Author: Emirates Insight

After 33 years, Bernardo Quintero decided it was time to find the person who changed his life — the anonymous programmer who created a computer virus that had infected his university decades earlier. The virus, called Virus Málaga, was mostly harmless. But the challenge of defeating it sparked Quintero’s passion for cybersecurity, eventually leading him to found VirusTotal, a startup that Google acquired in 2012. That acquisition brought Google’s flagship European cybersecurity center to Málaga, transforming the Spanish city into a tech hub. All because of a small malware program created by someone whose identity Quintero had never known. Moved…

Today, anyone who’s anyone in the world of aesthetic surgery knows that Dubai stands as the place to be for modern treatments. The city draws patients who value skill, safety, and clear results. Planes land full. Clinics are booked months ahead. This rise didn’t happen by accident. Dubai has built systems that support medical travel, and it keeps standards visible. Doctors who’ve trained abroad return with sharp focus. Facilities invest in equipment that meets strict rules. Visitors feel calm because processes stay transparent. The conversation includes medical tourism and aesthetic clinics in Dubai as part of the same story. People…

If you’re the type to cruise in Dubai’s fast lane thinking no one’s watching, you might want to rethink that vibe. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) dropped a reminder… the fast lane is strictly for overtaking, and ignoring it could cost you AED 400 (hefty & not worth it). Want instant updates? Follow Lovin on WhatsApp, and never miss a beat! The signs are UP! You’ve probably noticed new electronic road signs popping up across Dubai’s major roads. They’re not just for decoration… they flash a clear warning: “Be alert! Fast Lane for overtaking only”. There’s even a graphic showing…

ZEC is next in line in terms of daily gains. The modest recovery staged by the bitcoin bulls over the past 24 hours drove the asset to $88,000, where it faced an immediate rejection and now sits well below that level. Most larger-cap altcoins are slightly in the green, but they still can’t get out of the recent nosedive. ZEC has emerged as the top gainer here, while the mid-caps have CC as their daily winner. BTC Halted at $88K The graph below will clearly demonstrate BTC’s choppy market moves as of late. The cryptocurrency went through a volatile…

The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and the International Centre for Culinary Arts (ICCA) Dubai have successfully concluded the ‘From Heritage to Plate’ culinary competition. Held in partnership with Dubai Culture & Arts Authority and Sikka Art & Design Festival 2026, and powered by Foodverse, the initiative celebrated the rich tapestry of Emirati cuisine, championing local ingredients and providing a powerful platform for the next generation of culinary stars. The competition invited up-and-coming chefs and residents of all nationalities to showcase their creativity by reinterpreting traditional Emirati dishes using authentic local ingredients. Out of hundreds of online submissions,…

There’s plenty of hype around AI and robots in healthcare, but the problem that’s actually costing hospitals money right now is operating room coordination. Two to four hours of OR time is lost every single day, not because of the surgeries themselves, but because of everything in between, from manual scheduling and coordination chaos to guesswork about room turnover.   Today on TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, we’re bringing you a conversation that TechCrunch AI Editor Russell Brandom had with Conor McGinn, co-founder and CEO of Akara, the startup that recently landed a spot on Time’s Best Inventions of 2025 and is building…

The UAE and Saudi Arabia are firmly at the centre of a rapid acceleration in coffee consumption across the Middle East, reinforcing the region’s position as one of the world’s most dynamic and sophisticated specialty coffee markets. The surge comes as World of Coffee Dubai prepares to stage its fifth edition at Dubai World Trade Centre from January 18 to 20, 2026. Rising consumption, expanding café culture and deeper investment across supply chains are reshaping how coffee is produced, traded and consumed across the region, with the Gulf markets setting the pace. Coffee industry The UAE continues to anchor regional…

Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD) has set a new benchmark for the UAE banking sector by becoming the first bank in the country to fully activate Open Finance into live operational use under the Central Bank of the UAE’s Open Finance Initiative, AlTareq. The activation has been delivered in collaboration with Central Bank–licensed third-party providers (TPPs), including Pay10 and Lean Technologies, both of which are now connected and operational with CBD under the Open Finance Framework. Throughout the live-proving phase, CBD worked closely with its TPP partners to meet regulatory, technical and operational requirements set by the Central Bank of…

Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the international financial centre of Abu Dhabi, is entering its second decade with strengthened momentum after announcing the addition of 11 new major global financial institutions representing more than $9tn in assets under management. The increase marks a dramatic rise from $635bn last year and $450bn in 2023, representing one of the most significant expansions by any international financial centre globally this year. The growth reinforces ADGM’s position as the region’s fastest-growing international financial centre and one of the world’s most dynamic jurisdictions for asset management. Abu Dhabi is “Capital of Capital” The announcements were…

Wintermute reports repeated selloffs as Bitcoin briefly dipped below $85K and Ethereum fell under $3K last week. As 2025 draws to a close, cryptocurrency markets are still volatile, with traders facing hundreds of millions in daily liquidations despite typically quiet holiday trading. This persistent instability, marked by sharp price swings and failing rallies, reflects a market still struggling to recover from a historic crash and now grappling with structural uncertainty heading into the new year. Heavy Liquidations Expose Fragile Year-End Market Structure According to a recent report by market maker Wintermute, downside pressure intensified early last week, with Bitcoin…