‘We welcome competition': Yango eyes Middle East expansion with super-app strategy to challenge Uber, Careem
Auction
Expats turn side hustles into serious money as daily car auctions boom across the UAE Automobili Lamborghini
Lamborghini's CEO disclosed that 2024 witnessed the first decline in the global high-end luxury market in years, with an estimated 8% slowdown ceasefire
Energy infrastructure protected while fighting continues; Putin demands end to Western aid as Zelenskyy seeks seat at negotiating table bilateral cooperation
Investments in AI, energy infrastructure and data centres reshape bilateral ties as Sheikh Tahnoun meets Trump during high-level Washington visit bilateral cooperation
US President and UAE National Security Adviser discuss strengthening bilateral ties with focus on technological advancement and economic cooperation ceasefire
Russian President accepts partial truce halting attacks on energy facilities for 30 days, but refuses to back wider ceasefire proposal BYD
Trump's White House photo-op hands final advantage to Chinese brands already dominating the UAE market Dubai
Tech firm targets 20x returns on early-stage investments in region's fintech and SaaS startups Desert Rock
Saudi Arabia's newest ultra-luxury mountain hideaway attracts international visitors off the beaten path with premium rates and invisible architecture Capital Markets
HSBC C-suite and regional exchange leaders reveal market transformation strategy in exclusive Arabian Business interviews High Net Worth Individuals
Maldives leasehold market attracts Gulf investors in record numbers despite hefty development costs Donald Trump
The Saudi-brokered talks have produced a ceasefire agreement, but analysts warn this reflects Ukraine's diminishing battlefield leverage rather than progress toward lasting peace climate change
Fund cites 'mixed progress' on reforms as Egypt faces Red Sea disruptions costing $6bn in Suez Canal revenue while struggling with high debt and fiscal challenges automotive brands
This comes months after Carlos Ghosn told Arabian Business that Japanese executives prefer 'weaker companies under their control' – a view seemingly validated by the Honda-Nissan merger collapse ceasefire
Russia-Ukraine ceasefire proposal emerges from Saudi talks as Zelenskyy accepts Trump plan and awaits Putin decision Abu Dhabi Investment Group
'Europe has become a less attractive destination for investment,' says the ADIG chief amid capital flight and geopolitical shifts Donald Trump
Investors are now focused on Wednesday's inflation report for further clues about the health of the economy High Net Worth Individuals
Honeymooners may soon find the Maldives transformed into a lucrative second-home market, thanks to over $3 billion in UAE investments by 2030 economic opportunities
HSBC top brass and regional leaders share exclusive insights with Arabian Business on the sidelines of the HSBC MENAT Future Forum Arton Capital
Political polarisation in Europe is driving an exodus of German, British and French millionaires to the UAE, says Arton Capital chief antibiotic medicine
Popular antibiotic that is used to fight STIs, skin and respiratory infections vanishes from pharmacy shelves as Pfizer works to resolve 'manufacturing' issue beauty and skincare
After a 15-year battle with persistent acne, countless medications, and expensive procedures, I've finally discovered a solution that has dramatically transformed my skin – the Bon Charge Red Light Therapy Mask Donald Trump
When Zelenskyy asked JD Vance if he had ever visited Ukraine, the US VP responded that he had seen videos and accused the Ukrainian president of taking visitors on 'propaganda tours' Blockchain
Data shows that North Korean hackers stole $1.34 billion across 47 incidents last year – a figure now eclipsed by this one breach
Industry insiders reveal how early investors could double their money at Wynn Al Marjan Island, while analysts assess whether the Middle East's first casino resort truly offers a 'once-in-a-lifetime' opportunity Citizenship by Investment
Monaco and the UAE achieved perfect scores for tax benefits in the residence program rankings, while EU member states dominated in visa-free travel access geopolitics
Zelenskyy cancels planned Saudi visit as Ukraine demands security pledges, European leaders seek guarantees divorce
Sweeping changes extend child custody to 18 years, reduce divorce waiting periods, and give women more autonomy in marriage decisions – Here's everything you need to know Burj Khalifa
The same building recently listed the world's highest residential property, dubbed 'Sky Palace,' for $51 million Red Sea
The pre-sales success of the multi-billion riyal development on Shura Island signals strong appetite from wealthy Gulf investors for Saudi Arabia's emerging luxury tourism destinations BNPL
Buy now, pay later provider prepares for listing as transaction volumes hit $10 billion annually Dubai
Real estate experts warn that smaller landlords might face significant challenges under the new system Boutique Group
The company could also be looking to explore opportunities to export its palace-to-hotel conversion expertise to other markets Boutique Group
Since 2022, Boutique Group has been tasked with transforming historic Saudi palaces into ultra-luxury hotels M&A activity
Saudi Arabia's PIF and UAE sovereign funds, including Mubadala and ADIA, have been central to this growth High Net Worth Individuals
