标签: Asia

亚洲

  • Dubai office rents soar as commercial property continues to boom

    Dubai office rents soar as commercial property continues to boom

    Dubai’s commercial real estate market is experiencing an unprecedented surge, with office rents climbing to new heights and occupancy rates nearing record levels. According to the latest research from Chestertons Mena, the demand for premium office spaces, particularly in key hubs like DIFC, Business Bay, and Dubai Internet City, remains robust. These areas are highly sought after due to their advanced infrastructure, prestigious locations, and proximity to international business activities. The limited availability of Grade A office space has pushed occupancy levels to approximately 95%, with citywide office occupancy close to 92%. The average office rent in Dubai has reached around Dh 190 per square foot, marking a 22% year-on-year increase. This growth is driven by professional services firms, multinational relocations, and expanding regulated-sector businesses. Emerging micro-markets such as Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT), Barsha Heights, Dubai South, Mohammed bin Rashid City, and Dubai Harbour are also gaining traction, attracting tech companies, digital media operators, and e-commerce players. These areas offer competitive rates, scalable layouts, and excellent connectivity. Workplace preferences in Dubai are evolving, with a growing demand for turnkey, furnished offices with flexible leases, reflecting the shift to hybrid working models. Landlords are responding by offering shorter lease terms, plug-and-play fittings, and smart office environments. Wellness features such as natural light, biophilic design, high-grade air filtration, outdoor breakout areas, gyms, and cafés are becoming standard in modern commercial buildings. Technology integration, including digital room booking systems and high-definition video conferencing, is also on the rise. Investor interest in Grade A commercial assets is strong, driven by robust rental performance, supply constraints, and high occupancy rates. Chestertons forecasts that the tight supply environment for high-spec space will support rental stability in the coming years. The supply of new office space remains constrained, with only about 0.89 million square feet expected to be completed in 2025, increasing to 2.3 million square feet in 2026 and over 4.1 million square feet in 2027. However, much of this new space may already be pre-leased or absorbed before completion. Independent real estate sources, including Cushman & Wakefield and GulfBase, confirm the tight supply and strong pre-leasing activity, reinforcing upward pressure on rents and occupancy. By Q3 2025, Dubai’s overall office vacancy had fallen to around 7.5%, reflecting intense competition for premium space. Gross rental yields for prime office investments are estimated in the 7–8% range, highlighting the attractiveness of commercial real estate for long-term investors. In February 2025 alone, commercial real estate sales transactions grew by 18.2% year-on-year, with a total value of Dh 9.7 billion. This surge signals strong investor confidence in the sector’s long-term performance. Analysts conclude that Dubai’s commercial real estate market is undergoing a structural upshift, with tightening supply, rising rents, and strong investor conviction converging to create a rare opportunity for premium returns. This boom validates Dubai’s strategy as a global business hub and a driver of next-generation growth.

  • Alliance for thalassemia prevention and treatment launched in Thailand

    Alliance for thalassemia prevention and treatment launched in Thailand

    In a significant stride towards combating thalassemia, the Southeast Asia Thalassemia Prevention Alliance (SEATPA) was officially launched in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on Monday. This groundbreaking initiative, spearheaded by BGI Group, a leading Chinese life sciences and genomics company, aims to eradicate preventable cases of this inherited blood disorder across Southeast Asia. Thalassemia, characterized by impaired hemoglobin synthesis and accelerated red blood cell destruction, poses a major public health challenge in the region due to its high prevalence. SEATPA’s mission is to foster cross-border collaboration, uniting countries, experts, and communities to enhance prevention and control efforts. The alliance will focus on capacity building, standardized training, technical unification, public awareness campaigns, and the sharing of expertise. Thailand’s Minister of Public Health, Pattana Promphat, emphasized the importance of regional cooperation in adapting modern medical technologies to local contexts and building a robust response to the disease. Wang Jian, co-founder and chairman of BGI Group, highlighted the necessity of global cooperation in precision medicine, stating that the alliance will bring advanced screening and treatment solutions to Southeast Asia, shifting the medical paradigm from passive treatment to active prevention. Piriya Cherdsatirakul, Vice-president of Chiang Mai University, lauded the alliance as a ‘significant milestone’ in improving the quality of life for thalassemia patients and offering new hope to the region.

