Browsing: Bhubaneswar

Dubai’s residential real estate market is witnessing a notable behavioural shift as long-term residents increasingly move from renting to owning homes. This trend reflects changing financial priorities, supportive government policies, and rising rental costs that are prompting residents to reconsider their housing strategies.

While Dubai has historically been known as a rental-driven market due to its large expatriate population, recent data suggests that more residents are now choosing to purchase homes and establish long-term roots in the city.

Dubai’s real estate market has witnessed a sharp correction after the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) Real Estate Index plunged nearly 20 percent in the past five trading sessions, wiping out all gains recorded so far in 2026. The decline comes as escalating geopolitical tensions in West Asia trigger investor caution across global markets.

The sharp fall follows a strong rally in recent years. The index had gained 15 percent in calendar year 2025, after surging 63 percent in 2024 and 38 percent in 2023. It reached a peak of 16,910.3 on February 27, 2026, just before tensions in the region intensified.

India’s largest lender, State Bank of India (SBI), has entered into a strategic partnership with Japan’s MUFG Bank to collaborate on financing mergers and acquisitions (M&A), aviation, and real estate projects for Indian as well as global clients.

The two banks announced the agreement in a joint statement on Wednesday, highlighting their plan to work together in structuring and financing large-scale transactions while expanding cross-border financial cooperation between India and Japan.

Dubai’s property market continues to attract strong global attention, and Indian investors have emerged as the largest group of foreign buyers in the emirate’s booming real estate sector. Over the past year, investment flows from India have accelerated significantly, reflecting both the global appeal of Dubai’s property market and changing investment preferences among Indian buyers.

Industry estimates suggest that Indian nationals invested nearly ₹85,000–₹95,000 crore in Dubai real estate in 2025, making them the top overseas investor group in the market. () The strong inflow highlights Dubai’s growing role as a global hub for property investment and wealth diversification.

Plotted developments are becoming one of the most closely tracked segments of India’s real estate market. Traditionally viewed as a long-term investment option, these projects are now attracting both end-users and investors looking for flexible ownership, relatively lower entry costs, and clearer land titles.

Unlike conventional apartment projects, plotted developments allow buyers to purchase a piece of land within a planned layout and construct their homes according to personal design preferences. However, as supply increases across emerging corridors in major cities, investors in 2026 need to adopt a more disciplined and research-driven approach before committing to such investments.

India’s hospitality industry is raising urgent concerns after a sharp disruption in the supply of commercial liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), leaving many restaurants and hotels with barely a few days of fuel reserves. Industry bodies have warned that continued shortages could force widespread operational disruptions or temporary shutdowns across the sector.

The supply concerns emerged after escalating tensions involving the U.S.–Israel conflict with Iran disrupted shipping routes in the Gulf region, particularly around the critical Strait of Hormuz. The situation has pushed up global energy prices and affected the flow of fuel exports from key producers such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

London-based fintech startup Payr has raised $2.1 million in seed funding to modernize the way rent payments are made across the United Kingdom’s vast rental market, estimated at $165 billion annually. The company aims to enable tenants to pay rent using credit cards, while landlords continue receiving payments through traditional bank transfers, eliminating the need for any changes to existing landlord processes.

Rent remains one of the largest monthly expenses for households, yet it is still largely paid through conventional bank transfers. While consumers today routinely use cards for everyday purchases such as groceries, travel, and utilities, rent payments have remained tied to traditional banking systems. Payr’s technology seeks to bridge this gap by introducing a card-based rent payment infrastructure designed specifically for the rental sector.

Finland’s residential property market is gradually stabilising after a challenging period, with home sales showing steady improvement. However, property prices remain weak as a large number of unsold homes and cautious buyer sentiment continue to slow the pace of recovery.

Recent data from Statistics Finland indicates that although transaction activity has picked up, price growth has not yet followed. The market is currently characterised by higher sales volumes but limited upward pressure on property values.

India’s competition watchdog has uncovered evidence suggesting that several major cement companies may have coordinated bids and pricing strategies in tenders issued by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), according to findings from a long-running investigation.

A confidential investigation report prepared by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) reportedly details a 12-year period of alleged collusion involving multiple cement suppliers participating in ONGC tenders for oil well cement. The probe, which examined bidding patterns between 2007 and 2018, highlights suspected price coordination, volume allocation and attempts to limit foreign participation in public procurement contracts.

For millions of aspiring homeowners across India, purchasing a house often requires financial support beyond a traditional home loan. To make homeownership more accessible, the government introduced the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), one of the country’s flagship housing programmes aimed at promoting affordable housing.

The scheme provides financial assistance through interest subsidies on home loans, helping eligible buyers reduce the overall cost of owning a home. Over the years, PMAY has emerged as one of the most widely used housing initiatives in India, particularly benefiting first-time homebuyers and middle-income families.