Author: Dr Issac PJ

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s latest visit to India has raised the ambition level of the UAE-India economic partnership, with both countries committing to double bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2032, building on the dramatic gains delivered by the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (Cepa) that came into force in 2022.On his third official visit to India as President and his fifth trip over the past decade, Sheikh Mohamed held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and witnessed the signing of multiple agreements spanning trade, investment, technology, energy, defence and education.The leaders said the Cepa has…

Global trade executives are entering 2026 with strong confidence that resilient supply chains, alternative shipping routes, and accelerating infrastructure investment will continue to drive commerce expansion, even as tariffs, geopolitical tensions, and policy uncertainty persist, according to a new survey by DP World released at the World Economic Forum in Davos.DP World’s Global Trade Observatory Annual Outlook shows 94 per cent of senior supply chain and logistics executives expect trade growth in 2026 to match or exceed the pace of 2025. More than half of respondents — 54 per cent — forecast faster expansion, while 40 per cent expect growth…

Gulfood has launched a new global startup platform aimed at placing Dubai at the centre of the fast-growing food innovation economy, as governments and investors accelerate efforts to build resilient, technology-driven food systems.The Gulfood Startups initiative is designed to help high-growth food-tech companies scale internationally from the UAE, leveraging Dubai’s logistics strength, investor ecosystem and strategic location linking Asia, Africa and Europe. The launch comes as the global food economy advances toward a projected value of $11.37 trillion by 2030, with startups increasingly driving breakthroughs in alternative proteins, artificial intelligence, automation and sustainable production.More than 250 founders and technology leaders…

AD Ports Group has strengthened its European expansion drive with the acquisition of Spain’s Balenciaga Astilleros Shipyard, adding advanced shipbuilding capacity as the UAE ports and logistics operator scales up its offshore wind and maritime services business.The company said its subsidiary Safeen Drydocks, part of Noatum Maritime, acquired 100 per cent ownership of the Basque-based facility for €11.2 million, reinforcing the group’s growing footprint in Spain and the wider Mediterranean region.Balenciaga Shipyard brings nearly a century of shipbuilding expertise and specialised infrastructure, including two drydocks, a 105-metre slipway and automated fabrication facilities spanning more than 22,000 square metres. The yard…

The GCC economies have entered 2026 with renewed growth momentum, underpinned by a broad-based expansion in non-oil activity and a gradual recovery in hydrocarbon production, with the UAE emerging as one of the region’s strongest performers.According to the World Bank’s latest Global Economic Prospects report, economic growth across the GCC is forecast to accelerate to 4.4 per cent in 2026, rising further to 4.6 per cent in 2027, reflecting the region’s success in diversifying beyond oil while maintaining energy-sector strength.The UAE is expected to be at the forefront of this upswing. World Bank projections indicate that the country’s economy will…

The rapid rise of the mBridge platform is reshaping how cross-border payments are executed, with transaction volumes surpassing $55 billion and positioning the UAE at the centre of a new generation of central bank digital currency (CBDC)-based settlement infrastructure.Developed as a multi-CBDC bridge connecting central banks in Asia and the Middle East, mBridge enables real-time international payments using sovereign digital currencies, bypassing traditional correspondent banking networks. The platform is jointly used by the People’s Bank of China, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the Bank of Thailand, the Central Bank of the UAE and the Saudi Central Bank, with more than…

Dubai’s derivatives marketplace recorded a sharp expansion in activity in 2025, with the Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange (DGCX) reporting a 30 per cent surge in traded volumes and nearly $47 billion in contract value, underlines the emirate’s growing importance as a regional and international hub.Total traded volumes on DGCX climbed to 2,048,556 lots in 2025, while the value of contracts traded reached $46.96 billion, reflecting stronger participation from institutional investors, regional hedgers and international trading firms. Average daily volumes rose to 7,940 lots, and average open interest stood at 13,015 lots, pointing to deeper market liquidity and sustained engagement…

As global leaders convene in Davos for the 56th World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting under the banner “A Spirit of Dialogue,” attention is sharply focused on how the world can unlock fresh sources of growth amid mounting economic headwinds, geopolitical uncertainty, and rapid technological change.At the heart of many discussions, as global headwinds weigh heavily, is the role of the GCC countries — in particular, the UAE and Saudi Arabia — which are increasingly being seen as engines of global momentum through bold diversification, deep investment in AI and green energy, and resilient economic planning.According to the IMF’s October 2025…

Tourism across the GCC has surged well beyond pre-pandemic levels, reinforcing the sector’s growing role as a pillar of economic diversification, with the UAE emerging as the region’s primary growth engine.International tourism revenues in the GCC climbed to $120.2 billion in 2024, marking a 39.6 per cent increase compared to 2019 and an 8.9 per cent rise from 2023, according to the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (Gulf-Stat).The strong revenue performance reflects a sharp rebound in visitor flows and spending across the region. Gulf-Stat data show that international tourist arrivals reached 72.2…

Private equity firms across the Mena region are preparing for a major shift in how they build value in their investments, with more than half of all portfolios expected to integrate artificial intelligence-driven value creation by the end of 2026, according to new data from Ento Capital.In simple terms, this marks a turning point where AI moves from being an experimental or “nice-to-have” tool to becoming a core part of how businesses are run, improved and scaled.For private equity firms, which buy, grow and eventually sell companies, AI is increasingly seen as a practical way to improve productivity, cut costs…