NOVOTEL CELEBRATES ONE YEAR OF OCEAN COMMITMENT AND SUSTAINABLE PARTNERSHIP WITH WWF

Dubai, UAE, 9 December, 2025- After establishing itself as the GCC's most trusted agricultural trade platform for the past 17 years, AgraME (Agra Middle East), the Middle East's longest-running agriculture, animal, and aquaculture farming exhibition, announces its rebranding as GROWTECH. MIDDLE EAST. This strategic integration of its services into one unified platform alongside GROWTECH. ANTALYA and GROWTECH. JAKARTA elevates the event's mission to connect agricultural innovators across continents. 

Commenting on the strategic vision behind the rebrand, Ahmed Khalil, Portfolio Director, said: "The evolution to GROWTECH. MIDDLE EAST represents the natural next step in our journey to serve the agricultural community. We're not changing who we are; we're amplifying our impact by connecting our region's producers with the best innovations from around the world. Our 17-year legacy of trust and results remains the foundation, but now we're building something even more powerful: a truly global platform for agricultural advancement that serves the unique needs of the Middle East while opening doors to international markets and partnerships.

This growth is fully aligned with our One Informa commitment: one unified vision, one global standard, and one integrated ecosystem that strengthens every event across our portfolio.

With GROWTECH. MIDDLE EAST, we’re scaling not just agriculture, but all three core pillars of the food production ecosystem: Agriculture, Animal Health, and Aquaculture, ensuring each sector gains the visibility, expertise, and global collaboration it deserves."

The formal partnership was celebrated through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony at the GROWTECH. ANTALYA 2025, which took place on 19 November 2025 at the ANFAŞ Expo Center in Türkiye.

The integration capitalizes on GROWTECH. MIDDLE EAST (Formerly AgraME’s) deep understanding of GCC market dynamics and established relationships with regional governments and agricultural authorities, combined with GROWTECH. ANTALYA's expertise in greenhouse technologies, plant breeding, and sustainable farming innovations. These exhibitions together have attracted over 40,000 agricultural professionals annually and facilitated millions of dollars in trade agreements. 

GROWTECH. ANTALYA has established itself as the world's largest greenhouse technologies trade fair, consistently breaking attendance and participation records. The 2024 edition brought together 684 exhibitors from 31 countries,with 39,575 agricultural professionals, with international visitors making 42% of the total attendance. The 2025 editionis expected to host over 700 exhibitors from 36 countries and welcome more than 40,000 visitors.

While GROWTECH. MIDDLE EAST (Formerly AgraME)has built exceptional expertise in agriculture, horticulture, animal, and aquaculture sectors, addressing the unique livestock and aquatic farming needs of the GCC region, the integration with GROWTECH. dramatically expands the product portfolio. The unified platform will now offer a complete 360-degree view of agricultural technology, incorporating greenhouse systems, irrigation innovations, seed development, plant nutrition, and precision agriculture solutions that have made GROWTECH. ANTALYA famous worldwide.

The inaugural edition of GROWTECH. MIDDLE EASTunder its new brand identity will take place on September 8-10, 2026, in Dubai, UAE. The three-day format offers ample opportunity for meaningful business discussions, product demonstrations, and knowledge exchange. 

Engin Er, Exhibition Director, GROWTECH. ANTALYA and JAKARTA said: "We are pleased to introduce the GROWTECH. brand to the Middle East, a region with tremendous potential for agricultural innovation and growth. The integration allows us to extend our mission of connecting agricultural professionals to new markets. We look forward to contributing our expertise in greenhouse technologies, sustainable practices, and startup innovation to create exciting opportunities for the GCC agricultural community and beyond.”

The transformation of AgraME into GROWTECH. MIDDLE EAST marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of agricultural technology exchange in the GCC region. By uniting proven regional expertise with established global exhibition leadership, this partnership creates unprecedented opportunities for agricultural professionals, technology providers, investors, and policymakers to collaborate on solutions that address food security, sustainability, and economic development challenges facing the Middle East and the world.

