Global Pulse

分类： business

  • Save in Gold launches platform to make gold ownership easy, secure, and accessible

    Save in Gold launches platform to make gold ownership easy, secure, and accessible

    Dubai-based gold investment firm Save in Gold has unveiled a comprehensive upgrade to its digital platform and mobile application, fundamentally transforming how consumers acquire and manage physical gold assets. The innovative system eliminates traditional packaging fees, creating a more transparent and economically viable purchasing process for investors of all levels.

    The enhanced platform provides real-time international gold pricing data, enabling users to make informed investment decisions aligned with global market standards. Beyond straightforward transactions, the service incorporates unique features including digital gifting options for special occasions and corporate incentives, blending traditional gold value with modern convenience.

    Customers benefit from multiple fulfillment methods, choosing between branch collection or secure 24-hour home delivery services. The Click & Collect mechanism offers complete transactional control from initial purchase to final collection, ensuring a seamless end-to-end experience.

    As an established member of the Dubai Gold & Jewellery Group, Save in Gold operates under the UAE’s stringent gold industry regulations, providing additional assurance of transactional integrity and professional standards. The company’s expansion across the Emirates increases accessibility through numerous physical touchpoints while maintaining personalized customer support.

    The platform represents a significant advancement in democratizing gold ownership, merging centuries-old investment traditions with contemporary digital convenience. This approach caters equally to novice investors and experienced collectors, transforming gold acquisition from mere transaction to meaningful financial experience.

  • Want cheaper flights? UAE travel data reveals best day, most affordable destinations

    Want cheaper flights? UAE travel data reveals best day, most affordable destinations

    New data analytics from global travel platform Skyscanner have identified Saturday as the most cost-effective day for flight departures from the United Arab Emirates, countering prevailing traveler misconceptions. Contrary to popular belief—where 28% of surveyed travelers suspected Tuesday and 25% believed Wednesday offered the lowest fares—statistical evidence confirms weekends provide the optimal pricing window for UAE-based travelers.

    The comprehensive travel analysis further reveals significant price variations based on destination selection and seasonal timing. Indian metropolitan centers dominate the affordability index, with Chennai emerging as the most economical destination at approximately Dh795 for round-trip economy fares. This is closely followed by Kozhikode (Dh937) and Mumbai (Dh975), while other South Asian hubs including Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, and Mangalore maintain competitive pricing between Dh1,000-1,100.

    Internationally, Istanbul presents as a viable budget-friendly alternative at Dh1,100, with Cairo and Dhaka marginally higher at Dh1,300. Manila completes the top ten most affordable destinations with average round-trip fares of Dh1,691. These figures derive from actual booking data compiled between January-October 2025 for travel throughout 2026.

    The research coincides with unprecedented travel意向 among UAE residents, with 96% planning international excursions in 2026 and 69% having already secured flight reservations. Notably, 64% remain flexible with travel dates, recognizing this as a critical factor in cost reduction. Half of respondents expressed financial concerns regarding international travel expenditures.

    To address growing demand for intelligent travel planning, Skyscanner has introduced a Cheapest Destination Planner tool, providing monthly affordability metrics, suggested travel dates, and destination insights. Complementary data from Marriott Bonvoy’s 2026 Ticket to Travel Report indicates sustained regional travel demand, with over 80% of UAE and Saudi travelers planning equivalent or increased travel compared to 2025.

    Industry trends further reveal advanced booking patterns averaging two months prior to departure, with multi-country itineraries remaining prevalent among 75% of travelers. European destinations including Italy, Switzerland, France, and Türkiye continue to feature prominently among UAE traveler preferences, reflecting persistent demand for experiential diversity and value-driven travel.

