Author: Dr Issac PJ

India and the European Union are closing in on a long-elusive free trade agreement that leaders on both sides have branded the “mother of all deals”, a mega-pact they hope will anchor market access and strategic trust as President Donald Trump’s tariff threats inject fresh volatility into global commerce.European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa are in New Delhi ahead of the 16th EU-India Summit on January 27, when officials expect an announcement that negotiations are being concluded — even if signatures come later.EU officials have said the objective is to complete talks, but…

Institutional and high-net-worth investors are now driving more than two-thirds of cryptocurrency trading volumes across the Middle East and North Africa, underlining a decisive shift away from speculative retail activity towards a more mature, regulation-led digital asset market, according to BitOasis.The Dubai-based platform said in its newly released 2025 annual report that the regional crypto ecosystem reached a turning point last year as clearer regulatory frameworks, rising institutional participation and more disciplined retail behaviour reshaped market dynamics. Globally, digital assets also gained momentum, with total market capitalisation surpassing $4 trillion for the first time in 2025 and Bitcoin hitting fresh…

Arada tripled its annual home sales in 2025, riding the UAE’s red-hot property market to cross Dh17.3 billion in transactions, as demand for master-planned communities and branded luxury developments continued to gather pace across Dubai and Sharjah. The master developer sold 5,140 homes during the year, more than double the 2,171 units recorded in 2024, marking year-on-year growth of 199 per cent in the UAE market.The strong sales momentum translated into sharp financial gains for the group. Total revenue jumped 170 per cent to Dh6.7 billion, while earnings before interest, depreciation and amortisation rose 174 per cent to Dh1.6 billion,…

Sobha Realty wrapped up FY2025 with Dh30 billion in sales, marking a strong 30 per cent year-on-year growth and reinforcing its position as one of the Gulf’s leading luxury real estate developers, as premium residential demand across the UAE continued to accelerate.The developer said the record performance was driven by robust off-plan activity, new masterplanned communities and rising international investor interest. A major contributor to growth came from Umm Al Quwain, where the company generated Dh8 billion in sales from Downtown UAQ | Sobha Realty and Sobha Siniya Island, highlighting the growing appeal of emerging northern emirate destinations.Dubai’s luxury residential…

Oil prices are set to remain under pressure in 2026 despite rising geopolitical tensions, as modest demand growth is being overwhelmed by rapid supply expansion and swelling inventories.The International Energy Agency (IEA) expects global oil demand to rise by about 930,000 barrels a day this year, driven almost entirely by non-OECD economies, but warned on Wednesday that production growth is running nearly three times faster — creating a surplus that is likely to cap any sustained rally and keep crude trading in a volatile $60 to $70 range.Global oil supply is projected to increase by around 2.5 million barrels a…

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) capped another standout year with an 18 per cent rise in full-year net profit before tax to a record Dh8.1 billion in 2025, underlining strong balance-sheet expansion, accelerating customer activity and industry-leading profitability as the UAE’s banking sector continued to benefit from robust economic momentum.Net profit after tax climbed 16 per cent year on year to Dh7.1 billion, while fourth-quarter net profit before tax surged 25 per cent to Dh2.05 billion, reflecting sustained business momentum across retail, corporate and treasury operations. The bank’s return on equity stood at a sector-leading 28.8 per cent, reinforcing ADIB’s…

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s latest visit to India has raised the ambition level of the UAE-India economic partnership, with both countries committing to double bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2032, building on the dramatic gains delivered by the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (Cepa) that came into force in 2022.On his third official visit to India as President and his fifth trip over the past decade, Sheikh Mohamed held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and witnessed the signing of multiple agreements spanning trade, investment, technology, energy, defence and education.The leaders said the Cepa has…

Global trade executives are entering 2026 with strong confidence that resilient supply chains, alternative shipping routes, and accelerating infrastructure investment will continue to drive commerce expansion, even as tariffs, geopolitical tensions, and policy uncertainty persist, according to a new survey by DP World released at the World Economic Forum in Davos.DP World’s Global Trade Observatory Annual Outlook shows 94 per cent of senior supply chain and logistics executives expect trade growth in 2026 to match or exceed the pace of 2025. More than half of respondents — 54 per cent — forecast faster expansion, while 40 per cent expect growth…

Gulfood has launched a new global startup platform aimed at placing Dubai at the centre of the fast-growing food innovation economy, as governments and investors accelerate efforts to build resilient, technology-driven food systems.The Gulfood Startups initiative is designed to help high-growth food-tech companies scale internationally from the UAE, leveraging Dubai’s logistics strength, investor ecosystem and strategic location linking Asia, Africa and Europe. The launch comes as the global food economy advances toward a projected value of $11.37 trillion by 2030, with startups increasingly driving breakthroughs in alternative proteins, artificial intelligence, automation and sustainable production.More than 250 founders and technology leaders…

AD Ports Group has strengthened its European expansion drive with the acquisition of Spain’s Balenciaga Astilleros Shipyard, adding advanced shipbuilding capacity as the UAE ports and logistics operator scales up its offshore wind and maritime services business.The company said its subsidiary Safeen Drydocks, part of Noatum Maritime, acquired 100 per cent ownership of the Basque-based facility for €11.2 million, reinforcing the group’s growing footprint in Spain and the wider Mediterranean region.Balenciaga Shipyard brings nearly a century of shipbuilding expertise and specialised infrastructure, including two drydocks, a 105-metre slipway and automated fabrication facilities spanning more than 22,000 square metres. The yard…