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The Ministerial Committee for Standardization Affairs of the GCC countries, has adopted 14 new draft Gulf technical regulations and converted 25 existing technical regulations into Gulf standard specifications. It also withdrew 34 technical regulations to keep pace with international developments and technological advancements in the markets.This occurred during the Committee's tenth meeting yesterday in Kuwait, chaired by the Kuwait's Minister of Commerce and Industry, and attended by ministers, heads of national standardization bodies, and delegations from member states.At the beginning of the meeting,Chairman of the GCC Standardization Organization, Engineer Nawaf bin Ibrahim Al Mana, presented the organization's progress report for the period from April to September of last year. The report highlighted key achievements and projects implemented in the fields of standardization, conformity assessment, and metrology, as well as strategic initiatives aimed at strengthening Gulf economic integration and supporting the competitiveness of Gulf industries.The esteemed committee also approved the Gulf Standardization Organization's budget for the fiscal year 2026, along with adopting the updated organizational structure and strategic plan for the period 2026-2030.These decisions come within the framework of ongoing efforts to develop the Gulf standardization system and enhance its institutional integration, contributing to the realization of the GCC Standardization Organization's 2030 vision, which aims to raise the efficiency of the legislative framework supporting Gulf products and improve their competitiveness in regional and global markets.These results also reflect the commitment of the Ministerial Committee and the GCC Standardization Organization to continue joint Gulf action in the fields of standardization, quality, and conformity assessment, and to consolidate the GCC system's position in regional and international forums, in line with the GCC Vision 2030, which aims for sustainable industrial and commercial development and enhanced economic integration among member states.

Over the past decade, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has become one of the most attractive destinations for entrepreneurs and investors from around the world. Thanks to its thriving economy, investor-friendly policies, and unmatched access to global markets, the UAE offers the perfect environment for ambitious business owners seeking to grow internationally. Whether you’re a startup founder, SME owner, or established enterprise, expanding to the UAE can open doors to limitless opportunities. For many entrepreneurs exploring business setup in Dubai, the country’s progressive reforms, tax incentives, and world-class infrastructure make it an obvious next step for scaling up operations and entering new markets. In this article, we’ll explore the main reasons why entrepreneurs are expanding their business to the UAE — from economic advantages and access to global trade routes to lifestyle benefits and government support. A strategic global location One of the most compelling reasons to expand to the UAE is its prime geographical position. Located between Europe, Asia, and Africa, the country acts as a natural bridge connecting global markets. Entrepreneurs benefit from: Access to 2 billion consumers within a four-hour flight radiusWorld-class logistics hubs, including Dubai International Airport and Jebel Ali Port—two of the busiest in the worldTime zone advantage, allowing businesses to operate efficiently across both eastern and western markets For e-commerce companies, manufacturers, and service providers, this strategic positioning enables faster trade, lower transportation costs, and smoother global coordination. The UAE’s connectivity through air, sea, and digital infrastructure makes it the ultimate gateway for international expansion. Investor-friendly business environment The UAE government continues to implement reforms that make doing business simpler, faster, and more transparent. Over the years, the country has built a reputation as one of the most business-friendly destinations in the world — reflected in its consistently high ranking on global ease-of-doing-business indexes. Some of the standout features include: 100% foreign ownership in most business sectorsNo personal income tax