Author: Mahdeehassan

For those living in the GCC, summer is often synonymous with escape. When the days turn molten and the pulse of city life becomes relentless, there’s a quiet craving that begins to surface—not for more, but for less. Less movement. Less performance. Fewer decisions, fewer demands. A need to retreat into a rhythm that’s slower, softer, and deeply personal. In Venice, a city often steered away from summer for its crowds and chaos—Nolinski Venezia offers a counter-narrative. Nestled between La Fenice and San Marco, this hotel doesn’t require your presence—it simply welcomes your becoming. Where Stillness Is Not Absence, But Intention…

Amid shifting geopolitical landscapes and complex global economic conditions, oil continues to be one of the most closely watched and volatile commodities. From OPEC+ decisions to the ripple effects of regional conflicts, the energy market is navigating a highly dynamic environment with implications that extend far beyond price charts. George Khoury, Global Head of Research and Education at CFI, breaks down the key drivers behind recent oil price movements, the broader economic impact of sustained price shifts, and what investors should watch for ahead of the next OPEC+ meeting. If you’re covering energy markets or related developments, we’re happy to provide…

Riyadh, June 2025: In a move set to deepen economic insight and advisory services across Saudi Arabia, Oxford Business Group (OBG) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Strategic Gears, a Saudi-based management consulting firm, to jointly produce high-impact research and advisory content supporting the Kingdom’s economic transformation under Vision 2030. The two-year agreement formalises a strategic collaboration aimed at fostering knowledge exchange, policy analysis and investment insight through joint publications, advisory projects and thought leadership initiatives. It underscores a shared commitment to delivering relevant, data-driven economic intelligence that reflects Saudi Arabia’s evolving priorities. Strategic Gears will contribute its…

Malta’s gaming scene is about to come alive as 6,000 professionals gather for the first-ever SBC Summit Malta—a next-level evolution of the beloved CasinoBeats Summit. Taking place at the InterContinental in St Julian’s from 10–12 June, the event will serve as Europe’s strategic iGaming hub—uniting 2,000 betting and iGaming operators, 750 affiliates, and thousands more from game studios, sportsbooks, payment providers, regulatory bodies, and marketing professionals for three intense days of dealmaking, complimented by numerous learning opportunities. On the educational front, delegates will gain access to expert insights from 250 industry leaders across a three-stage agenda. Alongside dedicated tracks for casino, affiliation and marketing, the expanded programme will now cover key verticals including sports betting, European…

Planning consent for the next phase of Battersea Power Station has been granted, marking another major step in delivering the vision for the 42-acre regeneration project. Battersea Power Station is to bring forward a new phase of residential, retail, community and leisure development having secured detailed planning approval from Wandsworth Council, completing Electric Boulevard, London’s newest high street. This latest phase adds two new Gehry Partners designed residential buildings comprising 306 new homes. They will form an extension to the highly recognisable existing two buildings at Prospect Place, which are fully sold and occupied, and remain the only residential buildings…

SBC Summit Malta 2025 will place the future of sports betting at the heart of its agenda with the launch of the Next-Gen Sports Betting track, a forward-looking series of sessions exploring the technologies, player behaviours, and product strategies fuelling the next phase of industry growth. Taking place on Thursday, 12 June at the InterContinental Hotel in St Julian’s, the track will feature five expert-led sessions covering AI integration, the emerging esports betting market, and the future of in-play betting across multiple sports. Rasmus Sojmark, Founder and CEO of SBC, said: “Sports betting is being redefined in real time—by new technologies, new user habits,…

Dubai, UAE – May 2025 – Al-Futtaim Electric Mobility Company (AFEM), a leading force in the UAE’s transition to sustainable transportation, has officially launched the BYD SEAL 7 DM-i Plug-in Hybrid Sedan. As the flagship D-segment model in its category, the SEAL 7 DM-i sets a new benchmark for hybrid electric vehicles, offering a refined blend of premium design, extended range, and advanced technology tailored to the needs of the modern UAE driver. With growing demand for flexible electrified solutions, the launch of the SEAL 7 DM-i marks a significant milestone in AFEM’s mission to accelerate clean mobility in the country.…

Dubai, UAE –May 2025: DIB, the world’s first Islamic bank and the largest in the UAE, has signed a USD 150 million Murabaha financing agreement with Turkcell, Türkiye’s leading telecommunications and technology services provider. The facility will support Turkcell’s ongoing investments in digital infrastructure and further reinforces DIB’s commitment to enabling growth in high-potential markets. As one of the most prominent Islamic financial institutions in the GCC, the Bank continues to foster cross-border partnerships that drive sustainable, innovation-led development. Structured as a five-year bullet-term facility, the Sharia-compliant financing will enable Turkcell to advance critical infrastructure in areas such as data centres,…

Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited (“Aspen”), a global specialty and branded multinational pharmaceutical company, has announced the establishment of a new regional headquarters in Riyadh, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Following a series of Middle East investments in key therapeutic areas aligned with both patient needs and market demands, the new regional headquarters will support Aspen’s regional growth strategy which includes a focus on three key pillars, namely, talent development, localization, and partnerships. Daniel Vella Friggieri – Regional CEO Europe & Middle East, Aspen Pharmacare, said: “We are delighted to be strengthening our local presence in this crucial…

As part of its efforts to raise awareness about its educational awards and encourage wider participation, Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences organized a series of field visits to schools across all emirates of the UAE. During these visits, the Foundation’s team delivered comprehensive presentations introducing the various award categories, their objectives, and the application process. The initiative also aimed to strengthen communication with target audiences within the educational community and foster dialogue to gather suggestions that support the continuous development and relevance of the awards to the current educational landscape. Her Excellency Khawla Ahmed…