分类： business

In a landmark development for Middle Eastern fintech, UAE-based digital banking pioneer Zand has officially integrated with the enterprise-grade XDC Network blockchain. This strategic partnership, announced on January 13, 2026, represents a significant advancement in blockchain-powered financial infrastructure for institutional clients.

The collaboration enables Zand’s corporate and institutional clients to utilize XDC Network for digital asset custody services through Zand’s regulated platform, pending necessary regulatory approvals. This integration facilitates faster, more transparent, and cost-effective financial transactions while maintaining regulatory compliance.

A key application of this technology integration involves revolutionizing gold trading markets through ComTech Gold, which merges traditional gold investment benefits with blockchain technology advantages. This creates enhanced security, transparency, and efficiency in precious metal transactions.

Michael Chan, CEO of Zand, emphasized the transformative potential: “We are entering a new era where blockchain technology serves as the foundation for more efficient and inclusive banking solutions. This collaboration supports our vision of building blockchain-powered financial products that bridge traditional and decentralized finance.”

Ritesh Kakkad, Co-Founder of XDC Network, highlighted the partnership’s significance: “Our collaboration with Zand brings together compliance, innovation, and real-world utility – demonstrating how blockchain technology powers the next generation of global payments and asset tokenization.”

The XDC Network’s ISO 20022 compliance ensures future-proof interoperability and enhanced regulatory alignment, positioning the platform at the forefront of financial technology standards. This development marks a substantial step toward mainstream blockchain adoption in Middle Eastern banking and financial services.

DUBAI – Chinese technology giant Xiaomi has significantly strengthened its Middle Eastern retail strategy with the inauguration of an advanced interactive store at Al Ghurair Centre, Dubai on January 10, 2026. The launch represents a strategic expansion in the United Arab Emirates market, featuring cutting-edge consumer engagement methodologies and comprehensive after-sales support infrastructure.

The grand opening ceremony witnessed the presence of Xiaomi’s senior leadership, including Mr. Xuezhong Zeng, Senior Vice President and President of International Business Department, alongside executives Tommy Yang, Huanying Hu, Quanxin Wang, and Ms. Xinran Zhao. The store introduces an innovative retail concept where customers can physically interact with Xiaomi’s latest technological innovations through hands-on product testing stations and feature discovery zones.

Central to the new retail space is the prominent display of Xiaomi’s recently launched REDMI Note 15 Series, featuring the premium REDMI Note 15 Pro+ 5G and REDMI Note 15 Pro 5G models. The establishment additionally showcases an extensive array of smart devices operating within Xiaomi’s interconnected ecosystem, providing consumers with a holistic brand experience.

Complementing the retail operations, Xiaomi has established a dedicated Service Center within the premises staffed by certified technicians utilizing advanced diagnostic equipment. This facility offers transparent pricing structures, genuine replacement components, repair warranties, and stringent data privacy protocols for device maintenance, replacements, and refund services.

The inaugural event generated substantial consumer enthusiasm, with attendees receiving exclusive promotional discounts and complimentary Xiaomi products. This retail development underscores Xiaomi’s commitment to enhancing direct consumer engagement in key international markets while establishing robust operational support systems.

The United Arab Emirates has cemented its position as a global leader in aviation safety, with three of its carriers securing spots among the world’s top five safest airlines according to AirlineRatings’ prestigious 2026 assessment. Etihad Airways achieved the remarkable distinction of being ranked the world’s safest airline, marking the first time a Gulf carrier has claimed the top position.

The comprehensive safety evaluation, which analyzed 25 full-service and budget carriers, placed Etihad at the pinnacle followed by Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Qatar Airways, and Emirates completing the top five. The rankings considered multiple safety parameters including fleet age, incident rates, crash history, cockpit safety advancements, and independent onboard safety audits.

Sharon Petersen, CEO of AirlineRatings, emphasized that Etihad’s achievement resulted from a combination of factors: “A young fleet, advancements in cockpit safety particularly around turbulence management, a crash-free history, and the lowest incident rate per flight of any airline on our list. Their excellent adherence to turbulence management in the cabin during our independent audit was particularly impressive.”

Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways, expressed pride in receiving “one of the most respected airline safety awards in the world,” noting that the achievement “reflects the strength of our safety culture, the dedication of our people, and the aviation excellence of our region.”

The UAE’s aviation success story is underpinned by substantial investments exceeding billions of dollars in new, fuel-efficient aircraft. This strategic commitment was demonstrated during the Dubai Airshow 2025, where UAE carriers—Emirates, Etihad Airways, and flydubai—collectively ordered over 500 commercial and cargo aircraft valued at approximately Dh420 billion.

In the budget airline category, flydubai secured fourth position, making it the only regional carrier in the top ten safest low-cost airlines. HK Express led the budget rankings, followed by Jetstar Airways and Scoot.

Petersen highlighted the remarkably narrow safety margins between top carriers, noting that incident rates across all listed airlines ranged between 0.002 and 0.09 per flight—a testament to the industry’s overall safety standards. “Inclusion in the top 25 reflects not just excellence in aircraft and operations but the crucial role of skilled aircrew and robust safety practices,” she added.

