logo
My Own Home: Couple's Jumeirah Park home almost doubles in value in one year

My Own Home: Couple's Jumeirah Park home almost doubles in value in one year

The National5 days ago

Lyn and Alejandro Helbling live in a three-bedroom villa in Jumeirah Park, which they bought in July 2023. All photos: Antonie Robertson / The National

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Fintech revolution: Borderless finance driving inclusion with GTN
Fintech revolution: Borderless finance driving inclusion with GTN

Khaleej Times

time32 minutes ago

  • Khaleej Times

Fintech revolution: Borderless finance driving inclusion with GTN

The future of fintech is undeniably here, defined by accessibility, personalisation, and seamless integration of financial services into everyday life. As the financial landscape evolves, investing and money management are becoming embedded in our daily transactions, with GTN leading this revolution by helping institutions adapt while driving financial inclusion across the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region. Financial technology has democratised money management. Investment opportunities once reserved for the wealthy are now available to everyday consumers through intuitive, automated solutions like round-ups, auto-sweeps, dollar-a-day investing, and micro-portfolios. These innovations foster financial habits previously inaccessible to most people, transforming how we build wealth. The brilliance of modern fintech isn't just about access, it's about integration. API-driven architectures allow users to interact with finances naturally and effortlessly. Whether it's automatic micro-portfolio contributions or smart savings tools within banking apps, these services blend seamlessly into existing digital experiences, requiring minimal conscious effort from users. Remarkable shift in Mena In Mena, this transformation is accelerating rapidly. The Mena region has seen a remarkable shift in recent years, moving swiftly to embrace fintech innovation and positioning itself as a serious contender on the global stage, thanks to forward-thinking regulation and a surge in digital engagement. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain have implemented progressive initiatives including regulatory sandboxes and national strategies like Saudi Vision 2030, creating fertile ground for fintech growth and digital banking. As a result, investment opportunities once limited to high-net-worth individuals are becoming widely accessible. This revolution is reshaping the competitive landscape, with financial institutions facing mounting pressure to meet elevated customer expectations. Today's consumers demand experiences characterised by speed, convenience, transparency, and personalisation. Standards set by other digital industries. Banks and brokers throughout Mena are racing to modernise their offerings with platforms that deliver fast, secure, and intuitive financial tools. GTN excels GTN excels in this environment as a fintech leader providing cutting-edge solutions that help both established institutions and emerging startups scale efficiently. Their API-driven platforms and customisable solutions enable seamless integration of advanced trading and investing capabilities without the limitations of legacy systems. This empowers institutions to remain competitive amid rapid market changes. Organisations like ADIB Securities have embraced GTN's technology to create user-friendly trading platforms appealing to millennial and Gen Z investors. These platforms offer personalised experiences and unified access to diverse financial products, from stocks to bonds to commodities all within a cohesive environment. In today's digital transformation era, success comes through collaboration rather than competition between fintechs and traditional institutions. Together, they're building an inclusive, efficient financial ecosystem accessible to all. GTN stands at the forefront of this movement, helping Mena financial institutions unlock new opportunities while ensuring broader financial inclusion. The journey towards borderless finance is underway, with fintech leaders like GTN driving innovation. As technology evolves, the vision remains clear: to make financial services accessible, personalised, and integrated into everyday life, ensuring everyone can build the financial future they deserve.

Revealed: Eid Al Adha 2025 top destinations for UAE travellers
Revealed: Eid Al Adha 2025 top destinations for UAE travellers

Arabian Business

time41 minutes ago

  • Arabian Business

Revealed: Eid Al Adha 2025 top destinations for UAE travellers

The UAE has officially declared Eid Al Adha holidays for both the federal and private sectors, with a break from Thursday, June 5, and work resuming on Monday, June 9, 2025. Travel demand has surged during this period. According to recent data from Wego, there is a noticeable uptick in early travel planning, with strong interest in both short-haul getaways and long-haul destinations. 'Eid holidays continue to be a key travel period for UAE residents,' said Mamoun Hmidan, Chief Business Officer at Wego. 'We're seeing more demand for immersive and culturally rich destinations that are easy to access and offer good value.' Top destinations for Eid travel from the UAE 1. Baku, Azerbaijan Visa: 90 days visa-free for UAE nationals Average airfare: USD 274.37 Highlights: Affordable, accessible, historic and modern blend 2. Bangkok, Thailand Visa: 90 days visa-free Average airfare: USD 449.08 Highlights: Culture, street food, nightlife 3. Tbilisi, Georgia Visa: 1-year visa-free entry Average airfare: USD 374.58 Highlights: Wine culture, mountain scenery, old-town charm 4. Kathmandu, Nepal Visa: Visa on arrival Average airfare: USD 283.03 Highlights: Spiritual sites, nature, heritage 5. Bali, Indonesia Visa: Visa on arrival Average airfare: USD 563.89 Highlights: Beaches, temples, tropical retreats 6. Phuket, Thailand Visa: 30 days visa-free Average airfare: USD 623.70 Highlights: Luxury resorts, beaches, relaxed atmosphere 7. London, United Kingdom Visa: ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) Average airfare: USD 815.55 Highlights: Urban culture, shopping, sightseeing 8. Yerevan, Armenia Visa: Visa-free Average airfare: USD 232.00 Highlights: Cultural escape, budget-friendly, close to home Wego encourages travellers to explore lesser-known and eco-conscious destinations using its travel tools and real-time search data. Earlier this month, Arabian Business reported that Emirates added 13 flights to their existing routes to meet the surge in demand during Eid. The flights will operate to/from regional destinations, including Amman, Dammam, Kuwait and Bahrain.

