Artficial Intelligence
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The Metaverse Museum: Oman’s Blueprint for Future Cultural Tourism
Oman’s digital strategy goes far beyond simple preservation; it is fundamentally about creating a...
Business
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From Black Gold to White Oil: Saudi Arabia’s Race to Control the Battery Midstream
As the global energy transition accelerates, control over lithium processing has become the true source of power in the battery economy. Saudi Arabia is responding by anchoring domestic refining in Yanbu, extracting lithium from oilfield brines, and securing global supply through sovereign capital. The result is a coordinated strategy to control the battery midstream, where value, resilience, and industrial leverage converge.
Government
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Oman’s Personal Income Tax: Who Pays, Who Is Exempt, and What It Means for Expats
Royal Decree No. 56/2025 makes Oman the first GCC state to introduce a personal income tax. The law sets a 5% flat rate on income above OMR 42,000 and takes effect on January 1, 2028. This article covers the full threshold mechanics, exempt income categories, residency rules, and employer withholding obligations.
Hiring freeze meets nationalization quota: how Gulf HR teams are coping
Gulf HR directors face a hard deadline in May 2026: nationalisation quotas are enforced with full penalties while hiring remains frozen across logistics, finance, and hospitality. The UAE’s June 30 Emiratisation target, Saudi Arabia’s new Nitaqat Mutawar phase, and updated fee structures in Qatar and Oman all carry immediate financial consequences. This article sets out what each country requires and how leading organizations are meeting targets without adding headcount.
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AI in the Gulf when money is tight: what gets funded, what gets cut
GCC AI funding is concentrating on one thing: operating cost reduction within 12 months. Analysis of where Saudi Arabia and the UAE are directing capital — and what is being paused.
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The Sovereign Catalyst: How PIF and Mubadala Are Building an On-Chain Financial System
GCC sovereign wealth funds are redefining global finance by building on-chain systems. This analysis explains how PIF and Mubadala are using blockchain, AI infrastructure, and tokenization to maintain capital flow during geopolitical disruption while strengthening domestic economic control.
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The Hormuz Blockade is Repricing Risk Across GCC Construction
The Strait of Hormuz blockade is disrupting GCC construction at its core. Rising material costs, shipping delays, and shifting contractor dynamics are forcing developers to rethink risk, timelines, and capital allocation. This analysis explains what it means for Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s 2026 property pipeline and which developers are best positioned to withstand a high-cost, high-delay environment.
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The $27 Trillion Liquidity Problem in Global Trade
An estimated $27 trillion sits idle in global correspondent banking accounts. Learn how CBDC settlement platforms and GCC financial initiatives could reduce prefunding and improve capital efficiency in cross-border trade.
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How Saudi Arabia and the UAE Are Rebuilding Capital Markets On-Chain
An in-depth analysis of GCC real-world asset tokenization, covering blockchain property registries, renewable energy financing, digital sukuk, and CBDC integration.
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