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As enterprises worldwide race to become their own AI and data platforms over the next three years, EnterpriseDB (EDB) sees that the Gulf region is out in front. EDB has opened a new regional headquarters in the Gulf area to help local organizations accelerate their paths to data and AI sovereignty.“This region is one of the most future forward and innovation focused,” said Kash Rafique, VP and general manager of Middle East and Africa at EDB. “Our new office will serve as a regional hub to deepen collaboration with customers and partners, and it will support the region’s unique and complex requirements for sovereign AI.”A sovereign-minded market Across the region, national AI strategies have catalyzed investment in skills, platforms, and governance, raising the bar on data stewardship and accelerating enterprise readiness. But this momentum isn’t only geopolitical or led by policy. It’s increasingly a private-sector choice, as boards push for innovation without sacrificing control over where data and models live.That enterprise demand shows up in the numbers: In EDB’s global study of 2,050 executives across 13 economies, the region posted the highest share of organizations “Deeply Committed” to data and AI sovereignty, at 17% versus a 13% global average. These leaders deploy roughly twice as many mainstream AI applications, report up to 5x higher ROI from AI, and are 2.5x more confident they will lead their industries within three years.EDB says the region’s combination of executive conviction and platform ambition is creating a “sovereign hub” effect—clusters of enterprises treating AI and data as sovereign assets that attract capital, talent, and partner ecosystems, compounding each other’s success. The result is an enterprise culture that sees sovereignty as a foundation for a growth flywheel that compounds innovation speed, customer experience, and cost efficiency.**media[375219]**Turning sovereignty from vision to practice “Sovereignty without ownership is only half the equation,” said Rafique. “Enterprises can’t believe in sovereignty as a theoretical idea—they have to design, build, and operate their AI and data platforms on their own terms.” Turning intent into reality, he added, requires deliberate design at the infrastructure level and consistent execution.EDB’s research identifies four practices that separate those achieving durable ROI from those still experimenting:Build for sovereignty from day one. Treat data and AI as a single platform, with policy and observability embedded at design time—not bolted on.Run AI where the work is. Use a hybrid approach to place workloads in the most performant, cost-effective, and compliant environment as needs change.Standardize on open technology. Avoid lock-in; keep optionality as markets and regulations evolve. Postgres® is a frequent choice for new agentic/GenAI applications (30% AI leaders are already building on this).Invest in skills and operating models. Pair platform decisions with local expertise—solution architects, data stewards, SREs—and clear ownership so that sovereignty accelerates delivery rather than slowing it. Building a winning architecture for the next decadeThe next three years could define a generational divide between those who operationalize sovereignty and those who talk about it. The former could achieve speed, scale, and ROI; while the latter could face growing compliance and opportunity gaps.The practical playbook is clear: Unify AI and data, design hybrid first, and preserve architectural choice with open technology.EDB is aligning its technology and ecosystem to that vision with its sovereign, open source–based platform, EDB Postgres AI (EDB PG AI). Through hybrid management and unified observability, enterprises can innovate faster, scale securely, and move new AI applications into production up to three times faster than they can with traditional architectures.A long-term commitment to the Gulf EDB’s effort is ecosystem first, combining EDB’s platform with partners in infrastructure, cloud, and systems integration, while investing in certifications and training to grow regional talent.“We’re investing for the long haul across the Gulf,” said Rafique. “That means ongoing hiring, ecosystem partnerships, and local enablement to help customers move their agentic and GenAI from pilots to production with clear ROI, securely and on their terms.”

QNB Group has been awarded the “Best Data Protection Innovation of the Year 2025” at the 11th Middle East Enterprise AI & Analytics Summit held recently in Doha, for the second consecutive year, which highlights QNB’s advanced use of technology to strengthen data protection and compliance with privacy regulations.The award recognises organisations that demonstrate exceptional innovation in utilising technology to enhance data protection practices. QNB was honoured for its cutting-edge approach to ensuring secure data management, safeguarding customer information, and maintaining the highest international standards of data privacy.The independent jury panel highlighted QNB’s continuous investment in technological advancement and innovation, which has positioned the bank as a regional leader in data governance, privacy and compliance.This recognition reflects QNB Group’s unwavering commitment to protecting its customers’ data and build trust through advanced technologies and robust privacy frameworks. QNB’s data protection strategy forms part of its broader digital transformation roadmap, which emphasises leveraging AI and analytics to deliver secure, efficient, and customer-centric banking experiences.

