UAE, Greece leaders discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation
The two leaders reviewed existing partnerships and explored opportunities for collaboration in key areas, including the economy, investment, advanced technology, artificial intelligence, food security, renewable energy, and sustainability.
They emphasized the importance of expanding joint efforts to support development in both countries and to advance the goals of the UAE-Greece Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
The leaders also exchanged views on regional and international developments. They underscored the need to support peaceful resolutions to ongoing conflicts and highlighted the role of dialogue and diplomacy in promoting global security, stability, and prosperity.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sharjah 24
3 hours ago
- Sharjah 24
Saudi Crown Prince receives Tahnoon bin Zayed
Greetings At the beginning of the meeting, His Highness Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed conveyed to the Saudi Crown Prince the greetings of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, along with his wishes for continued progress and prosperity for the Kingdom. In return, Prince Mohammed bin Salman conveyed his greetings to President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, wishing the United Arab Emirates continued progress and development. His Highness Sheikh Tahnoon said: 'This meeting comes within the framework of ongoing consultations between the leaderships of the two brotherly countries regarding various issues related to the security and stability of the region, and coordination on the current developments taking place in the region.' UAE firmly believes in the importance of joint Arab action, both bilaterally and collectively His Highness added: 'The UAE firmly believes in the importance of joint Arab action, both bilaterally and collectively, and in the need for constant communication to confront current challenges and ensure the future and sustainable development of the region.' During the meeting, discussions were held on strengthening the bilateral partnership in vital and strategic fields, given its positive impact on the advancement and prosperity of the region.
Khaleej Times
5 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE spending surge anticipated heading into Dubai Summer Surprises 2025
As the UAE gears up for another season of Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS), new data reveals a sharp increase in digital spending during last year's campaign, with signals pointing to even greater momentum this summer. The number of daily digital transactions in the UAE jumped by 25% year-on-year during the DSS 2024 period, while consumers also spent more per transaction, with average ticket sizes growing by 16% year-on-year, according to data from A closer look at the data uncovers deeper consumer behaviour shifts. Spending on interior furnishings rose notably last year, suggesting that many residents used the summer period and DSS sales as an opportunity to upgrade their homes. Recreation-related categories also spiked, indicating an increase in families opting for local leisure experiences during the school break. The toys and sporting goods sector saw heightened activity as parents looked to keep children engaged through the hotter months, while education spending climbed as families paid school tuition and stocked up for the academic year ahead. Notably, the automotive category also saw a summer boost, driven by seasonal promotions on vehicles and related services. own processing volumes in the UAE rose by 44% during last year's DSS, reflecting a broader shift toward online-first lifestyles and growing consumer trust in digital payments across high-intent seasonal moments. These insights are consistent with latest State of Digital Commerce in MENA 2025 report, which found 62% of UAE consumers plan to increase their online shopping next year, and 44% now say that they shop for better options online even while browsing in-store. 'Dubai Summer Surprises continues to act as a key catalyst for digital commerce in the region,' said Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager for MENA at 'From household upgrades to family recreation and back-to-school prep, the data shows UAE consumers turning to digital channels to meet both everyday needs and high-value purchases. With the growth we've seen year over year, we expect 2025 to break even more records.' As the region continues to lead in digital commerce adoption, the summer months are proving to be peak moments for merchants to connect with digitally savvy consumers driven by speed, convenience, and seamless online experiences.
Khaleej Times
6 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
From niche to mainstream: Why Islamic finance is critical to the UAE's future development
Islamic finance is no longer a regional curiosity; it is becoming part of the structural foundation of global financial systems. Once confined to a handful of markets and perceived as serving a niche clientele, Islamic banking was often seen as parallel to, rather than integrated with, the global financial mainstream. This shift reflects a growing recognition of its ethical foundations, structural resilience, and alignment with evolving global economic priorities. Within the UAE, both Dubai and Abu Dhabi are increasingly recognised as critical global financial hubs. This has been driven in recent years by successful economic diversification underpinned by a fast-growing financial services sector and infrastructure aligned with international best practice. Islamic finance has an integral role to play in enabling cross-border market accessibility and diversifying domestic funding sources to support the next phase of financial services development in the UAE. Standard Chartered's latest report, Islamic Banking for Financial Institutions: Unlocking Growth Amidst Global Shifts, reveals that global Islamic finance assets are on track to surpass $7.5 trillion by 2028, up from $5.5 trillion in 2024. This represents an impressive 36 per cent asset growth over the next four years. Rising financial volatility, growing calls for sustainability, and demand for inclusive, ethical finance have brought Islamic banking into sharper global focus. The UAE is at the forefront of this shift, publishing a set of Guiding Principles for sustainability in Islamic financial institutions in 2023 that encourage industry participants to integrate sustainability ambitions into their practices and processes. Recent progress has shown that these values are resonating more than ever with governments, corporates, and investors seeking resilient and inclusive financial frameworks in the UAE and across the MENA region. Islamic banking now accounts for over 70 per cent of total Islamic finance assets and is set to grow from $4 trillion in 2024 to $5.2 trillion by 2028. Meanwhile, the Sukuk market, a vital liquidity tool for governments and institutions, is projected to reach nearly $1.5 trillion. The UAE was one of several countries to make short-term treasury sukuks available in recent years, as they are considered among the most effective tools for fund raising in Islamic money markets. The overall growth in Islamic finance assets highlights shifting preferences, deeper institutional integration, and rising global demand for sustainable finance. This shift also reflects a broader change in mindset. Islamic finance is no longer seen as 'alternative finance,' but as strategic finance, a model that can integrate into the portfolios of global asset managers and the frameworks of sovereign wealth funds. Since the pandemic, the emergence of Islamic digital banks in countries including the UAE has been testament to this. At Standard Chartered, we view this moment as a call to action. As the only international bank with a global Islamic banking franchise, Standard Chartered Saadiq, we are uniquely positioned to partner with financial institutions, corporates, and clients across more than 25 markets, from the UAE to the UK and Africa. From helping institutions meet liquidity requirements to supporting green Sukuk issuances, we are enabling the next chapter of growth in Islamic finance. Yet, with opportunity comes responsibility. The next phase of growth in Islamic banking will depend on how well the industry addresses existing challenges. Regulatory harmonisation across jurisdictions, improved liquidity management mechanisms, and a renewed focus on product innovation are all essential. The journey of Islamic banking reflects growing prominence in the UAE, the broader MENA region and across international markets. As the world becomes more focused on resilience, sustainability, and inclusive prosperity, Islamic finance offers a model that speaks to both values and performance. The work ahead lies in deepening collaboration, improving consistency across markets, and continuing to innovate in ways that serve real economic needs. At Standard Chartered, we are committed to enabling that journey and see this as an opportunity and a responsibility to support our clients, strengthen communities, and help shape a more balanced and purpose-driven financial future for the UAE as an increasingly critical global financial hub serving international markets. The writer is CEO, Group Islamic Banking, Standard Chartered
