Author: Dr Issac PJ

Dubai has reinforced its position as the world’s most active super-prime residential market, maintaining its global lead in the number of $10 million-plus home sales in the second quarter of 2025, according to the latest Global Super-Prime Intelligence report from Knight Frank.The report shows that global demand for ultra-luxury homes has remained strong despite a complex macroeconomic backdrop, with the total number of super-prime transactions surging 19 per cent year-on-year to 590 deals in Q2 2025, compared with 497 in the same period last year. The total value of these transactions soared by 33 per cent to $11.8 billion, up…

Standard Chartered has launched its first-ever UAE-domiciled Shariah-compliant investment products, marking a milestone in its global wealth management offering and underscoring the country’s growing role as a powerhouse in Islamic finance.The newly introduced Signature CIO Islamic Funds — comprising the Signature CIO Islamic Growth Fund and the Signature CIO Islamic Income Fund — aim to provide investors with diversified access to global Islamic equities, sukuk, gold, and cash allocations. The bank said it plans to expand the range to four funds in the near future to cater to growing regional and international demand.Rola Abu Manneh, chief executive officer for the…

Abu Dhabi’s International Holding Company (IHC) has announced a landmark investment of $1 billion (Dh3.67 billion) in Sammaan Capital Limited, one of India’s largest non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), in a move that deepens the UAE-based conglomerate’s strategic presence in one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.The investment, which marks one of the largest cross-border capital inflows from the UAE into India’s financial services sector, underscores IHC’s long-term confidence in India’s expanding credit market and its commitment to supporting inclusive, innovation-led growth. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals from the Reserve Bank of India and the Competition Commission of India.Sammaan Capital, a listed entity on both the Bombay…

Bitcoin’s record-shattering climb past the $125,000-mark last week has set the stage for what analysts describe as the most convincing bull phase since the 2021 boom — one driven not by hype but by deep-pocketed institutional capital, macroeconomic shifts, and growing political support for digital assets.After briefly consolidating near its new all-time high of around $125,245, Bitcoin remains on firm ground, with momentum building for another upward leg that could take it to $150,000 before the year ends. The cryptocurrency’s ability to sustain gains despite intermittent profit-taking signals a structural evolution — from speculative instrument to a mainstream macro asset with…

Abu Dhabi’s thriving startup ecosystem has taken another leap onto the global stage with Hub71 signing its first-ever US partnership with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), marking a milestone in the UAE’s ambition to become a world-class hub for innovation and entrepreneurship. The strategic partnership, sealed on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Investment Forum in New York, establishes a powerful transatlantic bridge that will enable high-growth startups from both markets to scale internationally and access new opportunities across emerging technology sectors such as artificial intelligence and clean energy. he Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Hub71 and NJEDA underscores the…

Ras Al Khaimah’s real estate sector has entered a new phase of maturity, with total property transactions surging by more than 855 per cent between the first quarters of 2017 and 2025, signalling the emirate’s growing prominence as one of the UAE’s most dynamic investment destinations.According to data from the Ras Al Khaimah Statistics Centre, based on figures from the municipality, property transactions reached Dh13.06 billion in Q1 2025, compared to Dh1.36 billion in the same period eight years ago. The unprecedented expansion reflects the emirate’s evolution from a small, speculative market to a robust, finance-backed, and end-user-driven property ecosystem.Industry…

Dubai’s property market continues to defy global real estate headwinds, with the villa and townhouse segment emerging as the star performer in the third quarter of 2025. Despite a slight quarterly dip in total sales value, Dubai’s real estate sector has maintained remarkable strength — underpinned by soaring villa prices, record high-end transactions, and a surge in rental demand as the city attracts a growing number of global residents and investors. According to data from the Dubai Land Department (DLD), property sales in Q3 reached Dh135.6 billion. While that represented a modest nine per cent decline from the previous quarter, the figure…

The UAE’s non-oil private sector gained fresh momentum in September, registering its strongest expansion in seven months as new business surged and output accelerated.The S&P Global UAE Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) climbed from 53.3 in August to 54.2, signalling a robust and quicker improvement in non-oil business conditions.The headline PMI jump masked a deeper shift: firms reported a sharp turnaround in new orders, particularly from the domestic market, which drove production higher and spurred labour hiring. Yet, companies remained cautious over inventory accumulation and pricing, constrained by strong competitive pressures.After a lull in August — when new orders slipped to…

Abu Dhabi-headquartered NMDC Group has expanded its global footprint with its first-ever project in the Philippines after clinching a $610.1 million contract to execute large-scale dredging and land reclamation works for the Harbour City Project in Manila Bay.  The 30-month contract, awarded by Pasay Harbor City Corporation (PHCC), underscores NMDC’s growing dominance in Southeast Asia’s marine infrastructure sector and marks a major milestone in the company’s international expansion strategy. The project involves reclaiming around 130 hectares of land in Pasay City to develop a new eco-friendly waterfront city—part of one of the Philippines’ most ambitious urban regeneration schemes. NMDC Group’s…

Dubai’s property market has stormed into new territory in 2025, shattering previous benchmarks as investor flows and buyer confidence converge.  The third quarter emerged as a standout, with transaction volumes and values hitting record highs and propelling total sales for the first nine months close to Dh500 billion — a feat never before achieved.  According to a market update by fäm Properties, Q3 recorded 59,228 property deals worth Dh170.7 billion, representing year-on-year gains of 17.2 per cent in transaction volume and 19.9 per cent in value.  Over the first nine months, the tally soared to Dh498.8 billion from 158,200 deals, up…