Kuwait oil price down 13 cents to $71.29 pb
Globally, the prices of the Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate both went down respectively by seven and 14 cents to settle each at USD 69.21 per barrel and USD 67.20 pb.
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Khaleej Times
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- Khaleej Times
Etihad Airways open to recruiting Wizz Air Abu Dhabi employees, says CEO
Etihad Airways is open to hiring employees of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, which announced suspending UAE operations from September 1 and end the joint venture, said a senior official. 'We're totally open (to hire Wizz Air Abu Dhabi employees). We need people. I'm sure that other airlines are also going to try it (to hire Wizz Air Abu Dhabi staff). This is business as usual,' Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways, told Khaleej Times in an interview. 'We are hiring a lot. We're open to receiving any airline's resume. We recruit globally,' he said. Around 450 Wizz Air Abu Dhabi employees are in limbo due to the suspension of operations, Bloomberg reported earlier. Wizz Air CEO Jozsef Varadi offered Abu Dhabi employees the opportunity to take another job across the budget carrier's European network. But many employees will find it difficult to migrate to Europe, it reported. The Abu Dhabi-based national carrier has been aggressively expanding its operations, recently announcing seven new routes in July, including Almaty, Kazakhstan; Baku, Azerbaijan; Bucharest, Romania; Medina, Saudi Arabia; Tbilisi, Georgia; Tashkent, Uzbekistan; and Yerevan, Armenia. It has launched or announced 27 new routes in a single year as part of its ambitious growth strategy. 2,500 employees in 2025 Neves was speaking after Etihad Airways took delivery of its first Airbus A321LR (long range) at the Airbus Finkenwerder site in Germany. It will receive these 30 new long-range aircraft over the next few years. According to the Etihad chief, the airline will receive 22 aircraft this year, taking the total size of the fleet to around 200-220 over the next five years. 'This year, we're recruiting 2,500 people. We need to recruit from across the globe. We're going to hire about 350 pilots per year over the next five years and about 1,500 flight attendants every year. We're going to get to about 17,000-18,000 people,' he said. It hired more than 2,000 new employees and promoted more than 1,500, primarily pilots and cabin crew, last year. The fast-growing airline currently employs around 12,000 staff across various divisions. The UAE airlines have been on a hiring spree in the post-pandemic period. Emirates Group, the parent company of Emirates airline, last week announced 17,300 openings in the current financial year.
Khaleej Times
2 hours ago
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Final countdown: Last chance to make July unforgettable with Big Ticket
There's a first time for everything. First job. First trip. First car. But what if this July marked your first million? Big Ticket is closing out July with its biggest prizes yet, and this is your final chance to take part in a promotion that's already brought smiles to so many faces all month long. Whether you're in it for the dream lifestyle, the cash rewards, or the cars, there's still time to step into something unforgettable. At the heart of it all is the Dh20 million grand prize, set to be announced during the live draw on August 3 in Abu Dhabi. But that night won't just crown one winner, six more participants will walk away with Dh50,000 each, making it a celebration of multiple firsts. And while the grand reveal is just around the corner, the winning hasn't stopped yet. Big Ticket's weekly e-draws have already named twelve winners, each walking away with Dh50,000, but there's one final weekly draw to go. This week, another four names will be drawn, and they could include yours. To those feeling extra lucky, participants who purchased two or more cash tickets in a single transaction between 1–24 July are already entered into the Big Win Contest, an exclusive experience where four finalists will be invited to attend the grand draw in person. Each of them is guaranteed to win between Dh20,000 and Dh150,000, and the finalists will be announced on August 1. Luxury car fans haven't been forgotten either. This month's Dream Car draw features a Range Rover Velar, with the winner to be revealed on 3rd August. And coming right after: a BMW M440i draw on September 3. To make the final days of July even more rewarding, Big Ticket is running bundle promotions at all ticket counters and online: Buy 2, get 1 free (online only) Buy 2, get 2 free (Big Ticket) and Buy 2, get 3 free (Dream Car) at Zayed International Airport and Al Ain Airport counters. With only days to go, July is still packed with possibility. It could be the summer you'll always remember as the one where you took a leap and saw your name on the winner's list. Tickets are available online at or at counters located in Zayed International Airport and Al Ain Airport. For all the latest news and updates on upcoming draws, everyone is encouraged to follow Big Ticket's social media platforms. The weekly E-draw dates:
Gulf Business
2 hours ago
- Gulf Business
Dubai's most wanted property features: Revealed by today's buyers
Image credit: Getty Images Dubai's real estate market is demonstrating powerful momentum in 2025, marked by high buyer intent, growing investor confidence, and evolving preferences among premium property seekers. A series of new data-driven reports from Read- From the mass market to the luxury segment, a shared thread is clear: buyers are more informed, more intentional, and more focused on long-term value than ever before. Majority of home seekers plan to buy soon, despite price caution Leading real estate platform Property Finder has launched PF Market Pulse, a bi-monthly sentiment tracker capturing real-time consumer insights from over 13,000 users actively browsing property listings in the UAE. The platform's first two survey cycles, conducted in May and June 2025, reveal sustained buying appetite: 72 per cent of respondents in May said they plan to purchase a home within six months, with 69 per cent holding that view in June, signalling consistent demand despite broader market shifts. However, expectations around pricing are beginning to shift. While 34 per cent of buyers in May expected prices to rise, this dipped to 30 per cent in June, with 44 per cent now anticipating a price drop, a marked increase from 37 per cent the month prior. This shift reflects growing buyer sentiment that recent price surges may be cooling. 