Author: Dr Issac PJ
As the UAE and India race toward a $100 billion-plus non-oil trade partnership, a powerful new consumer and retail corridor is emerging between the two economies, reshaping trade flows, supply chains, digital commerce, and cross-border investments across one of the world’s fastest-growing consumption markets. Driven by the UAE’s position as a global retail and logistics hub and India’s massive consumer base and digital economy boom, businesses are increasingly moving beyond traditional exports to build integrated retail ecosystems spanning the Gulf and South Asia. A new strategic report released by the UAE India Business Council – UAE Chapter and Arthur D.…
Dubai’s real estate market extended its strong growth trajectory in 2025, with villas, office spaces and retail properties leading price gains amid rising investor confidence, sustained population growth and continued economic expansion.New data released by Dubai Data and Statistics Establishment, part of Digital Dubai, showed the emirate’s Residential and Commercial Real Estate Price Index recorded broad-based growth across most property segments during 2025.The data underlined the increasingly important role of digital intelligence and market analytics in shaping investment decisions and improving transparency across Dubai’s rapidly evolving property sector.According to the index, Dubai’s overall residential real estate market recorded annual growth…
Oil prices retreated in early Asian trading on Tuesday after US President Donald Trump said he had paused a planned military strike on Iran to allow negotiations to continue, offering temporary relief to markets rattled by fears of a prolonged energy supply crisis.Brent futures for July were down $1.27, or 1.13 per cent, at $110.83 a barrel by 1319 GMT, Reuters reported. The US West Texas Intermediate crude contract for June delivery, which expires on Tuesday, slipped 45 cents, or 0.41 per cent, to $108.21. The more active July contract fell 38 cents, or 0.36 per cent, to $104.Both benchmarks…
The Indian rupee came under renewed pressure on Tuesday, falling to another record low as rising oil prices, a strong US dollar, and escalating tensions around the Strait of Hormuz intensified fears of a prolonged external-sector shock for India and millions of non-resident Indians (NRIs) in the Gulf.The rupee opened 18 paise weaker at 96.38 against the US dollar in interbank trading after closing at an all-time low of 96.20 on Monday. The sharp depreciation pushed the Indian currency close to the 26-rupee mark against the UAE dirham, significantly boosting the value of remittances for Gulf-based NRIs sending money home.…
UAE companies are accelerating efforts to comply with the country’s sweeping new climate disclosure regime before the Federal Climate Law comes fully into force on May 30, 2026, with many businesses increasingly turning to artificial intelligence to manage the growing complexity of emissions reporting and sustainability compliance.The implementation of Federal Decree-Law No. 11 of 2024 on the Reduction of Climate Change Effects marks one of the most significant regulatory shifts for UAE businesses in recent years, moving sustainability reporting from a largely voluntary exercise into a mandatory compliance framework with financial and operational consequences.Under the law, companies that fail to…
ADGM, the international financial centre of Abu Dhabi, reported a powerful start to 2026, with assets under management (AUM) surging 57 per cent in the first quarter as global capital continued to flow into the UAE amid rising international investor confidence.The strong performance highlights Abu Dhabi’s growing prominence as a global financial hub at a time when geopolitical uncertainty and economic fragmentation are prompting investors and institutions to seek stable and well-regulated markets.ADGM said total active licences exceeded 13,353 by the end of the first quarter, including 961 new licences issued during the January-March period, reinforcing its position as one…
Dubai’s property market is entering a new phase of recalibration, with buyers remaining strongly committed to purchasing homes even as expectations of a price correction gather pace after years of rapid appreciation.A new survey released by propertyfinder.ae showed that nearly two-thirds of active property seekers in Dubai plan to buy within the next six months, underlining sustained confidence in the emirate’s long-term real estate prospects despite growing expectations of softer prices.The latest edition of the Property Finder Market Pulse, based on responses from 4,735 users surveyed during March and April 2026, found that 68 per cent intend to purchase property…
Gold’s spectacular rally has entered a volatile phase in 2026, but leading banks, commodities strategists and market analysts remain overwhelmingly bullish on the precious metal’s long-term trajectory, arguing that the structural forces driving the rally are still firmly intact.After surging to record highs earlier this year, spot gold has retreated sharply in recent weeks as rising oil prices, stubborn inflation, higher US Treasury yields and a stronger dollar weighed on investor sentiment.Gold briefly climbed above $5,500 an ounce in January before slipping below the key $4,600 level this month. Spot prices were trading near $4,543 an ounce heading into the…
Dubai’s property market is showing early signs of stabilisation and renewed confidence, with fresh data from major real estate platforms and brokerages indicating a gradual recovery in buyer demand, leasing activity and investor engagement after weeks of regional uncertainty.Industry executives say the market is moving into a phase of “normalisation rather than disruption”, supported by resilient end-user demand, disciplined supply levels and long-term confidence in Dubai’s economic and infrastructure outlook.According to data from betterhomes, Dubai’s secondary property market recorded improving activity in April, with Dubai Land Department transactions rising nearly 2 per cent month-on-month — the first positive movement since…
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s latest visit to the UAE has underscored the rapid transformation of India-UAE ties into one of the world’s most strategically important economic partnerships, as both countries move beyond the $100-billion trade milestone and target bilateral trade of $200 billion over the next decade.The visit, which produced a sweeping set of agreements in energy security, defence, artificial intelligence, infrastructure and maritime cooperation, comes at a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East and growing concerns over global supply-chain resilience.Analysts say the agreements signal a decisive shift from a traditional oil-and-trade relationship to a deep…