For more information, visit the GROWTECH. MIDDLE EAST website for exhibitor opportunities, visitor registration, and updates on conference programming. 

Dubai, UAE, December 2025: Armenia’s festive season will officially begin on 14 December, when Yerevan’s Christmas tree lights up the city centre and signals the start of one of the most atmospheric periods of the year. The ceremony opens weeks of celebrations leading up to Armenian Christmas on 6 January, a time when the capital takes on a cinematic glow.

Each December, Yerevan transforms into a winter postcard. Streets lined with warm golden lights reflect against crisp evening skies, while the city’s cafés and restaurants release the unmistakable aromas of traditional soups, spiced teas, slow-cooked meats and festive pastries. Visitors wander through Republic Square and the surrounding boulevards, where live music, seasonal markets and cultural performances draw crowds into the heart of the celebrations.

The Tourism Committee noted that the Christmas period brings together rich traditions and a vibrant atmosphere, positioning Armenia as an increasingly attractive winter destination for regional travellers. Entry is visa-free for UAE and Saudi citizens and residents, making festive travel to Yerevan seamless.

Yerevan is also easily accessible throughout the season, with many direct flights including from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Kuwait, Doha and Beirut, providing convenient routes for visitors looking to experience the city’s winter charm, culinary flavours and Christmas atmosphere.

The 14 December tree lighting ceremony remains one of the landmark moments of the season, inviting guests to step into a vibrant cityscape filled with culture, hospitality and festive spirit.

This December, a new story unfolds just three hours away, in the heart of Armenia.

For more information and travel inspiration, visit the official Armenia Travel website (armenia.travel/).

About Armenia

Armenia, a country nestled in the Caucasus region, is a land of captivating landscapes, rich history, and warm hospitality. This hidden gem offers a diverse array of experiences, from natural splendour to ancient treasures, modern adventures, and culinary delights. It offers four seasons – snowy winters, warm springs, sunny summers, and colourful autumns. From relaxing experiences to thrilling adventures, it offers something for every type of traveller.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – December 12, 2025 – Finastra, a global leader in financial services software, brought together regulators, banks, fintechs, and technology leaders at the Saudi Arabia Reimagine Banking Forum in Riyadh to examine how the Kingdom’s financial sector can accelerate innovation while protecting trust, resilience, and customer value under Vision 2030.

The forum featured perspectives from regional and global experts, including Rudy Kawmi, Vice President for Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, Universal Banking at Finastra, along with senior leaders such as Abdulkarim Alsowaygh, Head of Advisory Services at TechArch, and Aymen Belhedi, Digital and Technology Transformation Leader at KPMG Middle East.

As the conversation turned to how banks can turn ideas into action, Finastra shared perspectives based on its long-standing work with financial institutions in the Kingdom., where it has supported banks since the early nineties through local expertise, established relationships and ongoing investment. The company referenced the role of modern core platforms like Essence,  in supporting agility, compliance and customer-centric design. Finastra also noted its more than xx decades of experience in Saudi Arabia, where it continues to support banks through local expertise, established relationships and ongoing investment.  Finastra Essence was also recognized as a Leader for the 2nd consecutive time in the Gartner®️ Magic Quadrant™️ for Retail Core Banking Systems, Europe., 

Across three panel discussions – Banking Today: Delivering delight in a hyper competitive world, Banking Tomorrow: Innovation, agility and relevance, and Practical AI: Leveraging AI for profit, safely and securely – speakers shared practical strategies to balance regulatory expectations, customer needs, and technology adoption.

Key insights from the Saudi Arabia Reimagine Banking Forum include:

Innovation anchored in trust and compliance

Panelists agreed that innovation in Saudi banking must begin with trust. Cybersecurity, regulatory alignment and security maturity were described as non-negotiables, not afterthoughts. Speakers highlighted the role of the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) in setting clear guardrails through initiatives such as API-driven banking frameworks and the Regulatory Sandbox, enabling banks and fintechs to experiment in controlled environments while protecting consumers and financial stability.

