Author: Sam Allcock

The British University in Dubai (BUiD) successfully held the 9th Doctoral Research Conference (BDRC 2025), reinforcing its commitment to academic excellence and interdisciplinary research. The event brought together doctoral students, faculty, and professionals from across disciplines in a hybrid format, welcoming both in-person and virtual attendees. Open to students from BUiD and its partner universities, the conference served as a dynamic platform for doctoral researchers to present, publish, and discuss their work, while receiving constructive feedback from academic peers and industry experts. This year’s conference featured dedicated tracks in Education, Business, Management & Law, Engineering, and Information Technology, with presentations…

Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer of flydubai, was honoured with the Executive Leadership for the Middle East & Africa award at the prestigious 2025 Airline Strategy Awards held in London. The accolade recognises his transformational leadership and lasting impact on the aviation industry across the region. Now in its 21st year, the Airline Strategy Awards are globally respected for celebrating outstanding airline leadership and innovation. Organised by FlightGlobal in partnership with Korn Ferry, the winners are selected by an independent panel of senior industry experts. Al Ghaith was recognised for his pivotal role in guiding flydubai from its founding…

Sharjah Islamic Bank (SIB) has reported a robust financial performance for the first half of 2025, posting a net profit after tax of AED 697.2 million, marking a significant 25% increase compared to AED 558.7 million in the same period last year. The strong profit growth is underpinned by a steady rise in income from Islamic financing and sukuk, which grew by AED 113.6 million, or 6.4%, reaching AED 1.9 billion. The bank also recorded a marked improvement in the quality of its financing portfolio, reflected in a net reversal of impairment provisions amounting to AED 9.3 million, compared to…

Mouser Electronics, Inc., the global authorized distributor of semiconductors and industrial automation products, has released the latest installment of its Empowering Innovation Together (EIT) series, titled AI-Powered Engineering, shedding light on how artificial intelligence is transforming the future of engineering design. The new content series dives into how engineers can integrate AI tools into their workflows to enhance creativity, speed up design processes, and tackle more complex challenges with greater precision. The goal, according to Mouser, is to foster a collaborative model between human expertise and machine intelligence – empowering engineers to focus on high-level problem-solving and technical breakthroughs. “AI…

Global streaming and digital technology firm Deltatre has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Endeavor Streaming, a move that will create a powerful new entity in the digital and over-the-top (OTT) services market for sports, media, and entertainment industries. The acquisition, expected to close in the third quarter of 2025, will see Deltatre bring together its expansive suite of digital products – including D3 VOLT, FORGE, AXIS, and DIVA – with Endeavor Streaming’s VESPER, a robust OTT platform. The merged business aims to provide an all-in-one solution for delivering advanced, scalable, and immersive digital experiences to major global brands. “Endeavor…

Global sportswear brand PUMA and Premier League giants Manchester City have announced the long-term extension of their strategic partnership, building on a collaboration that began in the 2019/20 season and has delivered success on and off the pitch. The extended agreement will see PUMA continue as the club’s official kit supplier and retail partner, allowing both brands to push the boundaries of innovation in sportswear, fan engagement, and sustainability. The renewal underscores the strong commercial and performance synergy between the two organisations. “PUMA’s partnership with Manchester City has been a great success both on and off the pitch,” said Arthur…

LG Electronics (LG) has unveiled a new brand campaign in the United Arab Emirates titled “Radio Optimism,” aiming to counter growing social disconnection by reviving emotional connections through music. The initiative invites participants to create AI-generated, personalized songs that can be shared with loved ones—no matter where they are in the world. The campaign is rooted in LG’s long-standing brand promise, “Life’s Good,” and serves as a response to the emotional isolation often felt in today’s digital age, especially during the summer when families and friends are often separated. According to LG, the “Radio Optimism” platform is designed to bring…

Kuwait Finance House (KFH) reaffirmed its commitment to Kuwait Vision 2035 and sustainable economic progress during a strategic meeting with the Oxford Business Group (OBG), marking a key moment in fostering financial innovation and public-private collaboration. The meeting brought together Khaled AlShamlan, Group CEO of KFH, with Andrew Jeffreys, CEO of Oxford Business Group, and Cristina Mirica, OBG’s Country Director for Kuwait. The discussions centred on Kuwait’s evolving financial landscape and the private sector’s role in accelerating national development priorities. AlShamlan underlined the alignment between KFH’s sustainability strategy and Kuwait Vision 2035, noting the importance of knowledge partnerships in driving…

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is emerging as a global frontrunner in integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into organizational leadership through the appointment of Chief AI Officers (CAIOs), according to a new global study by the IBM Institute for Business Value in partnership with the Dubai Future Foundation. The study, which surveyed over 600 CAIOs across 22 countries and 21 industries, finds that 33% of UAE organizations now have a CAIO, compared to a global average of 26%. The data suggests that organizations with a designated CAIO experience up to 10% higher returns on AI investment, and those using centralized or…

The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has confirmed the return of Mastercard as an official event supplier for the 2025 Esports World Cup, the world’s largest esports tournament, set to be held in Riyadh from 7 July to 24 August 2025. The renewed collaboration highlights Mastercard’s continued investment in Saudi Arabia’s expanding gaming sector and reinforces its global strategy of integrating cutting-edge payment technologies with youth-focused digital platforms. With over 2,000 elite players and 200 clubs competing across 25 tournaments and 24 gaming titles, the 2025 Esports World Cup is expected to attract fans from more than 100 countries. The…