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Middle East Edition
21st August 2026
 
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THE HOT STORY

Wildcat strike hits Ben Gurion Airport

Israel's aviation sector is under strain due to staffing shortages and ongoing regional conflict. A wildcat strike at Ben Gurion Airport yesterday halted operations for hours, leading to numerous flight cancellations and delays. The workers' union did not formally declare the strike, but airport management attributed the disruption to the labour action. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded by calling for the dismissal of employees involved. The Airports Authority plans to increase staffing but warned that clearing the backlog will take time. "Anyone who obstructs the operations of the airport will be sent home," Netanyahu said.
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HIRING

Hiring outlook cools in third quarter

Employers in the Middle East and Asia Pacific are reducing hiring plans for Q3 2026, according to the ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey. The survey, covering 13,168 employers, shows a Net Employment Outlook of +28%, down 10% from the previous quarter. Despite this, demand for workers with AI expertise remains high, with 69% of employers willing to pay more for AI literacy. François Lançon, Regional President at ManpowerGroup, noted that the hiring outlook reflects a challenging business environment, but opportunities persist for those combining digital skills with strong interpersonal abilities.
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ECONOMY

Dubai soars in global finance rankings

Dubai has achieved its highest ranking in the Global Financial Centres Index, climbing to seventh place. This follows the UAE attracting a record AED177.3bn in foreign direct investment (FDI) during 2025, marking a 6% increase from the previous year. Wael Rashid, Business Development Manager at Evest, noted that the growth reflects a shift towards sectors with long-term potential, such as technology and artificial intelligence. The Dubai International Financial Centre reported a 30% increase in active registered companies, underscoring the emirate's expanding financial landscape.
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LEADERSHIP

Oman Air names new CEO

Nasser Al Sharji has been appointed as chief executive of Oman Air, effective 1 September 2026. With over 25 years of experience in leadership and business transformation, Nasser has held key roles in various sectors, including aviation and logistics. Saeed Al Mawali, Chair of Oman Air, said: "Nasser brings extensive leadership experience and a strong understanding of the aviation sector." He also acknowledged the contributions of Con Korfiatis, the carrier's outgoing CEO, who will continue as Advisor to the CEO.
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TECHNOLOGY

Robots poised for 'ChatGPT moment'

Unitree founder and chief executive Wang Xingxing has expressed optimism about the future of humanoid robots. "We are marching towards a 'ChatGPT moment' in embodied intelligence," commented Wang at a robot conference in Beijing. "We hope that in the future, we can see a robot be introduced into an unfamiliar household and it can achieve approximately 80% of tasks successfully through voice or text commands," he said. "It is an important tipping point for the robot industry to usher in explosive growth."
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INTERNATIONAL

Samsung Electronics ends anonymity on internal message board

Samsung Electronics has decided to eliminate anonymous posting on its NOW Talk internal message board due to repeated misuse by employees. The change requires employees to now use their real names when posting. The decision follows concerns over abusive language and misinformation. “There have been repeated cases of employees undermining our internal communications [systems] by using anonymity to disparage others or spread unverified information,” the company wrote in a notice. “Violations of employees' rights on the internal message board have become increasingly serious due to [posts'] abusive language and personal attacks […] and we recently received guidance from the Ministry of Employment and Labor to improve workplace harassment practices.” NOW Talk has been operative since the early 2010s. 

AI 'starting to create jobs in the UK'

A quarter of firms in the UK are increasingly hiring candidates with AI skills, a fifth are creating new AI-specific roles, and more than half (54%) said the technology led to job creation, according to the Lloyds Business Barometer. Amanda Murphy, chief executive of business and commercial banking at Lloyds, said companies must shift from accessing AI to “building the skills, culture and confidence to use it effectively.” The survey polled 1,200 companies in July.

Lula wants to win back workers to his Workers Party

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is intent on rallying a new generation of digital app-based gig workers who have ‌little connection to the union movement and the factory floors that were once so vital to his Workers Party (PT). Brazil's labour movement helped Lula ascend from factory worker to Brazil's first working-class president. "There has been a substantial change in the world of work," Lula said ⁠in 2024. "We need to adapt ⁠our message to the world of work that is not limited to formal, registered employment." Lula ⁠launched ⁠his final reelection campaign at the weekend from at the "May 1" stadium in Sao Bernardo ​do Campo.

India Bar Council chairman apologises to law students

The Bar Council of India has reversed an order that prohibited an entire graduating class at NALSAR University of Law, one of the country’s leading law schools, from enrolling as advocates. The initial directive had been issued by the nations regulator's chairman, Manan Kumar Mishra, who also sought a report identifying those behind a student campaign opposing Chief Justice of India Surya Kant's participation in the university's convocation. The regulator said it was satisfied that the 2026 cohort of NALSAR had no role in any disturbance or movement. Mishra said in a statement: “If anything connected with the present controversy, any of my words, or letter, has hurt the feelings of our law students, I sincerely regret and apologise for the same. There should be no hesitation in saying so. An expression of regret is not a matter of prestige or ego. It is simply an acknowledgment that the feelings and concerns of our students matter.”
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OTHER

Dubai launches nearly 800 retail inspections for back-to-school season

Dubai is carrying out almost 800 inspections of physical and online retailers during the month-long back-to-school shopping season, targeting businesses selling products including uniforms, stationery, electronics and school bags. The Dubai Corporation for Consumer Protection and Fair Trade is checking that advertised discounts are genuine, prices and promotional terms are clearly displayed and retailers comply with exchange, refund and warranty requirements. The campaign is primarily focused on encouraging compliance and ensuring businesses quickly address issues identified by inspectors rather than imposing penalties. Authorities have also urged consumers to compare prices, understand returns and warranty policies and use trusted retailers when shopping online.
 
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