Latest news with #geopoliticalinstability
Gulf Business
17-07-2025
- Business
- Gulf Business
How can UAE-based firms manage employee travel risks in an uncertain world?
Image: Supplied In today's volatile global environment, travel risks have become a board-level concern for organisations headquartered in or operating out of the UAE and the Middle East. Whether responding to geopolitical instability, natural disasters, health outbreaks or climate-related disruptions, businesses must remain agile and informed to safeguard their most valuable asset: their people. Dubai and the broader UAE have long served as strategic hubs for multinational and regional companies, owing to their connectivity and business-friendly infrastructure. As a result, many organisations here have employees regularly deployed to — or permanently based in locations with elevated risk profiles. These include areas affected by conflict, civil unrest, health crises or environmental hazards. Sectors such as energy, construction, government services, NGOs and infrastructure development are especially prone to operating in such complex environments. While risk is not new, the speed and interconnected nature of today's crises demand a new level of preparedness. The UAE advantage – But no room for complacency Being headquartered in the UAE offers undeniable benefits — political stability, rapid response infrastructure, and strong global connectivity. However, these advantages do not come for granted outside of the UAE, whereby the security context can greatly shift. It's critical for organisations to recognise that the risk does not disappear at the departure gate. The Duty of Care follows employees wherever they go, and any lapse in preparedness can have legal, financial and reputational consequences. Thus, a holistic and proactive approach to travel risk management, one that is integrated into corporate strategy and culture, not just compliance checklists is a must. The new geography of risks and key steps to building resilience Today's risk landscape is no longer confined to conflict zones or politically unstable countries. Disruptions can arise suddenly, and from multiple sources: political unrest, public health emergencies, cyberattacks, or extreme weather events. Managing travel risk effectively requires a multi-layered approach. Based on our global expertise and regional experience, here are four key pillars UAE-based organisations should focus on: Pre-travel planning and risk assessment Before sending staff to a new location, particularly those marked as medium to high risk—conduct thorough threat assessments, backed by intelligence from trusted sources. Employee education and preparedness Regular training sessions, including crisis simulations, crisis management masterclass and security awareness briefings, equip staff with the knowledge and confidence to respond appropriately in dynamic environments. Real-time monitoring and incident response Having access to timely, verified information can be the difference between disruption and disaster. Therefore, having a system or team in place for real time monitoring and incident responses is crucial. Post-incident recovery and policy review Once a crisis has passed, it's vital to review and refine policies, ensuring lessons are incorporated into future planning. There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to travel Whether your teams are deployed for infrastructure projects in remote areas or executive meetings in volatile regions, having the right strategy and plan makes all the difference. The writer is the GM Middle East, International SOS.
Gulf Business
15-07-2025
- Business
- Gulf Business
Wizz Air responds to refund queries on X after Abu Dhabi exit
Low-cost carrier Wizz Air is actively addressing refund requests from affected passengers on X (formerly Twitter), following its decision to In an The move, described by Wizz Air as a response to 'geopolitical instability, repeated airspace closures, and regulatory challenges,' has impacted travelers who booked flights for dates beyond 1 September 2025. In the days following the announcement, numerous users took to X to seek clarity on cancellations and refunds. Wizz Air's social media team has been quick to respond to individual posts, repeatedly asking users to send private messages for assistance. In some cases, Wizz Air has also encouraged passengers to contact its WhatsApp support directly at +44 7830 738860, offering a more immediate line of communication. Scaling back Meanwhile, Wizz Air's CEO József Váradi confirmed to Reuters that the airline intends to 'scale back' its order of 47 Airbus A321XLR aircraft in light of the Abu Dhabi withdrawal. He also revealed that talks are underway with Airbus to convert some of that order into A321 models, which are more compatible with Wizz Air's revised operational focus. The airline reiterated that only Abu Dhabi operations are affected, and all other Wizz Air group flights will continue as scheduled. As Wizz Air pivots its strategy toward more stable and profitable markets, its handling of customer concerns, especially across social platforms, will be key to maintaining brand trust during this transition.