  • AMIS GPD Development partners with Jacob & Co to create ultra-luxury villa community in Meydan

    AMIS GPD Development partners with Jacob & Co to create ultra-luxury villa community in Meydan

    In a landmark fusion of haute horology and architectural excellence, AMIS GPD Development has announced a strategic partnership with iconic luxury brand Jacob & Co. to conceive an exclusive villa community within Dubai’s prestigious Meydan district. The collaboration was formally cemented during a signing ceremony at the AMIS Sales Centre on Sheikh Zayed Road, attended by key figures including Jacob Arabo, Founder of Jacob & Co., and Neeraj Mishra, CEO of AMIS GPD Development.

    This venture aims to establish a new paradigm for luxury living by integrating the meticulous artistry synonymous with high watchmaking into residential design. The development promises to deliver an unparalleled standard of sophistication through the utilization of premium materials, refined aesthetic principles, and cutting-edge technology. Each villa is envisioned as a testament to exclusivity and contemporary elegance, designed to cater to the most discerning global clientele.

    Jacob Arabo emphasized the shared philosophy driving the project, stating the collaboration represents a fusion of two brands united by a passion for excellence, destined to create a beacon of sophistication in Dubai. Neeraj Mishra highlighted the partnership as a critical milestone in amplifying AMIS’s footprint within the emirate’s high-end real estate landscape, ensuring an offering unmatched in design and innovation. Shareholder Shah Azim Hameed echoed this sentiment, framing the initiative as a reflection of long-term confidence in Dubai’s property market, combining robust development fundamentals with world-class design excellence to create a future-focused residential legacy.

  • O Gold transforms into a lifestyle super app where gold becomes your daily currency

    O Gold transforms into a lifestyle super app where gold becomes your daily currency

    DUBAI – In a groundbreaking development for the fintech sector, O Gold has announced its complete transformation from a digital gold investment platform into a comprehensive lifestyle super app, introducing the world’s first gold-backed Mastercard payment system. This strategic evolution marks a significant milestone for the UAE-based Shariah-compliant platform, which now serves an expanding community of over 800,000 users.

    The newly launched O Gold Mastercard represents a paradigm shift in asset liquidity, enabling users to seamlessly utilize their gold holdings for everyday transactions without the traditional constraints of selling or liquidating assets. Through strategic partnerships with Mawarid Finance and Mastercard, the platform allows instant spending of gold balances at various merchants – from local cafés to international retailers – while maintaining full Shariah compliance and robust security protocols.

    Beyond its core payment functionality, the super app offers a premium suite of lifestyle benefits tailored for global citizens and sophisticated investors. Platinum Card holders gain access to exclusive privileges including complimentary airport lounge access, hotel discounts, and merchant offers across retail, dining, and e-commerce sectors worldwide.

    The platform’s expanded ecosystem bridges digital assets with tangible value through a gold-powered marketplace featuring over 8,000 international brands. Users can leverage their gold reserves to purchase vouchers, gift cards, travel services including global eSIM data packages, and participate in an interactive rewards program.

    At the foundation of this innovation lies O Gold’s secure digital wallet infrastructure, backed by physical gold stored in insured UAE vaults. The platform supports fractional gold ownership, automated savings plans, yield generation on holdings, legacy planning through beneficiary nomination, and real-time portfolio tracking with transparent financial reporting.

    Bandar Alothman, Founder of O Gold, stated: ‘We are fundamentally redefining gold’s role in the modern economy. For the first time, gold transitions from a passive savings instrument to an active, spendable asset integrated into daily financial behavior.’

    CEO Ahmed Abdeltawab emphasized the company’s vision: ‘Our integrated ecosystem establishes a new global benchmark for how precious metals can power both immediate transactions and long-term financial security within a single, ethical framework.’

    Operating on principles of transparency and quality assurance, O Gold sources its precious metals exclusively from reputable suppliers while maintaining insured storage and competitive pricing structures. This transformation positions the company at the forefront of ethical, gold-backed financial innovation worldwide.

