Author: Emirates Insight

Google Cloud has quietly introduced its own Layer 1 blockchain called the Google Cloud Universal Ledger, or GCUL. It’s aimed at solving real problems in cross-border payments, asset tokenization, and financial automation. Unlike one-off blockchain experiments, GCUL is being built using Google’s existing infrastructure and has already been tested in real-world scenarios. Built to Be Used by Everyone One of the big ideas behind GCUL is neutrality. Rich Widmann, who leads Web3 strategy at Google, pointed out something most people in finance already know. Companies don’t want to build on platforms that are tied to their competitors. A firm like…

Garage Nation is the epic night dedicated to non-stop UK garage classics, and it returns to Dubai in SeptemberRavers! This one is for you. Garage Nation is returning to Dubai this September for another unforgettable rave. The UK’s biggest garage band will be performing at Iris, Meydan, on September 5.Garage Nation Dubai have been raving in Dubai for the past three years, and each time they have drawn in the crowds, so it’s one not to miss.Don’t want to stay out late? Don’t worry, it’s a daytime rave taking place from 2pm to 9pm. And even better news? It takes place…

Non-oil trade between the United Arab Emirates and Vietnam reached $7.02 billion in the first half of 2025, up 16.9 per cent from the same period last year, the UAE’s minister of foreign trade said on Friday. The increase builds on $12.6 billion in bilateral trade recorded in 2024, a 4 per cent rise on the previous year and 54.3 per cent higher than in 2019. Vietnam remains the UAE’s largest non-oil trading partner in the ASEAN region. UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Thani Al Zeyoudi told the Vietnam Business Council in Abu Dhabi that the two countries are preparing…

Forget just groceries and takeaways; home delivery goes way beyond burgers and bottled water in DubaiFrom IV drips to mani-pedis, Dubai’s home delivery scene has levelled up. Whether it’s to pamper, something for your health, or the unexpected, here are some of the coolest things you can order straight to your house without ever leaving the sofa.From IV bags to iPhones, Dubai proves that if you can dream it, you can probably have it delivered…A drip… without the tripFeeling run-down? In need of a vitamin boost? You can order IV treatments to your doorstep, complete with a nurse to set…

Tether has confirmed that its USDT stablecoin, worth over 167 billion dollars, is finally launching natively on Bitcoin. This won’t be through a sidechain or wrapped version; instead, it’s happening directly through something called the RGB protocol. That gives Bitcoin a whole new role in the stablecoin world. RGB Lets Bitcoin Do More RGB is what makes this all possible. It keeps most of the data off-chain but locks in proof of ownership on Bitcoin itself. That way, the blockchain stays lightweight and fast while gaining some real flexibility. You’re still using Bitcoin at the core, but now it can…

UAE weather: We’re in for another sizzling day with soaring temperatures and humid conditionsUAE weather is still scorching the country, with the National Center of Meteorology (NCM) warning of extreme heat, rising humidity, and even a chance of rain in some areas. But with the Suhail star’s rise, we can hope to see a drop in temperatures soon.Signs of changeOn August 24, the Suhail star rose in UAE skies, an important moment in Arab tradition. Its appearance is seen as a signal that the intense summer heat may soon start to ease, hopefully bringing cooler evenings as autumn approaches.Earlier this…

Welcome to our new weekly round-up of Australian startup raises, in a collaboration between Startup Daily and our sister publication, SmartCompany. The last week of August features 5 startups spanning vaccine delivery, logistics and cross-border payments, which collectively raised $95.45 million. (A shoutout to our cousins across The Ditch too, where the former Kiwi TikTok boss raised a NZ$3.8 million Seed round for Aether.) Here they are the Australian raises: Vaxxas: $49.2 million Source: Vaxxas Needle-free vaccination delivery scaleup Vaxxas has raised $49.2 million in a Series D, but cut 10% of its workforce, including a clear-out of its executives. The…

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is qualifying and training new drivers through the ‘Tadreeb’ digital platform. The platform links all driving institutes across Dubai, fully digitises training and qualification processes, automates assessments, and consolidates all trainee-related data. Ahmed Mahboob, CEO of RTA’s Licencing Agency, said, “The purpose of the platform is to identify the needs of trainees based on analysed data and figures, ensuring quality training for drivers and licensing a pool of skilled, professional drivers. It also contributes to achieving the highest safety standards, enhancing performance quality, and strengthening governance processes in line with global best practices.” Mahboob…

The occasion was established by Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, “Mother of the Nation”, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF). She established the General Women’s Union with a vision that embraces modernity while safeguarding Arab and Islamic traditions. Emirati Women’s Day highlights the sustained role of Emirati women in shaping the UAE’s future and their growing global presence in fields spanning banking, energy, healthcare, space, and technology. Since its founding, the UAE has placed women’s empowerment at the heart of national development,…

The U.S. Department of Commerce has decided to anchor its official GDP numbers on public blockchains. Instead of only releasing the data through government websites, it now posts them on Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and several other networks like TRON, Avalanche, Stellar, Polygon, and Optimism. The move gives the data a kind of digital permanence while making it accessible to anyone watching these chains. Data Is Locked In with Cryptographic Hashes The latest GDP update for July 2025 showed a 3.3 percent growth rate. Rather than uploading the entire document, the department published cryptographic hashes that prove the data hasn’t been…