Author: Dr Issac PJ

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…

Dubai’s residential property market continues to flourish, with six communities emerging as key hotspots for investors and first-time buyers, offering rental yields of up to 7.39 per cent. The six standout communities — Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC), Damac Island, Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, Meydan City, and Dubai South — are registering strong sales volumes and capital appreciation, underscoring a shift toward value-driven locations supported by master-planned development and improved connectivity, according to the latest analysis by Chestertons Mena. The study highlights a market defined by strategic urban planning, infrastructure development, and growing investor confidence — trends that are shaping the…

As US President Donald Trump’s sweeping new trade tariffs ripple across the globe, India — now the world’s fourth-largest economy — is grappling with a fresh economic shock: an additional 25 per cent tariff on its exports to the United States, bringing the total duty on several Indian products to 50 per cent. While the punitive measure is a response to New Delhi’s continued oil trade with Russia, analysts and policy thinkers are debating whether this moment, fraught with economic risks, could also be a once-in-a-generation opportunity for India to reform and reimagine its export competitiveness. The secondary tariff, effective…

Abu Dhabi’s non‑oil foreign trade jumped by 34.7 per cent in the first half of 2025 to Dh195.4 billion, underscoring the emirate’s resilience, competitiveness, and growing role in global trade.The sharp increase, from Dh145 billion during the same period in 2024, far outpaces the 1.75 per cent average global trade growth recorded during the first six months of the year, highlighting how Abu Dhabi is bucking the global slowdown.Recommended For You Fact check: Will UAE see the longest total solar eclipse of the century on August 2?Different, but no less: A tale of autism, family and ambitionFifa boss Infantino offers…

Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) delivered another strong performance in the first half of 2025, achieving a 16 per cent year‑on‑year rise in pre‑tax profit to Dh4.3 billion as operating revenue climbed to Dh6.4 billion.The solid results, supported by double‑digit growth in financing and deposits and improved asset quality, helped the bank surpass the $100 billion mark in total assets for the first time in its history.Recommended For You UAE: Meet residents who work abroad but spend every weekend in DubaiUS not rushing trade deals ahead of August deadline, will talk with China, Bessent saysFears of escalation after Israel hits Houthi-held…

Dubai’s real estate market delivered another stellar month in July, recording Dh63.6 billion in sales transactions as buoyant off‑plan activity, robust demand for ready properties, and a landmark corporate tax concession fuelled investor appetite.The city’s property sector, already on a multi‑year growth trajectory, continues to attract global capital and end-user interest, underscoring its position as one of the most dynamic and resilient real estate markets in the world.Recommended For You UAE: Meet residents who work abroad but spend every weekend in DubaiUS not rushing trade deals ahead of August deadline, will talk with China, Bessent saysFears of escalation after Israel…

The Indian rupee has slipped close to record lows against the UAE dirham, presenting a windfall for Indian expatriates in the Emirates who are remitting more to take advantage of favourable exchange rates. Currency dealers and remittance companies say activity has surged in recent days as the rupee traded around Rs23.91 per dirham, with intra‑week swings between Rs23.63 and Rs23.95 — among the weakest levels in recent years. Recommended For You Heated exchanges at Lord’s were fun, says England’s BrookUN Palestinian refugee agency staff, doctors fainting from hunger in Gaza, says UNRWAECB expected to hold rates as Trump tariff uncertainty…