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Middle East Edition
13th March 2026
 
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THE HOT STORY

Dubai issues new law regulating outsourcing of government services

A new law in Dubai regulates the outsourcing of government services to private firms, in a bid to improve service quality and efficiency, strengthen collaboration between the public and private sectors, support Dubai's strategic goals, and create more private sector job opportunities for UAE nationals. Issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Law No. (5) of 2026 allows government entities to contract private companies under specific terms. The Dubai Department of Finance will oversee these contracts, ensuring adherence to international best practices. The law mandates that outsourcing companies employ at least one UAE national for every non-national employee. Compliance is required within three years of the law's enactment.
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TAX

UK considers tax exemptions for British nationals fleeing Gulf conflict

The UK tax office is considering a tax exemption for over 160,000 British nationals fleeing the conflict in the Gulf. Many may not have been tax residents in the UK, risking tax bills if they stay longer than 183 days. Those affected by "exceptional circumstances" can disregard up to 60 days. Robert Salter from Blick Rothenberg warned of the risk of becoming UK tax residents for those returning. He said: "People need to be very careful about how this will apply to them; nobody knows how long this problem in the Middle East will go on. It’s possible people will be here three to five months or even longer." An HMRC spokesman confirmed existing rules account for such circumstances.
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CYBERSECURITY

Medical device maker Stryker hit by Iranian cyberattack

An Iranian-linked hacking group has claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on US-based medical device provider Stryker. The attack, which began shortly after midnight on Wednesday, led to limitations in access to various systems. The company said that "we have no indication of ransomware or malware and believe the incident is contained." Stryker, which employs 56,000 people globally, saw its shares drop by 3.6% following the incident. "This is exactly ⁠the type ⁠of attack we have been ⁠worried about: Iranian proxies using ​destructive cyber attacks like data deletion against US companies to retaliate," said Cynthia Kaiser, senior vice president of cybersecurity firm Halcyon's Ransomware ​Research Center and a former senior FBI ⁠cyber official.
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WORKFORCE

Bloomberg tells Gulf staff they can temporarily leave the region

Bloomberg has announced that employees in the Gulf, particularly at its Dubai headquarters, can temporarily relocate due to escalating attacks from Iran. A spokesperson confirmed that while most staff have not requested relocation, they are permitted to do so. Bloomberg said it remains committed to the region, with founder Michael Bloomberg saying the company is dedicated to supporting clients during this challenging time. Other firms, including Citigroup and Standard Chartered, have also advised their Dubai employees to work remotely amid the ongoing conflict.

Nearly 1,000 Thai workers seek return from Middle East

Thailand's Ministry of Labour has reported that nearly 1,000 Thai workers affected by the Middle East conflict wish to return home. Recently, 18 workers arrived from Iran, increasing the total returnees from Iran and Bahrain to 35. Labour Minister Trinuch Thienthong assigned Phichet Thongphan to assist the returnees. Phichet noted that another 33 workers are expected to return soon. The Ministry has implemented a three-step assistance plan to support workers during their repatriation and ensure they receive their entitlements. "The Ministry of Labour is ready to protect their rights," Phichet said.
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ECONOMY

US launches trade probes into 16 economies

US Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer has announced new trade investigations into 16 economies, including the EU, Taiwan, Switzerland, India, Japan and Korea. The probes relate to “structural excess capacity and production in manufacturing sectors.” The investigations under Section 301(b) of the Trade Act of 1974 will determine whether their acts, policies and practices are unreasonable or discriminatory and burden or restrict US commerce. "We need to protect American jobs, and we need to make sure we have fair trade with our trading partners," Greer said. The investigation could result in new tariffs as soon as this summer.
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TECHNOLOGY

ABB partners with Nvidia to improve factory robot training

The robotics unit of Swiss-based ABB is teaming up with Nvidia to improve training methods of industrial robots. ABB will use Nvidia's Omniverse libraries of simulated ​data to make its training environments more realistic by incorporating typical factory floor details ​such as lighting, shadows, and textures in virtual simulations. ABB Robotics President Marc Segura said that ⁠robots' often-limited information about the world around them can ​undermine accuracy, repeatability and speed in training scenarios. "The industrial sector ⁠needs ​physically accurate simulation to bridge the gap between ​virtual training and the real-world deployment of AI-driven robotics at scale," observed Deepu Talla, vice president of ​robotics and edge AI at Nvidia.
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INTERNATIONAL

FCC proposes English proficiency requirement for overseas employees

US Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr is proposing English proficiency requirement for overseas employees. Carr said the proposed rules would encourage communications providers regulated by the agency to bring call-centre jobs back to the US. “Americans get frustrated when they call a US business and end up connecting with a call centre located abroad,” he said. “Language and communications barriers often make it difficult for callers to promptly and efficiently get the results they want. And these foreign-based call centres often create a heightened security risk as well.” The proposal includes requirements that call-centre workers “be proficient in American Standard English and otherwise be trained appropriately for resolving issues with US customers.”

Atlassian cuts 10% of workforce in pivot to AI

Atlassian, Australia’s largest listed technology company, is to cut 10% of its staff, or 1,600 employees, in response to the threat posed by AI to its operations. The Sydney-based company said it plans to "rebalance" its resources to focus on the "future of ​teamwork in the AI era." CEO Mike Cannon-Brookes said in a ​memo to staff: "Our ​approach is not 'AI replaces people.' But it would be disingenuous to pretend AI doesn't change the mix of skills we need or the number of roles required in certain areas. It does." 

Italy 'has not yet achieved equality between the sexes'

Italian President Sergio Mattarella has said that Italy has not yet achieved equality between the sexes, adding that this would only come about when women are no longer expected to behave like men to do their jobs. At a ceremony for International Women's Day, Mattarella said: "How many resources, how much talent we have lost over the years" for failing to give equal opportunities to women. "The challenge concerns millions of women, workers, professionals, mothers. The journey can only be said to be complete when women are no longer asked to adopt male behaviour patterns in various areas of society in order to have their role, abilities, and qualities recognized . . . Until this happens, there will continue to be a loss of values and opportunities for Italian society as a whole."

Singapore employers face crackdown on phantom workers

About 100 employers in Singapore have been penalised for fraudulently inflating their foreign worker quotas through "phantom worker" schemes, according to Manpower Minister Tan See Leng. These arrangements involve false Central Provident Fund contributions for non-existent local workers, allowing firms to exceed their foreign worker entitlements. Dr Tan said the Ministry of Manpower investigates such arrangements based on complaints as well as proactive on-site checks, and these are what led to the enforcement actions against the errant employers.
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OTHER

Brain cells are running data centres in Singapore and Melbourne

Australia-based biotech startup Cortical Labs is working on two small data centres run by human brain cells. The experiment could one day challenge the use of semiconductors from the likes of Nvidia. The company is building facilities in Melbourne and Singapore to house its biological computers, known as CL1 units, which consume a fraction of the power used by conventional AI processors. The computing capacity of Cortical Labs’ systems is modest, but the company has so far taught its brain cells to play the computer game Doom.
 
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