Author: Dr Issac PJ

The UAE economy is on track for another year of standout performance, with fresh forecasts pointing to strong and broad-based growth that underscores the country’s rising stature as one of the world’s most resilient and dynamic economic hubs.According to Standard Chartered, the UAE’s gross domestic product is expected to expand by 5.0 per cent in 2026, a sharp upgrade from its earlier 4.0 per cent projection and well above the anticipated pace of the global economy. This momentum builds on an already solid 2025, when nominal GDP is estimated to have reached around $569 billion, reflecting the success of diversification,…

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) closed 2025 with one of the strongest performances in its history, underscoring both its expanding global footprint and Dubai’s growing influence as a centre for aviation finance, leasing and maintenance.The Dubai-based aviation services company reported major gains across aircraft acquisitions, leasing activity, engineering operations and capital markets, reflecting sustained airline demand and a robust post-pandemic recovery in global air travel.During the year, DAE Capital completed and integrated the $2.0 billion acquisition of Nordic Aviation Capital, a transaction that significantly expanded its scale and customer base. The group acquired 280 aircraft during the year, including 261 owned…

Oil prices opened the first full trading week of 2026 with a muted reaction to one of the most dramatic geopolitical events in recent history: the weekend US military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.  Benchmarks such as Brent crude edged slightly lower, with WTI also dipping as investors weighed whether the upheaval in Caracas could meaningfully alter the supply–demand balance in a market already grappling with oversupply and subdued demand growth.  The Wall Street Journal and other outlets noted that markets were awaiting clarity on the oil supply implications of the US action,…

GCC equity markets ended 2025 with mixed performances, underlining a widening gap between regional exchanges and global peers, as well as sharp divergences within the Gulf itself.Dubai emerged as one of the standout performers in the region, while Abu Dhabi posted a steadier, more subdued recovery, according to Kamco Invest research. The contrast highlighted how sector composition, liquidity, and exposure to global trends shaped market outcomes during a year marked by geopolitical strain and falling oil prices.Dubai’s benchmark index finished 2025 as the third-best performing market in the GCC, rising 17.2 per cent to close at 6,047.1 points. While the…

Bitcoin surged back above the $91,000 mark over the weekend, extending an early-year rebound as a sudden geopolitical jolt out of Venezuela injected volatility into global markets and set off a wave of short liquidations across crypto derivatives.The move underscored how thin liquidity and crowded positioning can quickly amplify price action, even when the underlying catalyst is political rather than crypto-specific.The world’s largest digital asset climbed to around $91,300 during Asian trading hours on Sunday, its highest level since mid-December, and was up more than four per cent over the past week. The rally spilled over into major altcoins, with…

Goldman Sachs has drawn a bold line through global commodity markets for 2026: buy gold aggressively and sell oil.In its latest Commodities Outlook, led by Daan Struyven, the bank argues that the world is entering a period of extreme divergence driven by two forces it calls the “Power Race” and “Supply Waves.” Together, they point to a structural bull market in precious and strategic metals, and a prolonged squeeze on energy prices.The Power Race is shorthand for intensifying competition between the US and China over artificial intelligence, energy security and geopolitical influence. That contest, Goldman argues, is metals-heavy by nature.…

As global wealth mobility accelerates, the UAE — the undisputed magnet for migrating Indian millionaires — is set to further strengthen its position in 2026, according to wealth management experts.The country is expected to attract more high-net-worth individuals than any other destination this year, with Indians continuing to form one of the largest and most consistent inflows. Analysts say the trend is not driven by lifestyle appeal alone, but by deeper structural shifts in where wealth feels safest, most productive and best positioned for long-term growth.Henley & Partners’ private wealth migration estimates show that the UAE was poised to record…

As Dubai’s property market moves into 2026, the clearest signals are emerging not from headline-grabbing luxury transactions, but from sustained rental pressure in the city’s most affordable neighbourhoods.The trends established over the past year point to a market increasingly shaped by end-user demand, population growth and value-driven housing choices. According to Bayut’s 2025 Dubai Property Market Report, affordable apartment rents rose by more than 20 per cent in several communities, while budget villa rents climbed by up to 24 per cent, setting the tone for a new cycle where affordability, connectivity and liveability are defining both tenant behaviour and investor…

Cryptocurrency markets are closing the year in a cautious holding pattern, with Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP showing tentative signs of recovery but still facing technical and macroeconomic headwinds that could define price action in the opening weeks of the New Year.After a volatile December marked by profit-taking and thinning liquidity, the largest digital assets are attempting to stabilise, prompting analysts to debate whether the next meaningful move will be a breakout or another leg lower.Bitcoin is hovering just above the $88,000 mark, consolidating after a modest 1.43 per cent rise earlier in the week. Price action over the past several…

With nominal GDP estimated at about $4.18 trillion, India has overtaken Japan to become the world’s fourth-largest economy. Projections from multilateral institutions suggest that, if current momentum is sustained, India is on track to surpass Germany and claim the third spot globally by 2027. Official data show that India’s real GDP growth accelerated through the year, reaching 8.2 per cent in the second quarter of FY 2025–26, up from 7.8 per cent in the first quarter and 7.4 per cent in the final quarter of FY 2024–25. This marked a six-quarter high and underscored the resilience of domestic demand even as…