Monthly Archives: December 2025

Business & Investments

Middle East M&A Activity Surges 260% Despite Market Volatility, Driven by Strategic Diversification and Digital Transformation

  • Middle East deal values surged 260% to $53 billion in the first nine months of 2025, showcasing remarkable regional resilience despite experiencing volatility earlier in the year.
  • The broader Africa, Middle East, and Central Asia region recorded a 6% increase in aggregate deal value, though activity remains below the 10-year average, according to BCG’s 22nd Annual Global M&A Report.
  • Cross-border acquisitions by Middle Eastern investors continue to demonstrate exceptional strength, maintaining elevated activity levels since 2021 with strategic focus on digital transformation, industrial infrastructure, and energy transition investments.

Samuele Bellani Managing Director and Partner

Dubai, UAE,22December2025 – Middle Eastern mergers and acquisitions (M&A) have demonstrated remarkable resilience and strategic focus, with deal values surging 260% to $53 billion in the first nine months of 2025 compared to the same period last year. This exceptional growth comes despite experiencing its lowest levels since the COVID shock earlier in the year, according to BCG’s annual Global M&A Report 2025 released today. The region’s performance is driven by a select group of experienced dealmakers making disciplined, strategic investments amid continued global market volatility.

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Business & Investments

PeopleStrong appoints Tayfun Topkoc to Head International Operations and Drive Strategic Growth

UAE, December22, 2025: PeopleStrong, Asia’s leading human capital management (HCM) SaaS company, today announced the appointment of Tayfun Topkoc as Senior Vice President – International. The appointment comes at a time of strong momentum for the company, following strategic investments from Goldman Sachs and the addition of Dinesh Khara, former Chairman of the State Bank of India, to the PeopleStrong Board.

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Technologies

New OPSWAT-Sponsored SANS Survey Reveals 21.5% ofOrganizations Experienced an ICS/OT Cyber Incident in the Past Year

Almost 38% of reported casesoriginated from ransomware attacks andmore than 40% resulted in operational downtime

Dubai, United Arab Emirates. – December 22, 2025 –OPSWAT, a global leader in critical infrastructure protection (CIP) cybersecurity solutions, hasannounced findings from the SANS Institute’sThe State of ICS/OT Cybersecurity 2025reportsponsored by OPSWAT. It reveals that in the past year:

Matt Wiseman, Director of Product Marketing at OPSWAT

  • 21.5% of organizations experienced a cyber incident affecting their industrial control system (ICS)/operational technology (OT).
  • 37.9% of those incidents originated from ransomware attacks, and
  • 40.3% resulted in operational downtime.
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Technologies

HONOR OPENS FLAGSHIP EXPERIENCE STORE AT DUBAI MALL, MARKING A NEW CHAPTER IN AI SMART LIVING

Opening coincides with HONOR Magic8 Pro pre-orders, reinforcing strong consumer momentum, as the pre-orders recorded strong performance across the UAE with a notable 58% increase compared to the previous generation.

Dubai, UAE – 22 December 2025 – HONOR, a global AI device ecosystem company, today announced the official opening of its flagship HONOR Experience Store (HES) at Dubai Mall, marking a major milestone in the brand’s retail and experiential strategy in the UAE.


Strategically located in one of the world’s most iconic retail destinations, the new HONOR Experience Store has been designed as an immersive AI Smart Living hub, bringing together retail, innovation, and experiential discovery under one roof. Thegrandopeningcoincides with the HONOR Magic8 Pro pre-order pickup day, creating a defining moment that unites flagship retail growth, product momentum, and direct consumer engagement at a single destination.

Debo Zhang, General Manage HONOR GCC, said: “The official opening of our flagship HONOR Experience Store at Dubai Mall marks a significant milestone for HONOR in the UAE and reflects our long-term commitment to building immersive, consumer-centric experiences as we continue to strengthen our position as a reliable and trusted brand in the market. Launching this store alongside the HONOR Magic8 Pro pre-order pickup makes the moment even more meaningful, and we are delighted by the strong pre-order response, which underscores growing consumer confidence,as we continue to grow our position as a reliable and trusted brand among consumers in the UAE.”

A New Retail Benchmark for AI Smart Living

The Dubai Mall HONOR Experience Store introduces a next-generation retail environment that redefines how consumers engage with technology. The space features dedicated immersive zones showcasing HONOR’s full ecosystem, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, wearables, and connected AI-powered lifestyle solutions.

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Technologies

Yango Group’s First Impact Report Highlights Economic Impact with $4B Earned by Partners

Dubai, UAE — 22 December 2025: UAE-based Yango Group published its inaugural Impact Report today, the company’s first comprehensive overview of its social, economic, and environmental contributions across more than 30 countries. The report establishes a long-term framework for how Yango measures, scales, and communicates its impact as a global technology company.

The inaugural report reflects Yango Group’s evolution from a single ride-hailing service in 2018 into a multi-service digital ecosystem supporting millions of people daily. The report highlights how Yango’s digital ecosystem empowers local businesses, expands earning opportunities for partners, and invests in the next generation of STEM talent, equipping countries with the skills and foundations needed for future digital cities and economies.

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