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The Productivity Paradox in Oman’s SME Economy

Oman’s SME sector employs more than three quarters of the private workforce, yet contributes only a fraction of total economic output. New data reveals a widening productivity gap that challenges long-standing assumptions about job creation, growth, and private sector development. As policymakers confront this imbalance, the focus must shift from counting firms to improving output per worker.

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Programmable Halal Economy in the GCC: How Blockchain Is Changing Trade

The 2026 Hormuz crisis exposed a critical flaw in global halal trade: verification systems could not keep pace with real-world disruptions. In response, the GCC is moving toward a programmable model where compliance is embedded directly into financial and supply chain infrastructure. By combining blockchain, CBDCs, and Sharia-based validation systems, this new approach ensures that transactions only execute when both commercial and religious conditions are met. The result is faster trade, stronger trust, and a shift from manual certification to system-level enforcement.

The Financing Gap Shaping Gulf Women Entrepreneurs

For women founders in the Gulf, geography shapes survival. In Kuwait, self-funding forces speed, sales, and commercial focus. In Qatar, state-backed grants make long development cycles possible. These two paths explain why women-led startups across the region look so different, and why many struggle to scale.

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AI@70 in Dubai: Reframing the Next Seventy Years of Artificial Intelligence

Seventy years after artificial intelligence was first defined at Dartmouth College, the field has reached a turning point. Technical capability is accelerating, but global alignment on governance, ethics, and long-term responsibility is not. AI@70 in Dubai brings together researchers, policymakers, and institutional leaders to address this gap, extending the AI conversation beyond short policy cycles and toward a shared vision for the year 2096.

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The Great Convergence: Why Intersec 2026 Redefines National Resilience

Intersec 2026 marks a clear shift in how national safety is designed and governed. As physical infrastructure and digital systems become inseparable, resilience now depends on coordination across agencies, technologies, and people. From long-range surveillance to public readiness initiatives, the UAE is presenting a model where anticipation replaces reaction and security is treated as a core function of national planning.

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