and highly competitive corporate tax ratesEase of company formation through digital and paperless systemsStable and reliable legal framework based on international standards Free zones across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah further simplify the process by offering entrepreneurs attractive benefits such as zero customs duties, full profit repatriation, and streamlined licensing procedures. These factors combine to create a stable, transparent, and investor-friendly environment that nurtures business growth. Access to a diversified and resilient economy While the UAE’s economy was once largely dependent on oil, today it is one of the most diversified in the region. Non-oil sectors such as tourism, logistics, finance, technology, healthcare, and renewable energy now contribute significantly to the country’s GDP. This diversification offers entrepreneurs a range of opportunities to invest and expand: Technology and innovation: Dubai and Abu Dhabi are developing into regional innovation hubs, home to incubators, accelerators, and fintech companies.Tourism and hospitality: Millions of visitors travel to the UAE every year, creating demand for unique experiences, services, and products.Green energy and sustainability: The UAE’s Vision 2031 and Net Zero 2050 strategies open the door to investors in clean technology and sustainability. By operating in a diversified economy, entrepreneurs reduce risk exposure to single-sector fluctuations and position themselves within an ecosystem built for long-term growth. Advanced infrastructure and digital transformation Another reason why global entrepreneurs are drawn to the UAE is its state-of-the-art infrastructure and commitment to digital innovation. The country consistently ranks among the top globally in infrastructure quality, telecommunications, and smart city initiatives. Key infrastructure advantages: High-speed connectivity and widespread 5G coverageWorld-leading ports and logistics facilities for seamless imports and exportsFree zone and business parks designed specifically for startups and international companiesSmart government services that allow entrepreneurs to handle business registration, licensing, and visa applications online Dubai’s and Abu Dhabi’s ongoing push toward becoming fully digital economies means that entrepreneurs can easily manage operations remotely, leverage e-government platforms, and integrate new technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain into their business models. This focus on innovation creates a competitive edge for businesses that rely on automation, data analytics, and digital tools to scale efficiently. Quality of life and talent attraction Beyond its business advantages, the UAE offers one of the highest standards of living in the world, making it an appealing destination for entrepreneurs and employees alike. Safe cities, modern healthcare, world-class education, and a vibrant multicultural community attract top talent from across the globe. Lifestyle and workforce benefits include:A cosmopolitan environment with residents from over 200 nationalitiesTax-free personal income, allowing professionals to maximize earningsAccess to skilled labor, particularly in finance, technology, and creative industriesResidency and long-term visa options for investors, business owners, and highly skilled workers Entrepreneurs who establish their companies in the UAE can also benefit from programs such as the Golden Visa and the Green Visa, which offer long-term residency and stability for business owners and their families. This combination of professional opportunity and exceptional lifestyle makes the UAE not only a place to do business but also a place to build a future. **media[372572]** The UAE continues to attract entrepreneurs and investors from every corner of the world — and for good reason. Its strategic location, pro-business policies, diverse economy, world-class infrastructure, and exceptional quality of life make it one of the best places globally to expand operations and achieve long-term growth. For entrepreneurs exploring business setup in Dubai, the country provides everything needed for success: stability, innovation, access to global markets, and an environment designed for entrepreneurship. Expanding your business to the UAE isn’t just a smart move — it’s a step toward building a brand that thrives on the global stage.

