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Reuters/Tolga Uluturk Supporters of Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu gather near the police headquarters in Istanbul on Wednesday after his arrest Politician İmamoğlu detained Turkish lira drops 12% Boursa İstanbul falls 7% Markets in Turkey were thrown into turmoil on Wednesday after the arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu, a leading political opposition figure, with the stock exchange, lira and bonds all recording sharp losses. İmamoğlu, the mayor of Istanbul, was expected to be named on Sunday as the Republican People’s Party candidate for Turkey’s next presidential election. He was detained early Wednesday on a prosecutor’s order over allegations of corruption, including the…

Mara Restaurant and Lounge has quickly become a prominent name in the UAE’s vibrant culinary scene. Born from humble beginnings as a catering service in 2014, Mara has grown into a beloved chain known for its multicultural cuisine and flavorful dishes. We sat down with Ahmed Safar Al Zarooni, co-founder, and Adnan Al Zarooni, Founder & Group CEO, to discuss their journey, the secrets behind their success, and their ambitious expansion plans, including their upcoming ventures into international markets. Ahmed Safar Al Zarooni: From your diverse professional background spanning aviation, telecom, and World Expos, what inspired you to venture into…

Türkiye’s lira fell as much as 12.7% and touched a new all-time low of 42 to the dollar on Wednesday, with bonds and stocks also tumbling sharply, after authorities detained President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s main political rival. The move against Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul, was called “a coup attempt” by the opposition and appears to cap an aggressive months-long legal crackdown on opposition figures across the country which has been condemned as a politicized attempt to silence dissent. Imamoglu was expected to be named as the main opposition’s presidential candidate within days. The lira traded at 38.90 to…

Alamy via Reuters Connect Omanis on low incomes might struggle to pay for Iftar, but extended family gatherings can be more cost-effective Food prices in Oman, including staples such as rice, flour, sugar and meat, are about 10 percent higher this Ramadan compared to last year, according to government data. The Consumer Protection Office (CPO), a watchdog of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, says retail sales are set to rise to $8 billion this holy month, up from $6.8 billion for last year’s Ramadan.  The CPO is also predicting that household spending will increase by 6 percent…

The Presidency for Religious Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques enhanced the Itikaf prayer experience by offering Quranic study circles, guidance lessons, and distributing copies of the Holy Quran during Ramadan.Makkah, March 19, 2025 — The Presidency for Religious Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque has taken significant steps to enhance the Itikaf prayer experience at the Two Holy Mosques during the holy month of Ramadan. As part of its efforts to foster a spiritually enriching atmosphere for worshippers, the presidency has organized a series of scientific and guidance lessons, Quranic study circles, and the distribution of…

InterContinental Dubai Festival City proudly announces significant enhancements of its premier event venues, now branded under the new banner ‘Events by InterContinental’. This strategic unification of The Event Centre at InterContinental Dubai Festival City and Festival Arena by InterContinental is set to create an unparalleled event destination, fortifying the venue’s position as a key player in the regional Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) industry. A recent report by Coherent Market Insights highlights the UAE MICE market’s anticipated growth from USD 5.65 billion in 2024 to USD 10.01 billion by 2031. This impressive growth trajectory is fuelled by rapid infrastructure…

Getty/Unsplash Africa’s potential has been recognised for many years, but governments across the region are finding it difficult to fund infrastructure and logistics projects Africa has an economy worth $2.8 trillion, a population of 1.4 billion, 65 percent of the world’s arable land and a third of the world’s mineral wealth.  Unsurprisingly, the Gulf states have come to regard the mother continent as crucial to their economic, food and security interests.  However, arguably, Africa has just as much to gain – if not more – from increased collaboration with GCC governments and investors. While Africa’s potential has been recognised for…

KSrelief distributed food baskets to 115 families in Suwayda, Syria, as part of the Etaam Ramadan Food Basket Project, aiming to assist over 2.3 million people across 27 countries.Suwayda, March 19, 2025 — The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) continued its commitment to alleviating hunger and providing vital assistance to vulnerable communities around the world by distributing food baskets to 115 families in Suwayda, Syria. This distribution, which benefited 363 individuals, is part of the broader Etaam Ramadan Food Basket Project for the year 1446 AH. The initiative, a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing humanitarian and relief…

Aramco, one of the world’s leading integrated energy and chemicals companies, in collaboration with leading real estate company ROSHN has announced the commencement of construction on Aramco Stadium, Al Khobar’s new 47,000-spectator stadium. It is planned to meet international standards for the world’s premier football competitions, such as the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, the FIFA World Cup 2034 — which the Kingdom is bidding to host — as well as other showpiece entertainment events. Dar Al-Handasah Consultants (Shair and Partners) — Dar — was responsible for developing and delivering the detailed design of this iconic new stadium, actualizing the signature…

ICIEC hosted a delegation from Aon UK to discuss global risk management trends and strengthen its role in providing tailored insurance and risk solutions to member countries.Jeddah, March 19, 2025 — The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC), a key member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, recently hosted a high-level delegation from Aon UK, a global leader in insurance and reinsurance brokerage services, risk management, underwriting, and consulting. The delegation, led by Aon UK’s Chief Executive Officer, Miles Johnston, engaged in a series of in-depth discussions centered on emerging global trends, cutting-edge risk-management…