Human Times

Middle East Edition

9th January 2026

THE HOT STORY

First Arabic-led Postgraduate Diploma in Career Development is launched

Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC) has launched a region-first Post-Graduate Diploma in Career Development. Developed in collaboration with EduCluster Finland and licensed by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE), the diploma aims to create a sustainable pipeline of skilled practitioners. It focuses on evidence-based career guidance, addressing the complexities of education and labour markets. Saad Abdulla Al Kharji, executive director of QCDC, said: "This diploma represents a national investment in the quality of career guidance." The programme will prepare 20 to 40 practitioners in its first cohort.

Gulf Times

Zawya EN

The Peninsula

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HIRING

Tourism employment in Saudi Arabia tops 1m

Saudi Arabia's tourism workforce surpassed 1m in the third quarter of 2025. The General Authority for Statistics reported approximately 1,009,691 employees, a 6.4% increase from 2024. The growth aligns with Vision 2030's aim to double tourism's GDP contribution to 10% and create 1.6m jobs by 2030. Non-Saudi employees comprised 75.7% of the workforce, while male employees dominated at 875,658. The average hotel occupancy rate rose to 49.1%, although the average daily room rate decreased by 3.6% to SR341. GASTAT provided the statistics based on various data sources.

Arab News

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

BIBF and Aljazira Bank partner to develop Saudi banking talent

The Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF) has partnered with Aljazira Bank to enhance professional competencies in the banking sector. The agreement, signed by Dr. Ahmed AlShaikh, chief executive of BIBF, and Mr. Faisal Al-Mansour, Senior VP at Aljazira Bank, aims to develop national talent through educational initiatives. Dr. AlShaikh said: "This strategic partnership reflects BIBF's regional role in developing national banking talent." The collaboration supports Saudi Vision 2030 by investing in human capital and preparing professionals for the evolving financial landscape.

Zawya EN

Hasbro trains execs with board game

Toy giant Hasbro has created “Toy Tycoon,” a strategic simulation game used to train rising leaders by making them CEOs for a day. Conceived by CEO Chris Cocks, the game mimics real-world business challenges - licensing decisions, innovation investment, and managing market shifts. “It gave me a much broader perspective of what it takes to run a business,” said participant Kate Fakonas. Played at Hasbro’s headquarters, it blends board game tactics with digital tools to build brand strategy, manage resources, and weather disruptions, ultimately teaching participants about risk, adaptability, and leadership style.

Wall Street Journal

TECHNOLOGY

AI disruption is accelerating transformation among UAE businesses

The IBM Institute for Business Value (IBV) has released a report highlighting five trends for 2026. According to the report, 63% of UAE executives believe economic volatility will create new opportunities. Meanwhile, employees are increasingly open to AI integration, with 81% willing to embrace it, and consumers are demanding transparency regarding AI use, with 89% wanting to know when they interact with the technology. Additionally, 98% of UAE executives stressed the importance of AI resilience and sovereignty in their strategies. Shukri Eid, general manager at IBM Gulf Levant and Pakistan, noted the need for organisations to adapt and collaborate effectively.

Zawya EN

Neuralink to begin mass production of brain implants in 2026

Elon Musk has announced that Neuralink is set to commence "high-volume production" of its brain-computer interface devices in 2026, transitioning to fully automated surgical processes. These implants aim to assist individuals with severe conditions, including spinal cord injuries, allowing them to control digital devices through thought. Since the start of human trials in 2024, twelve patients have successfully used the implants for various tasks, following initial safety concerns that delayed their development.

Reuters

INTERNATIONAL

Trump withdraws US from 66 international organisations

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing US departments to end participation in and funding for 31 United Nations entities and 35 non-UN organisations "as soon as possible." The entities include the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The move is seen as likely to diminish the US role in addressing greenhouse gas emissions. The orders were signed on Wednesday after a review into causes that the White House said were "a waste of taxpayer dollars". "These withdrawals will end American taxpayer funding and involvement in entities that advance globalist agendas over US priorities," it said in a statement.

AlJazeera

Bloomberg

The Times of Israel

Brussels plans special rule book for corporates outside national law

Brussels is pressing ahead with plans for a supranational legal regime for EU companies. Critics fear creating businesses with a special rule book outside national law will dilute worker rights.

Financial Times

Ministers cut estimated annual cost to business of UK's worker rights act to £1bn

The estimated cost to UK business of Labour’s flagship workers’ rights reforms has been cut from about £5bn to £1bn. The Employment Rights Act provides a range of tougher employment rights on issues such as sick pay, paternity leave and the end of zero hours contracts, although plans to allow employees to sue for unfair dismissal on day one of their employment were scrapped in favour of a six month threshold following a backlash from businesses. Officials admitted, however, that the revised estimate related mainly to the administrative costs of implementing the new rules, not the impact of the changes on business models and the economy. With the unemployment rate now at 5.1%, employers remain concerned about those issues in the Bill yet to be finalised.

Financial Times

The Daily Telegraph

Northern Metropolis project to be ‘new economic engine'

Hong Kong is developing the Northern Metropolis, a vast project estimated to cost HK$224bn and aimed at creating a modern residential and commercial hub with a focus on information and technology. Covering 30,000 hectares, it will integrate with Shenzhen and provide 500,000 housing units and 650,000 jobs. Plans include tech zones equivalent in size to Hong Kong's current business and financial districts – Sheung Wan, Central, Admiralty and Wan Chai – combined.

Business Times SG

OTHER

UAE cuts grants for study at UK universities

The United Arab Emirates is reportedly excluding UK institutions from a list of universities eligible for state scholarships due to fears around the risk of Islamist radicalisation on UK campuses, focused particularly on what one expert described as the country's "bogeyman", the Muslim Brotherhood. While not a blanket ban - with wealthier families able to cover the cost of courses themselves - the policy is expected to cut student numbers.

Financial Times

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