Author: Emirates Insight

Dubai Chamber of Commerce, one of three chambers under Dubai Chambers, has actively supported Dubai-based date products manufacturer Al Barakah Dates in expanding its existing operations in the Indonesian market. The chamber enabled the company to identify new clients and secure an agreement with PT Savani Indo Makmur, an Indonesian beverage industry specialist. Dubai International Chamber’s office in Indonesia played an instrumental role in facilitating Al Barakah Dates’ continued growth in the market and helping them finalise the agreement with PT Savani Indo Makmur. The office successfully connected both parties and provided necessary support throughout various stages, which culminated in the…

Mortgage rates slid a bit lower for the week. According to Freddie Mac, the average 30-year fixed rate fell two basis points to 6.09%. That’s a slim three basis points above the three-year low of 6.06%. The 15-year fixed-rate fell six basis points to 5.44%. Discounts on new homes have outpaced the resale market “for the first time in recent history,” Realtor.com reported Thursday. Prices were cut on nearly one in five new homes in late 2025. Here are the current mortgage rates, according to the latest Zillow data: 30-year fixed: 5.88% 20-year fixed: 5.73% 15-year fixed: 5.44% 5/1 ARM:…

The cryptocurrency has suffered badly in the past few weeks, will it finally rebound? The highly anticipated Consumer Price Index for the first month of 2025 just came out, showing that inflation has cooled year over year to 2.4%, which is slightly lower than the estimated 2.5%. The Core CPI, which excludes more volatile sectors like food and energy, matched the expectations at 2.5%. Nevertheless, analysts indicated that the monthly increase in the regular CPI of just 0.2% is the lowest since last May. Heather Long, Navy Federal Credit Union’s chief economist, noted that the prices for gas, used…

There’s been no shortage of startup funding announcements this week, with 10 Australian and New Zealand companies that collectively raised $193.65 million in new funding. Keep reading to learn more about Neara, Splose, Operata, HAMR Energy, Adora, Fluency, Wellumio, eGuarantee, Contented and Agover. Neara: $90 million (L-R) Neara founders Dan Danilatos, Karamvir Singh and Jack Curtis . Source: supplied Leading this week’s funding round-up is Sydney-based startup Neara, which has become the latest private Australian technology firm to be valued at more than $1 billion, after raising $90 million in Series D funding. The new funding is set to accelerate Neara’s global ambitions for its digital twin modelling technology,…

The Dubai Business Women Council (DBWC) has outlined its key initiatives and strategic priorities for 2026, reaffirming its continued commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs and professionals through education, partnerships, mentorship, and access to opportunity. The announcements were shared during the Council’s Board meeting, chaired by H.E. Dr. Raja Al Gurg, Founder and President of the Dubai Business Women Council.   2026 Strategic Initiatives As part of its 2026 programme, DBWC will roll out a series of initiatives designed to address skills development, workforce readiness, and business growth across multiple sectors. Among the flagship initiatives is sAIdaty 3.0, the latest phase…

Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, said that the UAE economy continues to achieve strong and accelerated growth, supported by a clear leadership vision, flexible and advanced legislation, and a globally competitive business environment. In statements to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the sidelines of the “Investopia Partners” event held today in Abu Dhabi, the UAE Minister Economy and Tourism said projections indicate that the national economy will grow by more than 5% during the current year, alongside growth exceeding 5.5% in non-oil sectors, which are expected to account for 78% of the country’s GDP.…

Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has welcomed CapitaLand Investment (CLI), a leading global real asset manager, as it expands into the Gulf’s fast-growing investment market with the establishment of its new office in DIFC. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, CapitaLand Investment operates in more than 270 cities across 45 countries. The new office in Dubai reinforces CLI’s strategy to serve institutional partners and capture opportunities in high-growth markets where it sees long-term potential. Salmaan Jaffery, Chief Business Development Officer at DIFC Authority, said, “With its global footprint and deep capabilities across multiple real asset classes, CLI is well positioned to…

The company blamed it on the most recent violent correction in the crypto market. Crypto lender BlockFills has temporarily suspended client deposits and withdrawals in response to recent market volatility and financial conditions, according to an official statement released by the firm. The decision was taken last week as a protective measure for both clients and the company. Suspending Client Transfers According to the official announcement, BlockFills said that while transfers in and out of the platform are paused, clients have continued access to trading services, including the ability to open and close positions in spot and derivatives markets,…

New Zealand horticultural robotics startup Agovor, has raised A$3 million in a pre-Seed funding. The round has been led by Australian agriculture-focused VC Tenacious Ventures with co-investment from the Hort Innovation Investment Fund, managed by Artesian, and a Kiwi investor via Invest New Zealand’s Active Investor Plus scheme. Agovor combines an electric, autonomous eTractor with a range of smart towed attachments, including mowers and sprayers. The small, lightweight tractor-and-trailer units can operate for up to 10 hours continuously, including narrow rows and all weather conditions and is designed for vineyards, orchards and berry farms. Richard Beaumont, who cofounded Agovor with…

IHC, Sirius International Holding, and First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) today announced that the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has approved the UAE dirham-backed stablecoin DDSC to go live, marking a significant milestone in the UAE’s regulated digital finance landscape. DDSC will operate on ADI Chain, an institutional Layer-2 blockchain developed by the Abu Dhabi-based ADI Foundation. DDSC builds on the stablecoin initiative first announced in April 2025 by IHC and FAB, and now enters its operational phase with Sirius International Holding, IHC’s technology-focused subsidiary, joining the project to support deployment, integration and institutional adoption. Designed as a compliant…