分类： business

Dubai’s real estate market is witnessing a surge in demand for furnished, ready-to-move-in homes, driven by the influx of expatriates and professionals seeking convenience and cost efficiency. According to Bayut, nearly 59,000 property transactions were recorded in the third quarter of 2025, totaling over Dh169 billion. Furnished homes accounted for more than 18,500 deals worth Dh86.4 billion, highlighting their growing popularity. Real estate experts attribute this trend to the city’s expanding population, which recently surpassed four million, and the increasing number of foreign workers and investors arriving post-pandemic. Humaira Vaqqas, a senior consultant at Range International Properties, emphasized that furnished apartments eliminate logistical challenges, allowing newcomers to settle in immediately without the hassle of purchasing furniture or setting up utilities. These units often come equipped with essential items like sofas, beds, and kitchen appliances, and sometimes include pre-configured utilities such as Wi-Fi or gas. Industry analysts also note that short-term professionals, often on two- or three-year contracts, prefer the flexibility of furnished homes to avoid long-term investments in household items. This trend is further supported by the moderation in price and rental growth in the mid-market apartment segment, as reported by Cushman & Wakefield Core. As Dubai continues to attract global talent, the demand for seamless living solutions is expected to remain robust.

A Chinese woman, Zhimin Qian, known as the ‘cryptoqueen,’ has been sentenced to over 11 years in prison by a UK court for orchestrating a massive Bitcoin fraud scheme. The 47-year-old defrauded more than 128,000 people in China through a Ponzi scheme, amassing 5 billion pounds ($6.6 billion) in Bitcoin. The UK police investigation led to the largest cryptocurrency seizure in the country, recovering devices containing 61,000 Bitcoin. Qian, who lived an extravagant lifestyle in Europe, was arrested in April 2024 after years of evading authorities. She had been staying in luxury hotels, purchasing fine jewelry, and attempting to buy multimillion-pound properties in London. Qian fled to the UK under a fake identity after attracting the attention of Chinese authorities. Her accomplice, Seng Hok Ling, a Malaysian national, was also sentenced to four years and 11 months for aiding in the transfer and laundering of the cryptocurrency. Judge Sally-Ann Hales described Qian’s actions as driven by ‘pure greed,’ highlighting her disregard for the victims whose life savings and pensions she had stolen.

The Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industries (Savi) Cluster, a groundbreaking initiative launched by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (Adio), is set to revolutionize the UAE’s economic landscape. By 2045, Savi is projected to create 40,000 highly skilled jobs across key sectors such as autonomous vehicles, eVTOL aircraft, maritime systems, and robotics. This ambitious project is expected to contribute approximately Dh44 billion to the emirate’s GDP. Ali Al Musawa AlHashmi, a Savi cluster specialist at Adio, emphasized the cluster’s comprehensive approach, which spans the entire value chain from research and development to manufacturing, deployment, and maintenance. Savi has already secured partnerships to launch 29 commercial projects in Abu Dhabi, with a focus on cargo and logistics. These collaborations aim to transform cutting-edge technologies into practical applications that enhance daily life. The recent Abu Dhabi Autonomous Summit 2025, attended by senior officials and industry leaders, showcased innovative solutions and highlighted the UAE’s commitment to fostering a knowledge-based economy. Savi’s ecosystem supports startups through initiatives like Hub 71 and leverages research institutions such as the Advanced Technology Research Council and Mohammed bin Zayed University for AI. With billions of dirhams invested and a focus on attracting foreign direct investment, Abu Dhabi is positioning itself as a global hub for advanced industries and sustainable economic growth.

