Category: Middle East/Asia

Promoting Alternative Dispute Resolution…CIBAFI-OIC Arbitration Centre Signs MOU

In a strategic step reflecting the shared commitment to strengthening stability and legal governance in the Islamic finance sector, the General Council for Islamic Banks and Financial Institutions (CIBAFI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Arbitration Centre (OIC-AC) an official statement disclosed on Sunday. The Memorandum of Understanding,the statement said, was signed on 4 June 2026 during the opening ceremony of the recently held 3rd Global Islamic Economy Summit in Istanbul, under the esteemed patronage of H.E. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the Republic…

Using Banana Waste for Accelerating Industrialization…Circularity in Action

By Adrian Villellas,First Published On: May 20, 2026 at 5:00 AM What if the leftovers from your breakfast banana ended up in your T‑shirt, your notebook or even a fruit tray at the supermarket? That idea is moving from curiosity to reality as factories learn how to turn banana pseudostems into a standardized raw material for textiles, paper and bio‑based composites. Studies of circularity in banana farming show that only a small share of the plant becomes food. The rest is biomass that usually stays in the field or is removed as…

31st IRENA Council Ushers New Era of Global Energy Transition

More than 300 delegates to discuss the expanding role of renewables in powering energy security, resilience and digital economies. The thirty-first Council meeting of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has started in the United Arab Emirates(UAE) in a hybrid format according to an official statement issued in Abu Dhabi,Thursday Over 300 government representatives,the statement said, are attending the meeting at IRENA Headquarters in Abu Dhabi, both in person and virtually. Over the course of two days,it said, the Council will review progress on the Agency’s work and discuss collective…

Sustainable Building Materials: Why Middle Eastern Developers Are Moving Beyond Concrete

For decades, concrete has been the default choice for construction across the Middle East. It’s durable, it works in extreme heat, and robust supply chains are established. But that era is winding down. Right now, in 2026, developers are shifting away from conventional materials faster than anyone predicted, and the transition is accelerating.  The numbers are striking. The MEA was the only region in the world to record an increase in demand for green and sustainable buildings in 2025, and that momentum has carried into 2026. While global green construction is slowing,…

All Eyes on Africa as UAE announces $6bn Tourism Investment Plan

As Africa records the fastest tourism growth globally, the UAE is set to inject $6 billion into the continent’s travel and hospitality sector – a move expected to create 70 000 new jobs. The announcement was made at the recent UAE Africa Tourism Investment Summit 2025 in Dubai, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Organised by the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism in partnership with The Bench as part of Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) World 2025, the event…

Israel and Hamas will exchange hostages and prisoners after agreeing to a pause in the war in Gaza

By  SAMY MAGDY, MELANIE LIDMAN and WAAFA SHURAFA Updated 2:55 PM GMT, October 9, 2025,AP Leer en español CAIRO (AP) — Israel and Hamas have agreed to a pause in their devastating two-year war and the release of the remaining hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners — a breakthrough greeted with joy and relief Thursday but also caution. Uncertainty remains about aspects of the broader ceasefire plan advanced by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump — such as whether and how Hamas will disarm and who will govern Gaza. But the sides appear closer than they have…

Pan Africa PR gets a further boost…..As APO Group Selected as Emirates’ Public Relations Agency for Africa

APO Group, the leading pan-African communications and news distribution consultancy, has been selected by Emirates, one of the world’s largest international airlines, as its public relations partner of record for Africa with immediate effect. Under the partnership, APO Group will support Emirates by providing strategic counsel, integrated public relations, and stakeholder engagement in South Africa, Kenya, Tunisia, Uganda, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Congo, Guinea, Tanzania and Egypt. The collaboration is designed to reinforce Emirates’ visibility in the region and ensure consistent, insight-led communications that support brand and commercial objectives. By leveraging…

EIB and European Commission support Palestine’s economic resilience with €400 million facility for local businesses

  Financing is part of the European Commission’s Multiannual and Comprehensive Programme for Palestinian Recovery and Resilience, aiming to boost economic stability and job creation. EIB facility to strengthen Palestinian local micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises by improving access to affordable financing. Partnership with the Palestine Monetary Authority and local financial intermediaries to channel resources to private sector. After the approval of the European Investment Bank (EIB)’s Board in July, today, the EIB and the European Commission have announced at the UN General Assembly in New York the signature of a €400 million financing facility with the…

AIM Congress Announces 15th Editin for 2026

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 6th October 2025: The Organizing Committee of AIM Congress, the world’s leading investment platform, has officially announced the launch of its 15th edition under the theme: Reshaping Global Prosperity: Unlocking New Investment Pathways Towards a Sustainable and Inclusive Future. AIM Congress will be held from 13 to 15 April 2026 in Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), Dubai, United Arab Emirates. AIM Congress, recognized globally as a premier event dedicated to steering sustainable investment trends, will address strategies to navigate major economic transformations. The event aims to…

Nominations Open for 2026 IsDB Prize for Impactful Achievement in Islamic Economics (Knowledge Contribution)

The Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) is pleased to announce opening of nominations for the IsDB Prize for Impactful Achievement in Islamic Economics for the year 1447H (2026). This cycle of the Prize is in the Knowledge Contribution category, aimed to recognize, reward, and encourage significant knowledge contributions in areas related to Islamic economics that have the potential to solve major economic and financial challenges of IsDB Member Countries. Individuals and institutions are invited to nominate other individuals and institutions whose contributions to knowledge are groundbreaking and have a substantial effect on…