The price of a barrel of Kuwaiti oil fell by USD 1.25, reaching USD 62.52 per barrel in trading on Friday, compared to USD 63.77 on Thursday, according to the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation.In global markets, the settlement price of Brent crude futures rose 23 cents to USD 61.29 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures also increased 8 cents to USD 57.54.

Qatar National Bank (QNB) stated that despite significant global macro uncertainty and volatility, emerging markets (EM) are benefiting from moderately positive capital inflows. These inflows have been driven by a depreciating USD, the current cycle of monetary policy easing across major advanced economies, and the availability of high real yields in several sizable EMs. In its weekly economic commentary, QNB said: We believe such tailwinds should continue over the medium-term, particularly as the US further engages in more efforts to re-balance its economy via lower external deficits and manufacturing onshoring. Over the last several years, emerging markets (EM) have suffered from significant volatility in capital flows. This was driven by monetary instability, geopolitical uncertainty and a lack of broader risk appetite from global investors on allocations to non-US assets. According to the Institute of International Finance (IIF), non-resident portfolio inflows to EM, which represent allocations from foreign investors into local public assets, experienced a significant shift from negative territory to positive in late 2023 and continues to be moderately strong this year, even accelerating. The strong performance of EM assets is surprising in a year marked by record global economic policy uncertainty and volatility. In fact, traditionally, EM assets tend to sell-off with increasing uncertainty, as investors seek safe-havens. But this time seems to be different, and two main factors contribute to explaining the inflows to EM. First, a softer dollar continues to bolster the attractiveness of higher-yielding EM assets, providing a tailwind for capital inflows. Under favourable conditions, global investors fund positions in relatively low-yielding currencies of advanced economies, such as the USD, and seek higher-yielding EM assets. A weaker dollar reinforces this tendency by reducing the currency risk for investing in EM. Furthermore, a weaker dollar lessens the burden of debt services of USD-denominated debt for sovereigns and corporates in EM, improving credit quality and reducing risk premiums, therefore favouring portfolio rebalancing towards EM assets. So far this year, the USD has fallen by more than 10% against a basket of currencies of advanced economies and 8% against a basket of EM currencies. Standard measures of currency valuations, such as the real exchange rates, show that the USD still remains "overvalued." Structural factors also point to an environment dominated by further selling pressure for the greenback. The Trump administration seems to be keen to engineer a major adjustment of the economy, favouring narrower current account deficits and the re-shoring of critical manufacturing activities, which would call for additional USD depreciation. This lessens the role of the USD and US Treasuries as safe havens amid global economic instability, contributing to calls for the diversification of portfolios, including via EM assets. Second, the easing of monetary policy by major central banks results in lower yields and looser financial conditions in advanced economies, increasing the relative attractiveness of EM assets. This year, the European Central Bank (ECB) continued its easing cycle, bringing the benchmark interest rate to a neutral stance of 2%, after cutting rates by 200 basis points (bp) since mid-2024. The Federal Reserve re-started its downward cycle with a 25 bps cut, with markets currently pricing a federal funds rate of 3% by the end of 2026, which will continue to diminish the opportunity cost for investing in EM assets. This backdrop of lower rates in advanced economies provides additional support for positive capital flows into EM. Third, several large EMs, particularly in Asia and Latin America, are currently offering yields that are significantly higher than their inflation rates. Those positive "real rates" from countries like Indonesia, Brazil, Mexico and South Africa, for example, contribute to providing higher gain potential and re-assure investors against potential risks of undue currency depreciation. This favours the so-called "carry trade" of borrowing from low-yielding currencies to invest in high-yielding EM currencies. Importantly, the carry trade seems to be the dominant feature of the capital flows to EMs so far in 2025, as the vast majority of inflows are concentrated in debt rather than equity and in jurisdictions with more floating currencies as well as higher real yields.

The price of a barrel of Kuwaiti oil fell by USD 1.38, reaching USD 64.73 per barrel in trading Monday, compared to USD 66.11 last Friday, according to the price announced by the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation today. In global markets, the settlement price of Brent Crude futures fell 59 cents to USD 63.32 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures also fell 59 cents to USD 59.49.

Tokyo stocks closed sharply lower on Tuesday, with the Nikkei index falling more than 2 percent, influenced by selling amid political uncertainty in Japan after the junior coalition partner (Komeito Party) decided to end its alliance with the Liberal Democratic Party. According to the Kyodo News Agency, the Nikkei 225 index declined by 1,241.48 points, or 2.58 percent, compared to Friday, closing at 46,847.32 points. The broader Topix index also closed lower, dropping 63.60 points, or 1.99 percent, to 3,133.99 points. Japanese financial markets were closed on Monday for a public holiday. In the main stock market, shares of electrical appliances, non-ferrous metals, and securities were among the biggest losers.

A top LuLu Group executive has called on Indian companies to shift from “transactional trade” to strategic investment and view Qatar as a launchpad for global markets.Speaking to Gulf Times on the sidelines of the Qatar-India Joint Business Council meeting organised in Doha by Qatar Chamber, Dr Mohamed Althaf, Global Director of LuLu Group International, underscored Qatar’s world-class infrastructure, favourable tax regime, and access to major international trade corridors. He said: “Indian companies should look to Qatar as a springboard for global markets... they should think that this country also offers enormous infrastructure in terms of business, trade, and investments.”Dr Althaf noted that Qatar “has crossed beyond outdated models on commodity exchange” and “the buy and sell type of transaction,” and emphasised that the LNG-rich Gulf state has positioned itself as an investment destination with world-class infrastructure.He pointed to the recent visit of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to India, emphasising the reciprocal engagement of major investment houses “as signs of a maturing partnership”. “What we are looking at now is inward investment into Qatar, joint ventures, collaborations, and co-creative businesses,” Dr Althaf stressed.Dr Althaf emphasised that Qatar’s economic platform is well-positioned to support Indian firms in the smart manufacturing and digital transformation sectors, saying: “They have access to global markets and investment houses. India also has tremendous potential in terms of a lot of good startups and technology firms. That will be a very good synergy.”

