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Why Dubai’s property boom is built to last for a long time
Dubai’s property market is rising at a pace few global cities can match, but analysts say the current upswing is being driven by structural demand rather than speculative excess.
Dubai sells 500 homes valued at over $10 million in 2025, sets new record
Dubai’s luxury property market achieved a new record, reaching 500 homes valued at $10 million in 2025, including a record 68 homes being sold worth more than $25 million, according to the property consultancy Knight Frank.This is compared to 435 luxury homes of $10-million-plus being sold in 2024 and 46 uber-luxury homes of $25 million-plus valued changing hands during the year.Faisal Durrani, partner and head of research for Mena at Knight Frank, said there is a huge appetite among regional an
Indian rupee hits record low against dirham; will UAE grocery prices fall?
The Indian rupee's record low against the UAE dirham and the US dollar's mixed bag of fortunes has resulted in a price drop in some goods. However, rising production and transportation costs in India often outweigh the currency advantage.The Indian rupee has hit an all time low against the Emirati currency and the US dollar, reaching 24.6 against the dirham and 90.4 against the greenback.Shuaib Alhammadi, director of community relations, Union Coop, said this is an opportunity to import more fro
Indian rupee slips to record low against UAE dirham, but RBI likely curbs losses
The Indian rupee declined to a record low on Thursday (Dh24.53), deepening its fall past the 90-per-dollar mark as corporate dollar sales and the lack of tangible progress towards a trade deal with the US hurt Asia's worst-performing currency.The rupee has fallen more than 5 per cent against the dollar in 2025, as US tariffs of up to 50 per cent on Indian goods have hurt exports to the country's biggest market and have diminished the appeal of local equities.Foreign investors have pulled out nea
UAE residents can now track and improve their credit score in real-time
The way UAE residents manage and understand their credit is undergoing a major transformation with Etihad Credit Bureau (ECB) rolling out sweeping reforms designed to give customers more control over their financial data and a clearer view of how their credit behaviour shapes opportunity.
Reverse home bias and the New Year resolution that can change your wealth
Every new year begins the same way.
UAE businesses continue to remain on strong growth track
Business activity across the UAE’s non-oil private sector closed 2025 on a strong footing, underlining the economy’s resilience and breadth as firms continued to benefit from firm demand, supportive government policies and sustained domestic and international interest.
India upgrades economic growth forecasts 2025-26 to 7.4%
India's economy is expected to grow 7.4% in the fiscal year ending in March, the National Statistics Office said on Wednesday, above the government's initial projection of 6.3%-6.8%.India's first advance estimate of gross domestic product (GDP), which will undergo revisions over time as data coverage improves, will be used as a base for the federal budget due to be announced on February 1.The Indian economy grew 6.5% in 2024/25 and 9.2% in 2023/24.In nominal terms, which factor in inflation, the
Dubai gold prices at record high; 24K reaches Dh550 per gram
Gold prices hit a new record in Dubai and globally as the 24K price hit Dh550 per gram at the opening of the market on Monday.The Dubai Jewellery Group data showed 24K jumping Dh7 per gram to Dh550.25, while the 22K gold price rose Dh6.5 to Dh509.5 per gram on Monday morning.Similarly, the 21K gold price rose to Dh488.75, 18K to Dh418.75 and 14K to Dh326.75 per gram.Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.Globally, spot gold broke above the psychological milestone
Is 2026 the year crypto finally moves from speculation to structural maturity?
For many people, 2025 felt like a year the crypto market should have soared and didn’t. Markets lagged, prices disappointed and we started to rethink once sacred rhythms like the four year cycle. Some analysts suggested a 5.4 year pattern (with hope for a final run at the bull market after all), while others argued cycles might be replaced altogether by a market shaped more by institutions than solo traders. At the same time, by the end of the year my social media feeds were filled with people talking about how 2025 was the year of the snake in Chinese zodiac, and that in February, we pass into the year of the Fire Horse. So what if 2025 was an important transition year, where crypto shed its Wild West reputation like a snake sheds its skin, in the direction of structural maturity and widespread adoption, under the auspices of the Fire Horse’s energy, enthusiasm and speed? Either way, markets are up despite geopolitical uncertainty, an interesting development, considering the impact of incidents in the past. And 2026 is shaping up to be very interesting indeed. Here are six things I’m looking forward to:
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Crypto’s coming of age: 2026 set to redefine digital assets beyond price hype
Cryptocurrency markets are entering 2026 on a footing of growing maturity, setting the stage for a year where digital assets increasingly anchor real-world use, deepening institutional roots and supporting their role as a strategic macro hedge.As Devika Mittal, South Asia Head at Ava Labs, observes, “2026 feels like the year crypto grows up. The market will move beyond pure price swings toward real utility, driven by clearer regulation, deeper institutional involvement, and more reliable infrast
India proposes forcing smartphone makers to give source code in security overhaul
India proposes requiring smartphone makers to share source code with the government and make several software changes as part of a raft of security measures, prompting behind-the-scenes opposition from giants like Apple and Samsung.The tech companies have countered that the package of 83 security standards, which would also include a requirement to alert the government to major software updates, lacks any global precedent and risks revealing proprietary details, according to four people familiar
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Expected release date, features and UAE price
January is traditionally an exciting month for Samsung fans, as it usually signals the arrival of the next-generation Galaxy S series. In 2026, however, the wait is slightly longer than usual. The much-anticipated Samsung Galaxy S26 series, led by the Galaxy S26 Ultra, is expected to debut a few weeks later than Samsung’s typical January schedule.
