Emaar Properties is making headlines with its ambitious ‘Dubai Square’ project, a mall that will accommodate electric vehicles and introduce next-level retail and entertainment experiences.

Still under construction, Dubai Square will be located in Dubai Creek Harbour and is expected to open in three years. The mega-mall will span an area three times the size of Downtown Dubai and cost Dhs180bn, according to Mohamed Ali Alabbar, founder of Emaar, in a post on his official X account.

This landmark development underscores Dubai’s strategy to cement its position as a global hub for shopping and leisure. The detailed design of Dubai Square was completed in February 2024, marking a key milestone toward making it the second-largest shopping and entertainment destination in Dubai Creek Harbour.

Read more-Mall in the ‘Forest’: More on Dubai’s newest shopping destination

Innovative design meets advanced technology

Dubai Square is designed to integrate advanced technologies, contemporary architecture, and forward-thinking concepts in retail, dining, and entertainment. It will be linked directly to the Dubai Creek Tower, giving the mall a distinctive position in the heart of Dubai Creek Harbour. The project will leverage cutting-edge AI systems to analyse and predict visitor behavior as well as retailer needs, a move Alabbar describes as essential for future-proofing the shopping experience.

“Despite the fact that AI is a new science in design, Emaar is implementing and deploying the most advanced AI systems to analyse and predict the needs of retailers and visitors in the future,” he said.

Emaar’s extensive experience, managing over 1,500 retailers and catering to more than 100 million visitors annually, positions the company to deliver a mall that balances innovation with proven operational expertise. Alabbar noted that feedback from retailers remains an integral part of the development process, ensuring Dubai Square meets market demands while maintaining a world-class visitor experience.

Dubai Creek Harbour: A smart, integrated urban hub

Dubai Square is part of the ultra-modern Dubai Creek Harbour, a mixed-use development spanning 7.4 million square metres of residential space and 500,000 square meters of gardens and open areas. Its pedestrian-friendly streets will connect retail, entertainment, and leisure destinations seamlessly, creating an integrated urban environment.

The development includes a variety of residential offerings, apartments, duplex units, and penthouses, that reflect Dubai Creek’s contemporary architectural style. Dubai Creek Harbour also encompasses the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, a renowned biodiversity site in the UAE, adding an element of environmental stewardship to the project.

Beyond its technological and architectural innovations, Dubai Square will serve as a platform for employee skill development, particularly for young Emirati nationals, highlighting Emaar’s commitment to national workforce growth and sustainable economic development.

By combining futuristic AI systems, sustainable design, and luxury urban living, Dubai Square aims to redefine the shopping mall experience and reinforce Dubai’s position as a global retail and leisure destination.

Acronis has released its 2025 Women in Tech Report, revealing sharp differences in how men and women perceive opportunity, advancement and bias in the technology sector, with more than eight in ten women saying representation at the top could reshape culture.

The report, FOMO at Work: The Opportunity Gap Between Men and Women in Tech, surveyed more than 650 IT professionals globally and found women still feel a significantly narrower path to leadership compared with men, despite broader industry conversations around inclusion and workplace equality.

Only 60 per cent of women say men and women have equal access to career development, against 75 per cent of men.

Sixty-three per cent of women cited work-life balance as a major career barrier, compared with 49 per cent of men. Some 67 per cent of women believe they must work longer hours to advance in their careers, while 56 per cent of men shared that view.

The perception gap extends into leadership and entry-level cybersecurity roles.

Bias and stereotypes were named as the main barrier to women entering cybersecurity by 41 per cent of women and 33 per cent of men. For leadership paths, 41 per cent of women and 36 per cent of men identified bias as the key obstacle.

Leadership development tailored specifically to women is a priority for 70 per cent of female respondents, versus 56 per cent of male respondents. Fifty-two per cent of women reported being very concerned about missing career opportunities due to family responsibilities, compared with 42 per cent of men.

Acronis study focuses on how men and women experience working in the tech industry

“Our new survey findings shine a spotlight on just how differently men and women experience working in the tech industry,” said Alona Geckler, SVP Business Operations and chief of staff at Acronis. “Closing the gender gap requires more than good intentions. Organisations must recognise these disparities and design programs that expand leadership opportunities, confront bias head-on, and create environments where work-life balance doesn’t present any barriers that may potentially derail women’s careers.”

