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Middle East Edition
21st November 2025
 
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THE HOT STORY

Labourers in Saudi Arabia face unsafe conditions and exploitation

Saudi Arabia's migrant workers face severe exploitation, according to a new report by Amnesty International which highlights the iniquities of the kafala sponsorship system, which subjects workers to excessive recruitment fees, unsafe working conditions, and discriminatory wages. Marta Schaaf, programme director at Amnesty, highlighted such issues at the high-profile Riyadh Metro Project. She said: "The Riyadh Metro is hailed as the backbone of the capital's transport system, yet beneath its sleek exterior lies a decade of abuses."
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WORKFORCE

Pakistan aims to double workforce in Saudi Arabia

Pakistan plans to increase its annual workforce deployments to Saudi Arabia from 500,000 to 1m, according to Naseer Khan Kashani, an acting secretary at the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development. The Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment reported a rise in human resource exports, with 1.88m workers sent between 2020 and 2024. Remittances from Saudi Arabia grew from $7.39bn in 2020 to $8.59bn in 2024. Kashani noted that both governments are working to maximise opportunities, especially in sectors beyond construction and health.
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HIRING

Emirates to hire more staff as it expands fleet

Emirates Airline is set to increase its seat capacity on Indian routes. The carrier has not expanded its Indian routes in over a decade but is optimistic about the economic benefits this will bring. The airline plans to recruit more staff as it expands its fleet, which currently employs around 124,000 people. Emirates has also committed to a significant investment in Al Maktoum International Airport.
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TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

EY: Firms lose 40% of AI gains through poor training

EY has found that companies are missing out on up to 40% of potential AI productivity gains due to insufficient training and fragile talent strategies. Although 88% of employees use AI, only 5% deploy it in transformative ways, with just 12% receiving sufficient training. Shadow AI use remains prevalent, while concerns around skill erosion and rising workloads persist. The survey identifies a “Talent Advantage” among the 28% of firms effectively integrating people and tech strategies. Notably, employees receiving over 81 hours of AI training report higher productivity but are also 55% more likely to leave, underscoring a retention challenge.

Partnership to empower UAE talent and advance innovation

GE Aerospace and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to foster collaboration in talent development, research, and innovation for the aerospace industry. The partnership aims to support the UAE's vision for scientific and technological leadership, while advancing the nation's capabilities in space exploration and environmental studies.
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ECONOMY

US and Saudi seal nuclear deal

The United States and Saudi Arabia have finalised negotiations on sharing nuclear power technology, potentially allowing US companies to construct nuclear plants in Saudi Arabia. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman signed the agreement, which establishes a legal framework for future nuclear cooperation. Wright said: "We've come together on a deal for civil nuclear cooperation." Nonproliferation concerns have historically hindered US-Saudi nuclear collaboration, but recent talks have revived the partnership. Saudi Arabia aims to develop 17.6 GW of nuclear capacity by 2032.
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TECHNOLOGY

Quora adds group chat feature to Poe AI platform

Poe, Quora's AI platform, has launched a group chat feature allowing up to 200 users to collaborate using over 200 AI models. This functionality enables interactive experiences, such as planning trips or brainstorming projects. Users can start group chats from the app's home screen, with real-time chat history syncing across devices. Quora developed the feature over six months and aims to enhance it based on user feedback. The company said: "The space of potential group interactions mediated by AI is vast and currently under-explored."
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INTERNATIONAL

Trump enthuses about training of US workers by skilled immigrants

President Donald Trump has doubled down on his support for skilled immigrants who can train US workers in high-tech industries. Speaking at the US-Saudi Investment Forum in Washington, he emphasised that allowing this is not at odds with his “Make America Great Again” agenda. Trump told an audience of business executives: “I love my conservative friends. I love MAGA. But this is MAGA . . . Those people are going to teach our people how to make computer chips, and in a short period of time, our people are going to be doing great. And those people can go home.” The MAGA movement has opposed expanding H-1B visas, and other programs designed to let skilled immigrants into the US.

Irish public asked for their views on right to request remote working

The Irish government has launched a public consultation to gather feedback on the right to request remote working. The rules, which came into force in March last year, require employers and employees to refer to a Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) code of practice when considering applications for remote working arrangements. Employees can forward a dispute to the WRC if they believe an employer has failed to fulfil their obligations under the code. Since its introduction, the WRC has received 60 complaints, with only one upheld. Minister of State for Small Business Retail and Circular Economy, Alan Dillon, emphasised the importance of this consultation, saying: "This is an important opportunity to hear directly from members of the public, employers and other stakeholders." Submissions are open until 9 December.

New Zealand's top court says Uber drivers are employees

New Zealand’s Supreme Court has sided with a lower court’s ruling that drivers of Uber should be treated as employees. The country's highest court unanimously dismissed the rideshare company’s appeal of a 2022 ruling by the Employment Court, which had said four Uber drivers were employees of the business rather than contractors. The Workers First Union said the judgement "paves the way for thousands of Workers First Union members to pursue full employment rights, including restitution for historic underpayment of wages and entitlements," and that it would now be advancing collective bargaining.
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OTHER

Meta to start closing Australian teen accounts ahead of social media ban

Meta has begun notifying young Australians to download their digital histories and delete their accounts from Facebook, Instagram, and Threads ahead of a new law banning accounts for users under 16. The Australian government mandated that platforms must exclude users younger than 16 starting December 10. Meta informed thousands of young users via SMS and email, saying: “We will start notifying impacted teens today to give them the opportunity to save their contacts and memories.” With an estimated 350,000 Australians aged 13 to 15 on Instagram, the company is taking steps to comply with the law. Meta's vice president, Antigone Davis, emphasized the need for a more accurate age verification system, suggesting that app stores should collect age information during sign-up. Dany Elachi, founder of Heaps Up Alliance, supported the age restriction, observing: “children under the age of 16 are better off in the real world.”
 
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