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Middle East Edition
22nd April 2026
 
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THE HOT STORY

DIFC's AI native programme to create 25,000 jobs

The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has announced its transformation into the world’s first AI-Native financial centre, embedding artificial intelligence into its legal frameworks, business operations, and infrastructure. The initiative aims to create $3.5bn in economic benefits and 25,000 jobs. Essa Kazim, Governor of DIFC, said: “This initiative reinforces Dubai’s role in setting new standards for innovation.” The centre will also provide advanced AI tools to financial firms and integrate physical AI technologies. By 2030, DIFC plans to feature intelligent buildings and autonomous systems, positioning itself as a global leader in AI for finance.
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EBOOK

Fix onboarding bottlenecks with automation and AI

Onboarding often means juggling 100-plus tasks across HR, IT and hiring managers. This eBook shows how Atlassian and FanDuel turned that complexity into a smoother, faster experience.

See how automated workflows and AI helped reduce manual effort, improve compliance and deliver more personalised onboarding at scale. The results are significant: Atlassian reduced manager time by four hours per hire and achieved 93% AI adoption among new hires, while FanDuel cut onboarding time by 75%.

For HR leaders looking to improve productivity, employee experience and operational efficiency, this offers practical examples of what better onboarding can look like.

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WORKFORCE

Nepal restarts Gulf work permits

Nepal has resumed issuing work permits for its citizens to work in the Middle East following a six-week suspension due to the regional conflict. About 75% of Nepali workers abroad are employed in the Middle East, primarily in construction, and contribute significantly to their country's economy. Remittances from these workers account for over 25% of Nepal's $42bn economy. Pitambar Ghimire, a spokesperson for Nepal's labour ministry, said the decision was made after consulting the foreign ministry and in response to high demand from workers. Nepal's youth unemployment rate stands at 20.6%.

Saudi HR ministry announces operational plan to enhance pilgrim services during Hajj

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has announced its operational plan for the Hajj season, focusing on enhancing services for pilgrims. Ismail bin Saeed Al-Ghamdi, the ministry's assistant minister, said the plan includes regulatory measures, inspections, and the use of technology to improve service quality. The ministry has received requests via the Ajeer platform to employ seasonal workers, linking job seekers with establishments serving pilgrims. Additionally, digital services and volunteer initiatives have been launched to support elderly and disabled pilgrims, reflecting the ministry's commitment to a safe and organised Hajj experience in line with Saudi Vision 2030 goals.
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TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

BIBF celebrates graduation of professionals from CIPD qualifications

The Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF) recently celebrated the graduation of 119 human resources professionals from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) programmes.  The number of graduates marks a notable increase compared to last year, reflecting the growing demand for internationally accredited qualifications in people management.
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LEGAL

New Saudi law aims to provide more structured and transparent enforcement process

Saudi Arabia's new Enforcement Law, approved by the Council of Ministers, aims to a more structured and transparent enforcement process. “The new law establishes a balanced approach to the obligations of creditors and debtors, providing clear judicial safeguards while facilitating the effective enforcement of rights. By enhancing mechanisms for asset disclosure and tracing, the law provides a more structured and transparent enforcement process,” Minister of Justice Walid Al-Samaani said.
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DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION

Palantir backlash after social media post denouncing pluralism

Palantir Technologies has faced backlash after releasing a manifesto on social media which denounced certain cultures as "dysfunctional and regressive." The 22-point manifesto, which was co-written by Palantir chief executive Alex Karp, detailed the company's views on issues including society, development and technology. One point warned against the "shallow temptation of a vacant and hollow pluralism . . . We, in America and more broadly the West, have for the past half century resisted defining national cultures in the name of inclusivity. But inclusion into what?" Lebanese historian and journalist Elia Ayoub described the post as "cartoonishly evil."
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INTERNATIONAL

Stellantis invests €100m to keep open site near Paris

Stellantis has said it plans to invest €100m to transform its plant near Paris, which will keep making cars through at least the end of 2028, and then shift to activities including auto part production, recycling, and 3D printing. The company, which currently produces the Opel Mokka and DS compact sport utility vehicles at the Poissy facility, has vowed to retain 1,000 blue-collar jobs there by 2030, with no layoffs. Bloomberg notes that Stellantis has worked closely with labour unions on the project, which “guarantees an industrial future for the Poissy site at a time of rapid change for the automotive industry,” according to Xavier Chéreau, the group’s chief human resources and sustainability officer.

Trump's Labor Secretary resigns amid probe into misconduct

Donald Trump’s Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer has resigned. She is the third member of Trump’s cabinet to leave their post in less than two months. In January, the New York Post reported that the Labor Department's inspector general was looking into complaints that Chavez-DeRemer was having an affair with a member of her security detail, drinking alcohol on the job, and using taxpayer-funded travel to visit with friends and family members. Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling is to take on the role of Acting Secretary of Labor.

Samsung call on court to block illegal strike activities by unions

Samsung Electronics wants a court to block the company's South Korean labour unions from engaging in illegal activities ​during strike action. Unionised workers at the world's largest manufacturer of memory chips last month voted to authorise strike plans and threatened to walk out for 18 days ​from May 21, should a ​wage deal with management not be agreed upon. The unions accused Samsung of infringing on workers' right to strike, which is protected under the law. A strike at the company could worsen bottlenecks in the global supply of semiconductors.

Former Meta contractor to lay off more than 1,000 workers in Kenya

More than 1,000 workers in Kenya are set to be laid off after Meta, Facebook's parent company, ended its contract with local contractor Sama. The decision followed a lawsuit by former content moderators who alleged poor working conditions and low wages. Sama announced it received formal notice from Meta to terminate a “major engagement” at its Nairobi office, affecting 1,108 staff. The company said it is “actively supporting affected employees with care and respect.” The ongoing lawsuit seeks $1.6bn in compensation for the former moderators.
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OTHER

Tokyo aquarium recycles fishing nets into employees' uniforms

Sunshine Aquarium in Tokyo has introduced new uniforms for staff that are made entirely from recycled fishing nets. The initiative aims to raise awareness about marine debris: fishing gear constitutes over 40% of man-made waste on Japan's coastlines. The aquarium collaborated with “Team Re:ism” to utilise chemical recycling technology for the production of the uniforms. Shuta Sashida of the Okayama city-based Caitac Group, a textile trading company that participated in the new uniform's production, said: “Compared to items like plastic bottles, the recycling rate for used fishing nets is low, so we want to help spread awareness about this initiative.”
 
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