Electricity use in MENA is surging, with $44bn invested in 2024 and demand set to rise 50 per cent by 2035, IEA says, led by cooling and desalination
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Ras Al Khaimah
Ras Al Khaimah to host inaugural global real estate investment summit in October 2025
Ras Al Khaimah will host the first International Real Estate Investment Summit in Oct 2025, as UAE property FDI surges to record highs
FDI
Sharjah FDI hits $1.5bn in H1 2025 as 2,578 new jobs created: top sectors revealed
Sharjah attracted $1.5bn FDI in H1 2025, adding 74 new projects and 2,578 jobs, as investor confidence drives rapid economic growth
Dubai banking
Dubai Chambers and EDB join forces to unlock growth opportunities for SMEs
Dubai Chambers and Emirates Development Bank join forces to simplify banking, expand trade finance and support SME global expansion
Department of Economy and Tourism
Dubai partners with Plug and Play to launch accelerator for startups
New Dubai accelerator aims to create unicorns and scale SMEs by 2033, offering startups mentorship, investment and corporate partnerships
Abu Dhabi
Amazon opens new Abu Dhabi fulfilment hub with capacity for 8 million products
Amazon has opened its first Abu Dhabi fulfilment centre in KEZAD, boosting UAE e-commerce with faster deliveries, SME support, and innovation labs
Arada
Arada awards $593.6mn construction contract for Madar Mall in Sharjah
Madar Mall spans a built-up area of 3.9 million square feet and serves as the anchor attraction and phase of Madar, the family entertainment district at Aljada
king charles
Trump in UK: King Charles lauds ‘special relationship’ at Windsor banquet, Starmer trade talks next
Royal pomp and splendour marked Donald Trump’s banquet with King Charles, but the visit now shifts from ceremony to politics as the US president set to meet Prime Minister for trade talks
US Federal Reserve
Poor job market and inflation push Fed to cut interest rate for first time in 2025
With only the new Fed Governor Stephen Miran dissenting, Fed almost unanimous in reducing short-term rate by a quarter per cent
Innovation City
RAK Digital Assets Oasis rebrands as Innovation City to become world’s first AI-powered free zone
Innovation City in Ras Al Khaimah will operate as the world’s first AI-powered free zone, designing regulatory frameworks, services, and support systems enhanced by artificial intelligence
Saudi housing
Saudi Arabia requires firms with over 20 workers to obtain collective housing licence
Saudi firms with more than 20 workers must obtain a collective housing licence via Balady or face violations and suspension of some government services
SPACE42
UAE’s Space42 and Viasat to form JV to improve universal connectivity
New company Equatys to enable global Direct-to-Device services and evolve existing Mobile Satellite Services to a 5G network environment
e&
UAE’s e& enterprise to partner with Serbia in tripling its data centre capacity
The MoU signed will strengthen Serbia’s role as the Balkans’ sovereign cloud hub and extends e&’s digital corridor between MENA and Europe
Air Arabia
Air Arabia announces extra UAE-Phuket flights
Air Arabia expands UAE-Thailand connectivity with expanded Sharjah-Phuket flights
UAE cabinet
UAE unveils economic clusters policy adding $8.2bn to GDP annually
UAE Cabinet led by Sheikh Mohammed approves new economic clusters policy to add $8.2bn to GDP, plus initiatives in health, AI and sustainability
food
GCC food consumption to hit 55.5m metric tonnes by 2029 as health and tech trends reshape demand
GCC food consumption will rise to 55.5m MT by 2029, driven by population growth, health-focused diets, tourism and digital food services
clean energy
UAE University wins US patent for CO2 battery that turns emissions into clean energy
UAE University secures US patent for breakthrough CO2 battery that converts emissions into clean energy
