Author: Emirates Insight

The World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos felt different this year, and not just because Meta and Salesforce took over storefronts on the main promenade. AI dominated the conversation in a way that overshadowed traditional topics like climate change and global poverty, and the CEOs weren’t holding back. There was public criticism of trade policy, warnings about AI bubbles popping, and a lot of talk about what comes next for the industry.  Watch as TechCrunch’s Equity podcast discusses which conversations took over Davos this week, the latest startup raises that caught our eye, and more. Subscribe to Equity on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow…

Emirates Skywards has partnered with the UK’s favourite airline Jet2.com to offer members flight rewards to more than 75 destinations across the leading leisure airline’s network. The award-winning loyalty programme of Emirates and flydubai continues to expand its portfolio in the UK to offer its four million members more opportunities, rewards and travel choices. Dr Nejib Ben Khedher, Divisional Senior Vice President Emirates Skywards, said; ‘The UK is one of our top markets and we’re pleased to expand our portfolio to offer millions of members a chance to redeem flight rewards on popular holiday destinations served by Jet2.com. In addition…

Real estate was high on the agenda, with foreign ownership rules, mega-developments and affordability initiatives all moving from policy to practice. Aviation, technology and soft power also featured, underscoring how capital, talent and influence are being actively reshaped across the region. Catch up on 10 regional business stories this week, as selected by Arabian Business editors. The project is planned to comprise 50 resorts by 2030, with around 8,000 hotel rooms, alongside more than 1,000 residential properties, according to the developer. Image: RSG Saudi’s Red Sea becomes first real test of foreign property ownership Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea development is…

The Hero Dubai Desert Classic, the oldest golf tournament in the Middle East, is celebrating its 37th edition from 22nd to 25th January 2026 at Emirates Golf Club. As part of this milestone year, the tournament is currently taking its iconic Dallah Trophy on a week‑long tour of Dubai’s schools, reinforcing its long‑standing commitment to inspiring young people and growing the game at the grassroots level. The English College hosted the opening day on Monday 19th January and welcomed DP World Tour professional Nicolai Højgaard for a special meet and greet and Q&A session with students. Alongside the trophy display,…

Merkle plans to return the full $180M raised to investors, framing the move as responsible capital management. Farcaster co-founder Dan Romero said on January 22 that the decentralized social protocol is not shutting down, pushing back against online claims that followed its acquisition by Neynar earlier this week. He also said Merkle, Farcaster’s parent entity, plans to return the full $180 million it raised to investors. The comments came after days of heated debate on X, where critics framed the Neynar deal as a quiet wind-down, while supporters argued it was an orderly transition that keeps the protocol alive…

The Department of Justice has reportedly opened a criminal investigation into HR and payroll startup Deel over allegations that it hired a corporate spy to leak information on its biggest rival, Rippling, reports The Wall Street Journal. In an emailed statement to TechCrunch, Deel says that it is “not aware of any investigation. We will always cooperate with the relevant authorities and provide any necessary information in response to valid inquiries.” Deel’s statement then makes its own allegations against Rippling. It points to its own lawsuit that alleges its rival has been on a “smear campaign,” claiming it’s beating the…

The UAE tourism sector generated hotel revenues of approximately AED44.4bn ($12.1bn) between January and November 2025, underlining its role as a key driver of sustainable economic growth and international competitiveness. The performance was highlighted at the International Tourism Fair – FITUR Madrid 2026, where senior UAE officials showcased the country’s tourism achievements, global partnerships and long-term growth strategy. Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council, participated in FITUR Madrid 2026, held from 21 to 25 January at IFEMA in Spain. The exhibition aims to strengthen international tourism partnerships with key…

LEGOLAND® Dubai Resort has launched the Junior LEGO® Builder: School Challenge Edition, a first-of-its-kind inter-school competition inviting 220 schools across Dubai to take part in a creative, play-based learning experience for students aged 6 to 12. Created to nurture the Builders of Tomorrow, the initiative empowers students to represent their schools through hands-on LEGO® building, celebrating creativity, teamwork and problem-solving through play. Fully led by LEGOLAND® Dubai Resort, the competition encourages children to step away from screens and engage in collaborative, experiential learning in a supportive, family-friendly environment. A Two-Stage Journey from Classroom to Theme Park The Junior LEGO® Builder:…

The 2026 edition of the World Governments Summit (WGS) will host the largest ever international participation since its inception and convene several landmark forums, underlining its rising global stature and significance. The roster of world-leading corporations and knowledge institutions at the global forum includes the International Monetary Fund (IMF), International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of The World Bank, as well as more than 35 heads of state, government delegations, and 150+ governments. WGS 2026 also hosts multiple world-class forums, notably the New Silk Road Forum, the high-level IFC-led Investment Forum – Latin America & the Caribbean, 10th International Cooperation…

Pi Network’s team introduced another update, while XRP and ETH have fallen below key levels. Pi Network (PI), Ripple (XRP), and Ethereum (ETH) have posted substantial price declines over the past week, driven by global geopolitical tensions surrounding Trump’s intentions to annex Greenland. In the following lines, we will touch upon everything most interesting and important involving these cryptocurrencies. Pi Network’s Latest Update Earlier this week, Pi Network’s Core Team introduced Pi payment integration directly within the Pi App Studio. The development is especially important for non-technical users, as it allows them to build on the ecosystem without technical…