  • Scientists discover important Early Jurassic dinosaur tracks

    Scientists discover important Early Jurassic dinosaur tracks

    An international team of scientists from China, Germany, and the United States has made a groundbreaking discovery in Wucha village, Renhuai city, located in Southwest China’s Guizhou province. They have identified a significant collection of dinosaur footprints dating back to the Early Jurassic period. The findings, published in the Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, reveal that the area was once a lakeshore sandbar environment, ideal for various dinosaur groups. This discovery is particularly notable as the Renhuai area is already recognized as a crucial region for Early Jurassic dinosaur fossils in southern China. While previous findings in the area have included numerous sauropod and theropod tracks, this new discovery provides a rare systematic record of multiple dinosaur groups coexisting. Between 2020 and 2024, researchers from Guizhou University and China University of Geosciences (Beijing), among other institutions, discovered several vertebrate track sites in and around Wucha Village. According to Xing Lida, an associate professor at China University of Geosciences (Beijing), the Wucha track assemblage offers a comprehensive record of the coexistence of basal sauropodomorphs, sauropods, theropods, and basal ornithischians. Among the findings, the largest sauropod track measures 60 centimeters, consistent with Early Jurassic sauropod tracks commonly found in the Sichuan Basin. Some of the small basal ornithischian footprints show stride lengths of only 6 to 7 centimeters but relatively large step lengths, suggesting the dinosaurs were running. One set of two-digit footprints has particularly intrigued the research team. They believe these tracks were likely made by tridactyl dinosaurs while running or kicking, leaving only two-digit impressions, rather than being made by true two-digit dinosaurs. This finding suggests that under certain conditions, tridactyl dinosaurs can leave ‘two-digits-like’ impressions, which have important implications for identifying early deinonychosaur tracks and provide a new reference for interpreting similar ‘suspected two-digits prints’ worldwide, said Xing. This new discovery enriches the study of Early Jurassic dinosaur fauna in Guizhou. As more track sites are explored, the Renhuai area is expected to become a key window for researching dinosaur activity in China during the Early Jurassic period. The discovered footprints have been preserved at their original sites.

  • SUDO strengthens strategic alliances with multiple MOU signings at GITEX GLOBAL 2025

    SUDO strengthens strategic alliances with multiple MOU signings at GITEX GLOBAL 2025

    SUDO, a leading cloud transformation firm and AWS Premier Tier Services Partner, made significant strides at GITEX GLOBAL 2025 by signing multiple Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with prominent organizations, including INDEX Holding, EatEasy, Dkhoon Emirates, and Ram Clinics. These agreements, formalized at the AWS Booth, highlight SUDO’s growing network of innovation partners and its commitment to advancing Generative AI adoption, cloud modernization, and data-driven transformation across industries. Hameedullah Khan, CEO of SUDO, emphasized the importance of these partnerships, stating, ‘GITEX 2025 marks a defining moment in our journey. These collaborations reflect our dedication to leveraging AWS technologies to empower SMBs, drive operational intelligence, and scale innovation responsibly.’ The partnerships focus on diverse sectors, from food-tech to healthcare, aiming to enhance operational efficiency, customer experiences, and decision-making through advanced AWS solutions. SUDO’s expertise in Generative AI, cloud architecture, and data engineering continues to position it as a key enabler of secure and rapid business innovation. As a premier AWS Partner, SUDO offers specialized programs and proof-of-concept engagements to accelerate solution validation, ensuring alignment with global best practices.

  • China’s Shenzhou XXII spaceship docks with space station combination

    China’s Shenzhou XXII spaceship docks with space station combination

    In a significant milestone for China’s space exploration program, the Shenzhou XXII spacecraft successfully docked with the country’s space station combination on Tuesday, November 25, 2025. The China Manned Space Agency confirmed the achievement, marking another step forward in China’s ambitious space endeavors. The docking operation, executed with precision, underscores China’s growing capabilities in space technology and its commitment to advancing human spaceflight. This mission is part of China’s broader strategy to establish a permanent presence in space, contributing to scientific research and international collaboration in space exploration. The successful docking of Shenzhou XXII highlights the nation’s progress in developing advanced space infrastructure and its determination to play a leading role in the global space race.

  • China Coast Guard patrols waters around Huangyan Island

    China Coast Guard patrols waters around Huangyan Island

    The China Coast Guard (CCG) has intensified its presence in the waters surrounding Huangyan Island, reaffirming China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea. On November 14, 2025, aerial drone footage captured CCG vessels conducting law enforcement patrols in the area, underscoring Beijing’s commitment to safeguarding its maritime sovereignty. Huangyan Island, a strategic outpost in the region, has been a focal point of geopolitical tensions, with neighboring countries also laying claim to parts of the South China Sea. The patrols come amid heightened regional scrutiny and international debates over maritime rights and freedom of navigation. China’s actions highlight its assertive stance in maintaining control over disputed territories, while also ensuring adherence to domestic and international maritime laws. The CCG’s operations are part of a broader strategy to bolster national security and assert China’s influence in the region.