AB Majlis podcast: Hala Taxi app holds 37% of Dubai's e-hailing market despite new competition
AB Majlis podcast: Hala Taxi app holds 37% of Dubai's e-hailing market despite new competition

Arabian Business

time41 minutes ago

  • Arabian Business

AB Majlis podcast: Hala Taxi app holds 37% of Dubai's e-hailing market despite new competition

Ride-hailing service Hala, a joint venture between Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Careem, now commands 37 per cent of Dubai's e-hailing market as it expands its green vehicle fleet amid rising competition, its CEO said. In an interview on the Arabian Business podcast AB Majlis, Hala CEO Khaled Nuseibeh revealed the company grew its customer base by 21 per cent year-on-year while increasing trips by 17 per cent, despite new market entrants like Yango and Bolt. 'Competition is always healthy for every industry. It forces players to compete. It forces players to come up with different ways to raise the bar and innovate,' Nuseibeh told the podcast. Launched in 2019, Hala was created to digitise Dubai's taxi service, transforming how residents and tourists book and use taxis in the emirate. Prior to Hala, customers had to either hail taxis on the street or call a booking service. The company has also improved its reliability by 11 percentage points while experiencing growth, a metric Nuseibeh highlighted as crucial to the service's success. 'It's beautiful when you're growing, and your customers are happy, and you're also improving on your reliability,' he said. 'Reliability… means people can depend on us. It means they can use us, and it means they can continuously count on Hala for their journeys.' Nuseibeh, who previously worked at Careem before and during its acquisition by Uber, attributed Hala's continued success to its deep understanding of the local market and close partnership with the RTA. 'We have a very deep understanding of the city. We've been in Dubai for a long time. We really understand our customer base, our captains, and we understand what it takes to actually solve for reliability and convenience,' he said. The company has recently diversified its offerings by introducing electric vehicles in high-demand areas like Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah at no additional cost to customers. Nuseibeh said the initiative has saved nearly 97 million grams of CO2 emissions since launch, equivalent to a car driving approximately 293,000 kilometres. 'We've seen that customers are quite generally happy,' Nuseibeh said regarding the EV rollout. 'As this technology matures, as you see more and more cars come into play, you will see more of these vehicles shift into becoming green vehicles.' He added that Hala will support the RTA's pledge to make 100 per cent of its vehicles eco-friendly by 2027. The company has also introduced new technologies to enhance customer experience, including WhatsApp booking capabilities aimed primarily at tourists who may not have the Careem app installed. 'We saw tourists actually want an easier way to book if they don't have the Careem map, which is like a stepping stone, you can just book a Hala immediately from your WhatsApp service,' he explained. When asked about potential future developments like flying or autonomous taxis, Nuseibeh said Hala would 'follow the lead of the RTA in any new technology that is regulated.' 'The most important thing for us is in adopting any new technology. We would always make sure that this technology has to be safe and efficient and caters to customer needs,' he added, suggesting autonomous vehicles would eventually work alongside human drivers during a transition period. Regarding brand recognition, Nuseibeh highlighted how 'Hala' has become synonymous with taxi booking in Dubai's vernacular, with residents commonly saying they will 'book a Hala' rather than a taxi. 'It seems we've done our work correctly. We've managed to really create that engagement with our customers,' he said. The company recently launched a marketing campaign called 'Real Icons of Dubai' celebrating the everyday users of the service, including working families, busy professionals, and tourists. To listen to the full episode and gain a comprehensive understanding of doing business in the Gulf region, visit our RSS feed or check out AB Majlis on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other platforms. Episodes are also available on: Tune in every Monday for weekly episodes that will help you stay ahead of the curve and enrich your understanding of the Gulf region.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store