Author: Dr Issac PJ
GCC banks are heading into 2026 with stable credit fundamentals, strong capital buffers and resilient profitability, according to S&P Global Ratings, which also cautions that geopolitical tensions and oil-price volatility remain the biggest risks to the sector.In a comprehensive new assessment, S&P says that 90 per cent of bank ratings across the Gulf carry a stable outlook — reflecting the region’s solid economic footing and conservative banking frameworks.S&P Global Ratings analysts Mohamed Damak and Tatjana Lescova said the region’s lenders are entering the new year with “broadly stable profitability, supportive asset quality and strong capitalization,” underlining the sector’s ability to…
The UAE has been named the world’s most advanced market for digital trade readiness, according to Standard Chartered’s latest “Future of Trade: Digitisation” report — a distinction that reflects the country’s rapid acceleration in digital infrastructure, regulatory innovation and corporate adoption of advanced technologies.The study, which surveyed 1,200 multinationals across 17 global markets, positions the UAE at the forefront of the shift to smarter, faster and more resilient cross-border trade. While cloud computing remains the strongest catalyst for transformation — identified as essential by an extraordinary ninety-seven per cent of UAE corporates — the country is also emerging as a…
Dubai tenants are shifting their mindset towards owning in the wake of an escalation in rents, signalling a transformation in how long-term residents approach housing. In a survey of 1,439 Dubai residents, Betterhomes’ Future Living Report 2025 survey found that 55 per cent of tenants now plan to buy a property within the next one to three years — a leap from just 25 per cent last year. Betterhomes says this jump also reflects a real transformation in tenant mindset amid rising mortgage uptake, affordability pressure and a growing commitment to making Dubai home. Betterhomes’ analysis reveals that 61 per cent of those intending to buy expect to…
Dubai’s commercial real estate sector is entering a powerful new growth phase, fuelled by increasing demand from occupiers and investors alike. According to fresh research from Chestertons Mena, average office rents are climbing, occupancy remains near record highs, and the outlook for Grade A and logistics-led space has never looked stronger. Chestertons’ latest findings show sustained demand for premium offices, especially in core hubs such as DIFC, Business Bay and Dubai Internet City. These districts continue to command the most attention, thanks to their infrastructure, prestige and proximity to international business activity. The limited availability of Grade A space has helped push occupancy…
Julius Baer, a leading Swiss wealth management group, has received in-principle approval from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) to establish a new advisory office in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the international financial centre of the UAE’s capital.The expansion marks a significant milestone in the firm’s long-standing presence in the country, where it opened its first office more than two decades ago and has since maintained a pioneering commitment to the region.Subject to final regulatory approvals, the new entity—Julius Baer (Abu Dhabi) Ltd — is expected to open next month. The office will serve ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs), family offices,…
HSBC Holdings is preparing to introduce tokenised deposits to its corporate clients in the UAE and the US during the first half of 2026, marking a significant step in the bank’s continued expansion of blockchain-driven payment technologies.The move follows the bank’s rollout of similar services in Hong Kong, Singapore, the United Kingdom and Luxembourg, and reflects HSBC’s strategy to position the UAE as a key market for next-generation financial infrastructure.Tokenised deposits convert traditional fiat balances into secure digital tokens using HSBC’s proprietary Distributed Ledger Technology. Unlike volatile cryptoassets, these tokens are direct claims on funds already held in regulated bank…
Powered by surging non-oil activity in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, the GCC’s gross domestic product is projected to expand by 4.4 per cent in 2026, according to ICAEW’s Q4 2025 Economic Insight. Drawing on analysis from Oxford Economics, the report underscores the UAE’s accelerating transformation into a regional economic engine, driven by private-sector dynamism, strategic fiscal stimulus, and long-term diversification.ICAEW forecasts the UAE’s GDP to rise 5.6 per cent in 2026, cementing its position as one of the Gulf’s fastest-growing economies. Tourism, trade, logistics, real estate, and financial services are expected to remain the primary drivers of this expansion,…
Dubai’s off-plan offices emerged as the city’s newest investment engine, reshaping the profile of corporate real estate demand and marking one of its most dynamic phases in a decade.In October, commercial transactions surged to Dh12.3 billion across 1,274 deals, up 21.4 per cent year-on-year, according to Engel & Völkers Middle East. The value of activity rose 9.9 per cent compared with the same month in 2024, marking one of the strongest monthly performances on record.The standout driver is the office segment, where transaction volumes jumped 64 per cent and values climbed 98 per cent. The momentum is supported by Dubai’s…
Germany has formally approved the acquisition of Covestro by an investment arm linked to Adnoc, marking a pivotal moment for both the UAE energy giant and Europe’s chemicals sector. The green light from the German Ministry of Economy follows the European Commission’s earlier approval, removing the final major regulatory hurdle to a deal that has been intensely scrutinised for months.The approval grants Adnoc’s investment vehicle, XRG, permission to take control of one of Germany’s most prominent chemical producers. Covestro, formerly the plastics division of Bayer before its 2015 spin-off, has grown into a global supplier of high-performance polymers. Its materials are…
The Global AI Competitiveness Index by the International Finance Forum (IFF), Deep Knowledge Group (DKG), positions the UAE as one of the strongest emerging AI powers, particularly because of its fast-growing enterprise ecosystem and deepening talent pool.The latest findings resonate with a series of global indexes released over the past year — including Stanford University, Oxford Insights and other research bodies, painting a consistent picture of a nation moving quickly and strategically to consolidate its position in the AI era by accelerating its ascent as one of the world’s most advanced artificial intelligence hubs, with a growing body of…