The report suggests that while progress has been made, workplace culture remains uneven. Women place a higher value on targeted leadership initiatives and advocacy programmes, while men are less likely to view systemic barriers as significant. Acronis says these differences identify where employers are falling short and where policy changes or organisational reform could move the dial.

“This report highlights the critical need for companies to listen more closely to women’s experiences in technology career paths,” said Melyssa Banda, SVP, Edge Storage and Services at Seagate Technology. “For companies across the tech sector, highlighting women role models, addressing bias directly, and fostering inclusive cultures can benefit the entire industry. The opportunity now is to turn these insights into action that can drive innovation and create a workplace where everyone can thrive.”

Women currently make up 29 per cent of the global technology workforce, a figure reflected in the sample size.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping industries and jobs at a rapid pace, and education systems in the Middle East are responding with urgency.

The UAE, for example, has witnessed a 344 per cent year-over-year jump in enrollments for Generative AI courses, according to Coursera’s 2025 Global Skills Report, and has introduced AI as a formal subject in all public schools from 2025. These developments underscore a critical imperative: universities must embed AI literacy across curricula so every student is equipped to use AI tools responsibly, verify the technology’s outputs, and recognise biases in AI-generated content.

In a 2025 Higher Education Policy Institute survey, 92 per cent of students reported using AI tools in their academic work, yet 83 per cent of faculty worry they cannot critically evaluate AI-generated output. This disconnect reveals a fundamental challenge: while students enthusiastically adopt AI, they often lack the frameworks for effective, ethical use. Section’s AI Proficiency Report found only 7 per cent of knowledge workers are proficient in AI tools, underscoring the urgent need for universities to embed structured AI literacy across disciplines.

The evolution from early digitisation to today’s AI revolution highlights how ethics and structured learning must evolve in parallel. A disciplined, ethics-first approach to AI education is essential – one that balances enthusiasm for innovation with “appropriate caution”, teaching students not just how to use AI, but how to question it.

Interdisciplinary integration of AI in education

A key strategy in building AI literacy is integrating AI across all disciplines, not just in computer science or engineering programs. Students in every field are starting to use AI in ways relevant to their domain. For example, architecture students now use GenAI to create novel building designs. Life Sciences students can apply machine learning techniques on genomic data. Business students experiment with AI for financial forecasting and risk analysis, while liberal arts scholars leverage AI to mine historical texts or create media content in new ways.

By tailoring AI applications to each field, educators make AI literacy hands-on and relevant for every student. This interdisciplinary approach reflects a broader trend: AI literacy is becoming as essential today as basic computer literacy was a generation ago.

Ethics and critical thinking: The core of AI literacy

AI literacy isn’t just about technical skills; it also demands ethics and critical thinking. Generative AI tools can produce content that sounds convincing but may be false or biased. Large language models sometimes “hallucinate”, fabricating answers and even references, and such polished output can mislead students. Thus, a core tenet of AI literacy is learning to verify sources and facts behind AI-generated content.

Educators weave these lessons into coursework. A common exercise is to have students do a task manually, then use an AI tool to do it and compare the results. This shows where the AI helps and where it fails, reinforcing that AI can assist but not replace human judgment. Instructors also explain how AI models work and how biases in training data can creep in. When Purdue University researchers demonstrated an AI system struggling to recognise faces of people with darker skin tones, participants became more aware and sceptical of AI’s biases.

Incorporating cases like these into coursework sensitises students to issues of fairness and bias in AI – from facial recognition and hiring algorithms to the selection of news articles we see on social media. By instilling habits of checking multiple sources and looking for evidence, educators ensure that students treat AI as a starting point, not the final authority. The outcome is a new kind of digital literacy: one where a graduate can harness AI tools confidently but will pause to question its output, which is a crucial reflex in the era of deepfakes.

Collaboration with industry and real-world alignment

To keep pace with advances, universities are partnering with tech companies and industry experts to ensure that classroom AI applications mirror real-world ones and exposes students to the ethical standards and challenges faced by industry, from data privacy issues to addressing bias in AI models deployed at scale.

Industry collaboration also helps align curricula with evolving skill needs. In the UAE, tech firms co-develop AI labs with universities to give students hands-on experience with current tools, addressing employers’ concerns that graduates aren’t ready for AI-driven workplaces.