The dollar drifted higher against its major peers on Thursday as traders waited for the delayed release of US consumer inflation data on Friday, while digesting trade threats between Washington and Beijing. The yen weakened to a one-week low against the dollar as the market awaited details of a big stimulus package from new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, widely viewed as a fiscal and monetary dove. Sterling remained under pressure after British data on Wednesday showed consumer inflation held steady at 3.8% last month, defying economists' estimates for it to accelerate. The US dollar index, which measures the currency against the yen, sterling, euro and three other peers, edged up 0.5% to 98.979. The dollar added 0.17% to 152.21 yen, and earlier touched 152.26 yen for the first time since Oct. 14. Sterling sagged 0.09% to $1.3345. The euro eased 0.06% to $1.1604.

Gold prices edged lower on Thursday, weighed down by a firmer dollar as investors looked forward to key US inflation data later this week for more cues on the interest rate path. Spot gold slipped 0.3% to $4,082.95 per ounce, while US gold futures for December delivery rose 0.8% to $4,097.40 per ounce. Prices have surged about 56% since January, touching an all-time high of $4,381.21 per ounce on Monday. The rally has been driven by a mix of economic uncertainty, expectations of interest rate cuts, and strong buying by central banks across the world. Spot silver fell 0.4% to $48.31 per ounce, extending its decline after reaching record highs earlier this month. Platinum slipped 1.4% to $1,598.65 per ounce, while palladium also dropped 1.4% to $1,438.47 per ounce.

Gold prices extended their decline on Wednesday amid profit-taking following recent record highs, as investors awaited key US inflation data this week for further indications on the Federal Reserve's potential path toward interest rate cuts. Spot gold fell 0.3% to $4,113.54 per ounce, after plunging more than 5% on Tuesday — its sharpest daily drop since August 2020. Meanwhile, US gold futures for December delivery rose 0.5% to $4,129.80 per ounce. Despite the recent correction, gold prices have surged about 56% so far this year, hitting an all-time high of $4,381.21 on Monday. The rally has been driven by heightened geopolitical and economic uncertainty, growing expectations of interest rate reductions, and sustained central bank demand for the yellow metal. Among other precious metals, spot silver fell 0.9% to $48.29 per ounce, platinum dropped 1.1% to $1,534.44, while palladium was steady at $1,406.76 per ounce.

The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) index rose at the beginning of Thursday's trading by 0.18%, gaining 19.29 points to reach 10,712 points, compared to the previous session's close, backed by four sectors. Market data showed gains in Banks and Financial Services (+0.20%), Industrials (+0.17%), Transportation (+0.09%), and Insurance (+0.08%). Meanwhile, the performance was negative for Consumer Goods and Services (-0.13%), Real Estate (-0.17%), and Telecoms (-0.27%). By 10:00 am, QSE reported a turnover of QR 45.349 million from 16.695 million shares traded across 3,124 transactions.

China's yuan-denominated loans rose 14.75 trillion yuan (about $2.08 trillion) in the first nine months of the year, central bank data showed on Wednesday. Of the total, household loans grew by 1.1 trillion yuan, and loans to enterprises and public institutions increased by 13.44 trillion yuan, according to the People's Bank of China. Outstanding yuan loans stood at 270.39 trillion yuan at the end of September, up 6.6 percent year-on-year, according to the central bank. The M2, a broad measure of money supply that covers cash in circulation and all deposits, increased 8.4 percent year-on-year to 335.38 trillion yuan at the end of September. The M1, which covers cash in circulation, demand deposits and client reserves of non-bank payment institutions, stood at 113.15 trillion yuan at the end of last month, up 7.2 percent year-on-year. The M0, which indicates the amount of cash in circulation, increased 11.5 percent year-on-year to 13.58 trillion yuan at the end of September. According to preliminary statistics, the aggregate financing to the real economy was 30.09 trillion yuan in the first nine months, which was 4.42 trillion yuan more than the same period last year. The outstanding aggregate financing to the real economy stood at 437.08 trillion yuan at the end of September, registering 8.7 percent year-on-year growth.

