Author: Dr Issac PJ

Salik Company, Dubai’s exclusive toll gate operator, has reported a record performance in the first half of 2025, with net profit after taxes rising 41.5 per cent year-on-year to Dh770.9 million. In a move reflecting confidence in its strong financial position, the board has proposed a cash dividend of the same amount, equivalent to 10.278 fils per share and representing 100 per cent of H1 profit. The company said in statement that total revenue for the period surged 39.5 per cent to Dh1.53 billion, supported by a 45.6 per cent year-on-year increase in the second quarter. Ebitda reached Dh1.07 billion…

Bitcoin is fast approaching uncharted territory, with prices surging as US President Donald Trump’s steep tariffs on imported gold bars jolt traditional safe-haven markets and redirect capital into the world’s largest cryptocurrency. A potent mix of macroeconomic shifts, institutional inflows, and policy reforms is propelling Bitcoin to the forefront of global finance, redefining its role as “digital gold.” Early Monday, Bitcoin jumped more than 3.3 per cent to $122,150, according to TradingView, inching closer to its all-time high of $123,000 set earlier this summer. The rally followed Trump’s decision to impose a 39 per cent tariff on imported gold —…

Talabat Holding has reported strong financial results for the second quarter of 2025, prompting the Mena region’s leading online ordering and delivery platform to raise its full-year guidance. The company posted a 32 per cent year-on-year increase in gross merchandise value (GMV) to $2.4 billion, with revenue up 35 per cent to $982 million. On a constant currency basis, GMV growth reached 33 per cent and revenue climbed 36 per cent. Adjusted Ebitda rose 31 per cent to $166 million, maintaining a 6.8 per cent margin, while net income jumped 33 per cent to $119 million, or 4.9 per cent of…

Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation  (Empower), the world’s largest district cooling services provider, reported a 7.1 per cent increase in consumption during the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. The growth, measured in refrigeration tons per hour (RTh), was attributed to high occupancy rates in existing projects and the addition of new developments to the company’s portfolio. Empower said in a statement that the expansion has further diversified its customer base, which includes residential, commercial, hospitality, healthcare, retail, entertainment, and other sectors. These industries are increasingly adopting energy-efficient cooling solutions to reduce carbon emissions and…

Adnoc Logistics & Services has reported its highest-ever quarterly results for Q2 2025, with revenue rising 40 per cent year-on-year to $1.26 billion and Ebitda increasing 31 per cent to $400 million. Net profit for the quarter was up 14 per cent to $236 million, underscoring the company’s resilience in a challenging global shipping market. For the first half of 2025, revenue climbed 40 per cent to $2.44 billion, with Ebitda growing 26 per cent to $744 million, maintaining a robust 30 per cent margin. Net profit for the period rose 5 per cent to $420 million, supported by strong…

Global bullion markets were thrown into turmoil after a surprise ruling from US Customs and Border Protection suggested that imported gold bars would be subject to tariffs, stunning traders who had assumed the metal would be exempt. The move triggered a dramatic spike in New York futures, which hit a record high before retreating sharply when the Trump administration signalled it would issue an executive order to clarify what it called “misinformation” about the tariffs. The episode underscored the vulnerability of the global gold trade to sudden policy shifts. Gold, usually treated as a financial instrument rather than a physical…

Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) delivered a strong performance in the first half of 2025, adding more than 1,100 new companies to its global business district as it capitalised on rising foreign direct investment (FDI) flows and the launch of new licensing structures tailored to global investors. The new additions lift DMCC’s total membership close to 26,000, reinforcing its status as a leading hub for trade, technology and investment. The growth was fuelled by heightened demand from overseas markets such as the United Kingdom, Türkiye and China, which together accounted for some of the highest registration gains in recent years.…

The Indian rupee is facing fresh pressure, hovering around Rs87.55 – Rs87.66 per US dollar, as a resurgent dollar index, hefty new tariffs on Indian exports to the US, and continued foreign money outflows weigh on the currency’s outlook. According to market data, one US dollar now fetches approximately Rs87.55 to Rs87.66 in onshore trading, with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) stepping in frequently to stem volatility. Against the UAE dirham, the rupee trades at around Rs23.80 per Dh1—reflecting modest weakening, with one rupee equivalent to just 0.0419 dirham. Over the past five years, the rupee has depreciated steadily…

Major infrastructure upgrade, which is reshaping Duba’s connectivity and unlocking the potential of previously underappreciated areas, is giving an added thrust to the city’s real estate market boom. Dubai Silicon Oasis, Academic City, and Mirdif, now more accessible and better integrated, are fast emerging as investment hotspots, following the launch of transformative infrastructure projects, including the Dubai Metro Blue Line. The growth is further driven by rising global investor interest, and a new generation of tech-savvy buyers, according to real estate market analysts. Market experts said there is a noticeable increase in buyer interest within infrastructure-linked zones and mature master-planned communities.…

The UAE is charging towards a transformative economic future, propelled by strategic reforms, robust public-private partnerships, and a bold vision that positions it as a global hub for innovation, trade, and investment. With a projected GDP growth of up to 6.7 per cent in 2025, the UAE is not only weathering global economic headwinds but also setting a new standard for resilience and prosperity. As the world grapples with uncertainty, the UAE’s diversified, tech-forward economy is poised to accelerate through the second half of 2025 and beyond, driven by visionary leadership, global trade agreements, and a relentless focus on sustainability…