The findings also reveal that life-altering illnesses are affecting individuals at increasingly younger ages
Middle East
Meta
Meta, Startupbootcamp to accelerate agentic AI startups in MENA with Llama design drive
The 3-month initiative will equip MENA-based startups with tools, mentorship, and offer compute credits to build agentic AI applications
Abu Dhabi
UAE eases travel restrictions to Lebanon following presidential visit
Lebanese President’s visit to UAE signals deepening bilateral ties
Automotive
Middle East emerges as key growth market for Chinese auto exports amidst global shifts: Report
This shift comes as China continues to flex its muscles in the global automotive-export market, even amid the ongoing global tariff storm gripping the industry
Drake & Scull International
Drake & Scull subsidiary wins $58.5mn wastewater treatment project in Jordan
Once complete, the North Balqa Wastewater Treatment Plant will have a treatment capacity of 54,000 cubic meters per day
Egypt
Minor Hotels partners with Soma Bay Hotel Company SAE to develop first Anantara property in Egypt
The deal marks Minor Hotels’ entry into Egypt’s hospitality market
Arabian Travel Market
Middle East business travel spending set for 6.1% growth in 2025, say experts at Arabian Travel Market
The Middle East accounts for 1.2% of global business travel spending and has performed better than any other region post-COVID, according to the 2024 GBTA Business Travel Index Outlook report
air travel demand
Low-cost carriers playing a big role in Middle East aviation growth
OGA analysis says market has expanded 5% since 2019, making it the second-fastest growing region globally; low-cost carriers double their market share to 29%
financial crisis
Lebanon minister pledges full depositor payment in economic recovery plan: Report
The commitment to depositors is part of an attempt to break a stalemate on reforms, which are needed to unlock fresh funds from the IMF
Arab world
Arab internet users reach 348 million as digital transformation accelerates: Report
The study on digital transformation in the Arab World also found that social media usage has increased to 228 million users, or 46 per cent of the total population
bleisure travel
MENA business travel set to hit $270 billion by 2030: Report
Business travel in the MENA surged by 50% in Q1 2025, driven by economic growth and rising corporate mobility, a new report shows
Aviation
GE Aerospace inks 5-year digital solutions deal with Royal Jordanian Airlines
The agreement is GE Aerospace’s first SaaS collaboration with Jordan’s national carrier
Egypt
UAE’s Maseera acquires Egyptian fintech ADVA
The move marks a critical milestone in Maseera’s regional expansion strategy
Egypt
Egypt and Jordan thank the European Parliament for new financial aid
The European Union members recently approved loans worth $4.4 billion in three instalments to Egypt and $555 million to Jordan
Cruise
Celestyal launches new cruises for its winter Sun season in the Arabian Gulf
The itineraries mark the cruise line’s return to Egypt after a two-year break
Cryptocurrency
Revealed: Speed, efficiency and privacy drive surging crypto adoption in Middle East
A sizeable number of cryptocurrency users in the region, however, are concerned about security risks amidst the surge in phishing scams, exchange breaches, and Ponzi schemes
Automobili Lamborghini
EXCLUSIVE: Lamborghini sees Middle East growth moderate to 1% amid luxury market ‘normalisation’
Lamborghini’s CEO disclosed that 2024 witnessed the first decline in the global high-end luxury market in years, with an estimated 8% slowdown