Gulf Business
14-07-2025
- Business
- Gulf Business
Wizz Air exits Abu Dhabi, cites instability and limits
Low-cost carrier Wizz Air (WIZZ.L) said on Monday it was quitting its Abu Dhabi operation after six years to focus on its main European market, citing geopolitical instability and limited market access. Wizz, which originally focused on central and eastern Europe but expanded into Britain, Italy and Austria, said in future it would concentrate on its much more profitable European business. Shares in the London-listed airline rose 1.5 per cent in early trading. The stock is down about 62 per cent over the last two years, hit by issues with Pratt & Whitney GTF engines which led to the grounding of some of its aircraft. Wizz said the geopolitical instability had led to repeated airspace closures around Abu Dhabi, hitting demand, while the impact of the hot environment in the Middle East had hurt engine efficiency, making it hard to operate its low-cost model. Failure to secure the flying rights for certain routes had also meant it was unable to grow in the region as it had hoped, the airline said. 'They just couldn't make money out of the Middle East,' Davy analyst Stephen Furlong said. Wizz said it will stop local flights from September 1, 2025 and would be contacting customers regarding refunds. 'Supply chain constraints, geopolitical instability, and limited market access have made it increasingly difficult to sustain our original ambitions,' Wizz Air CEO Jozsef Varadi said in a statement. 'While this was a difficult decision, it is the right one given the circumstances,' he added.
Bloomberg
30-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Dubai Property More Affordable Than London, New York
Live on Bloomberg TV CC-Transcript 00:00Now turning to the UAE, because despite its record of managing to thrive during global instability, the Iran Israel confrontation does pose one of the most stringent tests yet for the countries neutral and open for business stance. We can get more on this with Clementine Monaro, whose House and House sales director. Clementine, it's really good to have you with me. Thank you so much for stopping in. This conflict, I feel must have been the first time for a whole generation of ex-pats that they've been exposed to the risks in the Middle East, particularly when you had those strikes on the US airbase in Qatar. Do you think that it's going to have a lasting impact on sentiment in the region of people living here and moving here? Investment sentiment as well, that for the first time they've had to really think about their safety? I think last week certainly there were some uncomfortable conversations that we were having, both as management, how do we empower our team to have conversations with buyers and sellers? But the reality is when there is geopolitical instability in the region, it only makes Dubai look safer. Yeah, and anecdotally, house and House Holiday Homes Department had a huge increase in Iranians seeking shelter in Dubai. Okay, that's really interesting. So Dubai is seen as a safe haven and that continues. Maybe this is even beneficial. What's been driving Dubai's continued price growth then? This has been the underlying trend, even amid the global headwinds, even amid the, say, for dollar soft dollar as well. I think Dubai is just an incredibly safe place to want to be. The Times reports at 16 and a half thousand millionaires have left the UK and 9800 of those have landed into Dubai. And I think what that is talking of is just brilliant infrastructure. The ease of doing business here just is seen as a really safe place to come. We mentioned the UK. I wonder with my UK correspondent hat on how much that's to do with Dubai benefiting from the Labour government in the UK dismantling the non-dom regime? Absolutely. But that's definitely what we're seeing. And even just the education now here has really caught up health care. I think people, even with things like the private school fees, VAT that went on, still much cheaper to educate your children here and yet arguably you're getting the similar quality of education. And so you're forecasting for that trend to continue. We are okay because that's a real worry for the Chancellor if more than one in four non-dom actually leave the UK. So that's really interesting. And then how does Dubai actually stack up globally when it comes to value and investor appeal? Because of course there are lots of cities where the non-dom is, but other rich and mobile people could go nuts. It Dubai is still so affordable to buy blends out an average of $418 per square foot. If you look, that's nearly half of Paris, which is $700 per square foot. And then London, 1400 dollars a square foot. New York, 1650, Singapore topping out at 1750. So it's almost four times cheaper to live in Dubai than it is in London. And that's not including the fact that you're also not paying tax on your income here. And is it the luxury segment that's driving things or is it also the mass segment? And how does it pan out? I mean, those are those numbers are over a blended average. But what we are seeing is that the mid level has been pretty buoyant, although with the supply that's coming in the next couple of years. That's a segment to watch. But the prime segment is absolutely flying.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Uncertainty Drives Rotation Out of the US: Nomura's Nicholson
Geopolitical instability and ambiguity around tariff impacts are key factors shaping global markets, according to Gareth Nicholson, Nomura CIO and Head of Discretionary Portfolio Management. Ongoing uncertainty is also prompting a rotation of assets out from the US. He speaks on Bloomberg's The China Show. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
