Author: Emirates Insight
Retro, a friend-focused photo-sharing app with roughly a million users, is adding a new feature that lets you time-travel through your old photo memories from your phone’s camera roll. While the app today offers a way to share photos of what’s happening during your week with a private group of friends, or create shared albums, this latest addition, dubbed “Rewind,” is private to you — unless you choose to share the photos with others. Retro’s co-founder, Nathan Sharp, explains that the idea for Rewind was inspired by a feature the app already offered and was proving popular. Today, at the…
Abu Dhabi’s property scene just dropped another mic moment… Modon’s brand-new waterfront community, Bashayer on Hudayriyat Island, sold out entirely within ONE day of launch, raking in a jaw-dropping AED 3 billion. Yes, you read that right. One day. The frenzy around Bashayer isn’t exactly shocking… Hudayriyat Island has quickly become one of the region’s hottest residential destinations, and this launch just proved the hype is very, very real. According to Modon, all 157 villas and 330 premium apartments were snapped up almost instantly, reflecting the booming demand for communities that offer modern living, natural surroundings, and a lifestyle that…
Housing market evolution and ambitious new mega-projects all featured prominently, alongside bold moves in finance, transport and regional connectivity. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi also made headlines with initiatives set to reshape growth, mobility and investment flows. Catch up with 10 of the biggest stories this week as selected by Arabian Business editors. In the 2024-25 academic year, enrolment increased by 6 per cent, bringing the total number of students to 387,441 across 227 private schools. Image: Shutterstock Dubai schools: All 23 ‘Outstanding’ KHDA schools revealed Dubai has confirmed 23 private schools as “Outstanding” for the 2023-2024 inspection cycle,…
Fatma Muhammad’s journey started in a tiny Midwestern home where a 7-year-old girl stood on her toes, mesmerised as her mother mixed butter, shredded dough, and folded cheese into what would eventually become Knafeh Queens – a global sensation that has since landed in Forbes, Vogue, the LA Times, and dessert-lovers’ hearts everywhere Fatma joined the Lovin’ Dubai Show to share the journey behind the viral Palestinian dessert brand that has become as much about community and identity as it is about Knafeh itself Growing up in Missouri, her family wasn’t exactly welcomed warmly. Their home was egged, her father’s…
Bitcoin’s price dipped below $90,000 again yesterday after failing at $94,000, but it has managed to reclaim that level on Saturday morning. Ethereum, Solana, and Cardano have also declined over the past day by up to 4% in the case of ETH, which is just inches above $3,100. BTC Defends $90K The primary cryptocurrency had quite a volatile trading week, mostly influenced by the Wednesday FOMC meeting. As the anticipation built about another interest rate cut by the central bank, BTC skyrocketed from under $90,000 to a new multi-week peak of $94,500 on Tuesday. It retreated slightly before the meeting,…
The tech layoff wave is still kicking in 2025. Last year saw more than 150,000 job cuts across 549 companies, according to independent layoffs tracker Layoffs.fyi. So far this year, more than 22,000 workers have been the victim of reductions across the tech industry, with a staggering 16,084 cuts taking place in February alone. We’re tracking layoffs in the tech industry in 2025 so you can see the trajectory of the cutbacks and understand the impact on innovation across all types of companies. As businesses continue to embrace AI and automation, this tracker serves as a reminder of the human…
flydubai, the Dubai-based carrier, celebrated the launch of its inaugural service to Vilnius, marking the start of direct flights between Dubai and the capital of Lithuania. The new route reinforces flydubai’s growing footprint in Central and Eastern Europe and opens an important new gateway for travel, tourism and trade. With the start of operations to Vilnius, flydubai becomes the first UAE carrier to offer nonstop connectivity between Dubai and Lithuania, giving customers more choice and convenience for business and leisure travel. The route will operate three times per week, providing seamless links to Dubai’s global aviation hub. Her Excellency Noora…
The British Council, in partnership with the British Embassy in the UAE, has launched a new initiative to champion women leaders in education as part of its Alumni UK Programme. The partnership was launched through an inaugural event, held at Middlesex University Dubai, bringingtogether senior officials, academics, policymakers, and emerging professionals. This marks the beginning of a series of events designed to highlight the achievements of women in education, foster collaboration, and inspire the next generation of leaders. The event celebrated graduates of UK universities who have become influential figures in teaching, research, and institutional development across the UAE. Every…
Mastercard is accelerating excitement for the 2026 Formula 1 season with the launch of Team Priceless, an exclusive global fan initiative in partnership with the McLaren F1 Team. This marks the first time the McLaren F1 Team and a naming partner have offered unprecedented access to the team, giving McLaren’s most passionate supporters unseen insight and curated local experiences through the lens of Team Papaya. About the program: Bringing together four regional fans at each stop, Team Priceless will travel to five race locations worldwide this season, kicking off in Melbourne before heading to Miami, the U.K., Mexico City and…
Al Ain has been named the ‘Capital of Arab Tourism for 2026’ by the Arab Ministerial Council for Tourism during its 28th session in Baghdad, Iraq. The announcement was made during the participation of a high-level UAE delegation led by His Excellency Abdullah Ahmed Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, representing His Excellency Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism. The selection highlights the growing international appeal and competitiveness of the UAE’s tourism ecosystem, reaffirming Al Ain’s position as a premier heritage and cultural destination. Commenting on the announcement, H.E. Bin Touq said: “Being named the Capital…