Financial

Key Business Trends for 2025: AI Integration, Workforce Evolution, and Sustainable Strategies in Organisations

Published

1 year ago

February 3, 2025

By Professor Fiona Robson, Head of Edinburgh Business School and School of Social Sciences, Heriot-Watt University Dubai

In 2025, the key trend is likely to be the development of further and wider uses of artificial intelligence within organisations, moving beyond organisations with an existing focus on technology. Obviously, the level of usage of AI will depend upon sectors and organisations but it is likely that uptake will continue to grow – and to diversify into areas or sectors that may not have previously been identified as logical places for AI.

Organisations will need carefully constructed communication strategies which can emphasise the benefits of AI and reassure stakeholders that it is not intended to completely remove humans from the organization. Some new roles are likely to be generated as well as some existing ones that need to be modified. A lot of AI tools still require some human intervention so staff may need to learn to work in a different way. Of course, change is always met with some apprehension and this may lead to a turnover of some staff, this isn’t always a bad thing as new staff may bring new expertise and ideas.

Where roles are being adapted organisations must invest in providing appropriate training and development for their employees. This will shorten the length of time before a positive impact may be seen from the new ways of working. It also needs to be acknowledged that the amount and focus of the training and development may be diverse across the organization. It is important that employees are confident and competent.

I expect the market for people who are highly skilled in the development of AI to become even more valuable within the marketplace so recruitment may need significant investment. This could include ‘golden hellos’ as well as generous overall reward packages. However, organisations do not have endless budgets and should build in a buffer zone – perhaps linking reward to an extended time period. They may also consider the conditions of penalties if leaving within a specified time period, particularly if they are likely to move to direct competitors. Existing employees may also become particularly attractive to competitors so staff retention will be critical and may include financial and intrinsic elements.

Technology will continue to offer new ways of working that will need to be evaluated by organisations to understand the potential advantages and disadvantages. Behind this decision is organisations’ approaches to how their organization is operating on a day-to-day basis. For some, hybrid working remains in place, to try and get the benefits from both office and from home. Understanding the needs of employees can help to shape strategies that will work for both parties.

Every year organisations benefit from cohorts of students fresh from universities who have the latest knowledge and skills which may not already be present in the organization. There is a real opportunity here for organisations to be more strategic in their relationships with universities so that there are mutual benefits around student employability. Obviously fresh graduates won’t know anything and everything, but their mindsets often give an alternative way of thinking about things which can be valuable.

Flexibility will remain a valuable tool for recruitment and retention, and this moves beyond hybrid working. Flexible reward programmes enable organisations to give employees the benefits that are most valuable to them. This could include opportunities to buy or sell annual leave or receive a higher education allowance for their family members. Traditionally many organizations haven’t formally assessed the effectiveness or popularity of different reward options, so this is an area for contemplation. I would hope that some organisations might invest in their existing employees to undertake degree level study as this can be beneficial for all parties.

Sustainability is expected to stay high up on the agenda but also to move into a deeper dive and not just focus on the surface level issues. Organisations will be thinking about how they can become sustainable in the ways that they operate and encourage their key stakeholders to do the same. Awareness of the UN’s sustainable development goals is on the rise and organisation’s may wish to focus on some of the most meaningful and relevant to their business. Organisatons will be aware that consumers are far more educated than they used to be in terms of environmental and sustainable practices and use this to aid their decision making when procuring products or services. To make a real impact, organisations need to move beyond informing their staff about what is happening in relation to sustainable and environmental issues. Colleagues should have opportunities to offer their ideas.

It is likely that Government’s will also increase their focus on sustainable and environmental issues, and this may be in the form of formal requirements but also in offering support to organisations who wish to make changes to support this agenda. Having a seat at the discussion table could be advantageous in trying to influence policy and be recognized for good practice.

Financial

ATHAR+ LAUNCHES 2ND HACK4IMPACT HACKATHON IN ABU DHABI

Published

2 weeks ago

June 3, 2026

Integrator Web-Admin

Athar+, Abu Dhabi’s first purpose-driven hub dedicated to accelerating social impact, operated by the Authority of Social Contribution – Ma’an, has launched the second edition of its HACK4IMPACT hackathon, bringing together changemakers to develop practical solutions that address key social priorities and contribute to positive social impact across Abu Dhabi.

Launched in line with the objectives of the UAE’s Year of Family, this edition of the hackathon focuses on addressing family-related challenges through innovative and community-driven approaches. Taking place from 16-18 June 2026 at Athar+, the three-day programme brings together aspiring entrepreneurs, innovators, professionals, and community members to develop solutions addressing three family-centred priorities: building stronger family foundations, enhancing financial wellbeing for parents, and supporting families caring for aging parents.

Guided through a structured innovation journey, participants will apply design thinking methodologies to explore challenges, validate ideas, develop prototype concepts, and present their solutions to a panel of judges.

High-potential concepts emerging from the hackathon have the opportunity to be considered for further support through Athar+’s incubation ecosystem, enabling participants to continue developing their solutions beyond the event. Through these challenge areas, the initiative aims to advance family wellbeing, strengthen social cohesion, and support the development of solutions that respond to the evolving needs of families in Abu Dhabi.