The migration wave comes as Britain grapples with multiple challenges, including the planned abolition of non-dom tax status and broader economic uncertainty Abraham Accords
Experts weigh prospects for Trump's deal-making approach as allies grapple with controversial Gaza plans and Iran stance AI adoption
The breakthrough suggests U.S. sanctions may have accelerated China's push for technological self-reliance, rather than containing its advancement, experts say Blockchain
A new report suggests that Europe's crypto extremism problem is growing faster than anyone expected Burj Khalifa
The listing comes as Dubai's property market experiences strong growth, particularly in the ultra-luxury segment Careem
The move comes as conventional exchange houses increased their fees by 15% last year branded real estate
Fashion house partners with Dubai's Samana for ultra-luxury water villas and apartments with nightly rates up to $8,000 diplomacy
Rubio faces a complex set of immediate challenges, including implementing the Gaza ceasefire deal, managing escalating tensions with Iran, and attempting to revive the Abraham Accords, experts say Dubizzle
Strong investor appetite meets cautious market conditions as UAE prepares for potential landmark listings branded real estate
Nightly rates to hit $8,000 at Elie Saab's first Maldives resort, as Dubai developer launches $2.3 million pool apartments with invite-only beach villas launching for sale soon Dubai
The UAE has broken into the world's top 10 most powerful passports while establishing itself as a premier destination for global wealth Donald Trump
Trump's first day makes Biden's four years look timid Dubai
The trend coincides with a sharp decline in British global mobility power, with the UK passport dropping from first place in 2015 to fifth position in 2025 Donald Trump
Trump promises 'revolution of common sense' in his second inaugural speech, pledging border crackdowns, major energy policy shifts and sweeping territorial changes for the U.S. – here's everything you need to know Gaza ceasefire
Under the first phase of the agreement, 33 Israeli hostages – including all women, children, and men over 50 – will be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners Gaza ceasefire
From Washington to Riyadh, leaders welcome watershed Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement, as mediators race to halt hostilities before implementing the Gaza deal on Sunday Aviation
The Doha-based airline is pushing to complete Starlink installations across its Boeing 777 fleet by Q2 2025, followed by its Airbus A350 aircraft in summer 2025 Artificial intelligence
UAE experts warn of mounting burnout as workers face pressure to match AI's machine-like productivity
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Dubai Eye
3 hours ago
- Dubai Eye
Russia and Ukraine exchange group of younger prisoners of war
AFP PHOTO / RUSSIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY - HANDOUT Russia and Ukraine exchanged prisoners of war under the age of 25 on Monday in emotional homecoming scenes, the first step in a series of planned prisoner swaps that could become the biggest of the war so far. The exchange was the result of direct talks between the two sides in Istanbul on June 2 that resulted in an agreement to exchange at least 1,200 POWs on each side and to repatriate thousands of bodies of those killed in Russia's war in Ukraine. The return of POWs and the repatriation of the bodies of the dead is one of the few things the two sides have managed to agree on as broader negotiations have failed to get close to ending the war, now in its fourth year. Fighting has raged on, with Russia saying on Monday its forces had taken control of more territory in Ukraine's east-central region of Dnipropetrovsk and Kyiv saying Moscow had launched its largest drone attack of the war. Officials in Kyiv said some of the Ukrainian prisoners who came home on Monday had been in Russian captivity since the beginning of the war. At a rendezvous point for the returning Ukrainian prisoners, soon after they crossed back into northern Ukraine, an official handed one of the freed men a cellphone so that he could call his mother, a video released by Ukrainian authorities showed. "Hi mum, I've arrived, I'm home!" the soldier shouted into the receiver, struggling to catch his breath because he was overcome by emotion. The released Ukrainian men were later taken by bus to a hospital in northern Ukraine where they were to have medical checks and be given showers, food and care packages including mobile phones and shoes. Jubilation was tinged with sadness because outside the hospital were crowds of people, mostly women, looking for relatives who went missing while fighting for Ukraine. The women held up pictures of the missing men in the hope that one of the returning POWs would recognise them and share details about what happened to them. Some hoped their loved ones would be among those released. Oksana Kupriyenko, 52, was holding up an image of her son, Denys, who went missing in September 2024. "Tomorrow is my birthday and I was hoping God will give me a gift and return my son to me," she said, through tears. Neither side said how many prisoners had been swapped on Monday, but the Russian Defence Ministry said in its own statement that the same number of military personnel had been exchanged on each side. Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky said at the weekend that a first list of 640 POWs had been handed to Ukraine. The Russian military said its returned servicemen were now in Belarus, a close Russian ally, where they were receiving psychological and medical assistance before being transferred to Russia for further care. Footage broadcast by Russia's RIA state news agency showed a group of freed Russian soldiers on board a coach raising their hands in the air and shouting: "Hurrah we're home." The same group was shown holding a Russian flag and chanting "Russia! Russia!" before boarding the coach. "It is very difficult to convey what I'm feeling inside now. But I am very happy, proud and grateful to everyone who took part in this process, in the exchange and bringing us home," said one freed Russian soldier. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country had received a first group of prisoners from Russia and that it would take several days to complete the swap. Both sides say the intention for this round of prisoner swaps is also to hand over people who are gravely ill or severely injured. The people seen being handed over so far on Monday appeared to be fit and well. "Today's exchange has begun. It will be done in several stages in the coming days," Zelenskyy said on the Telegram app. "The process is quite complex, with many sensitive details, and negotiations continue virtually every day. We count on the full implementation of the humanitarian agreements reached during the meeting in Istanbul. We are doing everything possible to bring back every single person."
Middle East Eye
6 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Trump says Iran's proposal 'unacceptable' as Tehran touts intel on Israeli nukes
Iran's response to a US nuclear deal proposal is 'unacceptable', President Donald Trump said on Monday, adding that Iran was 'asking for things you can't do'. 'They don't want to have to give up what they have to give up. They seek enrichment. We want just the opposite,' Trump said during a business round table. Earlier in the day, he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump said the two leaders' conversation was mainly about Iran. 'So far, they (Iran) aren't there. I hate to say that…They have given us their thoughts on the deal, and I said, 'it's just not acceptable.'' Trump's pessimistic tone is in stark contrast to his assessment of the nuclear talks in May. He previously said he asked Netanyahu not to launch preemptive strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities because he believed the US was close to a 'solution'. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters The US and Iran have held five rounds of talks since April to thrash out a new nuclear accord to replace the 2015 deal called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which Trump unilaterally withdrew from during his first term in 2018. Trump, who prides himself on being a 'dealmaker', laughed about going toe-to-toe with the Iranians. His envoy, Steve Witkoff, met directly with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi during the talks, although the discussions were mediated by Oman. 'They (Iranians) are good negotiators, but they are tough. Sometimes they can be too tough. That's the problem,' Trump said. Trump said the next round of talks will take place on Thursday. Trump's comments come as all sides, the US, Iran and Israel, appear to be positioning themselves for different scenarios depending on how the talks progress. Iran touts Israel nuclear intelligence leak On Saturday, Iranian state media reported that Tehran had obtained a trove of "strategic and sensitive" Israeli intelligence in a covert operation, including files related to Israel's undeclared nuclear programme and defence plans. Israel is widely understood to have nuclear weapons, although it doesn't admit it. Iran's top security body said on Monday that, using intelligence it had obtained about Israeli nuclear facilities, Iranian forces could launch counterattacks - should Israel strike the Islamic Republic. Saudi Arabian and Omani officials propose nuclear facilities for Iran on Gulf island: Report Read More » Iran insists its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes. After Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran ramped up uranium enrichment to 60 percent. US officials have said that Iran is weeks away from enriching uranium to the 90 percent level that would be needed for weaponisation. Iran would then have to construct a nuclear weapon, which could take months. Trump's comments on Monday suggest that he is pursuing a deal that would stop all Iranian enrichment - a red line for the Islamic Republic. Reports in Axios and The New York Times earlier this month said the White House may concede to a low level of enrichment by Iran, perhaps temporarily. The US provided Iran with a proposal for a nuclear deal on 31 May. On Monday, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei criticised the US proposal as "lacking elements" reflective of the previous rounds of negotiations. "We will soon submit our own proposed plan to the other side through (mediator) Oman once it is finalised," Baqaei told a weekly press briefing. "It is a proposal that is reasonable, logical and balanced, and we strongly recommend that the American side value this opportunity.' Iran's parliament speaker has said the US proposal