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Middle East Edition
2nd July 2025
 
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THE HOT STORY

Robots set to outnumber humans in Amazon warehouses

Amazon is rapidly expanding its use of robotics, and now has over a million robots operating in its warehouses - nearly matching the number of human workers. Around 75% of Amazon deliveries involve robotic assistance, which the company says improves safety and reduces repetitive tasks for employees. Amazon is also increasing automation efficiency with artificial intelligence (AI), including a new robot, Vulcan, that has a sense of touch. Robots are now 10% faster thanks to AI trained on inventory data, although internal concern is growing over AI replacing white-collar roles. Chief executive Andy Jassy has warned that the corporate workforce is likely to shrink in coming years due to increased automation. “They’re one step closer to that realisation of the full integration of robotics,” said Rueben Scriven, research manager at Interact Analysis, a robotics consulting firm.
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EBOOK

Responsible AI Starts Here: The Executive Guide to Azure OpenAI

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Inside the guide:
  • Best practices for responsible AI integration
  • Risk mitigation strategies every business should know
  • Real-world use cases across sectors
  • Privacy, compliance, and governance essentials
If your organization is exploring AI at scale, this is essential reading for building trust, control, and competitive edge.

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LEGAL

New Saudi Social Insurance Law has come into force

Saudi Arabia's General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI) has announced that the new Social Insurance Law, effective from July 1, 2024, will introduce a gradual increase in the retirement age for new civil employees in the public and private sectors. The amended law will not affect current subscribers' benefits, with the retirement age set between 58 and 65 years. GOSI aims to expand insurance coverage and enhance job transfer flexibility between sectors. Additionally, the pension subscription rates will rise by 0.5% annually over five years, reaching 11% for both subscribers and employers. The new maternity benefit will also commence on July 1, providing three months of compensation for female subscribers upon childbirth. GOSI encourages all stakeholders to review the new provisions via their website or app.
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ECONOMY

Dubai is a permanent lifestyle destination for global citizens

Dubai is increasingly becoming a permanent lifestyle destination for global citizens, moving beyond its image as merely a luxury playground, Khaleej Times reports.  The emirate has seen a notable rise in high-net-worth individuals purchasing properties for personal use rather than speculation. Svetlana Vasilieva, head of secondary sales at Metropolitan Premium Properties, observes: “The lifestyle factors attracting second-home buyers to Dubai include a strong sense of safety, world-class infrastructure, a convenient geographic location, and significant tax advantages, such as zero income tax.” The introduction of Golden Visas and streamlined residency laws has further enhanced its appeal.
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HIRING

Ericsson to scale up graduate hiring and internships in Saudi Arabia

Ericsson is expanding its graduate hiring and internship programmes in Saudi Arabia to strengthen its regional presence. The initiative aims to deepen collaboration with local universities and expand hands-on training opportunities. Since 2018, Ericsson has run the Gen-E graduate programme at the 5G Innovation Hub in Riyadh, training over 190 Saudi graduates, with women comprising 50% of participants. This effort aligns with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, which seeks to position the Kingdom as a regional hub for innovation and decision-making.
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WORKFORCE

Philippines downgrades its alert level in Israel

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has downgraded its alert level in Israel from Level 3 to Level 2, effective immediately. Under Level 2, overseas Filipinos are advised to limit non-essential movements and avoid public places while staying in contact with the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate. The DFA noted this change follows "positive developments in Israel's security situation." Approximately 30,000 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are currently in Israel, primarily employed as caregivers and hotel workers. The Philippine government has previously supported the ceasefire between Iran and Israel, viewing it as a step towards regional stability.
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CYBERSECURITY

‘Targeted, sophisticated’ cyber attack hits ICC

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has reported a “sophisticated and targeted” cyber attack, prompting immediate measures to limit damage. The ICC said: "A Court-wide impact analysis is being carried out and steps are already being taken to mitigate any effects of the incident." The attack follows a previous incident in 2023 and occurred during a week when The Hague hosted a NATO summit, raising concerns about security. The ICC currently has ongoing high-profile investigations, including those related to Russian war crimes in Ukraine, and has previously faced espionage attempts. The court has not confirmed whether any confidential information was compromised, and it continues to deal with the repercussions of the attack. WiFi services are still not fully restored.
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INTERNATIONAL

