Apple has launched an aggressive hiring drive across the UAE and Saudi Arabia, signalling a major expansion of its retail and business operations in the region.

According to the company’s official job portal, a wide range of vacancies are now open across both countries. In Saudi Arabia, Apple is recruiting for roles in management, sales, technical support, operations, marketing, and legal. Meanwhile, opportunities in the UAE span business and operations roles, specialist positions, technical support, store management at Dubai Mall, and leadership roles for Apple’s Middle East online business.

The hiring wave comes on the heels of Apple’s announcement to launch its first online store in Saudi Arabia by summer 2025, with physical flagship stores to follow in 2026. This marks the company’s first direct-to-consumer retail push in the Kingdom.

In the UAE, Apple continues to strengthen its presence, having recently announced a fifth retail location in Al Ain. “The UAE is home to an incredible community of creators, innovators, developers, and entrepreneurs,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said in December. 

“We’re excited to keep growing our teams, supporting local businesses, and strengthening our ties with our customers here.”

Apple’s growing footprint in the region is part of a broader strategy to invest in emerging markets. In Saudi Arabia alone, the company has spent over SAR 10 billion with local firms over the past five years.

Trade tensions cloud global operations

However, Apple’s global operations are facing headwinds from the ongoing US-China trade tensions. Tariffs introduced under the current US administration are forcing American companies,  including Apple, to rethink their reliance on overseas manufacturing.

Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives warned that manufacturing iPhones in the US could raise costs significantly, potentially pricing the device at over $3,500. Shifting even 10% of Apple’s supply chain out of Asia would take at least three years and cost upwards of $30 billion, he said.

In response, Apple supplier Luxshare is reportedly exploring options to relocate more production outside China, including to the US. While Luxshare doesn’t expect the current tariffs to heavily impact its financials, the company is considering scaling back some of its investments in China and expanding internationally, if commercially viable.

(Source: GN)

It’s full steam ahead for the 2025 Philippine midterm elections, with overseas Filipino voters in the UAE set to cast their ballots online for the first time, starting on April 13.

On Friday, the Philippine Consulate-General in Dubai conducted the Final Lockdown and Sealing (FLS) of the Online Voting and Counting System (OVCS), ensuring that all digital infrastructure is in place and ready to go.

The groundbreaking move marks a major shift from the traditional manual process, eliminating long queues at Philippine missions. Filipinos can now vote using their mobile phones, tablets, laptops, or desktops — provided the devices are internet-enabled and have a camera.

Online voting will run for 30 days, from April 13 to May 12, 2025, ahead of the official election day on May 12.

To participate, voters must be registered with the Philippine Commission on Elections (Comelec) as overseas voters and pre-enrolled on the Comelec voting portal before May 7.

The Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate-General in Dubai are among 77 foreign posts worldwide facilitating the online voting system. While the process is expected to be fully digital, voters may still cast their ballots physically at the missions if needed.

Filipinos will be voting for 12 senators and one party-list representative in this year’s midterm polls.

A massive new retail and trading hub showcasing Indian products is set to open in Dubai by the end of 2026. Named Bharat Mart, the facility will span over 2.7 million square feet and will be located in the Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA).

Billed as a game-changer for Indian exports, Bharat Mart will serve as both a business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) marketplace, connecting Indian manufacturers with buyers across the Middle East, Africa, and Eurasia.

The announcement was made during Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s official visit to India, where he met with Indian officials to further strengthen trade and economic ties.

 “Dubai’s world-class infrastructure and connectivity make it a vital partner as India expands its global trade. With non-oil bilateral trade surging and over 2,300 Indian companies thriving in Jafza, Bharat Mart will further strengthen the UAE-India partnership by providing Indian goods faster access to global markets,” Sheikh Hamdan said.

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, confirmed that construction is already underway. “Bharat Mart is a showcase for Indian products to global consumers, especially buyers from the GCC and Africa. It’s a great example of what can be achieved through government collaboration,” he said.

The virtual model of the project was unveiled in the presence of Sheikh Hamdan and India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, who praised the project as “transformative” and applauded DP World for creating new opportunities for Indian businesses.

The first phase of Bharat Mart will cover 1.3 million square feet and include 1,500 showrooms, 700,000 square feet of advanced warehousing, office spaces, meeting rooms, and facilities specifically for women-led businesses. The facility aims to support Indian micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by giving them a world-class platform to showcase and distribute their products.

Thanks to its strategic location — just 11 km from Jebel Ali Port and 15 km from Al Maktoum International Airport — and its link to the upcoming Etihad Rail, the Mart will offer seamless access to a global multimodal logistics network. Exporters will be connected to 150 maritime destinations and over 300 cities via air, enhancing the speed and reach of Indian goods worldwide.

With over 2,300 Indian companies already operating in JAFZA and bilateral non-oil trade on the rise, Bharat Mart is expected to strengthen the UAE-India economic partnership further and solidify Dubai’s role as a global trade gateway.

(Source: Wam)