  • UAE: Nearly half of recruiters say they could not do their work without AI

    UAE: Nearly half of recruiters say they could not do their work without AI

    A transformative shift is underway in the United Arab Emirates’ recruitment landscape as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integral to hiring processes. New research from LinkedIn reveals that 47% of UAE recruiters now consider AI indispensable to their professional functions, signaling a profound technological transformation in the region’s employment sector.

    The comprehensive study demonstrates that an overwhelming majority—76%—of talent acquisition specialists credit AI with significantly accelerating their ability to fill vacant positions. This efficiency gain represents a substantial advancement in recruitment methodology, potentially reshaping how organizations identify and secure talent in the competitive UAE market.

    Despite these operational benefits, the research uncovered significant adaptation challenges within the recruitment community. Approximately 68% of UAE hiring professionals express concerns about their preparedness for AI’s continuing evolution within their industry. This apprehension highlights a critical gap between technological implementation and human readiness in the rapidly changing digital landscape.

    Further complicating this transition, 75% of recruiters worry that AI-conducted interviews may create impersonal candidate experiences without careful implementation strategies. Additionally, 80% of professionals desire better tools and training to navigate AI’s rapid development cycle effectively.

    On the candidate side, the research reveals parallel uncertainties. More than half (56%) of job seekers report confusion about how AI affects their visibility during application processes, while 46% struggle to distinguish themselves in AI-driven screening systems. These concerns are exacerbated by broader frustrations, with 35% of applicants receiving no acknowledgment of their submissions.

    Notably, UAE professionals demonstrate exceptional digital readiness globally, with 81% expressing confidence in workplace AI applications—among the highest adoption rates worldwide. Many are proactively leveraging AI to enhance applications, identify opportunities, and prepare for interviews, while one-third actively strengthen their competitiveness through skill development and profile optimization.

    According to Ali Matar, LinkedIn’s Emerging Markets Leader for EMEA, these findings indicate a clear need for enhanced guidance, transparency, and support systems as AI becomes central to recruitment ecosystems. This transformation occurs against a backdrop of projected growth, with separate studies indicating the UAE will require one million technology and AI specialists by 2030, creating substantial opportunities for job seekers equipped to navigate this new technological paradigm.

  • UAE jobs: 7 out of 10 employees plan to look for new roles in 2026

    UAE jobs: 7 out of 10 employees plan to look for new roles in 2026

    The United Arab Emirates is experiencing a significant transformation in its employment landscape, with a remarkable 72% of the workforce actively planning to seek new positions in 2026. This trend emerges amidst growing competition and increasing complexity in the hiring process, according to recent data from LinkedIn’s comprehensive survey of the Emirates’ job market.

    Current statistics reveal that 65% of UAE employees report increased difficulty in securing employment compared to the previous year, while 63% attribute this challenge primarily to heightened competition. Paradoxically, despite these market pressures, 74% of workers express satisfaction with their current roles while simultaneously anticipating a highly competitive job environment in the coming year.

    Demographic expansion plays a crucial role in this employment dynamic. Official figures indicate the UAE’s population surged from 11.02 million at the end of 2024 to 11.52 million in 2025, representing substantial growth of nearly two million residents over the past five years. This population boom has created a corresponding increase in job seekers competing for available positions.

    The nation’s strategic economic shift toward knowledge-based industries has simultaneously driven demand for white-collar and highly skilled professionals. This transition creates a unique market situation where three out of four hiring professionals report increased difficulty in identifying qualified candidates, indicating pressure on both sides of the employment equation.

    Ali Matar, LinkedIn’s Emerging Markets Leader for EMEA, commented: ‘UAE professionals rank among the most digitally advanced globally, yet they’re navigating an exceptionally rapid evolution in hiring practices.’

