Author: Emirates Insight
Crypto enters 2026 on a positive footing, but retail sentiment remains fragile and driven by immediate news catalysts. Crypto market sentiment has improved at the start of 2026 as prices across major digital assets rebound from last year’s extended correction. New data shows retail traders growing more optimistic as ETF headlines and macro narratives increasingly influence crypto price movements. According to the latest social and sentiment data compiled by Santiment, there has been a renewed optimism among retail traders, even as recent price action has begun to flatten and Bitcoin (BTC) tests key psychological levels. Recovery has not been…
OpenAI is kicking off the new year with yet another acqui-hire. The AI giant is acquiring the team behind Convogo, a business software platform that helps executive coaches, consultants, talent leaders, and HR teams automate and improve leadership assessments and feedback reporting. An OpenAI spokesperson said the company is not acquiring Convogo’s IP or technology, but rather hiring the team to work on its “AI cloud efforts.” The three co-founders — Matt Cooper, Evan Cater, and Mike Gillett — will join OpenAI as part of what a source familiar with the matter called an all-stock deal. Convogo’s product will be…
The emirate’s tourism performance reflects a diversified offering that spans culture, heritage, nature, entertainment and major international events. Spanning a vast geographical area, Abu Dhabi is home to historical landmarks, museums, forts and archaeological sites, alongside natural attractions including deserts, islands, beaches, mountains, gardens and ghaf forests, positioning it as a preferred destination for travel and culture enthusiasts. Abu Dhabi tourism The emirate hosts some of the world’s most prominent museums and art institutions, in addition to major sports and entertainment destinations. Its annual calendar includes the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island, the Abu…
Talk about the craziest resume ever. It started with pan lids on a kitchen counter. No stage, no decks, no plan. Just an infectiously gooood energy and a woman who genuinely wanted to make people feel a little less alone. Fast forward a few years and that same woman, now known globally as Crazy Auntie, has over 4.3M followers, 78M+ likes on TikTok, celebrity fans like Ed Sheeran, Paris Hilton, Courtney Cox and Slash Oh, and DJ gigs lined up across Dubai to Miami. Phew! It becomes even cooler when you know that she didn’t even touch a real DJ…
Cycling enthusiasts and families in the United Arab Emirates have just over two weeks to secure their places in this year’s L’Étape Dubai by Tour de France presented by Škoda (24–25 January), where they will have the unique opportunity to ride alongside legendary cyclist Peter Sagan. With more than 700 riders already registeredfor this Dubai Sports Council-backed event, the confirmation of Sagan’s participation further embodies the spirit of the world’s most iconic cycling race as it returns to the UAE for its second edition. Part of the official L’Étape series events (25 countries, more than 30 races),the event brings the…
ZEC has dumped hard over the past 24 hours again. The expectations for a highly volatile Friday due to the numerous significant developments in the US didn’t really materialize, and BTC has calmed at $90,500. Most larger-cap alts have remained sluggish over the past 24 hours, with ETH struggling below $3,100, and XRP close to breaking beneath $2.10. BTC Calms The primary cryptocurrency began the business week on the right foot, surging to almost $95,000 on Tuesday morning. This impressive price jump came after the volatile weekend, in which bitcoin defended the $90,000 support even after the US carried…
US President Donald Trump issued a warning to leaders of Iran on Friday as videos showed anti-government protests raging across the country, and authorities blacked out the internet to curb growing unrest. Rights groups have documented dozens of deaths of protesters in nearly two weeks and, with Iranian state TV showing clashes and fires, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that several police officers had been killed overnight. Trump, who bombed Iran last summer and warned Tehran last week the US could come to the protesters’ aid issued another warning on Friday, saying: “You better not start shooting because we’ll…
A former SandboxAQ executive filed a wrongful termination suit last month filled with such scandalous allegations against the company’s famed CEO, Jack Hidary, that the plaintiff himself redacted the most salacious details. On Friday, the company’s lawyers filed a blistering response, calling the former employee a “serial liar” and stating his lawsuit “asserts false claims for improper and extortionate purposes.” Even the visible portions of the lawsuit — which TechCrunch has obtained — contain eyebrow-raising allegations, should a court find them valid. (A copy of the lawsuit is available here.) The case offers a rare inside look at how employee lawsuits…
Salik Company PJSC, Dubai’s exclusive toll gate operator, has been certified as a “Great Place to Work” for the period from 2025 to 2026 by the globally recognised “Great Place to Work “Authority, (Achieving a highly respected international standard for workplace excellence) and reflecting the company’s continued commitment to cultivating a positive, inclusive, and high-performing workplace. This recognition highlights Salik’s strong people-centric culture, where trust, collaboration, and shared purpose underpin day-to-day operations. It reinforces the company’s belief that empowered employees are central to delivering operational excellence and supporting Dubai’s vision for a smart, efficient, and future-ready mobility ecosystem. Organisations awarded…
Across the UAE and Saudi Arabia, governments moved decisively on rail, real estate, capital markets and corporate regulation. Exclusive interviews and data-led reports also shed light on shifting investment trends, from luxury watches to property and ports. Catch up on 10 of the biggest stories this week as selected by Arabian Business editors. UAE passenger rail network: Etihad Rail reveals full national system connecting 11 cities ahead of 2026 launch Etihad Rail has announced full details of the UAE’s national passenger railway network, marking a major milestone in the country’s transport and infrastructure development. The project will deliver the UAE’s…