Opinion Infrastructure Rebuilding Syria would revive its nexus status Stability in Syria and regional integration is of more than just marginal interest to the GCC A stable environment in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq would encourage an influx of foreign capital John Manners-Bell, CEO, Transport Intelligence Insight
Opinion Business of Sport Taking Saudi Arabia’s World Cup 2034 from ambition to reality Saudi Arabia must avoid building 'iconic' stadiums that then turn into empty symbols of ambition It should focus on multipurpose, practical stadiums that serve communities long after the final whistle Alexey Milovanov, Founder, Stadium Management Consulting
Opinion Aviation How to flaunt it with the Dubai jet set I’ve flown in private jets just twice in my life, so I'm not really in Vista's target market The world of private jets is changing – but the clients are very much the same Frank Kane, Editor-at-Large, AGBI
Opinion Trade Kaizen meets Vision 2030: Japan’s expanding role in Gulf growth Japan’s 'kaizen', or continuous improvement, chimes with the Gulf’s focus on the future Trade with the GCC is already almost $100 billion in imports and exports David Walker, Head of corporate banking, Citi, Japan
Opinion Economy Syria after Assad: a long road to recovery Hopefully, the new Syria will be pluralist, pragmatic and capitalist The failed state needs a government of technocrats, not warlords Matein Khalid, Investor
Opinion Construction Oman’s heritage is at stake as it seeks investors for ‘lavish’ city However ambitious Oman's plans are for Muscat, it should remain mindful of its heritage The growth of Muscat must be handled with sensitivity Saleh Al-Shaibany, Journalist, Al-Safa Press & Publishing
Opinion Oil & Gas Seismic events in Syria will not affect oil markets. Here’s why For oil traders, the historic events in Syria are fascinating but don't really affect the day job Syria does have some oil but has been a footnote in global markets Frank Kane, Editor-at-Large, AGBI
Opinion Agriculture We need an agency to fight AMR, the region’s silent killer Regulating antibiotic use in agriculture requires the creation of a regional food safety agency A lack of government financial resources and little, if no, regulatory frameworks add to the problem Martin Keulertz, Lecturer, University of the West of England
Opinion Real Estate Dubai home renovations: enough to drive a man to drink Constant drilling and hammering. Dubai home renovations are enough to drive a man to drink Real estate may be peaking if the work in my apartment block is anything to go by Frank Kane, Editor-at-Large, AGBI
Opinion Trade Gulf is not immune to Trump’s tariff threats When it comes to the Brics, the challenges facing them to create their own currency are myriad President-elect’s de-dollarisation warnings are likely to flounder amid complex economic realities Tim Fox, Partner, Capital Gate Advisors
Opinion Entrepreneurs How to fund and launch your business in Mena and beyond Investors want businesses that can scale fast, are built for growth and are a little different Funding is a marathon, not a sprint Helen McGuire, Tech business founder
Opinion Tech Time to give some of that fintech funding to R&D Billion-dollar ideas exist in Mena, but many struggle to raise investment from the region’s VCs Governments must help the private sector to fund more complex tech research Triska Hamid, Angel investor
Opinion Cop28 Saudi Arabia goes on the offensive on climate change There is a chasm between how Saudi Arabia and 'green' Westerners see the world Over the next 10 days in Riyadh, the kingdom will have the chance to demonstrate its commitment Frank Kane, Editor-at-Large, AGBI
Opinion Media & Advertising Who do Middle East marketers think they are talking to? Advertisers in the GCC must think about who they are talking to – we are not all the same The GCC is a melting pot of non-native nationalities from countries with very different mindsets Austyn Allison, Middle East advertising expert
Opinion Infrastructure Libya prepares final phase for giant man-made river Libyan water engineers have amassed substantial expertise in this gigantic undertaking It is hoped that all Libyan villages and cities will gain access to fresh Saharan water Salem Maiar, Consultant in Libyan natural resources and geopolitics
Opinion Transport Now on platform 1 … a stylish ride for Riyadh commuters The Dubai Metro has become a seething mass of people, but the Riyadh Metro is a joy to ride Riyadh Metro's bright and spacious trains will have a huge impact on the city’s productivity Justin Doherty, Chairman, Hemington Consulting
Opinion Leisure & Hospitality Dubai stand-up as cultural symbiosis – that’s a laugh The Gulf is not exactly world-renowned in the comedic arts. Well, so I thought anyway Laughter Factory has evolved into a prime example of the Dubai “salad bowl” Frank Kane, Editor-at-Large, AGBI
Opinion Energy Trump team will make waves in GCC energy and capital markets The US president-elect's worldview is likely to weaken global energy prices New US treasury and energy secretaries will keep interest rates high Matein Khalid, Investor
Opinion Artificial Intelligence AI must support humans, not replace them Tech doing the heavy lifting and people making the ultimate calls is the path to genuine progress It is essential to uphold the creativity, empathy and insight that only people can bring Jamil El-Imad, Honorary Senior Research Fellow, Imperial College, London
Opinion Markets UAE and Saudi capital market reforms are bearing fruit The UAE's listings are unique as they are mainly initiated by state-owned and family businesses Inbound capital flows were thin on the ground outside traditional sectors Khalil Charles Massoud, Chief Investment Officer, Alpha Dhabi Holding
Opinion Aviation BA drops Kuwait after 60 years… but why? British Airways' withdrawal from Kuwait after 60 years could benefit regional carriers A simple hard-headed business decision is the most likely explanation John Grant, Partner, Midas Aviation
Opinion Media & Advertising Could Riyadh Air’s brand help Saudi Arabia take off? Riyadh Air's branding strategy will highlight Saudi Arabia's emerging identity aspirations National airlines have an outsize role to play in nation-branding Simon Chadwick, Professor of AfroEurasion sport
