Author: Emirates Insight
The UAE and Saudi Arabia are firmly at the centre of a rapid acceleration in coffee consumption across the Middle East, reinforcing the region’s position as one of the world’s most dynamic and sophisticated specialty coffee markets. The surge comes as World of Coffee Dubai prepares to stage its fifth edition at Dubai World Trade Centre from January 18 to 20, 2026. Rising consumption, expanding café culture and deeper investment across supply chains are reshaping how coffee is produced, traded and consumed across the region, with the Gulf markets setting the pace. Coffee industry The UAE continues to anchor regional…
Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD) has set a new benchmark for the UAE banking sector by becoming the first bank in the country to fully activate Open Finance into live operational use under the Central Bank of the UAE’s Open Finance Initiative, AlTareq. The activation has been delivered in collaboration with Central Bank–licensed third-party providers (TPPs), including Pay10 and Lean Technologies, both of which are now connected and operational with CBD under the Open Finance Framework. Throughout the live-proving phase, CBD worked closely with its TPP partners to meet regulatory, technical and operational requirements set by the Central Bank of…
Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the international financial centre of Abu Dhabi, is entering its second decade with strengthened momentum after announcing the addition of 11 new major global financial institutions representing more than $9tn in assets under management. The increase marks a dramatic rise from $635bn last year and $450bn in 2023, representing one of the most significant expansions by any international financial centre globally this year. The growth reinforces ADGM’s position as the region’s fastest-growing international financial centre and one of the world’s most dynamic jurisdictions for asset management. Abu Dhabi is “Capital of Capital” The announcements were…
Wintermute reports repeated selloffs as Bitcoin briefly dipped below $85K and Ethereum fell under $3K last week. As 2025 draws to a close, cryptocurrency markets are still volatile, with traders facing hundreds of millions in daily liquidations despite typically quiet holiday trading. This persistent instability, marked by sharp price swings and failing rallies, reflects a market still struggling to recover from a historic crash and now grappling with structural uncertainty heading into the new year. Heavy Liquidations Expose Fragile Year-End Market Structure According to a recent report by market maker Wintermute, downside pressure intensified early last week, with Bitcoin…
Nomura today announced the opening of their new premises in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the leading global financial hub in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA). Leveraging the International Wealth Management expertise of Nomura Singapore Limited, the Dubai office launched in 2023 to expand Nomura’s wealth management client franchise in the Middle East. This strategy, coupled with the hiring of senior, experienced relationship managers, has led to the successful expansion of the business. While the initial focus was on building a platform for the South Asian diaspora in the MEASA region, the firm will target sustainable growth…
The excitement for the European startup market was hard to ignore at the annual Slush conference in Helsinki last month. But the actual data on the state of the region’s venture market shows a different reality. The upshot: The European market has not recovered from the global venture capital reset that occurred in 2022 and 2023. But there is evidence it is on the cusp of a turnaround, including Klarna’s recent exit and the region’s homegrown AI startups garnering attention from local investors and beyond. Investors poured €43.7 billion ($52.3 billion) into European startups in 2025 across 7,743 deals through…
The UAE is consolidating its position as a global hub for luxury living, with branded residences emerging as one of the country’s fastest-growing real estate segments. According to a new report from CBRE Middle East, demand is being fuelled by strong economic fundamentals, international wealth migration and a rapidly expanding development pipeline across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah. CBRE’s latest UAE Branded Residence Report highlights how branded homes have become a preferred asset class for high-net-worth individuals and internationally mobile investors, offering globally recognised standards of quality, security and convenience. The trend is underpinned by continued economic growth,…
Dubai’s transformation from a humble fishing village to a global metropolis hasn’t diminished its rich cultural heritage. The cultural festivals in Dubai offer visitors and residents alike an extraordinary opportunity to experience the emirates diverse traditions, modern innovations and international influences. These celebrations showcase the perfect blend of ancient Dubai traditions and bring people together through art, food, music and history. The Dubai Shopping Festival stands as one of the world’s largest retail and entertainment events, transforming the entire city into a shopper’s paradise from January to February. This month-long extravaganza goes far beyond shopping, featuring spectacular fireworks display, live…
Analyst argues Bitcoin’s upside no longer justifies risk, with BTC now trading about 30x above its last cycle low. A prominent crypto analyst known for their long-standing Bitcoin optimism has issued a stark recommendation: reduce BTC exposure in favor of select altcoins. In a detailed social media post, CrediBULL Crypto argued that with BTC near $90,000, its potential return no longer justifies the risk compared to fundamentally sound alternatives trading at deep discounts. Bitcoin Still Leads, But Alts Offer Better Upside CrediBULL opened the analysis by stressing their history of bullish Bitcoin calls from as low as $3,000 in…
Amadeus Gulf marked Pink October with a series of community-focused bowling events held in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai, bringing together women travel professionals from leading agencies across the UAE. The initiative, themed “Empowering the Women Network,” aimed to promote breast cancer awareness, encourage early detection, and strengthen professional bonds within the travel community. The Abu Dhabi event took place at Khalifa International Bowling Centre, followed by the Dubai edition at Dubai Bowling Centre. Both evenings opened with an impactful awareness session on breast cancer led by a healthcare professional, highlighting preventive measures and the importance of regular checkups. This…