From product proliferation to precision, lifestyle-integrated banking

The discussion underlined a shift from launching more products to delivering precise, contextual experiences. Banks in Saudi Arabia are under pressure to evolve from traditional service providers into lifestyle platforms that integrate payments, credit and everyday services into the digital journeys customers already use. With the risk of banking drifting into a utility model, where providers are interchangeable, panelists called on institutions to differentiate through relevance, immediacy and purposeful design, not just scale.

Ecosystem orchestration as the new competitive edge

Speakers stressed that no institution can innovate in isolation. Banks that act as ecosystem orchestrators, curating fintech, technology and cybersecurity partners while owning the “trust layer”, are better positioned to deliver new propositions quickly. Internal teams, advisors and partners form a single value chain. The conversation moved beyond capability lists toward how those capabilities are combined, governed and brought to market at speed.

Data and AI turning trusted information into intelligence

Data was described as a critical and often underused asset. Panelists highlighted that the real opportunity lies not in collecting more data but in converting trusted data into actionable intelligence. In this context, AI and generative AI can help banks move from reactive service models to proactive, personalized engagement, provided governance keeps pace. With the right tools and controls, small teams can now deliver improvements in productivity and customer experience that previously required much larger workforces.

Practical, ethical AI with humans firmly in the loop

The AI discussion focused heavily on ethics, explainability and human oversight. Panelists warned against black-box systems in areas such as credit decisions and collections, where AI outcomes directly affect people’s lives. They emphasized the need to identify and address bias in training data and to keep humans accountable for final decisions. AI was positioned as a powerful tool to automate repetitive tasks, assist agents and accelerate analysis, while freeing people to concentrate on higher value work.

Technology is available, but adoption remains gradual

Speakers noted that while the technology to support next-generation services is already in place, adoption timelines can vary. Some innovations introduced in pilot phases have taken time to progress to full rollout, reflecting the sector’s careful approach to implementation. The discussion highlighted opportunities for continued progress in areas such as real time, transparent cross-border payments and fully digital account opening that reduces the need for in-branch processes.

Across all sessions, there was a consistent message: Saudi Arabia is setting a high bar for responsible innovation by combining a progressive regulator, a clear national agenda and banks that are re-architecting for trust, speed and inclusion. The future of banking in the Kingdom will belong to institutions that innovate boldly, design for resilience, and earn customer trust every day.

• The UAE recorded AED 431 billion in real estate transactions, across 125,538 deals in H12025

• Total real estate sales surpassed AED 559.4 billion by October 2025

• Dubai’s population is estimated to reach 5.3 million 

Dubai, UAE – 10 December 2025 – Banke International Properties released its year-end analysis of Dubai’s residential market, highlighting the behavioural shifts, buyer profiles, and community trends that shaped 2025, and what these patterns signal for 2026. The findings point to a market driven more than ever by end-user priorities, global investor diversity, and community-centric decision making.

The year saw significant activity from GCC, Indian, UK and European buyers, contributing to sustained momentum across both off-plan and secondary segments. With over AED 431 billion recorded across 125,538 deals in H1 2025 alone. By October 2025, total real estate sales had already surpassed AED 559.4 billion, reflecting continued confidence from both end-users and international investors as the city’s population and economic diversification accelerated .

Dubai maintained its position as one of the world’s most attractive and resilient property markets. Families remained drawn to villa and townhouse communities such as Dubai Hills Estate, Arabian Ranches, Tilal Al Ghaf and Mudon, prioritizing space, school access and lifestyle infrastructure. Investors continued to target high-yield apartment corridors, including JVC, Dubai Marina, Business Bay and JLT, encouraged by stable rental returns and consistent occupancy.