Incorporating industry case studies lets students practice solving real problems and emphasises the responsibility that comes with deploying AI outside campus. Additionally, as the UAE positions itself as a global AI hub, nurturing talent that can innovate responsibly is seen as a competitive advantage.

Future-ready, responsible graduates

The ultimate goal of AI literacy is to produce graduates who are as comfortable working with AI as they are working with people. This is crucial in the Middle East, where governments have ambitious digital economy plans. PwC projects, AI will contribute around $320bn to the Middle East’s GDP by 2030. Such growth will demand a workforce adept in AI.

However, it’s not enough for tomorrow’s leaders to use AI widely; it must be used wisely. If they adopt AI without understanding its pitfalls, they risk amplifying biases or spreading misinformation, undermining the technology’s benefits. Many students already recognise this risk and are calling for more AI training for both students and faculty, and a voice in how AI is used on campus. And it is time for academia to step up to this challenge.

Middle Eastern universities have an opportunity to lead by example, to ride the AI wave without drowning in it. By implementing structured AI modules, critical thinking exercises, strong ethical guidelines, and industry partnerships, they can ensure graduates are both tech-savvy and ethically grounded. These graduates will enter the workforce ready to innovate with AI while upholding trust and accountability. Such balanced expertise will anchor a sustainable, inclusive digital future for the region.

The message is clear: equip students today with ethical AI skills, and they will drive the Middle East’s AI revolution responsibly tomorrow.

Dr Sudhindra Shamanna is the pro vice chancellor, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Dubai Campus.

For much of the 20th century, the value of an office was measured in simple terms: cost per square meter and proximity to business districts. Offices were largely transactional spaces designed to house employees and facilitate basic business functions.

That definition has dramatically shifted in recent times; the modern workplace is now a strategic asset. In an era defined by hybrid work, rising employee expectations, and intense competition for talent, the true measure of a workspace’s value is in the experience it delivers, the productivity it enables, and the brand identity it projects.

One of the clearest markers of this transformation is a focus on experience. Today’s workforce, particularly younger generations like Gen Z, expects more from their workplace than a desk and a stable internet connection. They want spaces that inspire creativity, foster connection, and support their overall wellbeing. A recent Deloitte survey highlighted the need to create workplaces that are destinations aligned with an employee’s lifestyle, values, and aspirations.

This is especially relevant with the Middle East’s young populations, where over 60 per cent are under 30. In Saudi Arabia, two-thirds of nationals fall into this demographic, while in the UAE, nearly half the population is between 15 and 35. Thoughtfully designed workspaces that integrate wellness, technology, and flexibility will appeal to this new generation of talent.

Amenities once considered luxuries, like private gyms, wellness rooms, and lounge-style collaboration zones, are the must-haves for environments where people genuinely want to spend their time.

This reflects a broader truth about modern work culture: return-to-office strategies cannot be enforced by mandates alone. Lasting engagement is driven by environments that invite people back, where the company culture feels tangible and collaboration is effortless. In this sense, experience has become the new currency of workplace value.

How workspaces can boost productivity

Beyond experience, workspace design and infrastructure directly influence performance. Factors like agile layouts, ergonomic furniture, abundant natural light, and intuitive technology all contribute to driving efficiency and innovation. In today’s dynamic work models, productivity is measured not just in output but in how effortlessly individuals and teams can function, whether they are focused on deep work, engaging in spontaneous collaboration, or connecting with colleagues across geographies.

The right workspace enables employees to perform at their best. When the environment is designed to minimise friction, people can achieve more. This includes operational support as well. When offices offer services such as professional concierge, on-site IT support, and administrative assistance, employees are freed from distractions. This allows them to concentrate on their core responsibilities and businesses, focusing on their primary goals. The integration of high-quality service and thoughtful design transforms the office from a passive location into an active enabler of performance.

A powerful stage for culture

The modern office has also become a powerful stage for brand and culture. A workspace communicates a company’s values, aspirations, and credibility, not only to its employees but also to clients, partners, and stakeholders. This has fueled a global “flight to quality,” where businesses increasingly seek Grade-A, sustainably certified, and thoughtfully designed offices that align with their reputation.

