Author: Dr Issac PJ

Dubai’s real estate market is witnessing an unprecedented surge in off-plan property sales, with Business Bay emerging as a top-performing district driven by a new wave of investor confidence, luxury developments, and lifestyle-focused living concepts. In the second quarter of 2025, Business Bay alone registered over Dh4.5 billion in off-plan transactions, accounting for more than 1,900 deals—firmly cementing its reputation as one of the city’s most sought-after investment hubs. The broader Dubai property market continues to ride a bullish wave. In May 2025 alone, the emirate recorded Dh66.8 billion in total real estate sales spread across 18,700 transactions—representing a 44…

Artificial intelligence and social media are reshaping the online shopping landscape in the UAE, as consumer habits shift rapidly toward mobile-first, app-driven, and highly personalised e-commerce experiences. According to DHL’s E-Commerce Trends Report 2025, nearly all UAE consumers —96 per cent — expect to shop primarily through social media platforms by 2030, bypassing traditional websites entirely. This transformation is driven by the convergence of digital convenience, AI-powered tools, and a new generation of shoppers whose buying behavior is deeply influenced by real-time trends and immersive content. The report, which surveyed 24,000 online consumers across 24 countries, highlights how social commerce…

Gold prices surged this week as heightened investor anxiety over stalled US trade negotiations, a weakening dollar, and expectations of lower interest rates drove strong safe-haven demand. Spot gold rose by 0.8 per cent to $3,328.71 an ounce on Tuesday, while gold futures for August delivery climbed 1 per cent to $3,339.70. This follows a 1.5 per cent gain on Monday, nearly offsetting losses from the previous week, which had been triggered by a short-lived ceasefire between Israel and Iran. The rally in gold prices is being driven by several macroeconomic factors, most notably concerns over the upcoming July 9…

Oil prices remain in a precarious state, caught in a perfect storm of rising supply and faltering demand. After a fleeting spike above $80 per barrel in mid-June, driven by Middle East tensions, Brent crude has tumbled to $67.76, with the September contract barely clinging to $66.97. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) settled at $65.61, marking an 11.27 per cent weekly plunge — the steepest since the 2020 pandemic-driven collapse. This sharp decline signals a broader shift in market dynamics, with oversupply concerns and fading geopolitical risks reshaping the outlook for 2025. The immediate pressure stems from Opec+, the coalition…

The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), the independent regulator of financial services conducted in or from the DIFC, has sounded a clear warning about the rising convergence of cyber risks, artificial intelligence (AI), and quantum computing in a new report that outlines the future of digital regulation for global financial systems. “Cyber and artificial intelligence risk in financial services: Strengthening oversight through international dialogue,” released on June 30, highlights how emerging technologies are reshaping both the opportunity landscape and the threat environment across financial services.Recommended For You Charlize Theron is ‘intimdated’ by Christopher Nolan’s new movieWildlife smuggling attempt: Snakes on a…

Global shipping costs are soaring as the Israel-Iran war escalates, prompting insurers to raise premiums sharply for vessels passing through critical maritime chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz and Israeli ports. The rise in shipping risk and associated costs threatens to upend regional trade flows and strain global supply chains already reeling from ongoing Red Sea disruptions.According to data from Marsh McLennan, the world’s largest insurance broker, insurance prices for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz have surged more than 60 per cent since the conflict erupted. Hull and machinery insurance premiums — covering damage to the vessel itself…

Dubai’s luxury real estate market is witnessing an extraordinary boom, with sales of homes priced over Dh10 million rising 10-fold in just four years. This surge highlights the emirate’s growing appeal to global high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs), backed by investor confidence, world-class developments, and lifestyle-focused planning. According to Savills Middle East’s latest “Dubai Prime Residential 2025” report, the number of Dh10 million-plus transactions surged from just 469 in 2020 to 4,670 in 2024. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, more than 1,300 properties at this price point changed hands — representing a 31 per cent year-on-year increase. Luxury property experts…

The UAE, particularly Dubai and Abu Dhabi, is emerging as a global magnet for capital, bolstered by rising foreign investor appetite, strong fundamentals, and a robust pipeline of initial public offerings (IPOs) across diverse sectors. As global markets navigate an era of elevated tariffs and macroeconomic uncertainty, the UAE’s financial markets are standing out for their stability, depth, and reform-driven momentum. This sentiment was evident at HSBC’s fourth annual GCC Exchanges Conference in London, which brought together over 300 institutional investors and more than 100 corporates from the Gulf region. All seven GCC stock exchanges, including the Dubai Financial Market…

The US military strike on Iranian nuclear facilities and the widening war in the Middle East have sent fresh shockwaves through global markets, heightening fears of spiralling oil prices, inflationary pressure, and economic disruption. As tensions escalate following Iran’s intensified missile attacks on Israel and the sudden US involvement, analysts warn that a full-blown regional conflict could push Brent crude toward the $100 mark, ignite market volatility, and derail the fragile global recovery. India-based maritime analyst and WMC Blue Economy Forum Chairman Nanoo Viswanadhan said the most immediate impact is being felt in the shipping sector. Insurance premiums for ships…

India’s cultural and economic fascination with gold has turned the country into the world’s largest private gold vault. Households, including religious institutions like temples, collectively hold an estimated 25,000 tonnes of gold, valued at approximately $2.4 trillion at current market prices, according to the World Gold Council (WGC). This massive stockpile equates to nearly 56 per cent of India’s projected nominal GDP for FY26, underlining the metal’s central role in the nation’s financial ecosystem. A recent report by HSBC reveals that Indian household gold reserves have surpassed the combined official gold holdings of the world’s top 10 central banks —…