Middle East Hotel Pipeline Hits Record 177,000 Rooms as Saudi Giga-Projects Lead Global Development
The Middle East closed the first quarter of 2026 with a record hospitality development pipeline of 717 projects totalling 177,110 rooms — up 12 per cent year-on-year — led by Saudi Arabia's giga-project portfolio as UAE hotel demand softens amid regional tensions.
GCC Aviation Market Set to Double to $2.95 Billion by 2031 as eVTOL and Business Jets Drive Growth
The GCC general aviation market, currently valued at $1.48 billion, is projected to reach $2.95 billion by 2031 at a 14.79 per cent CAGR, with eVTOL aircraft emerging as the fastest-growing segment at 17.21 per cent annually.
US AI Startup Positron Opens DIFC Office in First International Move, Targeting Gulf’s GenAI Surge
Positron AI, a US-based artificial intelligence inference startup, has established its first presence outside the United States at Dubai's DIFC, positioning itself to serve the Gulf's accelerating demand for next-generation AI infrastructure across healthcare, finance, and media.
UAE’s AED 92.4 Billion Federal Budget Reflects Fiscal Strength as Non-Oil Trade Tops $1 Trillion
The UAE's 2026 federal budget stands at AED 92.4 billion — up 29 per cent from 2025 — as non-oil GDP grew 6.8 per cent and total non-oil foreign trade crossed $1 trillion for the first time in the country's history.
UAE Private Sector Faces June 30 Emiratisation Deadline — What Companies Must Do Now
Private sector companies in the UAE with 50 or more employees face a June 30 deadline to achieve a 1 per cent semi-annual growth in Emiratisation within skilled roles, as the government accelerates its workforce nationalisation drive alongside 7,842 new federal vacancies.
