Author: Mahdeehassan

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: The Capital Market Authority (CMA) of Saudi Arabia has continued to strengthen the regulatory foundations for fintech growth, announcing that a total of 68 fintech experimental permits have been granted by the end of Q2 2025, with 50 fintech companies currently registered under the CMA’s Fintech Lab, 36 of which are actively operational. This progress reflects the Kingdom’s evolution to a fintech environment that is ready and attractive for innovation, investment, and growth, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 and the CMA Strategy 2024–2026. The CMA’s Fintech Lab was launched as a controlled environment for…

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – Reinforcing its commitment to building a sustainable social care ecosystem, the Family Care Authority (FCA) concluded its participation in the second edition of the Social Care Forum, organised by the Department of Community Development (DCD) from 24 to 25 September at the Hilton Abu Dhabi – Yas Island. Held under the theme “Future Ready Social Care: People, Practice, and Policy,” the forum served as a strategic platform for the Family Care Authority to call for integrated, family-centered policies as the foundation for sustainable and resilient social care systems. The event saw participation from FCA’s esteemed…

Dubai, UAE – MAAIA, the distinguished global real estate developer renowned for its European-inspired craftsmanship and commitment to excellence, has officially broken ground on La Clé, its boutique residential development in the heart of Al Furjan. The groundbreaking ceremony marks a significant step forward for the premium project, which is scheduled for completion in Q1 2027. La Clé by MAAIA will deliver 56 premium residences, featuring one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, along with a selected number of apartments with a private pool—an exclusive offering in the Al Furjan community. Thoughtfully designed to bring nature indoors, the development blends modern aesthetics with…

Abu Dhabi, UAE – XRG P.J.S.C. (XRG) today announced it has closed its acquisition of an 11.7% equity stake in Phase 1 (Trains 1-3) of the Rio Grande LNG project in Brownsville, Texas, United States (US) The investment is a strategic joint venture between XRG and Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a part of BlackRock. Rio Grande LNG is one of the most ambitious LNG export infrastructure projects in the US with approximately 48 million tons per annum (mtpa) of potential liquefaction capacity currently under construction or in development, underscoring the role of the US as a major energy exporter. Construction of…

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – The 2030 Leaders Program, a flagship initiative of the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation (Misk), has announced a strategic partnership with NEOM to deliver Module 4 of Cohort 7, ‘Execute: Delivering strategies in a dynamic world.’ Hosted in NEOM – the sustainable region taking shape in northwest Saudi Arabia – from September 14-18, Module 4 of the program focuses on strengthening capabilities to lead change in fast-paced environments that demand high agility and effective decision-making. Leveraging NEOM’s pioneering experience in change management and innovative projects, the module equips participants with the tools to transform strategies into meaningful realities.…

Abu Dhabi, UAE – Presight, a leading global AI and big data analytics company, has signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan with a view to supporting the country’s artificial intelligence ambitions across national strategy and education. The MoUs were concluded during the official state visit of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, in the presence of His Excellency Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. They were signed by His Excellency Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Chairman of Presight, on behalf of Presight, and by…

Dubai – UAE: The Board of Directors of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) held a meeting, chaired by H.E. Hamad Obaid AlMansoori, Chairman, MBRSC to discuss the key developments in the Centre’s programmes and projects, in line with the strategic plan of the UAE’s National Space Programme. The meeting was attended by H.E. Yousuf Hamad AlShaibani, Vice Chairman, and other board members. During the meeting, the board reviewed the Centre’s ongoing work within the Satellite Development Programme, including detailed updates on the MBZ-SAT and Etihad-SAT missions. Board members were also briefed on the Emirates Lunar Mission’s Rashid Rover 2,…

United Arab Emirates – United Arab Bank (UAB), one of the UAE’s oldest homegrown banks, has partnered with the ENTERTAINER, the leading lifestyle savings app in the region, to offer complimentary 12-month membership with its new Credit Cards. This exclusive benefit unlocks thousands of Buy One Get One Free offers at top restaurants, attractions, leisure venues, hotels, spas and more across the UAE. As the only bank in the UAE providing full access to the ENTERTAINER offers nationwide, UAB is setting a new benchmark for lifestyle-driven banking rewards and reaffirming its commitment to delivering tangible, everyday value to customers. The official signing…

United Arab Emirates: IKEA, the Swedish home furnishing retailer operated by Al-Futtaim in the UAE, with a long-standing presence in the region, has reaffirmed its long-term commitment to affordability with the re-launch of its Price Lowered (PL) initiative across the UAE and Qatar. This strategic move comes amid rising living costs and aims to ensure that more customers across the region can enjoy well-designed, functional, and high-quality products at exceptional value. Unlike temporary sales or short-term promotions, Price Lowered is a permanent pricing strategy. Each year, IKEA strategically and permanently reduces the prices of more of its most-loved products –…

Riyadh – Leading global professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal (A&M), regionally headquartered in Riyadh, has formally launched its Tax practice in the Kingdom. A&M offers a full suite of Zakat and domestic and international tax services to support businesses in a rapidly changing tax environment. The Saudi-based team combines extensive local tax knowledge with experience in the public sector, tax authorities, and global advisory firms. The launch forms an important part of A&M’s expansion in the Kingdom. Craig McAree, Managing Director and Head of A&M’s Saudi Tax practice, said: ‘A&M’s tax practice in Saudi Arabia is designed to be a…