    LinkedIn’s research provides strategic recommendations for job seekers:

    • Embrace market responsiveness by monitoring industry trends and identifying necessary skills
    • Utilize AI-powered tools for efficient job matching and application processes
    • Maintain updated professional profiles with verified credentials
    • Leverage LinkedIn’s Premium features to highlight strong interest in specific positions
    • Cultivate professional networks to uncover unexpected opportunities
    • Explore emerging roles through LinkedIn’s Jobs on the Rise platform with detailed market insights

    This employment landscape reflects the complex interplay between demographic growth, economic transformation, and evolving professional expectations in one of the Middle East’s most dynamic economies.

  • Zuckerberg names banker, ex-Trump advisor as Meta president

    Zuckerberg names banker, ex-Trump advisor as Meta president

    Meta Platforms Inc. has announced the strategic appointment of Dina Powell McCormick, a seasoned banking executive and former Trump administration official, as its new President and Vice Chairman. The move signals a significant corporate realignment as the technology conglomerate accelerates its artificial intelligence infrastructure investments.

    Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg emphasized Powell McCormick’s unique qualifications for navigating Meta’s next growth phase, citing her extensive experience in global finance and international relations. Her appointment transitions her from Meta’s board of directors to a central operational role within the management team.

    In her expanded capacity, Powell McCormick will assume responsibility for Meta’s comprehensive AI infrastructure strategy, overseeing multi-billion-dollar investments in data centers and energy systems. A critical aspect of her role will involve forging partnerships with governments and sovereign wealth funds, particularly from the Middle East, which have emerged as crucial financiers in the global AI infrastructure race.

    Powell McCormick brings sixteen years of Goldman Sachs partnership experience, where she served on the management committee and led global sovereign investment banking. Most recently, she worked at BDT & MSD Partners, a financial advisory firm involved in securing U.S. investors for TikTok.

    The appointment continues Zuckerberg’s recent political alignment with conservative figures and policies, marking another high-profile Republican addition following Sheryl Sandberg’s departure in 2022. Former President Donald Trump publicly endorsed the selection, praising Powell McCormick’s service in his administration where she served as Deputy National Security Advisor shaping foreign policy.

    Powell McCormick is married to Pennsylvania Republican Senator Dave McCormick, further cementing her connections within conservative political circles. Her hiring reflects Meta’s intensified focus on securing the substantial capital required to compete in the increasingly expensive AI infrastructure landscape against other tech giants.

  • Etihad flies a record 22.4 million passengers in 2025, launches 16 new routes

    Etihad flies a record 22.4 million passengers in 2025, launches 16 new routes

    Abu Dhabi’s national carrier Etihad Airways has achieved unprecedented growth in 2025, transporting a record-breaking 22.4 million passengers throughout the year. This represents a substantial 21% year-on-year increase, marking the highest annual passenger volume in the airline’s operational history.

    The airline’s commercial performance demonstrated remarkable strength, with passenger load factors reaching 88.3% – an improvement of two percentage points compared to 2024 figures. This performance was particularly notable during December’s peak travel period, when the carrier transported 2.2 million passengers with an 87.6% load factor, representing a 28% increase over the same month in the previous year.

    Etihad’s expansion accounted for approximately half of the total passenger growth across the UAE aviation sector, underscoring its pivotal role in supporting Abu Dhabi’s tourism and economic development objectives. The airline’s growth strategy included the addition of 29 aircraft to its operating fleet during 2025, bringing its total to 127 aircraft – the largest fleet in the company’s history. This expansion included the introduction of Airbus A321LR aircraft, enabling the extension of premium cabin offerings to shorter and medium-haul destinations.

    Network development saw significant progress with the launch of 16 new routes, expanding Etihad’s global reach to 110 destinations by December 2025. CEO Antonoaldo Neves announced ambitious future plans, including a $10 billion investment over the next five years for new aircraft acquisitions and continued annual hiring of 2,500 personnel. Neves emphasized that the airline has doubled in size over the past three years and has dramatically improved its profitability standing within the aviation industry.

    The CEO attributed this success to sustained customer confidence in Etihad’s product and service quality, noting that the airline is ‘better positioned than ever’ to welcome visitors to Abu Dhabi while delivering exceptional travel experiences. Looking forward to 2026, the carrier remains committed to maintaining safety standards, enhancing customer service, and pursuing sustainable growth that benefits both Abu Dhabi and the communities it serves globally.