Ooredoo Q.P.S.C. announced that it will host the 2025 Capital Markets Day (CMD), a virtual event that will present the Group's refreshed strategy and vision for long-term value creation. Scheduled for Monday, Nov. 3, this half-day event will provide investors and analysts with access to Ooredoo's leadership team, offering insights into the Group's refreshed strategy, long-term growth ambitions, and detailed reviews of key operating companies as Ooredoo advances its vision of becoming MENA's leading digital infrastructure provider. The event will feature interactive Q&A sessions with senior management, enabling participants to engage directly and gain a deeper understanding of growth drivers, capital allocation priorities, and value creation plans. Participation in the event is limited to institutional investors and analysts. However, a broadcast of the event will be available publicly via Ooredoo's website.

QatarEnergy has signed a long-term sales and purchase agreement (SPA) with Messer for the supply of 100mn cubic feet per annum of high-purity helium from Qatar’s world-class facilities in Ras Laffan to global markets.This marks QatarEnergy’s first direct long-term SPA with Messer, the largest privately held industrial gases company, headquartered in Germany. The SPA signing was hosted by His Excellency Saad Sherida al-Kaabi, the Minister of State for Energy Affairs, the president and chief executive officer of QatarEnergy, and attended by Bernd Eulitz, Global chief executive officer of Messer SE & Co., during a special ceremony held at QatarEnergy’s headquarters in Doha. The event was attended by senior executives from both companies."Messer is a leading global supplier of helium with a strong reputation and diverse assets. We are delighted to enter into our first direct agreement with Messer and to continue providing high-quality helium to the world through reliable partners," al-Kaabi said.This pact, according to him, underscores QatarEnergy’s commitment to delivering reliable resources from one of the world’s largest helium producers to support fast-growing industries worldwide.Helium plays a critical role in advanced technologies, including MRI scanners, semiconductor manufacturing, quantum computing, fiber optics, and space exploration.

QNB Group announced the successful completion of an inaugural benchmark green bond issuance in euro currency under its Medium Term Note Programme in the international capital markets. Under this Programme, a five-year, EUR750mn tranche was launched onSeptember 23. This is the largest ever Euro denominated green bond issuance from aGCC bank. QNB Group is the leader of sustainability initiatives in the region, and it has embedded the topic of sustainability throughout the organisation to deliver positive impact to thesocieties we serve. This landmark transaction reflects QNB’s steadfast commitment towards further development of green and sustainable finance products in Qatar and its core markets as per its Sustainable Finance and Product Framework. The issuance attracted overwhelming interest from a wide range of global investors leading to the issuance being heavily oversubscribed, with peak orders at 2.5 times theissue size. The pricing on the bonds tightened significantly with the final pricing at 75 bps over mid swaps compared to the initial pricing of 100-105 basis points over mid swaps. The fixed coupon on the bond is 3.00% annually. The order book reflected significant interest across various geographies with key interest from European and Asian investors, reflecting QNB Group’s strategy ofdiversifying its funding sources in terms of geography and currency mix. Green investors, who include dedicated funds that invest in assets with rigorous sustainabilitycriteria represented 56% of the allocation. The proceeds of this green bond will be utilised for financing or refinancing portfolio ofprojects that qualify under the eligible green project categories as set out in the QNB Group’s Sustainable Finance and Product Framework. The transaction was arranged and offered through a syndicate of Joint Lead Managersand Joint Bookrunners that included Barclays, Crédit Agricole CIB, HSBC, QNB Capitaland Santander.

The Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA) announced Wednesday the issuance of the Code of Governance for listed companies.In accordance with the Board of Directors Resolution No. (5) of 2025, all parties covered by this system are required to ensure compliance with its provisions within one year from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette, QFMA stressed.This code addresses many topics, encompassing the duties and responsibilities of the Board of Directors, its composition and membership requirements, Board practices and conflicts of interest, Board committees, the senior executive management, the internal control system, the principles and policies for granting remuneration and incentives, communication between the Board and shareholders, disclosure of corporate governance, and companies in which the government is a stakeholder.A set of principles were observed in drafting the provisions of this Code, including transparency and clarity, justice and equality, and responsibility, oversight, and accountability.In conversation with Qatar News Agency (QNA), Director of the Governance and Disclosure Department at QFMA, Khalid Saif al-Sulaiti, emphasised that this new code is a crucial step in keeping up with the advancement of the capital market's regulatory framework to meet the highest international standards, and in a manner consistent with the characteristics of the Qatari financial market.The initiative aims to reinforce principles of transparency and integrity, while safeguarding shareholders' rights, thereby strengthening confidence in the Qatari capital market. The code replaces the previous framework issued in 2016, and includes substantive amendments, most notably raising the minimum number of board members for listed companies to seven, while setting a maximum limit of 11 members, al-Sulaiti highlighted.He evinced that code also sets out a clear and detailed mechanism for the nomination and election process and includes an annex explaining the procedures from the opening of nominations through the formation of the board and its committees, specifying the types of members, whether independent, non-independent, executive, or non-executive, as well as the mandatory committees that must be established.The code is based on international best practices and standards of governance, giving foremost importance to the principle of disclosure, particularly regarding shareholders' rights and equality among them, al-Sulaiti said.He further added that the code introduces disclosures on companies' adherence to sustainability, corporate social responsibility, and climate-related standards, requiring listed companies to publish periodic reports on these aspects, alongside disclosures of material news and financial statements.He commended the commitment of listed Qatari companies to governance standards, evincing that such adherence reflects their dedication to maintaining an exceptional standing both domestically and internationally, while enhancing confidence among clients and suppliers, affirming that the Qatari market today hosts a wide swath of best companies across various sectors globally.This new code obliges companies to disclose sustainability, climate, and corporate social responsibility reports. And QFMA will issue a guiding manual to assist companies in complying with these standards in accordance with international best practices, al-Sulaiti underlined.In connection with attracting foreign investors, he emphasised that the regulations issued play a pivotal role in enhancing investor confidence, pointing out that foreign investors typically assess the regulatory environment before entering any market.This assessment is facilitated by Qatari companies' disclosure of comprehensive annual reports, which include governance-related disclosures, he said.He indicated that Qatari companies are characterised by strengths, as many of them, especially in the industries, banks, and communications sectors, adhere to the highest standards of governance, making them the best on the regional and global stages.Given the rapid realignments in the global markets, this code has been put in place to keep abreast of the domestic and global evolutions, al-Sulaiti highlighted, anticipating that it would contribute to fostering transparency and investors' confidence, thereby adding significant value to the Qatari financial market.As set forth in this code, the rules and provisions of this code are derived from the recommendations put out by international institutions in connection with corporate governance, foremost of which are namely the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), and the International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN.He noted that there are best regional and international practices added in this field. Thus, in accordance with the specifics of the Qatari financial market, each company is required to develop a policy, approved by the board, for disclosure and transparency commensurate with the relevant international principles, including those of OECD on corporate governance and ISSB, in a manner that serves the company, its stakeholders, and relevant authorities.Al-Sulaiti further noted that these practices are intended to bolster the level of governance practices and ensure compliance with disclosure requirements within the timeframes specified in the relevant legislation, including disclosure of financial reports and the annual sustainability report, which outlines the company’s contribution to environmental protection, social engagement, and corporate governance, in accordance with this system and the rules of the market in this regard.QFMA works to entrench the principles and values of corporate governance in accordance with the best international standards and practices, in a manner that contributes to optimising company performance, upholding the public interest, enhancing the efficiency of the financial markets, which would, at the end of the day, strengthen the legislative environment attractive to investment in Qatar, in addition to protecting investors’ rights and ensuring stability in financial market dealings, al-Sulaiti said.He highlighted that governance is a set of relationships between the firm's management, the board of directors, shareholders, and other stakeholders, outlining the mechanism through which goals are set, as well as the vehicles to achieve these goals, followed by monitoring the performance, as long as governance determines the powers, responsibilities, and the decision-making process.In addition, governance regulates the company's relationship with the peripheral atmosphere, as well as the community where the company conducts its activities. As such, the company becomes the guarantor of good and proper management, both for the sake of serving the interests of the company and all the aforementioned groups.At its core, corporate governance aims to ensure justice and equality among all stakeholders by guiding management in operations, risk management, organising interests, avoiding conflicts of interest, upholding transparency and disclosure, and contributing to sustainability. It also involves establishing the necessary departments, divisions, and committees, as well as internal mandates, policies, and approved procedures to guarantee the fulfilment of governance objectives.