Author: Sam Allcock
SAIC Motor, parent company of MG Motor, has secured 138th position on the 2025 Fortune Global 500, reporting revenues of USD 87.2 billion in 2024. This achievement marks the automaker’s 21st consecutive year on the list, reinforcing its international influence and consistent performance across markets, including the Middle East. As the sole Chinese carmaker to surpass annual sales of 1 million New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) and 1 million vehicles abroad for three consecutive years, SAIC’s worldwide achievements have strengthened MG’s brand appeal in the Middle East. Since re-entering the region in 2015, MG has rapidly climbed the ranks to secure…
Travanleo, a prominent ESG and sustainability technology provider with operations in the UAE and India, has unveiled Carbon Xpress — a dedicated solution within its flagship Ecodrisil ESG Xpress platform — designed to help enterprises swiftly capture, calculate, and report greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Created to streamline and expedite emissions disclosure, Carbon Xpress allows organisations to react promptly to RFP requirements, supplier qualification processes, investor requests, and climate-related financing demands. The tool equips teams to deliver audit-ready carbon reports that adhere to internationally recognised standards, eliminating the usual complexity, manual workload, and delays often seen in ESG workflows. “Many enterprises…
Inaugural UAE Internship Programme to Drive Digital Innovation and Prepare Industry-Ready Talent Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, has entered into a strategic partnership with the University of Birmingham Dubai through a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The collaboration will see the introduction of an advanced curriculum in cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) for students and educators at the Dubai campus. Alongside this, Alibaba Cloud has launched its first internship programme in the UAE, with the University of Birmingham Dubai becoming the inaugural academic partner. Through the agreement, students and faculty will gain…
Informa Connect Academy has joined forces with the CIPD, the world’s leading professional body for people development, to provide the MENA region with access to internationally recognised HR and L&D professional development programmes. The partnership comes at a pivotal moment, as organisations worldwide adapt to major workplace changes — from AI integration to shifting employee expectations. With over 160,000 members globally, the CIPD brings more than a century of expertise in advocating for better work and working lives to this new collaboration. “This partnership represents a significant milestone in professional development across our region. By combining Informa Connect Academy’s extensive…
The Orient Travel Monthly Stableford took place on Saturday, 9th August, with members gathering in great numbers despite the summer heat. Backed by the Saudi Tourism Authority, the competition featured generous prizes from sponsors and remains a highlight for the club’s golfers. Bimal Jain emerged the champion, delivering one of his most impressive rounds of the year. His card featured eight net birdies, bringing him to three-under-par and earning 39 Stableford points — enough to secure the coveted first place and sponsor prizes. Finishing second was Rajesh Pareek, who matched the high standard with an excellent score of 36 points.…
Cloudera, the only company delivering AI to data wherever it resides, has released a major update to Cloudera Data Services, enabling enterprises to run Private AI in their own data centres. The solution offers GPU-accelerated generative AI capabilities with full security controls behind the firewall. Concerns about protecting confidential data and proprietary assets continue to slow AI adoption. A recent Accenture report shows that 77% of organisations still lack the core security practices necessary to safeguard AI models, data pipelines, and cloud systems. The enhanced platform allows organisations to lower infrastructure expenses, simplify data processes, improve productivity, and deploy workloads…
Dubai’s sporting scene erupted on 26 July 2025 as The Space Events and Sports hosted the high-octane Slap Fighting Championship (SFC), presented by Eddie Hall — the former World’s Strongest Man and international fitness figurehead. The spectacle tested endurance, raw power, and unwavering determination, drawing elite competitors from across the globe to a packed, energised arena. A line-up of 32 fighters representing six nations — the UK, India, Australia, Canada, Malaysia, and the UAE — battled it out in 16 electrifying bouts. The crowd was treated to a night of relentless excitement, complete with jaw-dropping knockouts, technical stoppages, and tense…
Dubai Chambers recently held an informative workshop showcasing its full suite of integrated services aimed at accelerating business growth and boosting competitiveness for companies operating locally and internationally. The virtual session drew participation from 180 private sector representatives. Attendees were introduced to the offerings provided by the three chambers under the Dubai Chambers umbrella—Dubai Chamber of Commerce, Dubai International Chamber, and Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy. The session outlined the organisation’s strategic efforts to fuel the expansion of businesses across multiple sectors while contributing to Dubai’s wider economic ambitions. The workshop covered the advantages of membership with the Dubai Chamber…
The American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK) is taking proactive steps to align its academic programmes, research efforts, and industry collaborations with the remarkable pace of development in Ras Al Khaimah. As the emirate surges ahead with large-scale projects across tourism, real estate, and hospitality—including the region’s first integrated gaming resort—it has seen over 12% growth in tourism revenue and a 15% rise in MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) arrivals. Positioning itself as a leading investment destination, Ras Al Khaimah welcomed 1.28 million visitors in 2024 and is on track to attract 3.5 million by 2030. It continues…
Etihad Cargo, the logistics wing of Etihad Airways, is celebrating its two-year partnership with Ezhou Huahu Airport—a landmark collaboration with SF Airlines that has enabled extensive growth in trade between China and the Middle East. Following the relocation of services from Wuhan in August 2023, Etihad became the first international carrier to offer regular scheduled freighter operations at Ezhou. The addition of second and third weekly flights in late 2023 and mid-2024 reflected rising demand and reinforced operational stability. Initially running two weekly freighters—one per airline—Etihad and SF Airlines increased the service to four flights per week in October 2023…