分类： business

In a strategic move to bolster competition within its rapidly growing aviation sector, India has granted preliminary operational approval to two new airlines. This development comes shortly after widespread flight cancellations by market leader IndiGo exposed systemic vulnerabilities stemming from excessive market concentration.

The Civil Aviation Ministry issued formal ‘no-objection certificates’ to regional startup alHind Air and carrier FlyExpress earlier this week. Minister Ram Mohan Naidu confirmed the regulatory milestone through an official social media announcement, emphasizing the government’s commitment to fostering increased competition in domestic air travel.

The urgency for market diversification became apparent earlier this December when IndiGo’s operational crisis led to approximately 4,500 cancelled flights. The disruption stranded tens of thousands of passengers nationwide and revealed the risks associated with the carrier’s 65% market dominance. Air India Group follows as distant competitor with approximately 27% market share, while smaller operators account for the remaining portion.

According to operational plans, alHind Air intends to commence services in southern India utilizing ATR Turboprop aircraft, currently progressing through the final Air Operator Certificate acquisition process. FlyExpress similarly indicates impending market entry through its digital communications.

This authorization continues a pattern of regulatory expansion, with six air operators receiving permits since 2020, including several regional specialists. The approvals represent India’s deliberate strategy to transform its aviation landscape while supporting infrastructure development in underserved regions.

In a landmark development for sustainable agriculture, His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has officially inaugurated the Mleiha Dairy Farm and Factory—now certified by Guinness World Records as the planet’s largest A2A2 cattle farm. Spanning approximately 20,000 square meters with an annual production capacity nearing 600 tonnes, this state-of-the-art facility represents the culmination of a 65-year vision for the Ruler.

The project forms an integral component of Sharjah’s comprehensive food security initiative, which synergistically integrates livestock management, poultry operations, crop cultivation, and supporting manufacturing plants. This strategic framework is further bolstered by specialized academic programs in agricultural, veterinary, and desert sciences, cultivating a new generation of experts to drive the sector forward.

Emphasizing a return to heritage-based agricultural practices, Sheikh Sultan articulated a philosophy centered on natural production methodologies. The farm exclusively raises rare A2A2 cattle breeds—genetically distinct varieties known for producing milk containing only A2 beta-casein protein, which some studies suggest offers superior digestibility compared to conventional milk. These animals are nurtured through organic feeding systems and ethical treatment protocols aligned with traditional desert farming.

‘Our objective transcends commercial profit; we prioritize population wellness above financial gain,’ the Ruler declared during the inauguration ceremony. This health-first ethos extends across Sharjah’s agricultural landscape, including ongoing olive cultivation projects, free-range poultry farms, and vegetable production using indigenous plant varieties—all monitored through advanced agricultural technology systems.

Following the formal opening, Sheikh Sultan conducted an extensive tour of the compound, inspecting production lines, packaging facilities, the central control room, milking parlors, and livestock housing areas. Senior officials detailed the facility’s rigorous quality control measures and outlined ambitious expansion plans designed to enhance the emirate’s self-sufficiency objectives within the broader national food security framework.

Gold markets witnessed unprecedented momentum on Wednesday as prices surged beyond the $4,500 per ounce threshold, establishing a new historic peak at $4,525.19 during trading sessions. This remarkable ascent represents the most substantial annual gain since 1979, with prices climbing over 70% throughout 2025.

The current gold rally stems from a convergence of influential factors: anticipations of relaxed U.S. monetary policy, persistent geopolitical uncertainties, substantial central bank acquisitions, de-dollarization initiatives, and vigorous exchange-traded fund activity. These elements have collectively transformed gold into the premier safe-haven asset during periods of economic and political instability.

Investment avenues for gold exposure vary significantly across market segments. Institutional investors typically procure physical bullion through major banking institutions in the spot market, where London’s LBMA framework serves as the global benchmark for over-the-counter transactions. Additional trading hubs include China, India, Middle Eastern centers, and the United States.

Futures markets provide alternative exposure mechanisms, with COMEX in New York dominating trading volumes alongside significant activity on Shanghai and Tokyo exchanges. For retail investors, exchange-traded products have demonstrated extraordinary growth, with physically-backed gold ETFs attracting $64 billion year-to-date through October, including a record-breaking $17.3 billion in September alone. Traditional physical ownership through bars and coins remains accessible through specialized metals dealers.

Market dynamics reveal several crucial price drivers: investment fund participation has emerged as a primary catalyst for price movements, while currency fluctuations—particularly inverse correlation with the U.S. dollar—continue influencing gold’s attractiveness. Monetary policy decisions regarding interest rates directly impact gold’s opportunity cost, and central bank accumulation has maintained exceptional strength amid global uncertainties.

