Author: Emirates Insight
Consumers love convenience and rely heavily on innovative apps. Now, speed and digital ordering create pressure on food businesses to adapt. Delivery-first models are nimble. In fact, experts expect the ghost kitchen segment to reach $115B by 2032. That means traditional restaurant operations may struggle to keep pace. Rising utility, rent, and staffing costs make it hard to compete. However, with leaner infrastructure and quicker trend adoption, you too can unlock hidden possibilities. Here’s what restaurant owners and startups need to know to stay relevant in a rapidly shifting food landscape. Key Takeaways from Ghost Kitchen Trend Ghost kitchens cut…
Dubai Police have taken custody of a serval cat after a resident voluntarily surrendered the animal through the Safe Hand initiative, an awareness programme designed to educate the public about the dangers and legal consequences of keeping wild species at home. The individual contacted authorities after learning that possessing wild or dangerous animals can endanger people, harm the environment and result in legal penalties. Following its handover, Dubai Police transferred the serval cat to Dubai Municipality to complete all required procedures. Illegal ownership of dangerous animals Lieutenant Colonel Ahmad Khalifa Al Mazina Al Muhairi, Head of the Environmental and Heritage…
DP World’s flagship Jebel Ali Port handled a record 630,000 tonnes of breakbulk cargo in October 2025, the highest monthly total in nearly two decades. While the past decade saw strong growth in containerised, bulk and RoRo cargo, this new record reflects the renewed scale of industrial and construction activity across the region. Recent increases in imports of iron and steel for major UAE projects, such as the Dubai Metro Blue Line and the DWC airport expansion, along with rising sugar exports, have been key drivers. Building on a strong 2024 performance, when breakbulk volumes rose 23% year-on-year to 5.36…
RAIN entered the top 100 alts after a spectacular rally. Bitcoin continues to recover some of its recent losses gradually, and the asset tapped $89,000 earlier today for the first time since the calamity at the end of the previous business week. In the meantime, many altcoins have produced more impressive gains, including ENA, HYPE, and XRP. BTC Eyes $90K? Recall the events that transpired last week, which brought the primary cryptocurrency to its knees for the first time in months. The asset had already lost the coveted $100,000 level, but the bears were just getting started. Last Monday…
Four months after entering the UK market, controversial short-term subletting startup Kiki is following a familiar pattern as it finds its footing in London. Manual processes powered by Instagram, limited revenue, parties, and growing costs (including visa sponsorship for newly hired staff) are already defining Kiki’s local operations. Meanwhile, the startup is publicly projecting confidence while privately acknowledging user confusion and slower winter growth. Kiki entered the London market in July 2025, shortly after exiting New York. Its US operations had become increasingly untenable due to regulatory concerns. This week, those concerns were formalised. New York City’s Office of Special Enforcement…
UAE businesses are set to capitalise on one of the world’s most powerful consumer goods marketplaces as Ambiente, Christmasworld and Creativeworld return to Frankfurt from 6-10 February 2026, offering Emirates-based companies an unparalleled platform to expand their international reach and forge strategic partnerships across Europe and beyond. The UAE’s presence at the trio of world-leading trade fairs reflects the country’s ambitious drive to position itself as a key player in the global consumer goods sector. The UAE pavilion was among the key country pavilions on spotlight at this year’s edition of the event along with China, India, Turkey and Italy.…
The Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) has reported nearly AED2.5tn ($681bn) in virtual asset transaction volumes across regulated entities this year, marking a major milestone in the emirate’s ambition to become a global hub for the Virtual Asset Economy. The update reflects Dubai’s ongoing effort to build the world’s most secure and progressive jurisdiction for virtual assets, a vision directly aligned with the mandate issued in 2022 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. Since the launch of the first-of-its-kind regulatory regime, VARA has prioritised uncompromised investor protection and market stability…
Ethereum’s supply mechanics limited selling pressure, keeping losses smaller than typical Bitcoin corrections. Bitcoin’s violent slide from around $107,000 on November 11 to lows near $81,000 on November 21 has rattled traders across the market. However, new on-chain data shows this was first and foremost a Bitcoin panic, not an Ethereum meltdown. A Tale of Two Sell-Offs Analysis from XWIN Research Japan shows how the October–November correction split the two majors. Indexed from October 1, Bitcoin dropped into the low-70s by late November, while Ethereum slid into the high-60s. Historically, a 30% pullback in BTC has often meant a…
There’s a new AI-powered toy for kids called Stickerbox, and, before you groan, I’m here to report that it’s surprisingly fun. Stickerbox, a product born out of Brooklyn-based startup Hapiko, is a voice-activated sticker printer. The device takes whatever creative idea you have in your head and transforms it into a printed sticker that you can then color, peel, and stick anywhere. Before trying the device itself, I have to admit I came with a preconceived negative bias — as did my fellow tester (my daughter). Our initial reactions were similiar: “An AI that prints stickers? I’d rather design and…
You know what sounds like a fun day out? That trip down to the new IKEA store. Pretty sure everyone’s going to agree that IKEA has grown to become every child and adult inner child’s space to have fun while also getting the work done. The Swedish homeware giant has now opened its doors at Al Jimi Mall in Al Ain, and yes, it’s got everything from your saved and wishlist-ed home furnishing collection! Here’s everything the new store is offering, Thousands of goodies – You can take home over 200 pieces of furniture immediately, and there are 3,500 products…