Human Times

Middle East Edition

28th January 2026

THE HOT STORY

Middle East businesses wary of Saudi Arabia-UAE tensions

Bloomberg reports that Middle East businesses are nervously watching tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates amid concerns that commerce could be affected. Some companies operating in both countries have begun contingency planning to ensure business continuity should the situation - focussed on the political situation in Yemen - escalate further, according to people familiar with the matter. Bloomberg notes that about $22bn in trade between the two largest Gulf economies is at stake, as well as business confidence. “At this stage, companies are not reacting operationally; they are asking baseline questions,” observed Hussein Nasser-Eddin, chief executive of Dubai-based security services provider Crownox. “Most inquiries focus on financial resilience in case of escalation and whether there are any early diplomatic or consular shifts.”

Bloomberg

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

Skills gap hinders business growth

On the sidelines of the Global Labor Market Conference in Riyadh on Tuesday, Luis Benveniste, a senior adviser at the World Bank, highlighted the urgent need for a skills revolution to address the ongoing jobs crisis. He noted that nearly 60% of employers struggle to find workers with the necessary skills. Benveniste said: "We find that people lack opportunities to upskill or reskill in a rapidly changing labour market." He emphasised the importance of early childhood education and collaboration between governments, educators, and employers to align training with market demands. Additionally, he pointed out that addressing youth and women's unemployment requires sustained public-private cooperation.

Arab News

WORKFORCE

Dozens of agreements signed at Global Labor Market Conference

The third Global Labor Market Conference in Riyadh generated thousands of job opportunities through the signing of over 45 agreements. These partnerships, involving public and private sectors, aim to enhance modern work models, skills development, and technology adoption. The event also featured the launch of the World Bank report “What Works for Work.”

Arab News

Millions join Saudi private sector

The Saudi employment market is evolving, with over 2.5m young Saudis joining the private sector since 2020, according to Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmed Al-Rajhi. Speaking at the 3rd Global Labor Market Conference in Riyadh, he highlighted the impact of technology and sustainability on job creation. Al-Rajhi noted that strong institutions and coordination among government entities are crucial for successful labour market reforms. He announced the launch of the Takamul Academy, and emphasised the importance of skills development in adapting to rapid changes in the job market.

Zawya EN

SUSTAINABILITY

Bahrain champions sustainable growth initiatives

Bahrain is committed to integrating environmental sustainability with economic development, says Dr Mohamed bin Mubarak Bin Daina, Minister of Oil and Environment. At the Sustainability Forum Middle East, he emphasised the need for alignment between policies and investments to achieve climate goals. The forum, attended by over 650 participants, including ministers and experts, aims to foster collaboration and action on sustainability. Dr Mahmoud Mohieldin, UN Special Envoy, highlighted the importance of innovative financing for sustainable development. The event also featured signing ceremonies to formalise new partnerships and initiatives for climate action.

Zawya EN

TECHNOLOGY

The recruitment company training AI to do your job

Tens of thousands of professionals are joining Silicon Valley start-up Mercor to train large language models to do the work in the particular sectors that they are qualified in.

Financial Times

LEGAL

Opec's former president on trial for corruption

Former Opec president Diezani Alison-Madueke is on trial for corruption in London. Prosecutors allege she accepted bribes from oil executives during her tenure as Nigeria's oil minister from 2010 to 2015. These bribes funded a luxurious lifestyle, including chauffeur-driven cars and personal shopping at Harrods. Alexandra Healy KC, for the prosecution, said: "Those who benefited from oil contracts ensured that Alison-Madueke enjoyed a life of luxury." Alison-Madueke faces five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, alongside co-defendants who deny all charges.

Financial Times

The Daily Telegraph

INTERNATIONAL

Minnesota’s biggest companies urge ‘de-escalation’ of tensions

In an open letter coordinated by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, chief executives from some of the state’s largest employers have called on federal, state and local officials to pull back from further confrontation following the fatal shooting of ICU nurse Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, and work together on a negotiated solution. The letter was signed by top executives of Minnesota’s largest companies and large hospital systems, including Land O’ Lakes, Hormel, U.S. Bancorp, Mayo Clinic and 3M. “Every CEO . . . they want to have a peaceful environment for their employees,” said Bill George, the former chief executive of Medtronic, whose current chief signed the letter. “The larger issue for CEOs,” George added, is that the unrest in Minneapolis “is going to have a very negative effect on their growth, on their innovation and particularly their ability to recruit people from around the country and around the world.”

New York Times

Uber drivers can be treated as independent entrepreneurs, Dutch court rules

A Dutch court has overturned a 2021 ruling that had classified all Uber drivers as employees, covered by the country's Taxi Transport collective bargaining agreement, which sets wages, working hours, and benefits for taxi drivers. The Amsterdam court said six drivers who had joined the rideshare company in its appeal are self-employed rather than employees, given the investments they made in their vehicle, their freedom to choose working hours, and their ability to accept or reject fares.

NL Times

DutchNews.nl

Reuters

AI-related disputes 'are biggest emerging litigation risk'

According to the Shoosmiths Litigation Risk 2026 report, AI-related litigation risks have overtaken traditional concerns such as intellectual property and breach of contract as the most threatening emerging risk over the next three years. The report, based on feedback from 360 UK-based general counsel and senior in-house lawyers, reveals that over half expect an increase in AI litigation. Notably, 87% of respondents expressed concern over AI-related employment disputes and discrimination claims. Geopolitical factors also play a role, with 73% of firms believing state-sponsored cyber-attacks have heightened litigation risks. Alex Bishop, partner at Shoosmiths, said: “We’re in an era of global instability, and that is having a real impact across boardrooms.”

The Global Legal Post

Tax agency wants to help overseas Koreans return home

Korea's National Tax Service (NTS) has launched the K-Tax Angel initiative to assist Korean emigrants and corporations abroad with tax policies. This special team of experts will provide consulting services in 10 countries, starting in February in Thailand and the Philippines, and later expanding to the US and Japan. NTS Commissioner Lim Kwang-hyun said: "I urge team members to approach their duties as guardian angels for every overseas Korean." The initiative aims to clarify tax issues and encourage the repatriation of assets, and address misconceptions about tax investigations upon return.

The Korea Times

OTHER

Saudi developers see surge in shares as property market opens to foreigners

Shares of Saudi Arabian developers experienced their largest increase in four months following the Kingdom's introduction of new laws that broaden foreign ownership of local real estate, including in the holy cities of Mecca and Madinah. The Tadawul Real Estate Management & Development Index increased by 4.5%, with all 17 of its member companies reporting gains; Makkah Construction & Development Co. topped the list with a rise of approximately 10%.

Bloomberg

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