failed to include the lifting of sanctions, a key demand for Tehran, which has been reeling under their weight for years. Trump imposed debilitating sanctions on Iran in 2018. Is Trump holding back Israel from attacking? A steady stream of media leaks suggests that Israel is prepared to unilaterally bomb Iran's nuclear facilities, potentially alone. What is stopping Israel from bombing Iran's nuclear sites? Read More » One senior US official previously told Middle East Eye on the condition of anonymity that the Trump administration has been impressed by plans Israel shared with it that lay out unilateral strikes against Iran's nuclear programme without direct American involvement. The plans were discussed in April and May with CIA director John Ratcliffe. But analysts and former US and Israeli officials say Israel is unlikely to defy Trump's request to stand down. They say Netanyahu would like to share political responsibility with the US for attacking Iran if something goes wrong. He is also afraid Trump may not provide an American military backstop, given his recent ceasefire with the Houthis in Yemen that excluded Israel. In 2024, the US intervened directly to shoot down Iranian missiles and drones fired at Israel during two unprecedented direct exchanges of fire between the Middle East foes. Trump himself is under conflicting pressures. He has purged his administration of pro-Israel hawks like former national security advisor Mike Waltz and, more recently, lower-level officials like Merav Ceren, the National Security Council director for Israel and Iran. Ceren came in the crosshairs of pro-Trump "America First" commentators, but analysts say officials like her likely have little influence in a White House where Trump has consolidated decision-making down to all but his closest advisors. Iran has been the most active in positioning itself for the next round of talks.
Middle East Eye
6 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
What to know about the new Trump travel ban now in effect
US President Donald Trump's new travel ban went into effect on Monday, to far less mobilisation and criticism than the first time around, in 2017. With a bigger mandate this time, and relatively high approval ratings for his immigration policy, Trump's new travel ban has not just expanded, it's also on far more solid legal footing, immigration lawyers told Middle East Eye. The executive order targets 12 countries: Afghanistan; Burma; Chad; the Republic of the Congo; Equatorial Guinea; Eritrea; Haiti; Iran; Libya; Somalia; Sudan; and Yemen. Additionally, nationals from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela will be partially restricted. Those already inside the US are exempt. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters For those abroad at the time the ban went into effect, they may enter the country if they are green card holders, preauthorised visa holders, preauthorised refugee claimants, dual citizens where one of the countries is not included in the travel ban, or if they are the immediate family members of a US citizen. Still, increased scrutiny at ports of entry and orders from Secretary of State Marco Rubio could lead to visa revocations by a border agent. The administration has made it clear that no person is entitled to entry into the US, apart from US citizens. The White House said the ban, as well as heightened vetting measures, is necessary because of excessive visa overstays, which the Trump administration says is a national security concern because it could lead to "terrorist" activity. 'We don't want them': countries facing travel ban to US Read More » The ban was initially expected back in March, but was only introduced following an attack by an Egyptian national on a pro-Israeli march in Colorado last week. "This is definitely a Muslim ban couched in language that the Trump administration knows how to get around as it pertains to the courts," Haris Tarin, the vice president of policy and programming at the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), told MEE. "There was a lot of online chatter - especially by the Laura Loomers and the Randy Fines - these intense Islamophobes in Congress and supporters of the administration who basically said Muslims are responsible for this, and that they needed to ban the Muslim Brotherhood and that they needed to have travel bans," he added. The administration "already spooked so many people from coming into this country... with the detention of students, with the detention of tourists," Tarin said. "This was the perfect time to go even further." 'Anxious, desperate, exhausted' Unlike the 2017 ban, this one is likely to remain in effect in its current form, Hassan M Ahmed, managing attorney at the HMA Law Firm, told MEE. "It's clear that a lot more thought went into this version of it. It seems that they learned their lessons from the previous iterations," Ahmed said, referring to the persistent challenges they faced in court. In a precedent-setting decision in late 2017, the US Supreme Court maintained that the president did not violate the First Amendment with his so-called Muslim Ban, and was well within his rights to determine what is in the national security interest. The Court also said there was no anti-Muslim animus in the ban, simply because many other Muslim countries were not targeted. "Anytime a policy changes, whether for good or for bad, we get an