The World Gold Council’s annual survey indicates continued institutional demand, with numerous central banks planning reserve expansions despite elevated prices. Third-quarter 2025 witnessed global gold demand reaching 1,313 metric tons—a record quarterly volume—driven predominantly by investment requirements. China has exemplified this trend through thirteen consecutive months of reserve expansion, reaching 74.12 million fine troy ounces by November’s conclusion.

In a remarkable display of market momentum, precious metals achieved historic milestones on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, with gold piercing through the $4,500 threshold for the first time in trading history. The unprecedented rally extended across the precious metals complex, with silver and platinum simultaneously reaching unprecedented valuations.

Spot gold demonstrated remarkable resilience, trading at $4,494.49 per ounce by 1220 GMT after establishing a session peak of $4,525.19. Corresponding February delivery gold futures on U.S. exchanges advanced 0.4% to $4,523.10, reinforcing the bullish trajectory.

The silver market witnessed extraordinary performance, achieving an all-time high of $72.70 per ounce before stabilizing at $72.32 with a 1.3% gain. Platinum markets experienced similar exuberance, reaching $2,377.50 before moderating to $2,312.70, still representing a substantial 1.6% increase. Palladium experienced modest profit-taking, declining 1.5% to $1,830.37 after touching three-year highs.

Market analysts attribute this exceptional performance to a convergence of supportive factors. Fawad Razaqzada, market analyst at City Index and FOREX.com, identified “the absence of bearish catalysts combined with powerful momentum underpinned by solid fundamentals” as primary drivers. These fundamentals include sustained central bank acquisitions, a weakening U.S. dollar, and persistent safe-haven demand amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainties.

The gold market has delivered its most impressive annual performance since 1979, appreciating over 70% year-to-date. This surge reflects heightened investor preference for safe-haven assets alongside expectations of continued monetary easing by the U.S. Federal Reserve. Recent comments from President Donald Trump advocating for lower interest rates during strong market conditions have further reinforced this outlook.

Silver’s performance has notably eclipsed even gold’s impressive gains, skyrocketing more than 150% year-to-date. This exceptional performance stems from robust investment demand, its recent inclusion on the U.S. critical minerals list, and expanding industrial applications.

Platinum group metals have demonstrated equally remarkable advances, with platinum and palladium appreciating approximately 160% and over 100% respectively. These gains are fueled by constrained mine production, tariff-related uncertainties, and rotational investment flows from gold positions.

Société Générale analysts noted that sustained purchasing by emerging market central banks continues to provide fundamental support, with commodity strategists maintaining projections of $5,000 per ounce gold by late 2026 barring any significant reversal in institutional accumulation patterns.

Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange has granted formal approval to Waha Capital’s ambitious share repurchase initiative, authorizing the investment firm to acquire up to 10% of its outstanding shares. This strategic move follows a General Assembly resolution and enables the Abu Dhabi-listed company to execute buybacks through open-market operations in compliance with ADX and Securities and Commodities Authority guidelines.

The implementation timeline and volume of share repurchases will be determined by prevailing market conditions. Mohamed Hussain Al Nowais, Managing Director of Waha Capital, characterized the approval as a robust endorsement of the company’s growth trajectory, emphasizing that current market valuation fails to adequately reflect the firm’s fundamental worth. “This buyback initiative demonstrates our disciplined capital allocation strategy and reinforces our dedication to generating substantial long-term returns for shareholders as we maintain our operational momentum through 2026,” Al Nowais stated.

The authorization coincides with Waha Capital’s exceptional financial performance, having achieved a 22% year-over-year increase in net profit reaching Dh343 million for the first three quarters of 2025. This strong performance was propelled by two significant transactions: the strategic Waha Land agreement with Aldar that enhanced the company’s industrial real estate holdings, and the highly successful exit from Optasia following the fintech company’s initial public offering on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. The Optasia divestment yielded $119 million in proceeds, representing a fourfold return on invested capital with a 25% internal rate of return.

Established in 1997, Waha Capital maintains diversified operations across three core segments: public markets featuring emerging-market credit and equity funds, private investments spanning multiple sectors and geographies, and industrial real estate development through its Waha Land division at ALMARKAZ, which provides consistent recurring income through industrial and logistics asset management.