This initiative aims to strengthen practical innovation skills among participants while identifying high-potential ideas and scalable concepts capable of addressing key social priorities. It also encourages collaboration by bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds and expertise. The hackathon provides an accessible entry point for youth and first-time innovators to contribute to solving community challenges through entrepreneurship and social innovation, inspiring them to play an active role in shaping impactful and practical solutions.

His Excellency Salem AlShamsi, Executive Director of Social Incubation and Contracting at Ma’an said: “HACK4IMPACT reflects Athar+’s commitment to empowering innovators and aspiring entrepreneurs to develop practical solutions that address real social priorities and enhance quality of life across our communities. By empowering future talent through Athar+, we are strengthening Abu Dhabi’s position as a regional hub for social entrepreneurship while advancing the Authority’s vision of fostering a culture of giving, participation, and measurable social progress.’’

Aligned with the objectives of the UAE’s Year of Family, the initiative also supports broader national efforts to strengthen family wellbeing, social resilience, and community cohesion through collaborative innovation and inclusive engagement.”

Through dedicated workspaces, expert mentorship, professional services, and tailored growth programmes offered by Athar+, participants will be supported in transforming ideas into prototype concepts while gaining access to opportunities within Abu Dhabi’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Financial

QASHIO AND NEXA AI LAB LAUNCH PARTNERSHIP TO AUTOMATE FINANCE WORKFLOWS IN THE UAE

Published

4 weeks ago

May 22, 2026

Integrator Web-Admin

Qashio, the UAE’s leading spend management platform, has partnered with NEXA AI Lab, the AI division of NEXA, one of MENA’s leading digital growth agencies, to help accelerate AI adoption across finance teams in the UAE through automation and AI-powered financial workflows.

As part of the partnership, Qashio and NEXA AI Lab will work together to support businesses in adopting AI tools that improve spend visibility, streamline manual processes, and make finance operations more efficient. The partnership will also include a free AI audit to help finance teams identify where AI can deliver immediate operational value and support broader adoption across the business. Both companies say the initiative is designed to move businesses from AI awareness to implementation, in line with the UAE’s national AI strategy targeting full public sector AI integration by 2031.

Amit Vyas, CEO of NEXA, comments: “AI delivers value when it is embedded directly into day-to-day workflows, rather than treated as a standalone concept. Finance is one of the clearest areas where this shift is already taking place, with businesses under increasing pressure to improve real-time decision-making. Through our partnership with Qashio, our goal is to help organisations identify where AI can be applied in practical, high-impact ways across financial operations.”

Armin Moradi, CEO of Qashio, said: “A global industry survey shows that 81% of financial institutions expect AI to be embedded in their core operations by 2030, and the UAE is one of the fastest-growing AI markets globally, setting a new baseline for competitiveness across the private sector. Our partnership with NEXA AI Lab is built to help close the gap between AI adoption plans and real execution, enabling enterprises and SMEs in the UAE to compete with the best in the world.”

Qashio has already integrated AI into its own financial workflows through features such as AI-powered receipt capture, which automatically extracts key information, including TRN, vendor names, and transaction data. The technology helps finance teams reduce manual data entry, save more than 4 hours each week, and maintain cleaner, more reliable financial records.

NEXA brings deep expertise in digital transformation and AI implementation across industries. Together, the two companies are focused on making AI accessible and measurable for businesses in the UAE. Both companies are already using tools like ConvoAI to improve access to data and provide instant support outside of working hours. Qashio is already leveraging NEXA AI Lab’s product offering. This reflects a broader shift towards always-on, AI-enabled operations.

Financial

Standard Chartered Supports Pakistan’s First Panda Bond Issuance in Chinese Interbank Market

Published

1 month ago

May 18, 2026

Integrator Web-Editor

Pakistan has successfully completed its inaugural Panda bond issuance in China’s interbank bond market, raising RMB 1.75 billion through a three-year transaction that marks the country’s first direct entry into China’s capital markets.

Standard Chartered (China) Ltd. Co acted as the only foreign bank serving as joint lead underwriter and joint book runner for the transaction, supporting Pakistan in broadening its international financing channels while strengthening financial connectivity between regional capital markets.

The issuance received strong support from multilateral development institutions, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which together guaranteed 95 per cent of the bond’s principal and interest payments. The structure helped attract significant demand from Chinese banks, securities houses, and international financial institutions.

The transaction was reportedly more than five times oversubscribed, allowing Pakistan to price the bond at 2.50 per cent, the tightest end of the indicated pricing range.

Salman Ansari, Global Head, Capital Markets, Standard Chartered, described the issuance as a strategically important transaction that expands Pakistan’s access to global liquidity pools while demonstrating the growing relevance of regional capital markets within the international funding landscape.

The transaction also reflects the broader evolution of the Renminbi within global financial markets, as China continues expanding the role of its currency beyond trade settlement into cross-border financing and sovereign funding structures.

Jerry Zhang, Global Head of Banks & Broker Dealers and Head of Coverage, Greater China and North Asia at Standard Chartered, said the transaction highlighted the bank’s role in connecting international issuers with China’s domestic capital markets while also reflecting the continued internationalisation of the Renminbi.

The Panda bond market has increasingly attracted a wider range of sovereign, supranational, and institutional issuers in recent years as regional economies explore diversified funding channels and deeper access to Chinese liquidity pools.