Author: Stuart

O Gold has relaunched as a lifestyle Super App, turning gold into a daily spending currency. With more than 800,000 users, the move marks a major step in the company’s shift from a digital investment platform to a full gold-based ecosystem. Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 12 January 2026: O Gold, the UAE’s Shariah-compliant gold investment platform, has confirmed its transition into a Super App and launched a gold-backed Mastercard. The update allows users to treat physical gold as a liquid asset for daily use. By linking fractional gold ownership with live payment technology, O Gold now supports both long-term saving…

Fikra Ventures has announced a partnership with Hub71 to develop and grow AI-native companies from Abu Dhabi to global markets. Under the agreement, Fikra Ventures joins Hub71 as a partner venture studio. It will act as a venture builder within Hub71’s Initiate Programme. The company will create AI startups in-house and form joint ventures with selected global AI firms looking to enter the regional market from Abu Dhabi. Wael Aburida, CEO & Managing Partner of Fikra Ventures, and Ahmad Ali Alwan, CEO of Hub71, signed the agreement at Hub71. As global use of AI grows, success depends on more than…

A new report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) outlines 40 key innovations that can help governments strengthen power systems, widen energy access and support local development. The report explains that there is no single solution for every country. It states that long-term progress depends on linking technology with strong policy, regulation, market design, system operations and business models. IRENA launched the report during a Ministerial Dialogue on the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) at its Assembly. Titled Innovation landscape for sustainable development powered by renewables, the study shows that change happens when technical advances work alongside policy and…

OMODA&JAECOO UAE has entered into a partnership with the Esaad Card Center to expand its support for community initiatives and improve access to mobility services across the UAE. Colonel Salah Mohammed Al Marzouqi, Director of the Esaad Card Center, signed the agreement on behalf of Dubai Police. Mr Will Li, Executive Vice President, signed on behalf of OMODA&JAECOO UAE. Senior officials from both organisations attended the signing. The agreement was finalised on 10 December 2025 and will remain in effect for one year. It provides special vehicle purchase benefits to Esaad cardholders nationwide. Under this partnership, Esaad members can receive…

Dubai has rapidly transformed from a city known mainly for skyscrapers and luxury shopping into an influential hub for art and culture.  In the last decade, the art scene has expanded dramatically, drawing artists, collectors and galleries from across the Middle East and around the world. Dubai’s strategic location between East and West has helped it become a vibrant meeting point for both traditional and contemporary artistic expression. One of the most visible signs of this growth is Art Dubai, the city’s flagship art fair. In 2023, Art Dubai generated an estimated AED 143 million in direct economic impact for…

There’s a certain thrill in watching a fight scene that looks like it actually hurts. Not the over-polished CGI battles that fill theaters today, but the kind of bone-crunching choreography that defined the golden age of action movies. That is where Enzo Zelocchi has planted his flag. He’s not interested in spandex or digital shortcuts. He’s chasing the grounded, tactical, lethal vibe that made Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine iconic, Henry Cavill’s Superman physical, and Jason Statham the king of old-school cool. Zelocchi has the body language of someone who has spent hours on mats and in gyms, not in front of…

A good business owner, like a good dhow, does not fight the wind; it reads it. Too many entrepreneurs in Dubai launch with bright sails and no compass, then wonder why they drift. The truth is simple. Most failures are not caused by a single storm, but by small, predictable mistakes that compound until the runway disappears. The good news is that these mistakes are learnable and avoidable, especially if you take lessons from others who have already paid the tuition. Furkat Kasimov’s book, Don’t Do This: A Guide to Business Survival, is built on that idea. It is a…

Under the theme ‘The Light Compass’, Manar Abu Dhabi lit up Abu Dhabi and Al Ain with 22 site-specific artworks across four locations: Jubail Island, Souq Al Mina, Al Qattara Oasis and Al Jimi Oasis. Manar Abu Dhabi, the public light art exhibition led by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) as part of the Public Art Abu Dhabi initiative, closed its second edition on 4 January 2026. The exhibition returned in November 2025 and attracted more than 800,000 visitors. Residents and tourists gathered to explore the emirate’s islands, mangroves, oases and city spaces…

Intersec 2026, the global event for the security, safety and fire protection sectors, will open next week for its 27th edition. The exhibition takes place under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Ports and Borders Security Council. The event will run from 12 to 14 January 2026 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. This year’s edition will be the largest in Intersec’s history. More than 1,200 exhibitors from over 60 countries are set to attend, along with more than 50,000 trade visitors from around the world. Strong global demand…

Azizi Developments, a major private developer in the UAE, has partnered with Turkish manufacturer Mertoglu to supply outdoor play equipment at Azizi Venice. The project forms part of Azizi’s mixed-use community in Dubai South, built around one of the world’s largest swimmable lagoons. Mertoglu designs and produces outdoor play systems for residential areas, public spaces and large urban developments. The company is known for strong safety standards, durable materials and designs that suit different age groups. Its equipment supports physical activity, creativity and social play. Through this partnership, Azizi Developments continues its focus on family-friendly community design. Mertoglu’s play equipment…