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Middle East Edition
17th December 2025
 
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THE HOT STORY

Saudi Arabia prepares for demographic shift amid declining birth rates

Saudi Arabia is experiencing a significant decline in birth rates, dropping from 44 births per 1,000 people in 1980 to 16 in 2023, according to World Bank data. Experts warn that this demographic shift will impact various sectors, including healthcare, education, and real estate, as the population ages. By 2050, the proportion of seniors is expected to rise, increasing pressure on pension systems and the local labour market. Research by Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University which surveyed 2,172 Saudi women aged 18 to 50 from various regions found that respondents from the central and eastern regions of the kingdom reported the highest rates of viewing childbirth as a barrier. Reasons included pursuing higher education, focusing on careers, and striving for financial stability.
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LEGAL

Qatari entities are failing to pay contractors on time

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has reported that Qatari government clients and large businesses are failing to pay contractors on time, leaving migrant workers unpaid. Michael Page of HRW said: "Clients at the top of the Qatari contracting supply chain . . . often have impunity." The report highlights that subcontractors struggle to pay workers due to delayed payments from clients. HRW is urging Qatari authorities to hold major firms accountable for abuses. The report emphasises the need for better protection for migrant workers in Qatar.
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TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

New filmmaking initiative aims to boost Saudi creative talent

Saudi-French cultural institution Villa Hegra, in partnership with local film agency Film AlUla, has launched a filmmaking programme aimed at nurturing young talent and enhancing the Kingdom's film sector. The initiative includes training courses and workshops that cover all aspects of film production, from scriptwriting to post-production. Villa Hegra also offers educational programmes for children, promoting creativity through interactive workshops. These initiatives, developed in collaboration with French and Saudi institutions, aim to improve educational content and foster cultural diversity. "These efforts aim to support young talent," said the Saudi Press Agency.
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HEALTH & WELLBEING

Kahramaa launches first medical clinic for employees

Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) has inaugurated the Kahramaa Medical Clinic for Employees at the Abu Hamour Complex, in partnership with Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC). The initiative follows a memorandum of understanding aimed at promoting a healthy work environment and enhancing employee well-being. H E Eng. Abdulla Bin Ali Al-Theyab, president of Kahramaa, said: "This clinic enhances the Corporation's standing as a place that provides its employees with a healthier and safer environment." Dr. Mariam Abdul Malik, managing director of PHCC, noted the clinic's role in supporting Qatar National Vision 2030 and improving health services accessibility.
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LEADERSHIP

Chanel reshuffles executive leadership team

Chanel has named Elisabetta Caldera as its new global chief people and organisation officer, succeeding Claire Isnard, with effect from January. She joins the company from Aegon, where she spent more than four years as global chief human resources officer.
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INTERNATIONAL

UK's workers' rights bill clears final hurdle

The UK Labour government's Employment Rights Bill has successfully passed its final parliamentary stage and is expected to become law before Christmas. Business Secretary Peter Kyle expressed his delight, saying the legislation will modernise outdated employment laws and enhance workplace dignity. Key provisions include access to sick pay and paternity leave from day one, along with protections for pregnant women. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the development marked a "major victory for working people in every part of the country." Unite union's general secretary Sharon Graham said the bill must now be implemented "without any further dilution or delay." The bill applies to England, Scotland and Wales, but not Northern Ireland.

Asahi CEO weighs creation of new cybersecurity team

Asahi chief executive Atsushi Katsuki has said he is mulling the creation of a new cybersecurity unit after a September ransomware attack disrupted operations and financial reporting. As part of recovery efforts, the Japanese beer making giant is adopting what Katsuki called a stricter “zero-trust” approach, whereby the company assumes nobody inside its network is safe. He said Asahi has already scrapped the use of virtual private networks, or VPNs, that help disguise a user’s location. “Information security is a management issue that should be given the highest priority,” he said. “We thought we had taken sufficient measures, which were easily broken. It made me realize there’s no limit to the precautions that can be taken.”

Korean AI talent is being driven overseas

Korea faces a talent drain in artificial intelligence skills due to lower wages compared to the United States. A report from the Bank of Korea (BOK) reveals that AI specialists in Korea earned 6% more than their non-AI counterparts last year, but this AI wage premium is far behind the 25% figure in the US. “Korean AI talent working overseas accounted for about 16% in 2024, six percentage points higher than other workers,” said Oh Sam-il, an economist at the BOK. “The number of Koreans with AI skills working in the United States rose to 6,300 last year as a large number of jobs and strong treatment in the US AI industry pulled domestic talent overseas,” he added.

Milei files labour reform proposal to Congress

Argentine President Javier Milei has submitted a labour reform proposal to Congress, in a bid to address what it described as excessive bureaucracy and a "rigid structure" that hinders job creation. The proposed bill seeks to provide employers with more flexibility regarding working hours and severance pay, while also incentivising the hiring of formal workers and allowing salaries to be paid in foreign currencies. However, the reform faces strong opposition from unions, which are planning a march in Buenos Aires. The bill has the support, however, of industry chamber the Argentina Industrial Union, whose president Martin Rappallini said: "We hope this will little by little start a process to change the dynamic of loss of employment . . . Argentina needs to generate formal work."
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OTHER

Italian cuisine lands UNESCO accolade

Italy has become the first country to have its entire cuisine added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list. Rather than recognizing a single dish, UNESCO honored Italian cuisine as a whole for its cultural, social, and intergenerational significance. The designation gives Italy a record nine agri-food recognitions among its 21 total UNESCO-listed traditions.
 
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