The share repurchase decision aligns with positive developments on the Abu Dhabi exchange, where the ADX General Index recorded a 6.59% year-over-year gain by mid-December 2025. Market liquidity indicators showed substantial improvement, with foreign net investment surging 99.5% to $3.7 billion during the first half of 2025. Total trading value increased by 33.5% annually to Dh179.5 billion, while average daily trading value reached Dh1.45 billion, supported by enhanced market infrastructure including new clearing and central securities depository services.

With total market capitalization maintaining stability at approximately Dh3.1 trillion by December 2025, the Abu Dhabi market demonstrates sustained investor confidence and continuing structural reforms. Waha Capital’s buyback program, against this favorable backdrop, highlights the company’s strategic positioning and confidence in its valuation as it prepares for continued growth and value creation throughout 2026.

ADQ, an Abu Dhabi-based sovereign investment entity specializing in critical infrastructure and global supply chains, has successfully concluded its inaugural $5 billion syndicated term financing arrangement with financial institutions across Greater China. The five-year facility, announced on December 24, 2025, attracted overwhelming investor interest, generating approximately $12 billion in commitments—triple the initial $4 billion target—prompting ADQ to upsize the final transaction amount.

This landmark financing represents the largest term loan secured by any Middle Eastern borrower from Asian financial institutions to date, signaling robust confidence in ADQ’s creditworthiness and strategic mandate. The transaction strengthens ADQ’s liquidity profile while diversifying its funding sources, providing enhanced flexibility to pursue commercially viable investment opportunities worldwide.

Marcos de Quadros, Group Chief Financial Officer at ADQ, emphasized the significance of this milestone: ‘This successful debut financing in Greater China reflects sustained market confidence in our credit strength, prudent financial management, and disciplined funding strategy that characterizes all ADQ transactions.’

The deal was coordinated by six global financial institutions: Bank of China (Dubai Branch), DBS Bank Ltd., HSBC, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited (Dubai Branch), Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong), and J.P. Morgan Securities plc. More than 30 leading financial institutions across Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan participated in the syndication, demonstrating extensive regional engagement and investor appetite for high-quality UAE issuers.

United Arab Bank (UAB) has successfully finalized a significant Dh1 billion senior unsecured loan facility with a two-year maturity period, marking a substantial achievement in the UAE’s banking sector. The innovative financing structure combines both conventional lending and Shariah-compliant Commodity Murabaha tranches, executed at highly competitive market rates that reflect current financial conditions.

The strategically structured facility will serve general corporate purposes while substantially strengthening UAB’s financial foundation. This enhanced liquidity position will enable the bank to more effectively support client requirements while advancing its strategic growth initiatives in the competitive UAE banking landscape.

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank PJSC, Emirates NBD, Emirates Islamic Bank, and First Abu Dhabi Bank served as Initial Mandated Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners for this transaction, with Emirates NBD additionally acting as Global Facility Agent, demonstrating strong collaborative banking relationships within the region.

Chief Executive Officer Shirish Bhide emphasized the transaction’s significance, stating: ‘This dual-tranche facility represents a timely expansion of our funding base and underscores the sustained confidence of the UAE banking market in United Arab Bank’s financial resilience and disciplined execution capabilities. The arrangement substantially enhances our liquidity profile and funding flexibility, positioning us to proactively support our clients while pursuing strategic growth opportunities.’

The successful financing follows UAB’s impressive nine-month performance through September 2025, during which the bank reported a 49 percent year-on-year increase in net profit to Dh316 million. This strong financial performance has been recognized by international rating agencies, with Moody’s upgrading the bank’s deposit ratings to Baa2 and Fitch Ratings elevating UAB’s Viability Rating to ‘bb-‘ while maintaining a stable outlook on its BBB+ Long-Term Rating.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the nation’s flagship carrier, is poised to transition to new ownership by April 2025 following a successful privatization auction. A consortium led by Arif Habib Corporation emerged victorious with a winning bid of 135 billion rupees ($482.14 million), significantly exceeding the government’s reserve price of 100 billion rupees.

The transaction structure represents a strategic approach to revitalizing the airline rather than a simple ownership transfer. The government will receive 10 billion rupees in immediate cash payment while retaining a 25% stake valued at approximately 45 billion rupees. Crucially, the arrangement mandates substantial fresh capital injection into the struggling carrier.

Muhammad Ali, Privatization Adviser to the Prime Minister, emphasized the government’s commitment to sustainable transformation: “We intentionally structured this deal to prevent a scenario where the government collects payment only to see the company collapse afterward.”

The privatization process now advances toward final approvals from the Privatization Commission board and federal cabinet, expected within days. Contract signing is anticipated within two weeks, with financial closure projected within 90 days to satisfy regulatory requirements.