The 2026 rankings also welcomed new entrants including Starlux and Fiji Airways, while Spring Airlines China became the first Chinese carrier to appear in AirlineRatings’ rankings.

Asian financial markets experienced a broad upswing on Tuesday, with Japan’s benchmark index leading the charge following record-breaking performances on Wall Street. The trading session saw mixed movements in U.S. futures and moderate gains in oil prices.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 index soared dramatically, climbing 3.1% to reach an unprecedented intraday peak of 53,814.79 as markets reopened after a national holiday. This remarkable surge was primarily fueled by substantial advances in technology stocks. Leading the rally, semiconductor testing equipment manufacturer Advantest witnessed an impressive 8.5% jump, while chip producer Tokyo Electron advanced 8.3%. Conglomerate SoftBank Group also contributed significantly to the market optimism with a 4.3% gain.

Market analysts are closely monitoring political developments in Japan, where Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is reportedly considering calling a snap election. This strategic move would potentially strengthen her administration’s mandate for implementing expanded government spending policies.

Other Asian markets demonstrated varied performance. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index progressed 1% to reach 26,877.01, bolstered by the spectacular debut of Chinese chip designer GigaDevice Semiconductor, which skyrocketed 54% in early trading. Meanwhile, China’s Shanghai Composite experienced a marginal decline of less than 0.1%, settling at 4,163.84.

South Korea’s Kospi achieved fresh intraday records with a 0.6% increase to 4,651.67. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 advanced 0.8% to 8,830.60, and Taiwan’s Taiex rose 0.5%. India’s Sensex presented a contrasting picture, declining 0.3% amid regional optimism.

The market enthusiasm occurred against the backdrop of ongoing tensions between U.S. President Donald Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Investors appeared to balance concerns about potential erosion of Fed independence against expectations that presidential pressure might accelerate interest rate reductions. The Justice Department’s subpoena of the Fed regarding Powell’s testimony about headquarters renovations has further complicated this relationship.

Monday’s trading concluded with Wall Street achieving new milestones: The S&P 500 gained 0.2% to reach 6,977.27, the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 0.2% to 49,590.20, and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.3% to 23,733.90.

In corporate developments, Alphabet Inc. (Google’s parent company) saw its market valuation exceed $4 trillion following Apple’s announcement of integrating Google’s Gemini technology to enhance its Siri virtual assistant. Conversely, credit card companies faced significant losses after President Trump proposed implementing a one-year, 10% cap on credit card interest rates, potentially impacting industry profitability. Synchrony Financial dropped 8.4%, Capital One Financial declined 6.4%, and American Express decreased 4.3%.

Commodity markets showed mixed activity with gold prices dipping 0.2% while silver advanced 0.8%. Currency markets witnessed the dollar strengthening to 158.72 yen from 158.07 yen, trading near yearly highs, while the euro slightly weakened to $1.1666 from $1.1667.

The Trump Organization has significantly expanded its partnership with Saudi Arabian real estate developers through two major projects valued collectively at approximately $10 billion. This expansion represents one of the family business’s most substantial international ventures during Donald Trump’s political career.

Dar Global, a subsidiary of the Saudi development giant Dar al-Arkan with close government ties, officially launched Trump Plaza Jeddah on Monday. The $1 billion project will feature luxury apartments, premium office spaces, exclusive townhouses, and a private park. According to company statements, the development aims to create a ‘carefully curated urban ecosystem’ targeting global residents seeking premium living and working spaces in Jeddah.

Simultaneously, the Trump Organization and Dar al-Arkan revealed plans for a separate massive golf resort spanning 2.6 million square meters in Diriyah, located outside Riyadh. This historic area, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the ancestral home of the Saudi royal family, is undergoing a comprehensive $63 billion transformation into a luxury destination.

Eric Trump, representing the family business, emphasized the organization’s ‘commitment to world-class quality and iconic design’ through these ventures. He specifically noted the Trump family’s ‘confidence in Jeddah as a dynamic, globally relevant city.’

These developments coincide with Saudi Arabia’s broader economic strategy to attract foreign investment across multiple sectors, including real estate. In January, the kingdom announced policy changes allowing non-Saudis to purchase property in major cities like Riyadh and Jeddah, signaling a significant shift in its approach to foreign ownership.

The Trump Organization operates internationally primarily through licensing agreements, where foreign developers pay substantial fees for the right to use the Trump brand. According to financial reports, Dar Global’s licensing arrangement generated $21.9 million for the Trump family business last year alone.

These business dealings have drawn scrutiny due to their timing amid Donald Trump’s political activities. While the former president has denied personally benefiting from his family’s international ventures, critics have raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest given his political connections to Gulf governments.

The Saudi partnership represents the Trump Organization’s most significant overseas collaboration, with additional projects underway in Oman (a golf course and luxury hotel), Qatar (Trump International Golf Club and villas), and the UAE (an 80-story Trump hotel featuring ‘the highest outdoor pool in the world’).