The question for business is no longer, “Does this office fit my budget?” but rather, “Does this office reflect who we are and how we want to be perceived?” The right office does more than accommodate a team; it embodies the spirit and values of the organisation. A workspace serves as a tangible extension of a brand’s ethos. A sustainability-led design conveys corporate responsibility. A premium location reflects ambition and success. A community-driven layout signals a culture of inclusivity and collaboration. Companies that invest in high-quality, flexible environments signal ambition and genuine care for their people.

As we rethink the role of the physical office, one truth stands clear: value is no longer measured by cost per square meter. ROI is delivered through enhanced employee engagement, greater productivity, and stronger brand equity. The most successful workspaces of the future will be dynamic ecosystems where people, performance, and purpose converge.

Ketan Trehan is the city director – Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, The Executive Centre.

Read: What is the future of work?

Energy consumption continues to rise across the Gulf with temperature extremes intensifying every year. As a result, the region’s cooling demand is accelerating at a rate faster than ever. HVAC systems already account for more than 60 per cent of electricity usage in several GCC countries, prompting both governments and manufacturers to rethink the future of cooling. Today, the combination of IoT connectivity and AI-driven optimisation is redefining what modern air conditioning should deliver: greater efficiency, meaningful energy savings, and long-term reliability.

This transformation aligns closely with national sustainability agendas across the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman, all of which have set ambitious targets to improve energy management without compromising on comfort or lifestyle. As consumers and businesses increasingly look for smarter, more resilient cooling solutions, the role of advanced climate technologies has become central to regional infrastructure planning.

In this environment, innovations showcased at major industry platforms such as Big 5 Dubai have highlighted how the next generation of HVAC products is shifting from purely mechanical systems to intelligent, connected ecosystems. Among these advancements are AI-powered compressors, adaptive temperature control, and IoT-enabled diagnostics, capabilities that can drastically reduce energy waste in homes, offices, and large-scale commercial environments.

TCL has continued to invest in building an HVAC portfolio aligned with these priorities. The brand’s latest smart AC solutions integrate intelligent inverter technology, deep-learning algorithms, and smart environmental sensors to manage cooling output with higher precision. Unlike traditional ACs that operate at fixed speeds and often overconsume energy, AI-enhanced systems can analyse room size, ambient heat conditions, user behaviour, and outdoor temperature to deliver only the required cooling power. The result is a smoother performance curve that reduces electricity consumption and extends compressor life.

The rise of IoT has further accelerated this shift. Remote monitoring and control, once a premium feature, has become an essential requirement for households, facility managers, and developers. TCL’s IoT-powered solutions integrate seamlessly with smart home platforms, enabling users to schedule usage, detect faults, and track energy consumption patterns directly from their smartphones. For businesses managing multiple cooling units, cloud-based monitoring offers valuable insights that enable more effective maintenance planning, reduced downtime, and the prevention of operational disruptions.

Durability has also emerged as a major purchasing factor in harsh climates such as the Middle East. High humidity, sand exposure, and prolonged operation place immense strain on AC components. TCL’s focus on corrosion resistance through technologies such as the Titan Gold and Blue Fin anti-corrosion coatings addresses this challenge directly. These enhancements prolong heat exchanger life, maintain long-term cooling efficiency, and reduce the total cost of ownership, an increasingly important consideration for both residential and commercial customers.

Beyond individual households, smart AC innovations have significant implications for the region’s broader development agenda. Large-scale construction projects, hospitality expansion, and sustainable urban planning all require energy systems capable of supporting long-term growth. As nations prioritise eco-friendly building regulations and green building codes, intelligent cooling becomes a central pillar of future infrastructure.

In this evolving landscape, IoT and AI are no longer optional add-ons; they are becoming foundational requirements for next-generation climate control. The GCC market is moving toward smarter, data-driven cooling as customers demand greater control, businesses seek efficiency gains, and governments push for carbon reduction.

With continuous investments in R&D, durability-focused engineering, and intelligent energy management, TCL is strongly positioned to support these regional ambitions. The brand’s combination of AI-driven performance, IoT connectivity, and long-lasting build quality reflects the direction that the HVAC market is heading: smarter cooling that is cleaner, more efficient, and more reliable.

As the Gulf continues its path toward sustainable growth and smarter cities, the integration of IoT and AI in AC systems will play a defining role in shaping how communities live, work, and manage their energy consumption. The next era of cooling is already here, and it is intelligent, connected, and built for the future.