Gulf business news before the market opens

What longer shipping routes mean for Gulf importers

Detours add days and costs to every container. Importers in Dubai explain how they are adjusting stock, contracts and prices.

Five ways small retailers are protecting margins as costs rise

Smaller packs, smarter supplier terms and fewer discounts: what shop owners in the UAE are doing when every cost goes up at once.

Choosing an accelerator: six questions to ask before giving up equity

Programmes in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh compete for the same founders. Here is how to tell which one will actually help you.

Freelance permits and the rise of independent work in the UAE

More designers, consultants and developers are leaving full-time jobs to work for themselves. Here is what changes for them, and for the com...

The one-to-one meeting: a manager's most underrated tool

Thirty minutes a fortnight with each person on your team can prevent most resignations. Three managers in Dubai share how they run theirs.

Using AI tools at work without leaking company data

Staff are already pasting contracts and spreadsheets into chatbots. A short policy and a few settings can keep sensitive information inside...