THE HOT STORY

Gulf tech firms turn to Hong Kong and Singapore

Gulf-based digital businesses and investors are increasingly setting up in Hong Kong and Singapore as the Iran war drags on. Analysts have noted growing adoption of a "dual-hub" model whereby secondary Asian bases are established to hedge against geopolitical risk. “We are not seeing an outright exodus from the Gulf, but we are witnessing an accelerated shift towards proactive geopolitical hedging,” said Paul Bratby, the founder of xBratAI, a Dubai-based AI-powered trading signals platform that expanded to Hong Kong earlier this year. “Major digital and tech enterprises are no longer content with relying on a single operational anchor.”

South China Morning Post

LEGAL

Abu Dhabi to host UN congress to discuss fighting digital crime

The 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice will occur in Abu Dhabi from September 26 to October 1, 2026. Over 97 countries will participate, including 32 justice and interior ministers. Abdullah Sultan Al Nuaimi, Minister of Justice, emphasised the need for international cooperation to address digital crime and the ethical challenges posed by technology. He said: "Technology must serve justice and people." A key expected outcome will be the Abu Dhabi Declaration, which is aimed at translating international consensus into actionable priorities for crime prevention and strengthening justice systems.

Khaleej Times Online

STRATEGY

RICS opens Riyadh office

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has launched an office in Riyadh to enhance support for its growing membership, which has surged to nearly 2,500 in four years. The office aims to foster professional development and collaboration with local institutions while promoting internationally recognised standards aligned with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. RICS Chief Executive Justin Young said: “Opening an RICS office in Riyadh gives our long-standing commitment to Saudi Arabia a stronger local presence.” The office will also assist in developing professional standards and capabilities within the surveying sector.

Gdn Online

Saudi EV maker seeks to build regional auto powerhouse

Saudi startup Ceer, a joint venture between the Kingdom's Public Investment Fund and Taiwanese contract electronics manufacturer Foxconn, has made public its first two fully electric vehicle models and plans to launch five more ‌models by 2030 as part of Riyadh's goal to create a viable auto industry.

Reuters

HEALTH & WELLBEING

AI staff complain of mental toll over fears of threat to society

The FT reports that staff at AI companies and institutions are suffering from the severe mental strain associated with working on systems they fear are unsafe for public release.

Financial Times

REGULATION

Excessive focus on AI rules 'can overshadow practical benefits'

Speaking during a discussion on technology and innovation at a ForsaTEK event in Dubai on Monday, Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, said an excessive focus on regulation can sometimes overshadow the practical benefits of AI. He observed that the challenge is to educate people so they become “wielders of the technology” rather than people who are displaced or overwhelmed by it.

Khaleej Times Online

INTERNATIONAL

French prosecutors probe misuse of smart glasses

Prosecutors in Paris have launched at least one criminal investigation into suspected sexual harassment following complaints that people used smart glasses to film women on the street without their consent. The Paris prosecutor’s office tasked its cybercrime unit with testing smart glasses two weeks ago to better understand how the technology could be used to facilitate crime. France's data protection authority, CNIL, said it had received under 10 complaints concerning smart glasses being used in the workplace. CNIL's head of economic affairs Nacera Bekhat said smart glasses pose "real challenges" in terms of informing people that they are being filmed and getting consent when needed. AI-enabled wearable devices are regulated by the European Union's AI Act and the General Data Protection Regulation.

Reuters

Law firms encourage senior partners to retire

Major US law firms are increasingly looking for ways to encourage senior partners to retire as lawyers remain in their careers well into their 70s, 80s, and even 90s. Roughly one-third of US lawyers are 55 or older, including 14% who are over 65, creating potential bottlenecks that can limit leadership opportunities, major assignments, and client relationships for younger partners. Firms are responding with measures ranging from mandatory retirement ages and pension packages to reductions in equity and financial incentives. Some, including Latham & Watkins, Morgan Lewis, and Debevoise, have hired consultants to help senior lawyers plan for life after their legal careers. The programmes encourage partners to consider alternative pursuits; participants go on to careers and interests including photography, theatre production, screenwriting, and volunteering.

Wall Street Journal

Australian regulator sues former Super Retail chief over alleged disclosure failures

Super Retail Group’s former chief executive Anthony Heraghty has been sued by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), which alleges he breached his directors’ duties and misled the board and market over an alleged relationship with former head of human resources Jane Kelly. Heraghty was dismissed in September 2025 after the retailer’s board concluded he had inadequately disclosed the alleged relationship, while ASIC has alleged he failed to properly manage the resulting conflict of interest despite participating in decisions concerning Kelly’s employment, remuneration, incentives and redundancy package. The regulator is seeking financial penalties, declarations of contravention and disqualification orders against Heraghty, who became chief executive of Winning Group in July.

Reuters

Samsung Electronics' union now only open to semiconductor workers

The Samsung Electronics chapter of the Samsung Group United Union has voted to limit its membership to employees in the Device Solutions (DS) Division, which focuses on semiconductors. In a recent assembly, 96.3% of the 28,680 members supported this change, effectively excluding those from the Device eXperience (DX) Division, which handles smartphones and appliances. The union said it aims to protect the rights of DS Division members and improve their working conditions. Controversy arose over contracts involving union chairman Choi Seung-ho, leading to no-confidence votes against two officials from the DX Division.

Korea Joongang Daily

OTHER

Thai finance boss says he runs on four hours' sleep

Thailand's finance minister, Ekniti Nitithanprapas, says the demands of the job have cut his nightly sleep to about four hours, and weekly vitamin drips and daily supplements keep him going. “They help ease the fatigue,” he said in an interview with Bloomberg News. When he can, Ekniti, who was 55 last week, tries to claim one weekend day for himself, sleeping seven or eight hours and exercising before returning to work. He says such respite can be short-lived: “There always seems to be another crisis.”

Bloomberg

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