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Intelligence for the New World Economy

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Intelligence for the New World Economy
Semafor World Economy
Manal Albarakati

Manal Albarakati

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Gulf museum boom faces scrutiny over outsourcing to Western consultants

International consulting firms are deeply embedded in strategy, staffing, and delivery, Artnet reported.
Photo of the exterior of the Louvre Abu DhabiCourtesy of the Louvre Abu Dhabi

Saudi’s development fund plans bond debut

The National Development Fund is ramping up financing for the kingdom’s rapidly changing economy, the governor says.
Photo from an entrepreneurship event hosted by the Cultural Development Fund.An entrepreneurship event hosted by the Cultural Development Fund. cdf_sa/instagram.

Gulf tourism bets on rugged, screen-free luxury

Parvara, a mountain retreat in the northern emirate of Fujairah in the UAE, is the latest resort in the region to offer an alternative to glitzy hotels in capital cities.
Parvara, a resort in the Jabal Al Hamri mountains of Fujairah, UAE.Courtesy of Parvara

Abu Dhabi top financial hub in the Gulf, new ranking finds

A new index of competitiveness from NYU Abu Dhabi’s Stern School of Business placed Abu Dhabi in 12th place, ahead of Dubai, Riyadh, and Doha.
A view of Abu Dhabi.Hamad I Mohammed/File Photo/Reuters

Saudi’s ACWA Power eyes China and green hydrogen

The Saudi giant is scaling up investment at home and abroad.
China’s largest renewable energy power base under construction in Tengger Desert.Yuan Hongyan/Reuters

Emirati families’ heirlooms and oral histories on display in a new Abu Dhabi museum

The Zayed National Museum, unlike the neighboring Louvre and upcoming Guggenheim, is not another global art museum.
Photo of a gallery inside Zayed National Museum.Courtesy of Zayed National Museum

Saudi Arabia to open Red Sea Museum

Set to open on Dec. 6 inside the restored historic Bab Al-Bunt building in Jeddah’s old town, the museum features more than 1,000 artifacts.

UAE National Day marks a risk that remade the Gulf

On Dec. 2, 1971, six rival sheikhs made a historic decision, forming the UAE a day after Britain pulled its military out of the region.

FIFA signs $1B deal with Saudi Arabia fund to invest in stadium construction

The deal comes amid growing scrutiny of Gulf influence over global soccer.

Abu Dhabi turns decommissioned airport into immersive gallery

In a region that defaults to razing the old for the new, giving a defunct terminal a second life is a sign that some Gulf landmarks are worth preserving.

Qatar builds Gulf’s largest museum-grade art storage facility

The Doha facility will manage preservation, security, and logistics as interest in art in the region rises.

Qatar awards Samsung carbon-capture contract

The announcement comes as ‘energy realists’ at COP30 in Brazil are expected to push back against stricter climate goals.

Qatar doubles down on Egypt’s coastline with $3.5B land buy

Gulf countries are moving away from providing aid to Egypt and instead focusing on investment opportunities.

UAE telecom customers mine Bitcoin through phone plans

The Emirates have embraced the virtual assets industry, introducing regulations that have attracted some of the world’s biggest exchanges.

Saudi real estate developer partners with Google on AI

Arabian Dyar will use 15 years of internal data to train custom models to enhance design, planning, and community management across its Saudi developments.

Saudi investment deals focus on AI

Saudi Arabia’s FII conference has seen billions in deals signed across data, chips, energy, and infrastructure.

Saudi Arabia’s HUMAIN sharpens AI playbook

Public Investment Fund’s AI unit has partnered with Aramco as it looks to scale.

Saudi’s $50B downtown megaproject seeks partners

As spending cuts hit other major developments in the kingdom, New Murabba is moving ahead with construction.