All January 9 flights to Iran cancelled, Flydubai spokesperson confirms
[Editor's Note: Follow Khaleej Times' live blog for real-time updates on the protests in Iran]According to the Dubai Airport website, at least 17 flights have been cancelled from Dubai to various Iranian cities including Tehran, Shiraz and Mashhad. A Flydubai spokesperson told Khaleej Times that all its flights to Iran on Friday (January 9) have been canceled. “We are in direct contact with passengers whose travel plans have been affected,” the spokesperson said. “We will continue to monitor the
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Etihad flies a record 22.4 million passengers in 2025, launches 16 new routes
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways carried 22.4 million passengers in 2025, an increase of 21 per cent year-on-year and the highest annual total in its history.The UAE national carrier’s passenger load factor in 2025 reached 88.3 per cent, up two percentage points compared with 2024, reflecting strong commercial performance throughout the year.The increase in passenger traffic was driven by sustained demand and disciplined capacity growth across its expanding global network..In December 2025 alone,
Du reports 7.9% year-on-year increase in revenues, reaching Dh3.87 billion in Q3 2025
Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company PJSC (du) on Thursday reported a solid financial and operational performance for the third quarter of 2025, underpinned by strong commercial momentum, disciplined execution, and strategic investments in high-growth areas.The telecom operator posted a 7.9 per cent year-on-year increase in revenues, reaching Dh3.87 billion for the quarter, driven by robust growth across its mobile, fixed, and ICT segments. Net profit rose to Dh732 million, marking a 1
UAE's mobile market set for data-driven growth as 5G subscriptions surge
The mobile services sector in the UAE is set for a steady advance over the rest of the decade as demand for high-volume data plans and widespread 5G adoption reshape how consumers and businesses use mobile networks. According to new modelling by analytics firm GlobalData, mobile service revenue in the UAE is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4 per cent between 2025 and 2030 — a shift driven by rising data consumption even as traditional voice revenue continues to decli
Why crude oil’s slide looks set to hit $50 this year
Oil prices are drifting lower with a stubborn sense of inevitability, weighed down by swelling supply and an unconvincing geopolitical risk premium, even after the shock of a US strike in Venezuela.From Wall Street to Mumbai, analysts are converging on a view that crude could revisit levels last seen during periods of acute oversupply, with Brent flirting with $50 a barrel by mid-year and struggling to mount a durable recovery.The immediate drag is Opec+ itself. After years of restraining output
Oil steadies as market assesses potential disruption in Iran, dealmaking for Venezuela
Oil prices steadied on Friday as concerns about potential disruption to Iran's output were offset by expectations of increased supply from Venezuela.Brent futures gained 18 cents, or 0.3 per cent, to $62.17 per barrel by 1005 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude climbed 17 cents, or 0.3 per cent, to $57.93.Both benchmarks climbed more than 3 per cent on Thursday, following two straight days of declines. For the week, Brent is on track to climb 2.3 per cent, while WTI has gained 1 pe
Airbus CEO says Boeing likely to win order race this year
Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury conceded likely defeat in the annual order race against Boeing on Wednesday, saying it was possible Boeing would win for the first time in six years, helped by settlements over U.S. tariff disputes.Airbus remains ahead of its U.S. rival in deliveries and the pipeline of outstanding orders, Faury told France Inter. Buoyed by strong demand for its 787 long-haul jet, Boeing on Wednesday posted 908 net orders after cancellations between January and November, compared with
