Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.

Meet the Co Down man promoting ‘the magic of mushrooms’ through his small business
A Co Down man has revealed how his mushroom-based business venture has helped improve his own health condition. Connor McCrorie launched SporeShore in 2020, aiming to supply Northern Ireland and beyond with the freshest, highest-quality mushrooms...
Egypt: FRA approves establishment of five new firms for investment fund management, SME financing
Egypt - The Committee for the Establishment and Licensing of Companies, operating under the supervision of the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA), has approved the establishment of five new companies. These include Saqr Real Estate Investment...

Kuwait Sees Licensing Growth in Traditional and Freelance Business Sectors
KUWAIT CITY, July 16: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry issued 9,881 new company licenses through its Single Window Administration in the first quarter of 2025, marking a 9.4% year-on-year increase from 9,029 licenses during the same period in...

Turkiye unveils 39-point reform plan to strengthen...
Turkiye’s Investment Environment Improvement Council (YOIKK) has unveiled its 2025 Action Plan, setting the stage for comprehensive reforms to enhance the nation’s investment climate. The plan, comprising 39 targeted actions, focuses on key areas...

Malik Tayyab: 21-Year-Old Self-Taught Digital Marketing Prodigy Transforms Small Business Growth
Malik Tayyab (born 5 September 2003, in Jhang, Punjab, Pakistan) is a young and dynamic Pakistani entrepreneur, artist, singer, and actor. Known for his exceptional skills in digital marketing and SEO, he began his journey in the tech world at a...

FRA approves establishment of five new firms for investment fund management, SME financing
The Committee for the Establishment and Licensing of Companies, operating under the supervision of the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA), has approved the establishment of five new companies. These include Saqr Real Estate Investment Fund, Nawy...

Kashmir's Small Businesses Brace For Global Expansion: The Role Of Legal Transparency And LEI Registration
(MENAFN- Kashmir Observer) Introduction In the heart of the Himalayas – where snow-capped peaks kiss the sky, a quieter revolution is underway. The small businesses in Kashmir are long known for their artistry and tradition are now emerging as a...

"Our goal is to make microgreens accessible to every household in Iraq"
Just months after joining the Wifra incubation program, Hasan Falah has built one of Iraq's most promising new ventures in sustainable food production. His startup, Micro Harvest, is a youth-led agribusiness growing organic microgreens in a...

Oman: Sharakah, Ezz Asass partner to boost hospitality in Duqm
Sharakah, Oman’s leading SME development company, has signed a new Memorandum of Understanding with Ezz Asass International, the owning company behind the upcoming Four Points by Sheraton Duqm. The agreement provides a strategic funding package to...

IHC Acquires SME Financing Platform eFunder, Rebrands as Zelo
Free Newsletter Get the hottest Fintech Middle East News once a month in your Inbox International Holding Company (IHC), a global investment firm based in Abu Dhabi, has announced the completion of its acquisition of eFunder, a private financing...

Heatwaves take toll on UK economy as small businesses feel the burn
From Herefordshire farms to high street bakeries, businesses across the UK are feeling the strain as record heat disrupts productivity, slashes sales, and increases costs. For many smaller operators, the summer sun is no longer a seasonal...

IHC Bolsters SME Financing With Zelo Takeover
(MENAFN- The Arabian Post) Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi investment giant IHC has finalised the acquisition of eFunder, the digital invoice-financing platform, marking a decisive move into fintech for small and medium enterprises. The...

Hagerty discusses Iran threat, crypto regulation reform
NASHVILLE, TN—Today, United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, joined Varney & Co. on Fox Business to discuss the national security implications of Iran’s...

Abu Dhabi's IHC acquires SME financing firm eFunder
Abu Dhabi's IHC has acquired eFunder, a digital platform that provides financing to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The platform, which is now being rebranded to Zelo, seeks to address a nearly $250 billion SME credit shortfall in the...

Emirates Post & DHL Express UAE Join Forces To Launch ‘Express Easy’
Emirates Post and DHL Express UAE have signed a strategic agreement to roll out DHL’s ‘Express Easy’ service at key Emirates Post locations Emirates Post, the UAE’s official postal service provider, has signed a strategic agreement with DHL...

47 persons recognized as victims in Perizat Kairat case
Astana. July 17. KazTAG – At the court hearing on the case of Perizat Kairat and her public foundation Bizge Birgemiz, the prosecutor reported that 47 persons were recognized as victims. The victims included owners of large and small businesses,...

From Kerala to the Kingdom: The untold stories of women breaking stereotypes in Saudi Arabia
Women in Saudi Arabia are redefining their roles, advancing in healthcare, education, and entrepreneurship under Vision 2030 reforms/Representative Image TL;DR:2.6 million Indians contribute significantly to Saudi Arabia’s economy. Female...

Sukna Capital secures CMA approval to offer flexible, non-dilutive SME financing
Saudi Arabia-based VC Sukna Capital has received CMA approval to launch the Sukna Fund for Direct Financing (SFDF), an open-ended, Sharia-compliant direct lending fund in MENA, unlocking flexible, non-dilutive capital access for SMEs across the...

Dirham stages recovery against Pakistani rupee – 17 July 2025
KARACHI – The buying rate of UAE Dirham (AED) registered significant recovery against Pakistani rupee in open market where it stood at Rs77.58 on Thursday. The selling rate of the Dirham also moved up and stood at Rs78.06, according to the Forex...

Trendyol, Baykar, ADQ and Ant team up for fintech platform
ISTANBUL Türkiye’s leading e-commerce platform, Trendyol Group, the world's largest UAV manufacturer, Baykar, active sovereign investor ADQ, and global digital payments and fintech provider Ant International have signed a memorandum of...