'The results not only highlight a resilient appetite for home ownership in the UAE,' said Sevgi Gur, Chief Marketing Officer at Property Finder, 'but also reflect a more informed, confident buyer that's increasingly responsive to market signals.' With PF Market Pulse, Property Finder aims to give stakeholders, from developers to end-users, timely access to evolving trends, bolstering its role as a thought leader and insight provider in the MENA real estate ecosystem. Premium buyers prioritise design, flexibility, and value Insights from the premium end of the market echo similar themes of discernment and intentionality. International developer MERED, known for its design-driven residential offerings, recently shared findings from its latest customer engagement at ICONIC Residences – Design by Pininfarina. The report, compiled from high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) engaged in the first half of 2025, paints a detailed picture of today's premium buyer: 65 per cent prioritise privacy and exclusivity 60 per cent value architectural quality 55 per cent rank location and connectivity as key 50 per cent seek strong long-term investment potential 45 per cent demand lifestyle-driven amenities According to MERED, one- and two-bedroom layouts remain in highest demand, particularly for their flexibility and appeal to both short-term rental investors and self-users. Ownership intent is increasingly diverse: 45 per cent buy for personal use, 30 per cent for investment, and 25 per cent choose a hybrid model. 'Today's generation of investors is sophisticated and discerning, expecting timeless architecture, wellness integration, and a genuine sense of community,' said Michael Belton, CEO of MERED. 'At MERED, we see this as an opportunity to set a new benchmark with projects that speak to ambition, identity, and the way people want to live and invest in their future.' Younger, tech-savvy buyers enter the market The buyer profile is also evolving. While professionals aged 40–50 from fields like finance, law, and healthcare remain dominant, MERED reports a growing presence of younger buyers from tech, digital finance, and crypto backgrounds. These demographic favours branded residences, smart layouts, and properties that offer mobility, functionality, and income-generating potential. Many view real estate not just as a stable asset class, but as a flexible extension of lifestyle. In response, developers are integrating features like medical-grade air filtration, ultra-purified water systems, wellness spaces, and outdoor terraces, features that align with a desire for both luxury and quality of life. Over 85 per cent of premium buyers ask about amenities in early conversations, indicating that community features and environmental quality are now seen as core, not complementary. Demand remains strong across all segments Complementing both Property Finder and MERED's findings, April 2025 transaction data released by Betterhomes reveals that Dubai's overall property market remains robust. The city recorded 15,213 property sales transactions worth Dhs46.18bn in April, a 23.1 per cent month-over-month increase. This growth was fuelled primarily by off-plan sales, which made up 59 per cent of transactions, while the resale market also gained ground, rising to 41 per cent from 38 per cent the previous month. Apartments led transaction volume, especially studios and one-bedrooms, which accounted for more than two-thirds of sales. Villas and townhouses also maintained strength, particularly among families seeking larger homes and community-centric living. Top-performing communities included: Apartments: Motor City, Dubai Marina, Dubai Land Villas/Townhouses: Dubai Hills Estate, Al Furjan, Jumeirah Golf Estates 'It's not just about the big numbers; it's about consistent demand across a wide range of communities and property types,' said Christopher Cina, Director of Sales at Betterhomes. 'Communities like Dubai Hills Estate and Motor City are seeing real traction, which tells us people aren't just buying for investment. They're buying to live, to grow, and to stay.' Rental market sees sustained interest On the leasing side, Dubai recorded 29,423 rental transactions in April. While this figure marked a 23 per cent dip from March, tenant interest remained strong, supported by a 1.2 per cent rise in leads at Betterhomes, suggesting that while fewer contracts were finalized, overall demand has not diminished. Rental prices continued their upward trend: Apartments averaged Dhs140,000/year Villas hit Dhs296,000/year Townhouses held firm at Dhs226,800/year Communities like Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT), and Dubai Land led apartment leasing activity, while Tilal Al Ghaf, Dubai Hills Estate, and Jumeirah Village Triangle attracted families seeking larger spaces. Informed, strategic buyers now drive the market The convergence of insights from Property Finder, MERED, and Betterhomes paints a picture of a real estate landscape defined by intention, personalisation, and evolution. Buyers are acting, not speculating: Despite shifting price expectations, most prospective buyers still plan to purchase within six months. Design and liveability matter: Whether mass-market or luxury, buyers value design, location, and quality over flashy features. Investment remains key: Even in lifestyle-led segments, the potential for capital appreciation is a driving force. The market is maturing: From wellness integration to branded residences, Dubai's developers are meeting buyer expectations with increasingly sophisticated offerings. As Dubai cements its global status as a hub for real estate innovation, investment, and lifestyle, these insights serve as both a mirror of current sentiment and a guidepost for what's next. Key takeaways 72 per cent of UAE users on Property Finder intend to buy property within six months. Price expectations are cooling: 44 per cent now anticipate a drop. Dubai property sales rose 23 per cent in April, totalling Dhs46.18bn across over 15,000 transactions. Off-plan remains dominant, but resale market is growing. Premium buyers prioritise privacy (65 per cent) and architectural quality (60 per cent). Younger buyers from tech and crypto are entering the luxury market. Villas and townhouses see strong rental interest; average villa rent now Dhs296,000/year.