His Excellency the Minister of Finance Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari participated in the meeting of Finance Ministers, Central Bank Governors, and Heads of Regional Financial Institutions from the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. The meeting was chaired by Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund (IMF), and was held on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank Group Annual Meetings, now being held in Washington, DC. The meeting discussed key strategic issues related to economic growth in the region, in addition to future outlooks and fiscal policy requirements to combat inflation. It also addressed sustainable financing strategies, ways to stimulate economic growth, and the promotion of innovation in financial development.Regional and global challenges were also reviewed, particularly the risks of rising inflation rates and food insecurity. The participants stressed the importance of continuing efforts to adapt to the current financial and economic developments.The meeting was held within the framework of enhancing regional cooperation and the exchange of insights among financial and economic policymakers, with the aim of supporting economic stability and achieving sustainable development across the region.

Google's parent company, Alphabet Inc., announced plans to invest $15 billion to build a major artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud data hub in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, marking the company's largest single investment outside the United States. The new facility will be established in the port city of Visakhapatnam and will form part of Google's global network of AI data centers across 12 countries. "It's the largest AI hub that we are going to be investing in anywhere in the world outside the United States," said Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, during an event in New Delhi on Tuesday, adding that the investment would be made over the next five years. Andhra Pradesh's Minister of Information Technology, Nara Lokesh, described the project as "a massive leap for our state's digital future, innovation, and global standing." According to the state government, the new hub will include a 1-gigawatt data center campus integrating advanced AI infrastructure, renewable energy systems, and an expanded fiber-optic network to support growing digital connectivity. The project comes amid intensifying global competition among major technology firms to expand data center capacity to meet surging demand for AI-driven services. Google has pledged to spend approximately $85 billion this year on data infrastructure worldwide, while competitors such as Microsoft and Amazon have also invested billions of dollars in India — a market with nearly one billion internet users.

The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) index rose at the beginning of Sunday's trading by 0.38%, gaining 41.56 points to reach 10,904 points, compared to the previous session's close, supported by four sectors. Market data showed gains in Banks and Financial Services (+0.53%), Consumer Goods and Services (+0.51%), Industrials (+0.44%), and Real Estate (+0.20%). Meanwhile, the performance was negative for Telecoms (-0.05%), Transportation (-0.07%), and Insurance (-0.08%). By 10:00 am, QSE reported a turnover of QR 52.797 million from 26.503 million shares traded across 2,352 transactions.

South Korea's consumer prices grew by more than 2% in September, returning to the 2% range after one month, largely due to rising prices of essential food items, data showed Thursday. Consumer prices, a key gauge of inflation, increased 2.1 % from a year earlier last month, South Korea's (Yonhap) news agency said, citing data from the Ministry of Data and Statistics. Inflation had remained above the Bank of Korea's 2% target for four consecutive months through April before slowing to 1.9% in May. It then climbed again, staying above 2% in both June and July, before slowing down to 1.7% in August. The service sector continued its upward trend, posting a 2.2% on-year gain. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, went up 2% in September, accelerating from August's 1.3% growth.

The dollar sank to a one-week low versus major peers on Wednesday as the US government entered a shutdown that is likely to delay the release of crucial jobs data. The dollar index, which gauges the currency against six counterparts including the euro and yen, declined 0.2% to 97.635, and earlier dipped to 97.584 for the first time since last Wednesday. The euro rose as much as 0.3% to $1.1767, the highest since September 24. The dollar slipped 0.3% to touch 147.46 for the first time since September 19, adding to a three-day, 1.2% slide.