The Section
Business.
Business with a Gulf accent. Family money, fast money, slow money, and the operators turning oil receipts into something that might still be standing in 2050.
School Fee Season Starts Before the Term
Uniforms, transport, activities and devices can change the real back-to-school number before tuition is even paid.
By Mira Faraj
BusinessJun 14
Five Questions Before You Renew a Dubai Lease
The rent conversation is only one part of renewal. Maintenance, handover condition, payment timing and notice language deserve equal attention.
By Mira Faraj
BusinessJun 14
The UAE Summer Budget Reset
Flights, cooling, school planning and subscriptions all collide in June. The easiest savings come from timing, not sacrifice.
By Marcus Okafor
BusinessJun 13
Why Restaurant Deals Feel Cheaper Than They Are
A discount can be real and still lead to a bigger bill if minimum spends, drinks, delivery fees or service charges change the basket.
By Mira Faraj
BusinessJun 13
The UAE Used-Car Checklist That Saves Real Money
The price is only the start. Insurance, registration, tyres, service history and finance terms can change the deal fast.
By Marcus Okafor
BusinessJun 13
The Weekend Money Check Before Payday
A ten-minute review can stop the small leaks: delivery apps, subscriptions, fuel, parking and the purchases that wait until nobody is watching.
By Mira Faraj
BusinessJun 12
Oil Falls, But the Bill Does Not Fall at Once
Crude dropped on hopes of a Hormuz reopening. That does not mean the weekly shop, summer flights or shipping costs instantly forgive the past few months.
By Marcus Okafor
BusinessJun 11
What It Costs: The Conflict at the Pump and the Checkout
Oil is spiking, shipping is snarled, and the bill eventually arrives where everyone can read it, at the petrol station and the supermarket.
By Marcus Okafor
BusinessJun 10
Logista's ~$570M Exit, and the Engineer Who Made the Trucks Talk
How a Gulf-built fleet-management platform turned tracking vehicles into a half-billion-dollar business, and the co-founder and CTO, Ahmed Saleh, behind its engine room.
By Marcus Okafor
BusinessJun 9
How to Calculate UAE End-of-Service Gratuity Basics
Gratuity depends on the legal framework, contract type, length of service, basic salary, and reason for leaving. Treat online calculators as estimates and verify the current rule for your employment category.
By Marcus Okafor
BusinessJun 9
How to Check Your MOHRE Labour Contract
Employees should check the official labour contract details, especially salary, occupation, contract type, start date, and employer information. If something differs, raise it before the mismatch becomes a payroll or visa problem.
By Marcus Okafor
BusinessJun 9
How to Get a Salary Certificate or NOC in the UAE
Banks, landlords, schools, visa applications, and some government services may ask for salary or employer confirmation. The useful certificate is specific, dated, signed or stamped, and consistent with the labour contract.
By Sara Qureshi
BusinessJun 9
How to Prepare a Small Business for UAE VAT Registration
A business should monitor taxable supplies, expected revenue, invoices, and records before it reaches a registration decision. Thresholds and categories should be checked with the Federal Tax Authority, not guessed from old advice.
By Marcus Okafor
BusinessJun 9
How to Prepare Invoices for a UAE Small Business
A good invoice clearly identifies seller, buyer, date, description, amount, tax treatment where applicable, payment terms, and bank details. It should make payment easy and later reconciliation boring.
By Marcus Okafor
BusinessJun 9
How to Set Up WPS Payroll for a Small UAE Company
Employers should align labour contracts, employee bank details, salary files, and payment dates before the first payroll run. WPS is not only a bank upload; it is a compliance rhythm.
By Marcus Okafor
BusinessJun 9
Retail Media Is Turning Search Results Into Shelf Space
In UAE ecommerce, the first page of search is becoming a paid shelf, and brands need a clearer way to judge whether the space is worth buying.
By Sara Qureshi
BusinessJun 9
How to Read a UAE Job Offer Before Signing
A useful job-offer review looks beyond the headline salary. Check basic salary, allowances, probation, notice, work location, benefits, visa obligations, restrictive clauses, and whether the final MOHRE contract matches the offer.
By Marcus Okafor
BusinessJun 9
Checkout Friction Is the Most Expensive Page on the Store
Retailers spend heavily to win the click, then lose orders through quantity controls, unclear coupons, surprise fees, and slow payment steps.
By Marcus Okafor
BusinessJun 9
How to Open a Bank Account as a New UAE Resident
Most banks will want identity, residence, income, address, and source-of-funds information. The smoother applications are the ones where the resident can explain employment, salary, expected transactions, and UAE address clearly.
By Marcus Okafor
BusinessJun 9
How to Register for UAE Unemployment Insurance
Eligible employees should verify whether they must subscribe, which plan applies, and how payment reminders work. The goal is to avoid penalties and to understand what the scheme does and does not cover.
By Marcus Okafor
BusinessJun 9
How to Start Freelance Work Legally in the UAE
Freelance work needs the right permit, licence, visa status, tax awareness, and client paperwork. The key is to avoid doing paid work under a status that does not allow it.
By Sara Qureshi
BusinessJun 8
The Discount Season Has Become Retail Infrastructure
Sales used to be calendar events. In Gulf retail, discounting now organizes inventory, staffing, cash flow, and customer memory.
By Sara Qureshi
BusinessJun 8
Family Businesses Are Learning the Weekly Dashboard
A quieter generation of regional family businesses is replacing the monthly review ritual with tighter weekly operating visibility.
By Marcus Okafor
BusinessJun 8
The Too Much Labs DCA Bot Is Really a Bet on Less Panic
Its DCA tooling sounds like automation, but the deeper product idea is helping investors stick to a plan when crypto markets get loud.
By Mira Faraj