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Middle East Edition
12th December 2025
 
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THE HOT STORY

UAE launches smart system for government employees

The UAE's Federal Authority for Government Human Resources has introduced the "Injazati" system, an AI-powered tool designed to enhance the performance of federal employees. Set to launch in January 2026, it aims to align employee targets with institutional objectives, fostering a culture of productivity and competition. Faisal bin Butti Al Muhairi, director general of FAHR, said: "Injazati is a key pillar of the government ecosystem." The system will use methodologies including Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to ensure effective performance evaluation and continuous improvement.
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WORKFORCE

JPMorgan to award $1,000 to eligible staff earning under $80,000

JPMorgan Chase will offer a special award of up to $1,000 to employees globally who earn less than $80,000 annually, according to an internal memo. Eligible staff must have completed at least one year of service by December 31, 2025. The payments are scheduled for early 2026. US employees will receive the amount as a 401(k) contribution, while those outside the US will receive cash. The New York-headquartered bank has some 318,000 employees globally. 
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WORKPLACE

PwC expands with new Riyadh office

PwC Middle East has relocated its Riyadh office to Laysen Valley, enhancing its capacity to support clients and operations in Saudi Arabia. The new 22,400 sq m facility features the largest Experience Centre in the region, designed for collaboration and innovation. Hani Ashkar, Middle East senior partner, said: "Our new office in Laysen Valley enables us to continue expanding our work in Saudi Arabia." The office will also support national talent initiatives, with over 2,400 Saudi nationals having participated in PwC training programmes, contributing to a growing local talent pipeline.
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TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

Saudi HRDF signs deals to train over 2k job seekers

Saudi Arabia has signed three agreements through its Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) to train 2,191 job seekers, in deals valued at over SR324m ($86.5m). The HRDF's deputy chief executive for operations, Feras bin Abdulaziz Abalkhail, signed the agreements with leaders from the Energy and Water Academy, the Health Academy, and the ZADK Saudi Culinary Academy. The initiatives aim to enhance the skills of Saudi talent, align training with market needs, and support Saudization goals under Vision 2030. The agreements were signed during the Development Finance Conference Momentum 2025 in Riyadh.

Khaleeji Bank celebrates employee excellence

Bahrain's Khaleeji Bank has recognised its outstanding employees during the first two quarters of 2025 through its Staff Appreciation & Recognition Scheme (STARS). Fatema Ahmed Al Bin Ali, head of human resources, highlighted the importance of acknowledging talented team members, saying: "Recognising our talented team members is a cornerstone of our corporate culture." The STARS scheme aims to foster a culture of excellence and motivate employees to achieve greatness, ensuring the bank continues to meet client aspirations and adapt to market changes.
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INVESTMENT

Saudi Arabia sees transformation in infrastructure development investments

Khalid Al-Falih, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Investment, has announced plans for significant infrastructure investments aimed at achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2060. He projected that these investments could reach trillions of dollars, with 40% sourced from the private sector. Al-Falih highlighted the Kingdom's commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement and its ambitious renewable energy goals. He also noted the importance of digital transformation and green finance initiatives, observing: "The Kingdom accounts for the largest share of green finance in the Middle East."
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CYBERSECURITY

OpenAI warns of high cybersecurity risks from new AI models

OpenAI has issued a warning regarding its forthcoming artificial intelligence models, indicating they could present a "high" risk to cybersecurity as their capabilities evolve rapidly. The company noted that the models might not only develop zero-day exploits but could also assist in sophisticated intrusion operations aimed at significant effects. To mitigate these risks, OpenAI is investing in bolstering its cybersecurity measures and is creating an advisory group, the Frontier Risk Council, to collaborate with cybersecurity experts on these challenges.
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INTERNATIONAL

Trump launches $1m 'gold card' immigration visas

President Donald Trump's administration has launched the "Trump Gold Card" visa programme offering fast-tracked US visas to wealthy foreigners. The card, Trump wrote on social media on Wednesday, will give "direct path to Citizenship for all qualified and vetted people . . . Our Great American Companies can finally keep their invaluable Talent". The gold card programme, which was first announced earlier this year, promises US residency in "record time" and will require a $1m fee which is "evidence that the individual will substantially benefit the United States", the programme's website said.

Erdoğan urges employers to compromise

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has called on the Turkish Confederation of Employer Associations (TISK), Türkiye’s leading employers’ union, to compromise in upcoming minimum wage talks. Labour rights and the minimum wage dominated Erdoğan’s speech to the general assembly of the TISK on Thursday. A committee set up to determine the new minimum wage will hold its first meeting today, with the participation of labour unions, government officials and the employers' union. “I expect the TISK delegation there to shoulder responsibility. Every step you will take in favour of my worker friends will return to you as prosperity,” Erdoğan said.

General strike against Portugal's plan to overhaul labour laws

Portugal experienced its first general strike in over a decade on Thursday, led by the CGTP and UGT unions. The strike led to the halting of train services, the cancellation of hundreds of flights, and the closure of schools in protest against proposed labour reforms. The minority government aims to amend over 100 articles of the labour code to enhance productivity, but unions argue the proposed amendments undermines workers' rights. Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said: "The government respects the right to strike . . . but it will not give up on being reformist."

Coupang CEO quits after huge online data breach

The chief executive of Coupang, South Korea’s biggest online retailer, has stepped down, taking responsibility for what is one of the country’s biggest data leaks. Park Dae-jun said he is "deeply regretful" about the incident, which exposed the information of 33.7m customers. Coupang said he will be replaced on an interim basis by Harold Rogers, chief administrative officer of its parent company in the US. The news came after Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said that the government will launch a thorough investigation and take stern action against any legal violations committed by the company. A National Assembly hearing has been scheduled for December 17th, with founder and chair Kim Bom-suk among those formally summoned to testify.
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OTHER

Thailand lifts 53-year-old ban on afternoon alcohol retail sale

Thailand has lifted a 53-year-old ban on the afternoon retail sale of alcoholic drinks, effective on a trial basis for 180 days, aimed at boosting tourism and business. The ban, in place from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., was enacted in 1972 during military rule and will now allow sales from 11 a.m. to midnight, with drinking permitted until 1 a.m. at nightlife venues.
 
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