  • International conference explores new paradigms for English teaching

    International conference explores new paradigms for English teaching

    The ‘2025 International Academic Conference on English Teaching and Research in Sino-Foreign Cooperative Education’ took place from November 21 to 23 at Beijing University of Technology (BJUT). Co-organized by BJUT and University College Dublin (UCD), and hosted by the Beijing-Dublin International College (BDIC), the event brought together nearly 280 experts and scholars from 13 countries, representing 106 universities and educational institutions. The conference aimed to explore innovative approaches to English teaching within the framework of Sino-Foreign cooperative education, fostering the development of international talent for the modern era. Key speakers included Wei Xubin, a member of the Beijing Municipal Education Working Committee and Deputy Director-General of the Beijing Municipal Education Commission; An Yan, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Education Association for International Exchange; Zhang Hui, Deputy Secretary of the BJUT Party Committee; Professor Paul Fanning, Dean of the UCD International College in China and Provost of the Beijing-Dublin International College; and Yang Jie, Head of Education in Ireland (China). The opening ceremony was moderated by the head of the University’s Academic Affairs Office, setting the stage for a series of discussions on advancing English language education in a globalized context.

  • Pakistan and India are drawn in same group of T20 World Cup

    Pakistan and India are drawn in same group of T20 World Cup

    The International Cricket Council (ICC) unveiled the groups and schedule for the upcoming T20 World Cup, setting the stage for a highly anticipated showdown between archrivals India and Pakistan. The tournament, scheduled from February 7 to March 8, will feature 20 nations divided into four groups of five teams each. Defending champions India, led by newly appointed tournament ambassador Rohit Sharma, will face Pakistan in Colombo on February 15 as part of Group A. The group also includes the United States, Namibia, and the Netherlands. India’s campaign begins in Mumbai on February 7 against the United States, followed by matches against Namibia, Pakistan, and the Netherlands. Pakistan, which will play all its matches in Colombo, opens its campaign against the Netherlands on February 7, followed by games against the United States, India, and Namibia. The R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, one of three venues in Sri Lanka, will host the marquee India-Pakistan clash. Italy, making its debut in a major cricketing event, is placed in Group C alongside England, West Indies, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Group B features co-host Sri Lanka, Australia, Ireland, Zimbabwe, and Oman, while Group D includes New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Eight stage, with semifinals potentially hosted in Mumbai, Colombo, or Kolkata. Ahmedabad is slated to host the final, but if Pakistan qualifies, Colombo will serve as the venue. India’s captain Rohit Sharma, who retired from T20 cricket after leading India to victory in the 2024 edition, expressed his hopes for a memorable tournament, emphasizing India’s hospitality and the players’ experience.

  • Ethiopia volcano eruption: UAE expert shares images of effect across Middle East

    Ethiopia volcano eruption: UAE expert shares images of effect across Middle East

    The eruption of the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia, dormant for nearly 12,000 years, has released significant amounts of sulfur dioxide gas into the atmosphere, impacting regions across the Middle East. Shawkat Odeh, an expert from the International Astronomical Centre, shared satellite images showing the gas’s dispersion over Yemen and Oman on November 23 and 24. This phenomenon is not unprecedented; Odeh recalled a previous volcanic event that altered the sky’s color, blending blue and red hues to create a striking purple shimmer during sunset. The recent eruption has drawn attention to the far-reaching effects of volcanic activity, even in regions distant from the source. The UAE-based expert’s findings highlight the interconnectedness of global environmental events and their impact on neighboring countries.

  • Moscow City Tourism Committee invites travellers to explore the ‘Moscow Winter Fairytale’

    Moscow City Tourism Committee invites travellers to explore the ‘Moscow Winter Fairytale’

    The Moscow City Tourism Committee has launched its ambitious seasonal initiative “Winter in Moscow,” positioning the Russian capital as a premier cold-weather destination for international travelers. This comprehensive program features over 800 events across 400 distinct venues throughout the city, creating an immersive seasonal experience that blends cultural traditions with contemporary entertainment.

    Moscow’s transformation into a winter wonderland includes spectacular illuminations, Christmas markets, and the flagship “Journey to Christmas” festival featuring theatrical performances, open-air fairs, and interactive workshops where visitors can craft traditional gifts and sample authentic Russian cuisine. From the historic Red Square to the expansive Gorky Park, the city becomes a tapestry of cultural celebration and seasonal cheer.

    Recreational opportunities abound with Europe’s largest ice rink at VDNH, set against architectural pavilions representing former Soviet republics. Adventure seekers can experience husky sled rides in Sokolniki Park just minutes from the city center, while families enjoy snowball games, sledding, and snowman building. Traditional Russian banyas (saunas) offer warming relaxation amidst the winter chill.

    Cultural programming highlights include performances of Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker” ballet at the legendary Bolshoi Theatre, Olympic-caliber ice shows, and the Moscow Estates festival where historic mansions host seasonal cultural activities. According to Natalya Molochkova, head of International Cooperation at the Moscow City Tourism Committee, “Winter in Moscow combines leisure, family activities, and cultural experiences throughout the city.”

    The city enhances the visitor experience with modern accommodations, halal-friendly dining options, Arabic-speaking staff, and average winter temperatures of -5°C creating manageable exploring conditions. This initiative comes as Moscow welcomes increasing winter tourism, with over 126,000 Middle Eastern visitors recorded in the first half of 2025 alone.