Dubai Taxi Company PJSC (DTC) has announced a remarkable 28% year-on-year increase in net profit for the third quarter of 2025, reaching Dh76.4 million. This growth was fueled by heightened trip volumes and sustained demand across its mobility services. The company’s revenue also saw a significant boost, climbing 15% to Dh585.3 million, driven by fleet expansion and a 7% rise in completed trips, totaling 13.1 million across taxi and limousine services. Ebitda surged 23% to Dh151.4 million, with margins improving to 26%, up two percentage points from the previous year. The taxi segment remained the primary revenue generator, contributing Dh506 million, a 12% increase year-on-year, as the operational fleet expanded to 6,215 vehicles, including 401 fully electric units. Limousine revenue saw a modest 1% rise to Dh27.8 million, while the bus segment nearly doubled its revenue to Dh29.8 million, following revised contract terms with a major client. Delivery bike services experienced a 62% surge, reaching Dh18.3 million, reflecting robust growth in the on-demand delivery market. DTC distributed Dh160.7 million in dividends for the first half of the year in August, adhering to its policy of paying out at least 85% of annual net profit. The company concluded the quarter with a net debt-to-Ebitda ratio of 1.5x and a cash balance of Dh68 million. CEO Mansoor Rahma Alfalasi highlighted the company’s disciplined execution and operational excellence, noting a strategic partnership with Kabi as a significant step toward advancing Dubai’s e-hailing ecosystem. This alliance integrates DTC’s 6,215 taxis and Kabi’s 3,680 vehicles into Bolt and Zed platforms, aligning with Dubai’s goal to shift 80% of taxi trips to e-hailing. Looking forward, DTC aims to sustain growth through efficiency gains, digital enablement, and fleet optimization, while progressing toward its target of full electrification by 2040.

Lulu Retail Holdings, the largest full-line retailer in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, has unveiled an ambitious expansion strategy to open 50 new stores across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and other GCC countries over the next three years. This announcement comes on the heels of a robust financial performance in the first nine months of 2025, with the company reporting a 7.5% year-on-year increase in net profit, reaching $163 million.

Gold prices in Dubai experienced a significant uptick on Tuesday, with 24K gold inching closer to the Dh500 per gram mark. According to data from the Dubai Jewellery Group, 24K gold was trading at Dh499.25 per gram at market opening, reflecting a Dh13.5 increase over the past 24 hours. Similarly, 22K, 21K, and 18K gold were priced at Dh462.75, Dh443.25, and Dh379.75 per gram, respectively. This surge follows a period of easing after a strong rally in global precious metals, driven by softer economic data that has reinforced expectations of interest rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve. Spot gold also saw a rise, trading at $4,138.23 per ounce, up 0.59%, with a notable 3% jump late on Monday. Dilin Wu, a research strategist at Pepperstone, highlighted that central bank purchases, particularly by the People’s Bank of China (PBoC), have provided steady support for gold. However, shifting market expectations around a potential December Fed rate cut are limiting further gains. Wu noted that gold has been trading in a range-bound pattern, with bulls maintaining a modest edge. He added that a sustained push above $4,100 could open the door to further gains, while a drop below $4,000 might see support at $3,880–$3,900. Safe haven buying has been a key driver of recent gold support, as concerns over valuations have led to significant pullbacks in global tech stocks and AI-related equities. This has prompted a shift into defensive assets like gold. Additionally, central bank purchases, including those by the PBoC, Poland, Turkey, and other emerging markets, have provided structural support, complementing safe-haven flows and bolstering gold’s position.

