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Middle East Edition
27th November 2025
 
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THE HOT STORY

Former Petrofac employees await final settlement details

Former Petrofac employees laid off on November 19 are seeking clarity on their final settlements after receiving their salary for the 19 days worked in November. Many are concerned about the lack of notice-period pay, which they believe is owed under UAE labour rules. One employee said: "If the company terminates me, they must pay me three months' salary." Employees are waiting for a detailed statement from Petrofac, expected by December 3, to understand their full entitlements. The company has faced operational challenges, leading to restructuring and uncertainty regarding end-of-service benefits.
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SUSTAINABILITY

UAE companies that ignore sustainability 'will not survive'

At this week's Care for Sustainability Mena forum in Dubai, Maher Al Kaabi, an advisor at Al Serkal Group, emphasised the need for businesses to adopt genuine sustainability practices. He warned: "If you are not sustainable in doing business, you will not survive." Al Kaabi noted that many companies engage in sustainability mainly to meet reporting requirements, rather than integrating it into their core operations. He highlighted the importance of consumer demand for greener choices and the UAE's gradual approach to policy design, which involves private sector partners to ensure competitiveness.
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TECHNOLOGY

Egypt's AI market value soars

Egypt's AI market value has reached nearly $490m, up from $420m two years ago, reflecting over 12% annual growth. Mohamed El-Lethey, an International Quality and Sustainability Consultant, noted that AI's contribution to Egypt's GDP is projected to hit 7.7% by 2030. The government aims to train over 30,000 AI specialists and increase AI start-ups from 150 to 250. El-Lethey highlighted the importance of cybersecurity and sustainability in this growth, emphasising the need for inclusive digital literacy initiatives to combat emerging "AI illiteracy" and ensure broad societal engagement in the digital economy.

MoHRE urges caution on AI use

The UAE's Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has cautioned against an over-reliance on artificial intelligence tools in the workplace. MoHRE highlighted six key risks, including privacy violations and bias in AI-driven decisions. The Ministry has also launched the Smart Safety Monitor, an AI tool aimed at improving workplace safety.

OpenAI forecasts 220m paying ChatGPT users by 2030

OpenAI has forecast that at least 220m of ChatGPT's weekly users will pay for a subscription by 2030. The artificial intelligence firm said that by 2030, 8.5% of an estimated 2.6bn weekly users, or around 220m people, will subscribe to its chatbot. OpenAI also said it expects to generate about 20% of its revenue from new products such as shopping- and advertising-driven features, and has this week introduced a personal shopping assistant for ChatGPT.
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LEADERSHIP

Shein executive relocates to Dubai

Cui He, former director of Europe at Shein, has relocated to Dubai for a new role as global head of employer brand. The move, confirmed by company filings, is a personal decision rather than a corporate directive. Cui, who holds degrees from Nanjing University and the Open University, remains a director of Shein Distribution UK but has limited involvement in the British operations.
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ECONOMY

Saudi Arabia pledges $1bn to fund stadiums

FIFA has partnered with the Saudi Fund for Development and pledged up to $1bn to support global football infrastructure. The agreement offers discounted loans for building and renovating stadiums, prioritising developing nations. The partnership aims to help governments design, finance, and construct modern multi-sport venues for FIFA-approved tournaments, strengthening FIFA’s growing ties with Saudi Arabia ahead of the 2034 men’s World Cup.
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INTERNATIONAL

Attorneys general urge Congress to reject ban on state AI laws

Republican and Democratic attorneys general from 35 states and the District of Columbia have sent a letter to congressional leaders calling on them to reject a ban on states’ ability to enact artificial intelligence laws. “While AI promises to be a transformative technology in numerous fields, it also poses significant risks - notably to the most vulnerable among us, our children. States must be empowered to apply existing laws and formulate new approaches to meet the range of challenges associated with AI,” the group wrote, adding “We are also deeply troubled by sycophantic and delusional generative AI outputs plunging individuals into spirals of mental illness, suicide, self-harm, and violence.” ChatGPT maker OpenAI, Google, Meta and venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz have called for national AI standards instead of a 50-state patchwork, Reuters notes.

EBRD warns how aging populations will challenge growth

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development's semiannual report warns that aging populations have already begun to hinder economic growth in certain countries - some of which need to act now to keep slowing population growth from wreaking havoc on their long-term economic prospects. "Already today, demography is eroding growth in living standards, and it is going to be a headwind for GDP growth in the future," EBRD chief economist Beata Javorcik told Reuters. She also observed that post-communist nations "are getting old before getting rich." The report noted that migration at a level needed to counteract falling birth rates is not politically palatable in most places.

Tesco under fire for staff suspension

UK supermarket group Tesco has come under fire from pro-Palestine activists after suspending a worker who refused to handle Israeli products. The boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement has called for the retailer to reverse its decision, saying the worker now "faces disciplinary action for having a conscience." A petition with over 1,700 signatures demands that Tesco withdraw the threat against the anonymous staff member. The incident follows protests outside Tesco stores, as campaigners express solidarity with workers who refuse to handle Israeli goods.
 
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