Author: Dr Issac PJ

The UAE’s non-oil private sector maintained strong growth momentum in October 2025, with business activity expanding at a solid pace that remained above mid-year trends despite a slight moderation from September’s peak.The seasonally adjusted S&P Global UAE Purchasing Managers’ Index registered 53.8, down marginally from 54.2 the previous month but still well above the 50-point mark that separates expansion from contraction. This sustained growth aligns with the International Monetary Fund’s bullish outlook for the UAE economy, which projects real GDP growth of 4.8 per cent in 2025, outperforming both regional and global averages.The underlying drivers of October’s expansion revealed significant strength…

Dubai’s real estate market continues to exceed expectations, with the residential sector achieving unprecedented sales volumes in 2025 and the office market maintaining near-full occupancy amid soaring demand. This record-breaking performance is driven by sustained population growth, robust investor confidence, and Dubai’s evolving status as a permanent home for global citizens rather than a transient destination.By the end of October, real estate sales had reached a historic Dh559.4 billion, already surpassing the previous full-year record of Dh522.1 billion set in 2024 . Another report, tracking the first 290 days of the year, noted sales of Dh525.87 billion, further confirming the market’s explosive…

The cryptocurrency market stumbled into November, with the flagship digital asset, Bitcoin, plunging below the psychologically critical $100,000 mark to its lowest level since late June. This sharp correction, which has seen Bitcoin shed over 20 per cent from its record high above $126,000 set on October 6, has ignited a fierce debate among analysts: is this a healthy pullback or the beginning of a more profound bear market?The immediate triggers for the decline are a confluence of technical breakdowns, shifting macroeconomic winds, and internal market dynamics. Technically, the breach of a key support level — the 200-day moving average at…

Oil markets opened the week with steady gains as Opec and its allies opted to pause production increases during the first quarter of 2026, signalling a careful recalibration of supply in response to seasonal demand weakness and continuing geopolitical uncertainty.Brent crude futures fell 81 cents, or 1.25 per cent, to $64.08 a barrel by 1310 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude was down 84 cents, or 1.38 per cent, at $60.21.The decision, announced following a virtual Opec+ ministerial meeting, confirmed that the coalition will proceed with a modest supply increase of 137,000 barrels per day (bpd) in December 2025, consistent…

Mashreq has reported a strong financial performance for the first nine months of 2025, with operating income rising to Dh9.4 billion, driven by expanding client activity across corporate, retail and international segments. The bank’s third-quarter operating income reached Dh3.2 billion, up 4 per cent quarter-on-quarter and 8 per cent year-on-year, underpinned by resilient net interest income and a strong rise in non-interest income. Net profit before tax stood at Dh6.1 billion for the nine-month period, reflecting the bank’s ability to sustain earnings momentum in a moderating interest rate environment. Mashreq reported a net interest margin of 3.2 per cent and maintained a…

Gopichand ‘GP’ Hinduja, the Indian-origin billionaire who co-chaired the global Hinduja Group conglomerate, has died in London at the age of 85. His passing marks the end of an era for one of the world’s most prominent business families.Hinduja was the pivotal force behind the group’s evolution from a Mumbai-based trading house into a UK-rich-list-topping empire. Under his stewardship, the company founded by his father in 1914 became a global testament to Indian entrepreneurial success.A source close to all four Hinduja brothers stated, “Gopichand was the strategic anchor. His vision was instrumental in taking a proud Indian enterprise and building it…

The UAE has been ranked the world’s most attractive destination for entrepreneurs in a new analysis by TASC Corporate Services, scoring 930 out of 1,000 and posting perfect 100 per cent scores for both business-friendliness and ecosystem support.The study assessed 15 popular business set-up destinations across accessibility, affordability, business-friendliness and ecosystem support, with the UAE posting 17 perfect component scores and a 98 per cent accessibility mark.The TASC findings amplify what independent global benchmarks have shown throughout 2025: the UAE is entrenched among the world’s most competitive economies and the top ecosystem in the Arab world for founders. The country…

The UAE’s energy sector continues to be a core pillar of the national economy, even as the country accelerates diversification into new sectors including tourism, logistics, aviation, fintech, advanced manufacturing, and the digital economy.Recent estimates from the Central Bank of the UAE suggest that overall real GDP will grow by 4.9% in 2025 — significantly higher than previous expectations — supported by a robust rebound in the hydrocarbon sector. Hydrocarbon activity is projected to expand by 5.8% this year, following phased adjustments in production and strong demand from global markets.This expansion underscores a fundamental structural reality: while non-oil activities today…

The UAE has reinforced its position as the world’s leading nation in artificial intelligence adoption, with nearly six in ten working-age residents now using AI tools in their daily work, according to the latest AI Diffusion Report released by Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab. The findings show that 59.4 per cent of the UAE’s working population actively engages with AI applications ranging from generative writing and translation tools to design automation, predictive analytics and enterprise workflow platforms, placing the nation first globally in real-world AI usage.The report shows that global AI adoption has surpassed 1.2 billion users in less than three…

HSBC has arranged financing for six new Airbus A350-900 aircraft for Emirates, marking the airline’s return to the Japanese Operating Lease with Call Option (Jolco) market after six years and reinforcing a 40-year partnership between the global bank and the Dubai carrier. Five of the aircraft have already been financed through Jolco structures, with the sixth currently in progress, in a move that allows Emirates to diversify funding sources while supporting the expansion of one of the world’s largest long-haul fleets.The deal comes as Emirates continues a major fleet modernisation and growth programme. The airline has ordered 65 Airbus A350-900s in…