increase in phone calls," Ahmed said. "In this case, we're dealing not just with a change in policy, but there's sort of a psychological aspect to a lot of the administration's offensive policies, and that creates a great deal of uncertainty." On those phone calls are people who are "anxious, desperate, and exhausted", Ahmed told MEE. "Unfortunately, given the track record of open defiance of court orders and lawlessness that's become sort of emblematic of this administration, sometimes we as lawyers are at a loss [and unable] to tell clients that they don't have anything to worry about." Laila Ayub, an immigration attorney and co-founder of Project ANAR, which assists in the resettlement of Afghan refugees, said the climate of fear is deeply pervasive among the community she works with. "Everyone who's already here started contacting us, thinking they're now at risk of deportation just because of their nationality, which is not actually the reality," Ayub told MEE. "So there is a lot of opportunity still to empower people with information about their rights." "The number one question, though, that people have always despite their situation when they are in here in the US, is when they can reunite with their family. That is really something that will be impacted by the travel ban." Impact on visas While advocacy groups have been pleading with the Trump administration for months to make an exemption for Special Immigrant Visas for Afghans who aided American soldiers between 2001 and 2021, there is such a carveout. Still, the visa does not include everyone who worked for or who worked closely with the US during their presence in Afghanistan, Ayub said. Mirriam Sediq, who runs Seddiq Law Maryland, told MEE that previously "lawful categories for Afghans" now suddenly no longer exist. "There are people that came to the US in 2021, 2022 through humanitarian parole. There are also those who have [Temporary Protected Status]. And TPS has been ended for Afghans, so they're really left in a completely no man's land right now." Handful of US lawmakers demand Trump ban the Muslim Brotherhood Read More » Seddiq said she feels "super betrayed by this idea that we've told our clients to do [the right] things" in terms of entering legally and maintaining a law-abiding presence, yet "they're walking directly into the lion's den when they do it". Among other actions, the Trump administration has sent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to courthouses around the country to arrest largely undocumented immigrants who are appearing for their immigration court date, just as the government asked them to. This, Seddiq said, was always standard practice: as long as an immigrant did regular check-ins with ICE agents and showed up in front of a judge and violated no laws, they could carry on with their lives in the US. Now, they're being taken away from their US-born children to be detained and then deported. "We've allowed people to enter even when they don't have a pathway forward. And this is where we are," Seddiq told MEE. "But we've been here for decades and decades and decades, and we've asked for major immigration reform, major overhauls, maybe even some sort of amnesty for people who are doing all the right things. And there's never the political will to do it." Legislative change Despite a much more muted societal reaction compared to 2017, civil liberties groups and immigrant advocacy organisations are working on ways to respond to the new Trump travel ban. The public that took to the streets eight years ago is simply too exhausted this time, Tarin told MEE. "People have been responding to students being kidnapped off the streets by ICE. People have been mobilising to try to support students on student visas. Lawyers have tried to mobilise around protecting students on college campuses," he said. But that's also a strategy the administration has employed. "The way advocates organise is they take one issue at a time and they organise around it, and that's how they're successful. And so if you throw 15 issues at them, they won't be able to respond," Tarin said. In the immediate term, MPAC is putting together a network of lawyers that can be accessed in case of emergencies where otherwise legal entrants to the US are stuck at airports or put into detention. However, the group is also eyeing the 2026 midterm elections, when members of the House and Senate will be up for reelection, and Democrats may stand a chance of gaining a majority of seats in both chambers. MPAC is pushing for traction on the NO BAN Act so that if Democrats take control of Congress, there is an opportunity to make the bill a law. The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives in February by Democratic Congresswoman Judy Chu of California. It aims to limit Trump's authority to ban an entire class of foreigners - or "aliens" as they are called in the US - from arriving in the country, and demands that Rubio provide lawmakers with reports on the number of denied visitors. For the time being, people will "always try" to come to the US anyway, Seddiq said. "I am loath to tell anybody that the United States is closed the way the administration wants to seemingly advertise to the world. I think that where there's a will, there's a way, and frequently, when you're dealing with immigration, the key to success is merely standing up one more time when you're knocked down," Ahmed said.
