Author: Stuart

SpeakUp, an AI-based matching app launched in Dubai in April 2025, delivered a standout moment in the final episode of The Final Pitch Dubai on OSN. The episode aired on 15 December and marked the only time this season that a startup received a direct investment offer on screen. An investor on the judging panel presented SpeakUp’s founders with a SAFE agreement live during the broadcast. After the founders exited the stage, several judges commented on SpeakUp’s long-term potential. They pointed to the platform’s ability to scale, its early user growth, and the size of the market it aims to…

Presight has signed a multi-year agreement with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Albania to deliver a nationwide AI-based smart nation programme. The programme will roll out advanced smart city systems across 20 cities and 28 international border points. It supports Albania’s push to modernise public infrastructure and strengthen its position as a digitally advanced country within Europe. Under the agreement, Presight will introduce an integrated AI-driven smart city platform to support core public services. The system will manage real-time operations, improve traffic and mobility systems, support faster emergency coordination, and provide a modern command and control…

HONOR has opened its flagship HONOR Experience Store at Dubai Mall, marking an important step in the company’s retail plans in the UAE. The opening reflects HONOR’s focus on physical retail spaces that allow customers to explore its wider device ecosystem in person. The store sits inside one of the world’s best-known shopping destinations and is designed as an AI Smart Living space. It brings retail, product trials, and hands-on discovery into one location. The opening also aligns with the pre-order collection day for the HONOR Magic8 Pro, linking the launch of a flagship store with a major product release…

Online gaming platforms may feel borderless, but in the UAE, the key question is simple: is the activity authorised where you’re physically located? Under the GCGRA framework, unlicensed commercial gaming is illegal, and even players using unlicensed operators may face penalties and serious risks. Start with the UAE’s Licensing Framework (Not the App’s Label) The UAE’s General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) regulates commercial gaming. This includes lottery products, internet-based gaming experiences (such as platforms offering game challenges and virtual rewards), and land-based entertainment venues. Rule of thumb: If an app provides online gaming entertainment (with features like prize redemption…

Comera Finance, the financial services arm of Comera Financial Holdings, part of Abu Dhabi’s Royal Group, has received final regulatory approval from the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE). The approval allows the company to operate as a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) and deliver both retail and wholesale financing services. The NBFC licence permits Comera Finance to offer regulated lending and financing products across the UAE. The approval supports the group’s long-term plan to build a compliant, technology-led financial platform that serves consumers, small and medium-sized enterprises, and large businesses. The decision follows a detailed regulatory assessment and reflects the…

TK Elevator (TKE), a global provider of vertical transportation and urban mobility solutions, has received several honours at the Dubai Airports Health & Safety Awards 2025. The company secured first place in both the Contractor Safety Excellence Award and the Safe Leader Award, and was also recognised as runner-up in the Safe Supervisor category. The awards place TK Elevator among the leading contractors for safety performance at Dubai International Airport (DXB). Dubai International Airport is the world’s busiest airport for international passengers. In 2024, it handled more than 92.3 million travellers and connected over 279 destinations across six continents. In…

The National Academy for Childhood Development has launched the winter edition of its Generation 71 programme in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Family. The initiative aims to support Emirati children by strengthening national values and developing practical life skills. Following strong participation in the summer edition, which involved more than 322 children from across the UAE, the winter programme will run during the school holiday period. Sessions are taking place in Abu Dhabi until 18 December and in the Al Dhafra Region from 22 to 25 December. Hessa Abdulrahman Tahlak, Assistant Undersecretary for the Development Sector at the Ministry…

The United Arab Emirates has secured the inscription of four new cultural elements on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The decision reinforces the country’s role in safeguarding living heritage and followed deliberations at the 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, held in New Delhi from 8 to 13 December 2025. This achievement reflects the UAE’s long-term work to protect and promote its cultural practices at an international level. Al-Ahala was added as a national file, recognised as a traditional performing art passed down through generations. Al-Bisht, the bride’s…

flyadeal has officially opened its new Operations Control Centre at its headquarters in Jeddah. The opening was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by His Excellency Engr. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Services and Chairman of Saudia Group. His Excellency Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group and Chairman of flyadeal, joined flyadeal Chief Executive Officer Steven Greenway in welcoming the Minister. The visit marked a key step in the airline’s operational growth. The new standalone Integrated Operations Control Centre, located at flyadeal’s Jeddah base, is four times larger than the previous facility. It…

This festive season, Miruna presents two collections designed for confident dressing across every type of celebration. With ‘MY MOM SAID NO’ and ‘FLUFF STUFF’, the brand offers bold looks suited to office events, evenings with friends, and late-night gatherings. Based in Dubai, Miruna continues to focus on clothing that supports self-expression. The two collections reflect different sides of modern style, from sharp silhouettes with shine to softer pieces that still command attention. ‘MY MOM SAID NO’: confident silhouettes with impact ‘MY MOM SAID NO’ focuses on strong shapes, shimmer, and clear design choices. Each piece is built to stand out…