Author: Emirates Insight

Google blockchain is here, and it’s looking to dominate the market. In a post on LinkedIn, Rich Widmann, head of Web3 strategy at Google, revealed new details about the Google Cloud Universal Ledger (GCUL). He described GCUL as the culmination of years of internal R&D to compete with other top cryptocurrencies. It is designed to be a credible neutral infrastructure with support for Python-based smart contracts. “Any financial institution can build with GCUL,” Widmann said, noting that while Tether won’t use Circle’s blockchain, Google is positioning itself as the neutral layer that removes those barriers. DISCOVER: Top 20 Crypto to…

To Emirati Women’s Day, What’s On spoke with five inspiring Emirati women shaping the city’s future…In celebration of International Women’s Day, we spoke with a group of inspiring Emirati women who are paving the way in the creative industries and beyond. From the leaders they admire to the legacies they hope to leave, these women shared personal reflections on ambition, leadership, and what it means to uplift the next generation. Their voices echo a shared purpose: to lead with integrity, create with passion, and inspire others to dream without limits.Maha Gorton, Head Women’s Pavilion, Expo City DubaiMaha GortonWO: How do…

The UAE’s economic story has always been one of forward-thinking leadership. Long before skyscrapers rose over our shores, the nation’s lifeblood was the pearl trade, an industry built on resilience, skill, and global connection. Pearl diving demanded trust and the courage to navigate uncertainty – qualities that define great leaders today. From those early trading networks to the discovery of oil, and now to a diversified, knowledge-based economy, reinvention has been our constant. During two decades at Mubadala, I witnessed this transformation firsthand. Visionary institutions like Mubadala were created as catalysts for progress, investing globally and locally to future-proof the…

Sponsored: The leading alcohol beverage retailer has introduced a sleek new website, already live in Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah, and now being launched in Abu Dhabi, enhancing the shopping experience for customers across the UAEIf you need to stock up your home bar and don’t want to leave the house, grab your phone or laptop, and head to the newly launched African + Eastern shopping website: AfricanEasternOnline.com.  African + Eastern is the largest distributor and retailer of beverage alcohol brands in the Middle East and Arabian Gulf region, trusted by the region’s leading hotels, restaurants, and hospitality chains. With…

This week Monero (XMR crypto) developers moved to calm fears of a potential 51% attack linked to the Qubic mining pool. Whether Qubic ever actually controlled a majority of XMR ▲0.31% hashrate is still unproven, but the claim alone was enough to jolt the community. “Qubic only showed what is possible,” said Joel Valenzuela, a Dash DAO core member. “Much better-funded and more determined actors could cause so much more chaos. It’s an ‘evolve or die’ moment.” The scare briefly knocked the XMR price down to $233 on August 16 before bouncing back above $250 along with the wider crypto…

Discover the best wellness activities in Dubai that help you relax, recharge, and reconnect with yourselfDubai isn’t just about luxury shopping and towering skyscrapers, it’s also a hub for wellness events designed for everyone. From floating meditation under the moonlight to sound baths with giant gongs, and multidimensional breathwork sessions, the city offers a variety of ways to relieve stress, boost mindfulness, and nurture both body and mind. Whether you’re a local looking for a calm escape or a visitor wanting to try something new, there’s wellness activities in Dubai for youDubai’s first sea floating meditation experienceImage: Immersiv InstagramReconnect with…

Quantum infrastructure software startup Q-CTRL has been awarded to contracts worth $38 million (US$24.4m) under the US Department of Defense agency DARPA’s Robust Quantum Sensors (RoQS) program. The funding is for Q-CTRL’s quantum sensing technologies in high-performance military vehicles, in a collaboration with Lockheed Martin. Engaging Q-CTRL’s solution comes as GPS becomes increasingly vulnerable to attack, as conflicts in the Mideast, Ukraine and other areas have shown, leading to navigation blackouts. More than 1,000 flights a day are now disrupted by GPS jamming incidents, and the cost of outages is already put at more than $1 billion daily. Quantum sensing…

Dubai‘s population has crossed the four million threshold this morning, marking another milestone in the emirate’s transformation into a global hub, according to a market update from DXBinteract. The city is now set to reach five million residents by 2030, with more than one million additional people expected before the end of the decade. This surge will create demand for around 350,000 new homes based on household size averages, though the total could reach 500,000 when accounting for multiple-home owners, non-resident buyers, vacancy levels, and building replacements. Dubai population growth hits 6.13% in 2025 with 231,000 new residents added Data…

The wait is over, UNTOLD Dubai has dropped its full line-up, and it’s stacked with some of the biggest names in electronic musicThe world’s biggest names in electronic music are about to take over Dubai once again, UNTOLD Dubai is back, bigger, louder, and at a brand-new location. Last year, UNTOLD Dubai brought some of the world’s biggest music names to Expo City Dubai for the first time in February. Now, the sequel is set to return this November with even more intensity, more epic stages, and more experiences. UNTOLD Dubai 2025 will take place from November 6 to 9…

Anthropic has released a new report that sheds light on a troubling trend. Criminals used its AI system, Claude, to carry out high-level cybercrime, making it not just a tool but the brains behind the operation. They’ve coined the term “vibe hacking” to describe attacks led entirely by AI agents. These weren’t small targets either. Hospitals, emergency services, religious organizations, and even governments were hit. Some ransom demands climbed past half a million dollars. AI Goes From Consultant to Culprit What makes this so alarming is that Claude wasn’t acting as a sidekick. It was running the show. The AI…