Author: Emirates Insight

Ethereum wallet growth surged past 175.5 million as staking remains attractive even during market uncertainty. Ethereum (ETH) slid to nearly $2,800 over the weekend as rising geopolitical tensions pressured risk assets. The pullback, however, was followed by a modest rebound, which lifted the crypto asset back above $3,000 by Wednesday. Despite this volatility, the network keeps growing, with record wallet numbers and a shrinking exchange-held supply. Exchange ETH Supply Shrinks Ethereum’s number of non-empty wallets has surpassed 175.5 million, which, according to the latest findings by Santiment, is the highest among all cryptocurrencies. In fact, 5.16 million wallets were…

Codeless platform Checkbox has raised US$23 million (A$33m) in a Series A as it focuses on the legal system as a key client. The round was led by Touring Capital, supported by existing investors Peak XV (formerly Sequoia Capital India), and Tidal Ventures, as well as Conductive Ventures Five V Capital, and angels including Jerry Ting, head of agentic AI at Workday. The raise values the business at $100 million. The new cash is for what Checkbox calls its “AI Legal Front Door” to automate, triage and manage legal workflows in a company. Checkbox, founded in 2016 by former Sydney Boys High…

AI agents — systems capable of reasoning, planning, and acting — are becoming a common paradigm for real-world AI applications. From coding assistants to personal health coaches, the industry is shifting from single-shot question answering to sustained, multi-step interactions. While researchers have long utilized established metrics to optimize the accuracy of traditional machine learning models, agents introduce a new layer of complexity. Unlike isolated predictions, agents must navigate sustained, multi-step interactions where a single error can cascade throughout a workflow. This shift compels us to look beyond standard accuracy and ask: How do we actually design these systems for optimal…

Saudi Arabia is drafting plans to extend its premium residency program to a wider selection of desirable individuals, including superyacht owners, those looking to live in the kingdom’s flagship development projects and top students, a person with direct knowledge of the matter said. The deliberations, which have not yet been finalised, are part of efforts to attract foreign capital and visitors under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 plan to diversify the country’s economy away from oil and transform society. The person said that people purchasing real estate at Vision 2030 construction projects, such as Riyadh’s $60bn Diriyah development,…

The official match schedule for the Gold Cup Dubai Open 2026 was unveiled during the annual press conference and live draw held at Al Habtoor Polo Resort Hotel. The event welcomed team representatives, sponsors, and members of the media, officially setting the stage for one of the region’s most prestigious polo tournaments. Taking place from 30 January to 14 February 2026, the Dubai Open will be contested at a 20-goal handicap, bringing together six elite teams competing for the coveted championship title. The tournament promises a world-class display of international talent, tactical mastery, and high-intensity competition. As the flagship event…

In a landmark moment for the region’s gold and jewellery industry, Ithra Dubai has officially launched Dubai Gold District, a purpose-built destination designed to elevate Dubai’s position as the world’s leading destination for gold and jewellery trade. The launch of Dubai Gold District marks a new phase in Dubai’s development as a global centre for retail, commerce, and trade. Developed as a unified destination, the District brings together the full gold and jewellery value chain in one location, spanning retail, bullion, wholesale trade, and investment. By consolidating these activities, Dubai Gold District strengthens Dubai’s position as one of the world’s…

Analyst says BTC’s slowdown reflects prices running ahead of ETF-driven adoption, not a broken long-term thesis. Bitcoin (BTC) is trading around $90,000 on January 28, 2026, after several days of choppy price action that has left many traders uneasy. However, ETF analyst Eric Balchunas has highlighted the cryptocurrency’s multi-year gains in comparison to traditional assets, arguing that recent frustration overlooks the broader picture. Bitcoin’s Longer-Term Gains Clash with Short-Term Anxiety Balchunas wrote on X that Bitcoin has risen about 429% since 2022, compared with roughly 350% for silver, 177% for gold, and 140% for the Nasdaq-100, arguing that the…

PureLab, which operates one of the largest networks of laboratories in the Middle East, is partnering with advanced air mobility company LODD Autonomous for a pilot project to transport blood samples between SEHA Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) and PureLab’s Abu Dhabi headquarters using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The initiative aims to improve speed, efficiency, and accelerate the transport of critical medical samples through LODD’s UAV technology. This will enable the safe, reliable, and daily transfer of vital blood samples in compliance with relevant health regulatory standards in the emirate. The reduced diagnostic turnaround times will enhance the overall speed…

One of the most likeable people in Australian venture capital, Square Peg partner James Tynan, has left the VC after five years. News of his departure after 2.5 years as a partner appeared in “Team Update” to end Square Peg’s half-yearly investor update, released last week. It read like a statement of employment. “We want to thank James Tynan, who concluded his time with Square Peg at the end of 2025 after five years with the firm,” it said. “Since joining in 2020 and becoming a Partner approximately two and a half years ago, James has been an important contributor…

Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) has announced ‘Al Marmoom: The Living Wild,’a first-of-its-kind drive-through exhibition in collaboration with His Excellency Ali Khalifa bin Thalith, Secretary General of the Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award.Running from 30 January to 8 February 2026, the showcase presents the Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve as a living ecosystem, highlighting its natural beauty and distinctive features. This aligns with the Authority’scommitment to promoting sustainability awareness within the community, preserving tangible and intangible heritage and strengtheningthe emirate’spresence on the internationalcultural map, whilechampioning photography as a vital art form. Hosted at…