The GCC Grand Tours Visa: One Permit, Six Countries
A Schengen-style unified visa for the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman is entering its pilot phase, with a full rollout expected by early 2027
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The GCC Journal
Notes from the Gulf
The GCC Journal
Notes from the Gulf
Author: miretpadovani
Dubai’s AED 1 Billion Plan for Creatives: What’s in the Portfolio
Free workspaces, micro-grants with Art Jameel, exhibition funding through Art Dubai, billboard visibility, and e-learning with LinkedIn: Dubai is investing in the creative economy as infrastructure, not afterthought
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HUMAIN: Saudi Arabia’s $20 Billion Bet on AI Sovereignty
Chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and backed by PIF, this full-stack AI company is targeting 1.9 gigawatts of compute capacity and partnerships with NVIDIA, Google, AMD, xAI, and Microsoft
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The UAE’s Blue Residency Visa: What It Is and Who It’s For
A new 10-year, self-sponsored residency for environmental and sustainability leaders, now open for applications
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Bahrain’s Banking Heritage: How an Island Became the Gulf’s Financial Capital
Decades before DIFC existed, Manama was the Gulf’s banking hub. Its story explains why Bahrain still punches above its weight in finance.
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Kuwait’s Investment Houses: The Gulf’s Quiet Financial Powerhouses
Beyond the sovereign wealth fund, a homegrown ecosystem of asset managers and investment banks has been shaping Gulf capital markets for half a century
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The UAE’s National AI Strategy 2031: What It Actually Says
A $96 billion economic target, the world’s first AI minister, a $100 billion investment vehicle, and a plan to make artificial intelligence the foundation of a post-oil economy
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Bahrain’s FinTech Ecosystem: The Gulf’s Regulatory Sandbox
How a small island with the Gulf’s oldest financial services sector became the region’s most agile testing ground for financial innovation
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The GCC’s New Airport Race
Five Gulf states are building or expanding major airports simultaneously, investing over $100 billion in a competition for the skies that will reshape regional connectivity for decades
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Six Events at ADNEC Abu Dhabi Worth Watching in 2026
Manufacturing, infrastructure, fintech, livability, food security, and healthcare: a calendar that maps Abu Dhabi’s economic diversification in real time
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