Author: Emirates Insight

Every year, TechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield pitch contest draws thousands of applicants. We whittle those applications down to the top 200 contenders, and of them, the top 20 compete on the big stage to become the winner, taking home the Startup Battlefield Cup and a cash prize of $100,000. But the remaining 180 startups all blew us away as well in their respective categories and compete in their own pitch competition. Here is the full list of the government and legal Startup Battlefield 200 selectees, along with a note on why they landed in the competition.  Aparti What it does: Uses AI to automate…

The General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA Dubai) has announced the launch of the “Closer to You” initiative as a strategic campaign aimed at bringing government services closer to the community and establishing an interactive model that reflects the UAE’s people-first approach. The initiative will be launched in its first edition at Global Village from 5th January to 5th February 2026, serving as an open community platform that combines service delivery, awareness and interactive experiences at one of Dubai’s most prominent family destinations. The “Closer to You” initiative includes an integrated platform featuring several informational zones…

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, praised the outstanding leadership and vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai on the 20th anniversary of his accession as the Ruler of Dubai. Joining His Highness were several UAE royals and dignitaries, including his son and Crown Prince of Dubai, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, and HH Sheikh Khaled…

TRM’s report shows crypto is now embedded in state economic and security planning, not treated as a fringe asset. A new report by blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs has revealed that governments around the world are no longer standing on the sidelines of crypto markets, with states from North Korea to Singapore actively putting blockchain networks to work as part of their national financial strategies. However, there’s a divide between how authoritarian and democratic governments use digital assets, and this, per the report, is turning crypto into a quiet but powerful force in global finance and geopolitics. Crypto Moves…

Twitter co-founder Biz Stone and Pinterest co-founder Evan Sharp have raised new funding for their social media startup West Co. The startup launched an invite-only version of its first app, Tangle, in November. Now the Financial Times has pieced together more details from comments made by Stone and Sharp, as well as from regulatory filings and job listings. The company has reportedly raised $29 million, with Spark Capital leading its seed round. Sharp — the company’s CEO — described West Co as emerging from the question, “What could I build that might help address just some of the terrible devastation…

The Oud Maitha Road and Al Asayel Street development project as part of the Sheikh Rashid Corridor Development Project is more than three-fifths complete. The major project includes the development of four major intersections, featuring bridges spanning 4.3 km and roads extending 14 kilometres. It will increase the capacity of Oud Maitha Road from 10,400 vehicles per hour in both directions to 15,600 vehicles per hour, almost a 50 per cent increase, while reducing journey time from 20 minutes to just five minutes, achieving an improvement of 75 per cent. Upon completion in 2030, the project will serve more than…

Several meme coins have posted notable gains over the past day. Bitcoin’s price resurgence that started at the beginning of the year continued in the past 24 hours as the asset tapped a multi-week peak of just under $92,000. Many larger-cap altcoins have posted even more impressive gains daily, including ETH, which has reclaimed the $3,100 resistance, and XRP, which is close to $2.10. BTC Eyes $92K After closing 2025 as the first post-halving year in the red, bitcoin began 2026 on the right foot and quickly surged from $88,000 to almost $91,000 on Friday. It faced an immediate…

The plan represents a pivotal phase in advancing economic and social transformation, built on comprehensive and sectoral policies focused on efficiency, sustainability and competitiveness. It places particular emphasis on fiscal sustainability and economic diversification, which the government has identified as critical to safeguarding and sustaining long-term growth. Low-carbon growth A central priority of the plan is a gradual transition towards a low-carbon economy, alongside the implementation of sustainable environmental policies. These measures align with global efforts to mitigate climate change and preserve natural resources for future generations. Positioned as a bridge from economic recovery to a phase of growth and…

Arya.ag, an Indian agritech company offering storage facilities near farms and offering lending services to hundreds of thousands of farmers, has drawn investor interest and remained profitable even as global crop prices continue to fall in a volatile commodities market. The investor interest has taken shape in the latest all-equity Series D round from GEF Capital Partners, totaling $81 million, of which more than 70% was primary capital and the rest secondary share sales, according to the company. Globally, agricultural commodity prices are falling. Risks from extreme weather, input costs, trade disruptions, and biofuel policy shifts continue to weigh on…

Tough Mudder Middle East is set to return to Dubai on 7-8 February 2026, bringing its much-loved mix of mud, teamwork and larger-than-life obstacles back to The Sevens Stadium. Now firmly established on the city’s fitness calendar, the two-day event promises another lively weekend built around shared challenge and the unmistakable Tough Mudder atmosphere. Tough Mudder has long been known for transforming endurance events into team endeavours, drawing participants who value camaraderie just as much as physical effort. The obstacles, from plunges into ice water to muddy crawls and team walls, are designed to be tackled together, which has helped…