As COP30 commences in Belem, Brazil, the global climate discourse remains centered on pledges and targets. However, the tangible shift in the clean energy transition is already evident in global markets, with China emerging as the epicenter of this transformation. China has seamlessly integrated its climate ambitions into a robust industrial strategy, leading the charge in solar, wind, battery, electric vehicle, and grid technology sectors. Its influence now extends to global cost structures, supply chains, and market expectations. By the end of 2024, China had exceeded its 2030 target for installed wind and solar capacity, reaching approximately 1,400 gigawatts, according to the National Energy Administration. This year marked a historic milestone as renewable capacity surpassed fossil fuel power for the first time. The International Energy Agency projects that China will account for nearly 60% of all new global renewable power capacity installed through 2030. This expansion has fundamentally altered energy economics, with industrial scale driving down the costs of solar modules, wind turbines, and batteries to levels that make clean power competitive without subsidies in most regions. China now controls over 80% of the global solar manufacturing supply chain and dominates electric vehicle and storage battery production. These developments are reshaping the global cost base, influencing corporate margins, trade balances, and valuations across continents. Equity markets are adjusting to this new energy reality, with overcapacity in solar manufacturing leading to fierce price competition within China. The ripple effect outside China is supporting suppliers of critical materials like copper, lithium, nickel, and rare earths, as well as grid operators and logistics companies serving new energy infrastructure. Credit markets are evolving in parallel, with green and transition bonds linked to Chinese exports multiplying. Emerging market issuers are financing renewable projects built with Chinese technology, creating a new layer of investable debt and strengthening balance sheets tied to the energy transition. Private equity and infrastructure funds are positioning accordingly, with Belt and Road energy projects shifting focus from coal to solar and wind. Regional developers are securing Chinese components to meet domestic decarbonization targets, transforming clean power from a cost to a growth engine across multiple regions. Despite these advancements, challenges remain. China’s grid struggles to absorb the rapid expansion in renewable generation, some provinces face curtailment, and local debt constraints slow new approvals. Coal remains an important stabilizer of power sources, yet the percentage of clean power generation continues to rise, with policy direction remaining consistent and focused. The investment implications are clear: China’s dominance has made clean energy the world’s most powerful source of cost deflation in real assets, driving new cycles of industrial demand, commodity use, and infrastructure spending. Exposure to this transformation can take many forms, including listed renewables, metals critical to electrification, utilities integrating advanced storage, and the financing structures that link these sectors. While many governments view China’s rise through a political lens, markets perceive it through a structural one. Industrial ecosystems of this scale cannot be duplicated quickly, representing decades of accumulated capital and experience. Energy security, competitiveness, and productivity will increasingly depend on access to China’s clean energy ecosystem. Economies that hesitate to match this approach risk losing growth and influence in the decades ahead. The clean energy transition is no longer an aspiration but a functioning global market with China at its core. The combination of technology, capital, and industrial discipline emerging from Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen is setting the direction of economic opportunity across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Ignoring this shift won’t shield capital from its consequences but would mean missing one of the defining sources of sustainable return in the contemporary global economy.

China’s passenger car market experienced a notable slowdown in October, with even industry giants like BYD and Tesla reporting declines in sales. According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), year-on-year sales growth dropped to 4.4%, a significant decrease from September’s 11.2% and August’s 15.1%. This slowdown comes amid intense price competition in an already saturated market. However, the export of electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrids saw a remarkable surge, doubling from the previous year to approximately 250,000 units, as automakers increasingly target overseas markets.

Anshan’s Tiexi district in Liaoning province is leveraging its burgeoning pet industry to drive economic growth and urban transformation. With an annual revenue of 4 to 5 billion yuan ($562 million to $702 million), the district has become a hub for pet-related activities, accounting for two-thirds of the city’s pet industry earnings. This strategic shift marks a significant departure from Tiexi’s historical reliance on heavy industry, particularly its association with Ansteel Group, a state-owned steel manufacturer. The district’s focus on the pet industry exemplifies the broader industrial transformation underway in Northeast China, as it seeks to diversify its economy and cultivate emerging sectors. Ding Kunbin, head of Tiexi district, highlighted the region’s natural advantages for pet breeding, including a climate conducive to fur growth and a rich canine gene pool with around 200 breeds, many of which are rare. The pet industry’s roots trace back to the 1990s when laid-off steelworkers began home-based breeding operations, which later evolved into large-scale enterprises. Today, the sector is driven by a new generation of professionals and e-commerce platforms. With China’s aging population and declining marriage rates, the pet industry is poised for significant growth. The 2025 China Pet Industry White Paper reveals that China’s urban pet population reached 120 million in 2024, with a corresponding consumption market valued at 300 billion yuan. To support this growth, Tiexi is developing a pet theme park, a pet-friendly hotel, and an indoor pet transportation facility in collaboration with airlines. These initiatives aim to enhance animal welfare, improve urban pet-friendliness, and provide recreational spaces for pet owners. The district is also implementing a clear industrial spatial layout to minimize environmental impact and neighborhood disruption, with plans for centralized pet breeding bases to standardize practices and control disease outbreaks. Through spatial and industrial planning, detailed policies, and regulatory oversight, Tiexi is guiding its pet industry toward high-quality and high-value development.