Ney York, February 24, 2026 :Gold prices fell from a more than three-week high on Tuesday, with spot gold declining 1.5 percent to $5,150.38 per ounce by 01:25 GMT after hitting a more than three-week high earlier in the day. US gold futures for April delivery were down 1.1 percent at $5,170.70.
Spot silver fell 3.1 percent to $85.50 per ounce, after hitting a more than two-week high on Monday.
Spot platinum lost 2.9 percent to $2,092.31 per ounce, while palladium shed 2.1 percent at $1,706.50.
Kuwait , February 24 , 2026 : The State of Kuwait is celebrating its 65th National Day this year, marking the occasion after a landmark development year in 2025 that reflected the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of Kuwait, to build a prosperous nation advancing steadily toward the future.
Kuwait’s progress has been underpinned by a solid economic foundation, humanitarian and diplomatic leadership, and a growing international standing.
The publication “State of Kuwait: Deep-Rooted Foundations and Steps Toward the Future,” issued by the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf, highlights Kuwait’s achievement of significant financial and investment surpluses, supported by sovereign wealth fund assets exceeding $1 trillion and banking sector assets surpassing 100 billion Kuwaiti dinars.
The figures underscore the resilience of the financial system and sustained international confidence in the national economy.
The report notes that the Kuwait Stock Exchange posted gains of more than 9.6 billion dinars, reinforcing investor confidence and the country’s investment appeal. Kuwait also ranked 19th globally in the National Brand Value Index, with national brand value equivalent to around 9 percent of GDP — among the highest ratios worldwide.
In innovation, Kuwait placed among the world’s top 10 in the Global Innovation Index (GII 2025), supported by advances in digital infrastructure and progress across key pillars, including 5G technologies, mobile internet speed, government digitalisation, and digital workforce efficiency. The country’s sovereign credit ratings remained in the high category with a stable outlook, further strengthening its global economic standing.
In 2025, Kuwait recorded several notable milestones, including performing the longest-distance transcontinental robotic surgery, achieving the highest daily gas production rate in 90 years at the Jaza Offshore Field, and announcing major archaeological discoveries on Failaka Island. Progress was also reported in civil aviation safety standards and in the development of public health laboratories in line with international benchmarks.
Kuwait continued to reinforce its role as a global humanitarian hub, maintaining its long-standing engagement in international relief efforts. Diplomatically, it registered its first United Nations resolution under its name in fields related to innovation, marking a further step in its international engagement.
The country also marked 45 years as a cornerstone member of the Gulf Cooperation Council, having hosted eight GCC summits that contributed to economic and regulatory integration, including steps toward the GCC common market, financial market coordination, unified environmental and logistics systems, and broader Arab economic cooperation.
Sharjah , February 24, 2026 : Sharjah will participate in ITB Berlin 2026—the world’s largest trade event specialising in the travel and tourism sector—taking place from 3rd to 5th March 2026.
The participation will be under the umbrella of the Sharjah Pavilion. The delegation, alongside the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), includes 20 entities from the emirate’s public and private sectors.
During the exhibition, the delegation will highlight tourism and development projects aimed at supporting sector growth and increasing its contribution to the economy. Sharjah will also promote its range of tourism offerings across the city, Central Region and Eastern Region.
The participation also highlights Sharjah’s integrated cultural ecosystem, which includes various specialised museums, nature reserves, archaeological and historical sites, forts and castles, as well as destinations and sites listed under UNESCO heritage. In addition, Sharjah’s distinctive beaches and waterfronts—key attractions for visitors—reflect the diversity of the emirate’s tourism experience.
The participation also underscores the variety of hotel accommodation experiences that distinguish the emirate.
Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, said participation in ITB Berlin forms part of efforts to strengthen Sharjah’s presence in international markets and expand partnerships, particularly in Europe.
Al Midfa added, “This participation is of particular importance given the status of the European market as one of the main tourism source markets, including the German market, which has shown growing interest in cultural and eco-tourism and authentic experiences—an alignment with the assets and strengths of Sharjah.”
Sharjah’s participation in ITB Berlin aims to strengthen its presence on the international tourism scene and to highlight the diversity of its tourism products and its cultural and natural assets and distinctive tourism experiences.
Through this participation, the emirate seeks to consolidate its position as a leading destination for family and leisure tourism, and explore opportunities for cooperation and partnerships with European markets—particularly the German market—given that it is among the key tourist source markets.
Sharjah has seen growth in European visitors in recent years, with their share of total hotel guests rising to 20 percent in 2025 from 16 percent in 2024. The emirate aims to build on this momentum and further increase visitor numbers.
Dubai , February 24 , 2026 : Zabadani Real Estate, a pioneer in the UAE’s land and property sector, has announced the closure of six land transactions in 2025 with a combined value of Dh3 billion (US$817.43 million), marking a sharp increase from four deals worth Dh1.2 billion (US$327 million) in 2024.
Among the most significant transactions was the sale of a prime land plot in Motor City valued at Dh700 million (US$190.73 million), underscoring continued investor appetite for strategically located development sites across the emirate.
The strong performance reflects both Zabadani’s leadership in Dubai’s land trading market and the sustained appreciation of land values, which continues to drive broader economic growth in the emirate.
According to Anil Gehani, Founder and Managing Director of Zabadani Real Estate, the evolution of Dubai’s land market over the past 25 years has been transformative.
“The land trading business has come a long way since the introduction of freehold property ownership in 2002, which triggered a significant surge in land prices,” Gehani said.
“In 2025, we closed a landmark transaction in Al Jadaf at approximately Dh1,700 per square foot, with a total land value of around Dh330 million — without freehold conversion. This distinction is critical.
