Author: Dr Issac PJ

Adnoc Drilling has reported its strongest-ever financial performance for the first half of 2025, with revenue surging 30 per cent year-on-year to $2.37 billion (Dh8.7 billion), supported by robust operational activity, fleet expansion, and growing demand for oilfield services. The Abu Dhabi-headquartered company also saw Ebitda climb 19 per cent to $1.08 billion and net profit rise 21 per cent to $692 million, driven by strong execution across onshore, offshore, and unconventional operations. The record results come as Adnoc Drilling strengthens its position as the largest integrated drilling services company in the Middle East, benefiting from the UAE’s accelerated hydrocarbon…

Emsteel, the Abu Dhabi-based industrial heavyweight and one of the region’s largest steel and building materials manufacturers, reported strong financial results for the first half of 2025, underscoring its resilience and operational strength despite global pricing challenges in the steel sector. The company posted a revenue of Dh4.3 billion for H1 2025, a 9 per cent increase compared to the same period last year. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) rose by 6 per cent year-on-year to Dh540 million, supported by strong demand, higher sales volumes, and strategic product shifts. The group’s solid performance was powered by a…

Marked by record-high rental rates and soaring demand for Grade A space, Abu Dhabi’s office property sector is witnessing a powerful surge in growth. According to the Q2 2025 Market in Minutes report by global real estate advisor Savills, the emirate’s continued economic diversification, robust business sentiment, and limited supply have combined to create a highly competitive leasing environment, particularly within premium commercial zones. The Central Business District (CBD) recorded an exceptional 42 per cent year-on-year increase in rental rates in the second quarter, driven by rising demand and near full occupancy in flagship buildings. Outer CBD areas also saw…

Dubai’s property prices have increased by 12 per cent over the past 12 months as the real estate sector continues to demonstrate impressive resilience, with both apartments and villas recording solid growth amid sustained investor confidence and a surging influx of residents. According to eXp Dubai’s latest market analysis, average property prices have increased by 3.3 per cent in the first quarter of 2025 and by 12 per cent over the past 12 months, confirming the emirate’s enduring appeal as a global property investment hotspot. The findings underscore a notable shift in buyer trends, with apartments registering the highest rate…

Aldar, one of the UAE’s top real estate developers, on Tuesday reported a 24 per cent year-on-year increase in net profit after tax to Dh4.1 billion for the first-half. Net profit before tax surged 35 per cent to Dh4.7 billion, driven by strong demand across its residential and commercial offerings and continued expansion of its investment portfolio. The developer recorded group development sales of Dh18.3 billion in the first six months of 2025, marking a 31 per cent jump from the same period last year. This sales momentum was fuelled by robust demand for existing inventory and five high-profile project…

Joyalukkas, a leading global jewellery retailer, has signed a landmark Dh500 million working capital facility agreement with Emirates NBD to support its global expansion strategy across the UAE, UK, USA, Canada, and Australia. The structured facility provides Joyalukkas with flexible, revolving access to capital, enabling the group to manage inventory, supplier payments, and peak trading periods with greater agility. Integrated with Emirates NBD’s advanced digital and trade platforms, the arrangement offers the jewellery brand real-time visibility and streamlined financial control.Recommended For You US not rushing trade deals ahead of August deadline, will talk with China, Bessent saysUAE: Meet residents who work…

Dubai’s commercial real estate market surged to new highs in the second quarter of 2025, with total transaction value climbing to Dh31 billion — marking a 50 per cent year-on-year jump.     This substantial growth, up from Dh20.75 billion in Q2 2024, reflects the market’s strong momentum amid rising demand for Grade A office space, premium warehouse facilities, and off-plan investments, says CRC Property’s latest market report.Recommended For You ECB expected to hold rates as Trump tariff uncertainty lingersUS not rushing trade deals ahead of August deadline, will talk with China, Bessent saysHeated exchanges at Lord’s were fun, says England’s BrookVideo:…

India is on track to become the world’s third-largest economy by 2028 and to double its gross domestic product (GDP) to $10.6 trillion by 2035, contributing 20 per cent of total global growth over the next decade, according to a new Morgan Stanley report. The bullish projection reinforces India’s status as the world’s fastest-growing major economy, with a combination of decentralised state-level growth, robust domestic demand, and structural policy reforms propelling its upward trajectory.Recommended For You Look: Selena Gomez celebrates birthday with Taylor Swift, Benny Blanco in attendance2 deadly plane crashes in 2 months: South Asia in shock againMiddle East sovereign…

The UAE’s residential real estate sector is poised for steady and sustainable expansion over the coming years with the overall market value projected to surge from $143.22 billion in 2025 to $217.09 billion by 2030, marking a CAGR of 8.66 per cent.The growth will be supported by strong investor sentiment, proactive policy reforms, demographic shifts, and a maturing housing market that continues to attract global capital, real estate experts say.Recommended For You Industrial pruning won’t pull China out of deflation as quickly as last timeIndia markets regulator allows Jane Street to resume trading, sources say’Astronomer now a household name’: New…

Emirates NBD reported a strong first-half performance in 2025, with total income rising 12 per cent year-on-year to Dh23.9 billion, driven by strong loan growth, regional expansion, and continued innovation in product offerings. Despite a nine per cent decline in net profit to Dh12.5 billion, the bank’s operating profit rose nine per cent, reflecting its resilience amid a changing interest rate environment and higher tax impact, Dubai’s largest lender said in a statement. The group recorded a significant Dh41 billion increase in loans during the first half, representing 8 per cent growth, with nearly half of the incremental lending coming…