Author: Emirates Insight

The Philippines Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued an advisory flagging 10 major international cryptocurrency exchanges for operating within the country without necessary licenses. Popular exchanges including OKX, Bybit, KuCoin, Kraken, MEXC, Bitget, Phemex, CoinEx, BitMart and Poloniex made the list. A 4th August 2025 advisory from the SEC said, “These platforms have no license, registration, or authorization from the SEC to operate in the Philippines or to solicit investments from the public.” After Binance… PH SEC Flags these CEXes and wanted people to use local CEXes (which are super slow and have over-the-top fees) clowns src: https://t.co/ifY3rjW39X pic.twitter.com/OYP94A10Kn…

Saudi-based oil and gas drilling company ADES International Holding has agreed to acquire Norway’s Shelf Drilling in a $380 million all-cash deal, strengthening its position in the global offshore drilling market, according to a report by Reuters. The deal, valued at $379 million, offers Shelf Drilling shareholders $1.36 per share, representing a 62 per cent premium over the stock’s last closing price on the Oslo Stock Exchange. Shelf’s board has recommended the offer, the companies told Reuters in a joint statement. Once finalised, the merger will create a combined fleet of 83 offshore jack-up drilling rigs, solidifying ADES’s role as…

Monday brought some relief to the market after a weekend that saw hundreds of millions worth of longs liquidated. But beneath the surface, smart money continues to accumulate select assets. So, which crypto should you buy today for long-term gains? While Bitcoin dropped below $112,000 and Ethereum briefly dipped under $3,400, whale and institutional activity tells an interesting story. According to Lookonchain’s weekly report, 16 public companies purchased a combined 31,478 BTC worth $3.61 billion. MicroStrategy alone added 21,021 BTC ($2.46B), reinforcing its long-term bullish outlook. On the Ethereum side, 12 new wallets acquired 225,099 ETH ($819M), contributing to a…

UAE travellers are embracing artificial intelligence (AI) for trip planning at higher rates than global peers, with 60 per cent trusting AI to plan every aspect of their journeys compared to 48 per cent of travellers in other countries. According to a Tourism Economics report commissioned by Arabian Travel Market (ATM), the global meetings and events industry is projected to exceed $2.3 trillion by 2032, up from an expected $945 billion in 2025. UAE travellers trust AI trip planning Nearly six in ten travellers have used AI for travel planning, with 21 per cent using it before their most recent…

LEGOLAND® Dubai Resort invites families to turn up the glow this summer at LEGOLAND Water Park with Neon Nights, a brand-new night-time splash party. Taking place every Saturday and Sunday in August and September, this exhilarating experience is the latest addition to the ongoing Summer Splash Fest, adding even more energy and colour to the family fun already underway. From 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM, the Wave Pool will transform into a glowing aquatic dance zone with lasers, neon lights, and a high-energy live dance show led by the fan-favourite Summer Splash Squad. Families can end their day on a high note, with the park open until 8:00 PM for this…

Public ledgers like Bitcoin and Ethereum cannot be secure without the community, and XRP Ledger is no exception. By its very nature as a decentralized network, DLT requires supporters worldwide to run nodes to keep the network operational, process transactions at any time without third parties, and ensure the continuous growth of the blockchain. The success of Bitcoin spurred the development of improved versions, including the XRP Ledger, which is increasingly gaining market share as Ripple targets institutional growth. David Schwartz Deploys an XRP Ledger Server in New York Recently, David Schwartz, the CTO of the XRP Ledger, embarked on…

TikTok cracks down on harmful content in MENA with over 16.5 million videos removed in Q1 2025TikTok is doubling down on safety and the numbers prove it. The platform has released its Q1 2025 Community Guidelines Enforcement Report, revealing the removal of over 16.5 million videos across Egypt, Iraq, the UAE, Morocco, and Lebanon for violating its rules between January and March.From short-form clips to LIVE streams, TikTok’s enforcement efforts paint a clear picture: the platform is serious about keeping the MENA region a safe, respectful, and inclusive space. In addition to video removals, TikTok also banned hundreds of thousands…

Cheval Blanc has resorts in the Seychelles, St Barth, St Tropez and the MaldivesThere’s an incredible brand making its debut in Dubai and it’s coming in the form of a luxury island resort. Dubai-based investment firm, Shamal Holding, announced their partnership with the luxury hospitality brand Cheval Blanc to bring a private island to Dubai.Due to open in 2029, the Cheval Blanc maison in Dubai which will be a discreet private island escape. The maison will feature 30 suites and 40 private pool villas, each reflecting Cheval Blanc’s unique design philosophy, contemporary yet timeless, immersive yet serene.In true Cheval Blanc…

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism on Tuesday announced the formation of a cross-sector advisory board for TOURISE, a new global tourism platform aiming to reshape the industry through collaboration across technology, sustainability, aviation, entertainment, and education. The 14-member board, chaired by Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb, includes senior figures from organisations such as the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), Amadeus, TikTok, Cirque du Soleil, and the Saudi Tourism Authority. The board will guide TOURISE’s strategic direction and shape the agenda for its inaugural summit in Riyadh, set to take place from November 11-13, 2025. The move underscores Saudi Arabia’s ambition…

Just when the crypto market stabilized after last week’s dizzying fall, RARE, the governance token behind SuperRare, an NFT marketplace, was firm, posting double-digit gains. Data from Coingecko shows that RARE crypto shot 35% yesterday, reversing last week’s losses and adding nearly 20% in the past week. (Source) RARE Crypto Jumps By 35% At spot rates, RARE2 (No data) is up a decent 35% in the past month and mostly stable, losing just 4% in the last year. RARE is now among the best cryptos to buy, especially if bulls push on. As expected, the leg up was an uptick…