Author: Dr Issac PJ

Abu Dhabi is embarking on one of the Gulf’s most ambitious public-private partnership (PPP) programmes, unveiling a Dh55 billion infrastructure pipeline that analysts say could fundamentally reshape how large-scale projects are financed and delivered across the emirate.  The initiative, announced by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and Abu Dhabi Projects and Infrastructure Centre (ADPIC), comprises 24 projects scheduled for procurement between 2026 and 2027 across transport, social and core infrastructure sectors. While the programme’s scale is significant, experts argue its real importance lies in what it represents: a strategic shift from state-funded infrastructure development towards a model that mobilises…

The UAE’s tax revenues recorded another year of strong growth in 2025, highlighting the increasing maturity of the country’s fiscal framework and the expanding role of non-oil revenue streams in supporting long-term economic sustainability.  According to the Ministry of Finance, total revenues collected from Value Added Tax (VAT) and Excise Tax and distributed to federal and local governments exceeded Dh46 billion in 2025, compared with approximately Dh41 billion in 2024, marking a robust 15 per cent year-on-year increase.  The sharp rise reflects a combination of stronger economic activity, rising consumer spending, growing business transactions, enhanced tax compliance and continued improvements…

Gold may have retreated from its recent record highs following the breakthrough US-Iran peace agreement, but analysts say the precious metal’s long-term rally remains firmly intact as central banks accelerate purchases and investors continue to seek protection against an increasingly uncertain economic and geopolitical landscape.The easing of tensions between Washington and Tehran has removed one of the most immediate triggers for safe-haven buying, prompting a pullback in gold prices after months of conflict-driven gains.Spot gold, which surged above $4,700 an ounce during the height of the Middle East crisis, has eased back towards the $4,300-$4,500 range as fears of a…

The US-Iran agreement has removed a key trigger for a global recession by easing concerns over oil supplies and restoring confidence in energy markets.While the accord has helped calm investors and lower risk premiums, analysts warn it is not a silver bullet for an economy still grappling with slowing growth and persistent geopolitical uncertainty.Markets responded enthusiastically to the announcement, with Brent crude prices falling sharply as traders scaled back expectations of prolonged supply disruptions. Global equities advanced and measures of market volatility declined as investors judged that the risk of a major energy crisis had receded.The Strait of Hormuz, through…

Dubai’s luxury villa market is scaling new heights as deep-pocketed residents and global high-net-worth individuals continue to drive demand for ultra-premium homes, pushing rental values and transaction volumes into record territory despite wider global economic uncertainty.  A new market analysis by fäm Properties shows that Dubai’s luxury villa rental sector recorded robust growth during the first five months of 2026, underlining the emirate’s growing status as one of the world’s most sought-after destinations for affluent families, entrepreneurs and investors. According to the report, the annualised value of new villa rental contracts above Dh1 million climbed 27 per cent year-on-year to Dh509…

Sharjah’s residential rental market is witnessing one of its strongest growth phases in recent years, driven by rising population, an influx of residents from Dubai seeking more affordable housing, and a robust pipeline of infrastructure and residential developments that are reshaping the emirate’s housing landscape. A new report by Cavendish Maxwell shows that nearly 290,000 residential rental contracts were registered in Sharjah during 2025, up from 278,000 in 2024, highlighting the depth of housing demand and reinforcing the emirate’s growing importance as a residential hub for the northern Emirates and Dubai workforce.The study found that families accounted for 86 per cent…

Dubai-based food and consumer goods giant IFFCO is approaching a defining moment in its $2 billion debt crisis, with two critical developments expected in the coming weeks that will likely determine whether the company survives through a strategic rescue or is broken up through liquidation.The first is the independent valuation and asset audit being prepared by FTI Consulting, the court-appointed provisional liquidator. The second is the anticipated court review and approval of any formal acquisition proposals that may emerge from prospective buyers, including reported interest from Emaar Properties founder Mohamed Alabbar and International Holding Company.Together, these milestones will shape the…

Gold is attempting to stabilise above the critical $4,000-an-ounce level after suffering one of its sharpest corrections in recent years, but analysts warn that the precious metal remains vulnerable to further volatility as investors await crucial signals from the US Federal Reserve and fresh inflation data.After surging to a record high of $5,595 an ounce in January amid heightened Middle East tensions and safe-haven buying, spot gold has fallen nearly 25 per cent, briefly touching a six-month low this week before recovering to around $4,223 an ounce on Friday.The sharp decline has pushed bullion into bear-market territory and wiped out…

Bitcoin’s steep slide from record highs has reignited fears of another prolonged crypto winter, but market analysts argue that the current downturn is fundamentally different from previous collapses and could prove shorter-lived if monetary conditions ease and institutional demand returns.The world’s largest cryptocurrency is trading around $61,000, down more than 50 per cent from its peak above $126,000 reached late last year. The decline marks one of Bitcoin’s sharpest corrections since the 2022 market crash, yet industry experts say the sector remains far healthier than during earlier bear markets that wiped out up to 85 per cent of market value.Nigel…

Sharjah’s property market is scaling new heights, posting record sales of Dh65.6 billion in 2025 while gearing up for the delivery of nearly 34,000 new homes over the next five years.The combination of strong investor demand, rising foreign participation, major infrastructure upgrades and a growing population is creating one of the UAE’s most compelling real estate growth stories, according to a new report by Cavendish Maxwell. The market’s momentum has extended into 2026, with first-quarter transaction values jumping 41 per cent to Dh18.5 billion, signalling continued confidence in the emirate’s long-term prospects.Nearly 9,980 properties changed hands during the first quarter…