Author: Emirates Insight
The global food and beverage industry is entering a defining era of change, powered by the convergence of health, technology, sustainability, transparent sourcing and AI-enabled performance1. With the global food & beverages market projected to hit $11.37 trillion by 20302, combined with the MENA region recording the world’s fastest F&B growth rate2,3, businesses are seeking platforms that provide scale, intelligence and cross-border opportunity. At the centre of this momentum stands Dubai, one of the world’s most connected trade hubs and a powerhouse for logistics, innovation and future-driven food systems3. Against this backdrop, Gulfood 2026 emerges as the first and biggest…
The cryptocurrency market seems to be heating up ahead of the rate cut the Federal Reserve is likely to announce later today (December 10). Bitcoin temporarily soared to around $94,500 but later lost some steam. Ethereum (ETH) and many leading altcoins posted even more significant gains over the past 24 hours. BTC Heads North The primary cryptocurrency experienced a sudden and substantial uptick several hours ago, briefly exceeding $94,500. This happened at a time when the chances of a 25-basis-point Fed rate cut increased to 96% (according to Polymarket). The central bank’s Chairman, Jerome Powell, will officially announce the decision…
I’ve spoken to over 100 founders over the past 18 months about the pros and cons of moving to San Francisco (SF), so I decided to compile everything into this post. Why it’s worth moving to SF? Firstly, SF is not for everyone. SF is for the most ambitious and driven people in the world. It’s the major leagues for startups. You’ll find the highest concentration of great founders, great engineers, and great investors anywhere in the world. But what’s less obvious until you spend time here, is how open people are. To many, San Francisco welcomes you with open…
Saudi Arabia has approved stricter regulations governing how companies identify their beneficial owners, introducing clearer thresholds and expanded disclosure duties as part of the Kingdom’s wider push to enhance corporate governance and financial transparency. The updated rules, endorsed by Minister of Commerce Dr Majed Al Qasabi, define a beneficial owner as any natural person who holds 25 per cent or more of a company’s ownership, whether directly or indirectly. If no individual meets this threshold, or if the true owner cannot be confirmed, regulators will instead assess who has “effective and ultimate control” of the company to determine the beneficial…
The stage is set for the largest-ever edition of the Asian Youth Para Games, as seven sports get underway on Wednesday, with teams arriving in Dubai full of ambition and determination to chase glory in the landmark multi-sport event. Dubai is hosting the Games for the second time since 2017, reaffirming its growing role as a hub for Para sport in Asia. Defending champions Iran, the table-toppers from the previous edition, have arrived with the largest contingent of athletes, totaling 195 participants, and are aiming to retain their titles. Maryam Kazemipour, Chef de Mission of the Iranian delegation, underlined their…
When people think of Dubai, most imagine the soaring silhouette of the Burj Khalifa, the magnificence of Palm Jumeirah, and the world’s most luxurious shopping malls. The city is known for its modern architecture and global vision, yet behind this glittering lifestyle lies another Dubai. This Dubai is found beyond the skyscrapers, hidden in villages and souks that carry traces of the past and history. Traditional districts such as Al Fahidi preserve the city’s cultural identity and reveal to visitors the true spirit and history of Dubai. Let us take a closer look at these historical and cultural treasures. You…
The Abu Dhabi agriculture, fisheries and livestock sector recorded strong growth in the first nine months of 2025, with new licences rising significantly as the emirate accelerates investment in food security, smart farming and diversified economic activity. The Abu Dhabi Registration Authority (ADRA), the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development’s arm responsible for developing and regulating the business sector, reported substantial increases across all licence categories between January and September. According to ADRA, 152 new licences were issued during the first nine months of 2025, up 29 per cent compared with 118 licences in the same period of 2024. Active…
Ripple’s XRP has headed south over the past several months and is currently trading at around $2.08, or 45% below the all-time high of $3.65 registered in the summer. The question now is whether the downtrend will intensify by Christmas or if the price is gearing up for a new peak. To get a clearer perspective, we asked four of the most widely used AI-powered chatbots to share their take on the matter. What’s More Likely? ChatGPT claimed that a plunge to $1 is possible given the current condition of the crypto market and the whale exodus witnessed as of…
Fal, a startup that hosts image, video, and audio AI models for developers, has announced that it raised $140 million Series D led by Sequoia, with participation from Kleiner Perkins, Andreessen Horowitz and other investors. The round, which was Fal’s third fundraise this year, valued the company at $4.5 billion, about three times what the company was worth when it raised its $125 million Series C in July Bloomberg reported. TechCrunch reported in October that Fal raised a new round from investors including Sequoia and Kleiner Perkins at a valuation of over $4 billion. We also reported at the time…
The Women’s Triathlon World Cup. Dubai 2025 concluded on Sunday with a historic finish that underscored the city’s expanding role in international sport. The first women only World Cup finale of its kind drew elite athletes and hundreds of age group competitors to Dubai Islands. The event was organized by the Dubai Sports Council under the Sheikha Hind Sports Initiative in collaboration with World Triathlon and the UAE Triathlon Federation. H.E. Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of the Dubai Sports Council, and Debra Alexander, Vice President of World Triathlon, led the awarding of medals to winners across all categories. The ceremony…