emirate to withstand global and regional headwinds — even as geopolitical tensions, interest rate cycles and global trade volatility persist. While S&P does not independently rate Dubai, its assessment draws from public data and reflects broad investor interest in Dubai’s macroeconomic outlook.S&P expects Dubai’s real GDP growth to average around 2.9 per cent annually…

Adnoc Drilling on Tuesday reported a net profit of $1.06 billion for the first nine months of the year, up 17 per cent compared to the same period in 2024, on the back of rising activity across onshore, offshore and integrated drilling services operations. Revenue for the period rose 27 per cent to $3.63 billion, driven by higher rig utilisation, expansion in unconventional drilling programmes and a sharp increase in integrated drilling services. Free cash flow surged 174 per cent to $1.2 billion, enabling the company to strengthen shareholder returns while investing in fleet expansion and technology upgrades. Return on equity…

NMDC Energy has reported a 33 per cent year-on-year surge in 9-month revenue to Dh13 billion, driven by strong backlog execution and expanding operations across regional and international energy markets. Net profit increased 5 per cent to Dh951 million, reflecting the company’s sustained project delivery capabilities and operational efficiency.The company’s backlog stood at Dh45.6 billion at the end of September, supported by continued contract wins and project mobilisations across onshore and offshore segments. NMDC Energy’s domestic and international project pipeline grew to Dh61.4 billion during the period, underscoring the company’s diversified growth strategy and market reach.Mohamed Hamad Almehairi, chairman of NMDC Energy,…

Aldar Investment has announced a sweeping Dh3.8 billion exercise to build new homes for the rental sector across Abu Dhabi, underlining its confidence in long-term demand and recurring income streams.The fund will go into residential developments on Al Shamkha and Yas Island — two areas at the heart of Abu Dhabi’s growth plan — while the company also expands into commercial and logistics assets, lifting its develop-to-hold pipeline to Dh17.6 billion.Chief Executive of Aldar Investment, Jassem Salah Busaibe, said the strategy responds to “strong demand for residential rental units, Grade A commercial space and logistics real estate in Abu Dhabi.…