Saudi-UK GREAT FUTURES conference in London ends with $5.3bn of deals, new strategic partnership, and plans to boost trade to $40bn by 2030
GCC
GCC
GCC labour market grows 25% in four years as Gulf economy beats global average
GCC labour market grows 25% in four years as Gulf economy outpaces global average, with women now making up 40.2% of the workforce
Aviation
Qatar Airways to launch direct Doha–Red Sea International Airport flights in October 2025
Qatar Airways to start direct Doha–Red Sea flights from Oct 21, 2025, linking Saudi’s Vision 2030 destination with Hamad International Airport
cepa
CEPA boosts UAE-India economic ties as trade surges 19.7% to $65bn
UAE non-oil trade with India hit $65bn in 2024 as CEPA drives growth, with new initiatives boosting private sector ties and investment flows
Dubai real estate
Dubai real estate breaks records with $13.9bn sales and surging rents
Dubai property sales hit $13.9bn in August 2025 with record mortgages, rising rents and 18,678 transactions driving market growth
Dubai Holding
Dubai Retail to reshape city’s shopping with over 40 malls, lifestyle and community centres
Dubai Holding Asset Management launches Dubai Retail, uniting 40 malls and lifestyle destinations to drive growth and customer experiences
Abu Dhabi
Dubai tops global real estate rankings for executive nomads as quality of life drives choices
Dubai and Abu Dhabi were praised for combining tax efficiency, lifestyle, safety, and ease of doing business with year-round sunshine and access to top-tier schools and healthcare in Savills’ latest report
Hayya Platform
Qatar to launch Hayya 2.0 after platform passes 2 million e-visa milestone
Qatar’s Hayya platform has processed over 2m e-visas since the World Cup, with Hayya 2.0 set to boost travel, tourism and business access
Amali properties
Dubai’s World Islands show signs of revival as new capital pours in, projects advance
UNHWIs from Europe, Asia and the Gulf are driving activity on Dubai’s artificial archipelago after a 15-year hiatus
FTSE
G42 to offer nearly 2% of Presight shares to institutional investors
The move will increase free float and improve liquidity and help its inclusion in the FTSE Emerging Market Index
ADGM
Abu Dhabi’s RIQ and ADNOC enter $500mn reinsurance collaboration
The agreement with ADNOC, and an earlier one with IHC, will ensure a collective committed reinsurance premiums of over $1 billion
Aviation
Etihad Airways reports record $306m profit in H1 2025 as passenger numbers soar
Etihad Airways posted a record $306m profit in H1 2025, up 32 per cent, as passenger numbers rose 17 per cent to 10.2m and network expansion hit 27 new routes
FDI
Saudi Arabia FDI inflows jump 24 per cent to $32bn in 2024
Saudi Arabia’s FDI inflows rose 24 per cent to SR119.2bn ($31.8bn) in 2024, exceeding Vision 2030 targets as non-oil investment reached 90 per cent of total flows
South Africa
UAE–South Africa trade grows to $8.5bn, up 14%
UAE–South Africa non-oil trade reached $8.5bn in 2024, up 14 per cent year-on-year
Abu Dhabi events
Abu Dhabi Finance Week 2025 confirms first 300 global speakers with $60tn in assets
Abu Dhabi Finance Week 2025 will host 300 global leaders with $60tn in assets, featuring top names from Netflix, Carlyle, Temasek, Franklin Templeton and more
Dubai free parking
Dubai announces free parking on Friday, September 5
RTA announces free parking and Dubai public transport timings
Majid Al Futtaim
Majid Al Futtaim reports $4.7bn H1 2025 revenue as profit jumps 23%
Majid Al Futtaim posted $4.7bn in H1 2025 revenue, with profit up 23 per cent as digital growth, real estate demand, and new investments drive momentum