  • Dubai sells 500 homes valued at over $10 million in 2025, sets new record

    Dubai sells 500 homes valued at over $10 million in 2025, sets new record

    Dubai’s luxury real estate market has established an unprecedented global benchmark, closing 2025 with a historic 500 residential transactions valued above $10 million each. This remarkable performance, documented by property consultancy Knight Frank, represents a significant 15% increase from the 435 ultra-luxury homes sold in 2024. The market’s most exclusive segment—properties exceeding $25 million—witnessed even more dramatic growth, with 68 transactions completed compared to 46 the previous year, marking a 45% year-on-year surge.

    The fourth quarter of 2025 alone accounted for 143 premium property sales, generating a total transaction value of $9.05 billion annually. The market’s pinnacle transaction occurred in Business Bay’s Bugatti Residences by Binghatti, where a six-bedroom apartment commanded Dh550 million ($149.7 million).

    Faisal Durrani, Knight Frank’s Partner and Head of Research for Mena, attributes this explosive growth to Dubai’s evolving reputation as a sanctuary for global elites. ‘The emirate’s transformation from just 30 premium sales in 2020 to 500 today demonstrates its powerful appeal among high-net-worth individuals worldwide,’ Durrani noted. This attraction stems from Dubai’s exceptional quality of life, superior infrastructure, and government-led investment initiatives.

    Geographic distribution data reveals Palm Jumeirah as the preferred destination for luxury buyers, with 28 transactions in Q4 2025. Palm Jebel Ali followed with 22 sales, while La Mer (16), Jumeirah Second (13), and Tilal Al Ghaf (9) completed the top five locations.

    Will McKintosh, Regional Partner and Head of Residential for Mena at Knight Frank, emphasized Dubai’s unique market positioning: ‘The creation of comprehensive destination communities that integrate leisure, safety, and convenience into self-contained ecosystems has differentiated Dubai from other global gateway cities, attracting unprecedented attention from the world’s wealthiest individuals.’

    Supporting this luxury property boom, Dubai’s millionaire population has grown substantially, now hosting 86,000 millionaires, 251 centi-millionaires, and 23 billionaires according to mid-2025 data. World-class healthcare, education facilities, and unparalleled security continue to drive this demographic shift, cementing Dubai’s status as a premier global wealth hub.

  • Dubai gold prices at record high; 24K reaches Dh550 per gram

    Dubai gold prices at record high; 24K reaches Dh550 per gram

    Dubai’s gold market witnessed unprecedented price surges on Monday morning as 24-karat gold reached a historic high of Dh550.25 per gram, according to data released by the Dubai Jewellery Group. The remarkable rally saw 24K gold climbing Dh7 per gram while 22K gold simultaneously increased by Dh6.5 to reach Dh509.5 per gram.

    The price escalation extended across all variants, with 21K gold rising to Dh488.75, 18K to Dh418.75, and 14K to Dh326.75 per gram. This domestic surge mirrored global trends where spot gold breached the psychological barrier of $4,600 per ounce for the first time in history, trading at $4,568.13 with a 1.31 percent increase at 9am UAE time.

    Multiple geopolitical and economic factors are driving this bullion boom. Market analysts attribute the surge to heightened safe-haven demand amid escalating tensions between the US and Iran, with President Donald Trump threatening military action in response to protests within the Persian nation. Simultaneously, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s revelation that he faces federal criminal investigation regarding the central bank’s $2.5 billion headquarters renovation has created additional market uncertainty.

    Powell characterized the investigation as a governmental ‘pretext’ designed to pressure the Federal Reserve into implementing rate cuts. These combined factors have intensified investor anxiety, reinforcing gold’s status as a preferred asset during periods of economic instability and geopolitical turmoil.