Some UK workers' rights reforms pushed back

The UK government has set a new timeline for the Employment Rights Bill, pushing back several reforms by a year. Day-one protection against unfair dismissal, which was due to come into force next year, has been delayed until 2027, as has guaranteed flexible working and a ban on "exploitative" zero-hours contracts. Ministers say the roadmap will give businesses the "clarity and certainty they need to plan, invest and grow." Other measures set out in the Bill include removing the current limits on statutory sick pay, day-one paternity leave and unpaid parental leave rights. These are expected to come into force in early 2026. New whistleblowing protections are also due early next year, while October 2026 will see a ban on fire and rehire practices alongside rules to ensure that tips are allocated more fairly.

Qantas pilots threaten industrial action

Qantas pilots are set to launch low-level industrial action after more than 90% voted in favour of protected action against what they describe as a "lowball" pay offer. More than 100 Express Freighters pilots, represented by the Transport Workers Union (TWU), Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP), and Australian and International Pilots Association, are demanding pay increases to match industry standards and improvements to work-life balance. The unions have expressed disappointment over Qantas's refusal to enhance its offer after six months of negotiations. "Industrial action is always a last resort," said TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine, as he highlighted the poor conditions faced by workers. Qantas has said that it is negotiating in good faith and has contingency plans in place to ensure that freight operations remain unaffected.

US tax on remittances sparks concerns

A proposed 3.5% US tax on remittances, part of President Donald Trump's tax and spending plan, has raised concerns among experts about its impact on national security and economies in Latin America and the Caribbean. Manuel Orozco, director of the Migration, Remittances and Development Program at the Inter-American Dialogue, said: “We did a conservative estimate of the impact of these flows and it will have an effect of reducing transfers by at least 5% in the next year.” Countries like Haiti, which heavily rely on remittances, could face dire economic consequences, as the tax may push migrants to use unregulated channels for sending money. The legislation has sparked debates about privacy and compliance costs for small businesses, with many fearing it could lead to a decline in remittance flows, further destabilising already fragile economies.

Germany struggles to attract skilled workers from Africa

Germany faces a significant challenge in attracting foreign skilled workers, despite initiatives including the Opportunity Card and the revamped Consular Services Portal. The Bertelsmann Institute's 2024 study indicates that Germany requires between 288,000 and 400,000 foreign skilled workers annually to avoid a worker shortage by 2040. However, bureaucratic hurdles and high rejection rates for visa applications, particularly from sub-Saharan Africa, hinder progress. Clara Bünger from The Left Party highlighted the issue, noting that in 2022, over 3,400 student visa applications from Nigeria were denied. Teresia Träutlein, who runs a care service agency, emphasised the need for improved processes to attract talent, saying: "If the government wants to attract skilled workers to Germany, then it needs to support German language training abroad."
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OTHER

Prada credits new design's Indian legacy amid controversy

Prada has acknowledged the ancient Indian roots of its new sandal design after the debut of the open-toe footwear sparked controversy among artisans and politicians in India. At its fashion show in Milan last weekend, the luxury group showed models wearing leather sandals with a braided design that resembled handmade Kolhapuri slippers with designs dating back to the 12th century. A wave of criticism in the media and from lawmakers followed over the Italian brand's lack of public acknowledgement of the Indian sandal design, which is named after a city in the western state of Maharashtra. Lorenzo Bertelli has written to the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce to address the matter, saying: "We acknowledge that the sandals . . . are inspired by traditional Indian handcrafted footwear, with a centuries-old heritage." Sambhaji Chhatrapati from the Kolhapur Royal family had previously said he was upset that craftsmen had not been acknowledged for the "history and heritage of 150 years."
 
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