The winning consortium includes diverse Pakistani business interests: fertilizer manufacturer Fatima, private education network City Schools, and real estate developer Lake City Holdings Limited. The agreement permits the addition of up to two qualified partners, potentially including international aviation experts or additional financial partners.

Labor protections form a key component of the transition, requiring the new owners to maintain all current employees with unchanged contracts for at least twelve months following the transaction completion.

This privatization represents a critical milestone in Pakistan’s economic reform agenda, particularly watched by the International Monetary Fund which has consistently advocated for reducing losses from state-owned enterprises. Successful completion would demonstrate Pakistan’s commitment to structural reforms while alleviating pressure on public finances.

Dubai’s short-term rental sector is demonstrating remarkable resilience as it advances toward 2026, evolving into a more sophisticated market characterized by shifting traveler demographics and heightened quality expectations. Despite global economic uncertainties, industry data reveals stable occupancy rates and modest price appreciation, signaling market maturation.

Market analytics from Property Finder indicate a 3% year-on-year supply increase while maintaining robust demand patterns. The sector continues to exhibit strong seasonal fluctuations, with winter demand exceeding summer volumes by approximately 2.5 to 3 times. Current pricing metrics show median daily rates at AED 780 (up from AED 670 year-on-year), with weekly rentals reaching AED 5,000 and monthly rates holding steady at AED 16,000.

Demographic transformations are reshaping market dynamics. Frank Porter reports a substantial 25% year-on-year surge in Gen Z travelers, a cohort distinguished by their social media engagement and preference for visually distinctive properties with unique amenities. Concurrently, European visitors are extending their average stay duration to nearly 10 days, while demonstrating increased price sensitivity and value-conscious booking behaviors.

The competitive landscape has intensified with new market entrants, yet this has paradoxically strengthened overall market discipline. Regulatory initiatives by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism have effectively eliminated unlicensed operators, while major platforms have implemented quality-focused curation policies. This regulatory framework has professionalized the market, rewarding quality accommodations with superior occupancy and pricing performance.

Geographic preferences are evolving beyond traditional hotspots like Dubai Marina and Business Bay. Emerging districts such as Meydan are gaining traction due to competitive pricing, enhanced infrastructure, and improved amenities. Industry experts note that while location remains relevant, property-specific factors—including interior design, views, and exclusive amenities—increasingly determine rental success.

As global markets implement stricter short-term rental regulations, Dubai’s established licensing framework provides market stability. Industry leaders anticipate continued growth through 2026, driven by quality differentiation, value optimization, and enhanced guest experiences that maintain Dubai’s competitive position in the global hospitality landscape.

In a significant corporate development, UAE-based investment conglomerate Aram Group has unveiled a comprehensive restructuring of its executive leadership. The company has appointed Sheikh Mohammed bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan as Chairman of its newly formed Board of Directors, marking a pivotal moment in the organization’s strategic evolution.

The leadership announcement follows an internal conclave at Aram Group’s UAE headquarters, where the newly constituted board convened to chart the company’s future course. The governance overhaul establishes Ali Musmar as Managing Director, while Jakub Bajak assumes the critical role of Board Spokesperson, creating a balanced leadership structure with distinct responsibilities.

Sheikh Mohammed articulated the board’s forward-looking vision, emphasizing the critical intersection of technological advancement and disciplined governance. “We are navigating an era defined by accelerated technological transformation, particularly in artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure,” he stated. “Our mandate is to pursue these opportunities with rigorous governance frameworks, clear accountability mechanisms, and prudent capital deployment to convert innovation into sustainable shareholder value.”

Managing Director Ali Musmar characterized the leadership transition as a fundamental milestone in Aram Group’s corporate journey. “This restructuring heralds a new strategic chapter focused on diversified growth across aviation, data processing, media, and healthcare sectors,” Musmar explained. “The board will prioritize investments in AI-driven enterprises while maintaining stringent evaluation processes to ensure sustainable expansion and shareholder protection.”

Board Spokesperson Jakub Bajak highlighted the company’s commitment to transparency and stakeholder engagement. “We are actively exploring opportunities in medical technologies, aviation services, and data processing infrastructure, alongside potential ventures in sports media distribution,” Bajak revealed. “Our approach integrates advanced technological capabilities with strong commercial fundamentals and meaningful corporate social responsibility initiatives.”

The leadership realignment positions Aram Group to accelerate its diversification strategy and strengthen its market position as a forward-thinking investment organization with a technology-centric approach to portfolio development.