Dubai’s long-term demand trajectory remains strong, supported by sustained expatriate inflows and expanding economic sectors. According to the Dubai Urban Master Plan 2040, the city’s population is projected to reach 5.8 million residents by 2040, reinforcing long-term housing requirements across both established and emerging communities .

“2025 was the clearest indication yet that Dubai has entered a new era of real estate maturity. These decisions are being shaped by lifestyle, long-term value, and real demand rather than short-term speculation,” said Porush Jhunjhunwala, CEO of Banke International Properties. “Families are choosing communities that offer schools, green spaces, retail, and accessibility, while investors are gravitating toward developments with proven rental depth and stable yields. What we are seeing is not a spike in activity; it is the formation of a more balanced, fundamentals-driven market. Heading into 2026, the shift from momentum to sustainability will create opportunities across both districts and the upcoming corridors that are now benefiting from infrastructure, connectivity, and the UAE’s long-term economic agenda.”

We saw that ff-plan launches continued to dominate activity, especially in areas such as Dubai Creek Harbour, Dubai South, JVC, Arjan and new phases of MBR City, due to the support by flexible payment structures and other accessible price points. In Q3 2025, we also saw sustained off-plan momentum and high absorption across major master-developments .

Looking ahead, industry expectations point to a significant wave of new handovers through 2026, which may introduce pricing recalibration in mid-market levels. It is estimated that in 2026, we could see one of the largest delivery pipelines in recent years, supported by active off-plan launches through 2023–2025.

Demand fundamentals remain strong, underpinned by continued population inflows, expatriate residency reforms, and national strategies such as We the UAE 2031 and the Dubai Urban Master Plan 2040, both emphasizing sustainable growth, liveability and housing diversification.

[Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – 9 December 2025]: Netflix and the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC) celebrated the screening of the Women in Film: Bring Your Story to Life program’s films at the Red Sea International Film Festivals. The films were screened as part of The Red Sea: New Vision strand, dedicated to films that stand out for their fresh cinematic vision and compelling exploration of unique themes.

The Women in Film program, launched through a partnership between AFAC and Netflix, supported 20 emerging women filmmakers from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, and Kuwait. Over a five-month period, participants received hands-on mentorship in writing, directing, producing, cinematography, and editing while working in teams to develop and produce their short films with dedicated $25,000 production grants.

“Supporting women to tell their stories, with confidence in their own artistic vision, is essential to building a more dynamic and representative film ecosystem in the Arab world. Through this partnership with Netflix, we were able to provide emerging filmmakers with the mentorship, resources, and freedom of expression that lie at the heart of AFAC’s mission. The screening of their films at the Red Sea International Film Festival is a testament to what happens when independent voices are nurtured and given room to flourish”, stated Rima Mismar, AFAC’s Executive Director.

Throughout the program, participants worked closely with industry mentors through workshops and a structured production process that included post-production work completed in Saudi Arabia. The Red Sea International Film Festival amplified this effort by offering a platform for the filmmakers to present their work and take an important step in their careers. 

Pelin Mavili, Director of Global Affairs at Netflix for Middle East, North Africa and Türkiye, added: “The Netflix Fund for Creative Equity, reinforces our commitment to empowering emerging talent and amplifying new voices across the region. This initiative provides rising filmmakers the platform and support to bring their stories to life, and seeing their films included at the Red Sea International Film Festival makes us proud. The positive reflections from the industry has reinforced the importance of nurturing the next generation of storytellers. Our collaboration with AFAC continues to open pathways for fresh voices and a more inclusive creative landscape in Saudi Arabia and across the Arab world.”

The selected five short films screened from the ‘Women in Film’ program are Jareesh Salam, Somewhere Else, Of Burning Memories & Wounds, No Land in Sight, and Cleanse the Streets. Each film brought forward authentic storytelling and explored distinctive themes. The screening in the festival offered the aspiring filmmakers a valuable opportunity to present their work to industry professionals and connect directly with producers, editors, and key decision-makers.