“The pricing reflects pure land value, not enhanced by ownership restructuring or speculative entitlement upside. It places Al Jadaf firmly in the same valuation conversation as more established central Dubai districts and underscores how land in the UAE is now priced on development potential, planning certainty and long-term capital preservation.”
Zabadani’s transactions form part of a broader surge in Dubai’s land market. According to the Dubai Land Department, 4,466 land plots worth Dh128.5 billion were sold in 2025, representing a 10.4 percent year-on-year increase.
A recent report titled Beyond the Skyline: Dubai’s Land Market Transformation Story by Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) highlights the scale of this transformation. Land transaction values jumped 403.6 percent between 2019 and 2024 — rising from Dh13.7 billion to Dh68.8 billion — while transaction volumes nearly tripled from 691 to 1,991 deals, marking a 188.1 percent increase.
The upward momentum extended into 2025, with Dh43 billion worth of land transactions recorded in the first half alone, reflecting a 42.9 percent year-on-year increase.
JLL attributes Dubai’s land market surge to a significant demographic shift driven primarily by expatriate migration and an influx of high-net-worth individuals relocating to the emirate.
“What makes this story unique is not just the scale of growth, but the quality of migration driving it,” JLL stated in the report. “This migration pattern represents a fundamental shift in global wealth flows, accelerated by Dubai’s strategic positioning as a regional business hub, favourable tax environment and enhanced quality of life offerings.”
Dubai’s strategic urban planning and infrastructure investment have further reinforced land value growth. The Government of Dubai allocated Dh39 billion (US$10.6 billion) — 46 percent of its 2025 budget — to infrastructure and construction projects, demonstrating its commitment to land development, property expansion and the creation of new communities.
JLL noted that newly announced development zones typically witness rapid price escalation, sometimes even before construction begins, while established central districts maintain premium valuations due to limited supply and high population density. Areas such as Dubai Creek Harbour have experienced land value appreciation of up to 81.4 percent following launch announcements.
Gehani remains optimistic about the outlook for land investments.
“As more wealthy individuals — businessmen, start-ups, fintech entrepreneurs and retirees — move into the city, land prices will continue to grow. The migration of the world’s millionaires will keep demand for properties and land high. This is why investment in land parcels will remain lucrative from a return on investment perspective,” he said.
Founded in 1990 by Anil Gehani, Zabadani Real Estate has evolved from a traditional retail brokerage into a specialised advisory firm focused on land trading, investment advisory, redevelopment and project management across residential, commercial, hospitality and industrial assets.
Over the past three decades, the firm has built a reputation for handling high-value negotiations and strategic land transactions. It was featured in Forbes Middle East’s Top Ten Real Estate Consultancies for two consecutive years in 2016 and 2017, cementing its standing as one of the region’s most trusted real estate advisory firms.
Dubai , February 24 , 2026 : Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is set to organise the
inaugural Dubai International Electric Vehicle Exhibition and
Conference 2026, scheduled to take place from 10 th to 12 th
November 2026 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, under the theme
“Driving a Smart and Sustainable Mobility Future.” The event will
bring together a broad spectrum of companies operating in the
electric vehicle (EV) and sustainable mobility sector, alongside
decision-makers, experts, and specialists from around the world.
The exhibition is expected to attract over 300 local and international
companies, authorities, and organisations, showcasing their latest
innovations and solutions in the fields of EV manufacturing and
operation, as well as smart infrastructure. It will also bring together
over 30 business partners from specialised entities operating in the
sustainable transport sector and autonomous vehicle software. The
event is anticipated to welcome more than 10,000 specialist visitors
and interested participants, while the accompanying conference will
feature a distinguished line-up of speakers, including leaders and
experts in EVs, advanced technologies, and smart mobility.
Hosting this event is in line with RTA’s vision: ‘The World Leader in
Seamless and Sustainable Mobility’, and stems from its strategic
direction to develop an integrated and safe transport system built on
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innovation and advanced technologies. The exhibition also aims to
highlight the latest innovations and services that enhance customer
experience in line with the top international practices. The exhibition
further aligns with local and global trends to advance sustainable
transport and accelerate the shift towards zero-emission mobility
solutions. It reflects RTA’s future readiness and efforts to strengthen
research, development and innovation, as well as to build a flexible
technological infrastructure that supports the transition towards a
more sustainable and efficient transport ecosystem.
The main objectives of the Dubai International Electric Vehicle
Exhibition and Conference include supporting the national agenda
and strategies aimed at the transition towards zero emissions,
foremost among them the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions
Strategy, the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy, and the UAE Net Zero
Strategy 2050. The event also seeks to support RTA’s strategic
goals and objectives, attract high-quality investments, and promote
circular economy initiatives, particularly in the fields of recycling EV
batteries and developing more efficient and sustainable solutions for
the transport system.
Dubai International EV Conference and Exhibition offers
government and private sector entities, investors, and individuals the
opportunity to explore advanced solutions in sustainable and future
mobility. These include electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft
(eVTOL), drones, and autonomous systems. The event also serves
as a global platform highlighting the latest technologies and
innovations in the EV sector, including manufacturing technologies
and equipment, battery management systems, hydrogen fuel cells,
and sustainable energy solutions. This is complemented by smart
infrastructure solutions, featuring the latest fast-charging
technologies, solar energy panels, and the core components shaping
the EV market.
The accompanying conference will feature a comprehensive
programme of parallel activities, including specialised panel
discussions, technical workshops, and hands-on demonstrations
showcasing electric mobility solutions and future transport models.
These activities aim to strengthen partnerships and accelerate
opportunities for cooperation and investment between the public and
private sectors in sustainable mobility. The programme will also
include a hackathon designed to stimulate innovation and support
the development of practical, scalable solutions.
