Author: Emirates Insight

Fintech startup Mesa has shut down its Homeowners Card, which awarded points to cardholders for paying their mortgages. A message on the Mesa website states that as of December 12, “all Mesa Homeowners Card accounts are closed,” adding, “All credit cards have been deactivated and you are no longer able to make any new purchases or earn Mesa Points.” A Mesa FAQ about the shutdown described this as “a business decision to close the Mesa Homeowners Card Program entirely.” TechCrunch has reached out to Mesa for additional comment on its future plans. The startup launched just over a year ago,…

Yes, yes… we know. There are a million Christmas brunch lists out there, each with 100+ places and every offer under the sun. So we’re making life a lot easier for you. Here’s a zero-nonsense Christmas Brunch list with only the fun, actually-useful bits listed down as pointers. You get to decorate your gingerbreads, attend fun quiz nights, take an abra ride for a brunch specially made for you, takeaway some great turkey, craft stations ft sock snowmen, petting zoos…you get the drift, yeah? This is the only list you’ll need for finding that perfect Christmas Brunch experience for you…

The UAE has, in recent weeks, issued a range of new Federal Decree-Laws introducing significant reforms across taxation, business regulation, justice, public health, child welfare, trade and social protection. The legislative updates reflect the country’s ongoing efforts to modernise its legal framework, strengthen governance, enhance public safety and align regulatory systems with international standards. From updated narcotics and sexual offences laws to changes to VAT and organ donation rules, find out more about the new laws in the UAE. UAE issues law updating narcotics regulations, expanding treatment capacity and introducing stricter penalties for violations UAE updates narcotics law with tougher…

You know winter has officially arrived in Dubai when your feed turns into a reel of twinkly lights, steaming hot chocolate, and pop-ups that look straight out of a holiday movie. It’s the season of perfect weather, cozy corners, dreamy menus, and all the feel-good vibes. And honestly, these winter pop-ups are the main characters. Here are the ones worth adding to your list this year. Want instant updates? Follow Lovin on WhatsApp, and never miss a beat! 8. Limited Dubai screams winter This cozy lakeside pop-up brings together local favourites like Bound Burgers, Sillage, and Stuffed Buns. Expect juicy burgers,…

Bitcoin’s overall underwhelming price performance continued in the past 24 hours as the asset is close to breaking below $90,000 decisively. Most larger-cap alts are also slightly in the red daily, as ETH is down to $3,100, while XRP sits at a pivotal support level at $2.00. Will BTC Lose the $90K Support? The primary cryptocurrency began the business week with high hopes of substantial price resurgance due to the FOMC meeting on Wednesday. A day before the US Fed met for the last time in 2025, the asset indeed went on the run and exploded by several grand to…

Spinny, an Indian online marketplace for used cars, is raising around $160 million as it moves to acquire car services startup GoMechanic, TechCrunch has learned. The Series G round, which includes a mix of primary and secondary transactions, would value the 10-year-old startup at about $1.8 billion post-money, three people familiar with the matter said, broadly in line with its previous valuation. Nearly $90 million of the round is primary, people said; Existing investor Accel has already wired about $44 million of that amount, with some details of the investment appearing in regulatory filings in India this week, which Indian…

Dubai real estate developer Binghatti has announced the sale of the most expensive penthouse ever sold in the city for AED550m ($150m) at Bugatti Residences by Binghatti. The record-breaking deal was concluded by Binghatti’s Chief Sales Officer Abdullah Binghatti and sets a new benchmark for Dubai’s property market. The transaction also achieved the highest price per square foot ever recorded in Business Bay, reaching AED11,650 per sq ft ($3,172). Bugatti Residences by Binghatti penthouse in Dubai Chairman Muhammad Binghatti said: “Year to date, we have achieved the number-one position in Dubai’s real estate market, with more than 14,000 units sold,…

Smashi TV just scored big… and so did football fans across the region. The platform has officially become the exclusive streamer of two of the most exciting youth football tournaments in the Gulf:the UAE–Oman Football Super League and the Academies Elite Cup (AEC) With back-to-back tournaments happening over the next two weeks, Smashi TV will be the only place to watch the region’s rising stars compete at an elite level. WATCH HERE 1. The UAE–Oman Super League Kicks Off This Friday — LIVE & FREE on Smashi TV The UAE–Oman Super League is a high-intensity, cross-border youth championship created to…

The Dubai real estate sector recorded AED26bn ($7.1bn) of transactions last week, according to data from the Land Department. Sales transactions dominated the figures, with AED18.72bn ($5.1bn), according to Land Department data. In total there were 4,467 sales transactions recorded between December 8 and 12. Dubai real estate last week Among the most expensive sales transactions listed on the Land Department website were: An apartment in Bugatti Residences by Binghatti in Business Bay sold for AED550m ($150m) An apartment in Enara by Omniyat in Business Bay sold for AED61.1m ($16.6m) An apartment in Solaya 3 in Jumeirah First sold for…

Hollywood director Carl Erik Rinsch was convicted in Manhattan federal court for defrauding Netflix of $11 million intended for a science fiction television series that never materialized. A federal jury found the 48-year-old director guilty of multiple counts of wire fraud and money laundering, after prosecutors said he siphoned the funds for personal use, including high-risk stock trades, cryptocurrency investments, luxury cars, watches, and five-star hotel stays in California and Spain. The series, originally titled “White Horse” and later renamed “Conquest,” had already received roughly $44 million in earlier funding. Rinsch began filming six short-form episodes with support from his…