Latest news with #EconomicImpact
Al Bawaba
a day ago
- Business
- Al Bawaba
Public First: Google Contributed AED 21.8 Billion to the UAE Economy in 2024
Google announced today the launch of the Google's Economic Impact Report, a report conducted by Public First research agency, that looks at how Google products (Search, Play, Maps, YouTube and Google Ads) have helped people, local businesses, content creators and developers in the UAE throughout 2024. Around the world, Google releases Impact Reports which are based on consumer and business polling, economic modeling, case studies and third party data. The report highlights how Google's AI-powered tools and platforms are profoundly enhancing daily life and productivity for individuals and enterprises across the UAE, driving macroeconomic growth. In fact, Public First estimates that Google contributed an estimated AED 21.8 billion to the UAE economy in 2024."We're incredibly proud to be a partner in the UAE's boundless ambitions," says Anthony Nakache, Managing Director for Google in the Middle East & North Africa. "The report reflects our investment in accelerating the country's ambitious journey towards a diversified, AI-powered economy. Through strategic investments, local partnerships, and our AI-powered tools, we're bringing substantial economic value and empowering individuals, businesses, and communities in the UAE.'Google is equipping people in the UAE with digital and AI capabilities needed for tomorrow's economy. The report highlights that since 2018, over 430,000 individuals in the UAE were trained in essential digital and AI skills through Google's key skilling initiative "Maharat Min Google" initiative. This effort includes empowering a diverse and vibrant ecosystem of developers. In 2024, the Android and Google Play app ecosystem supported the creation of 30,000 jobs in the UAE, according to the report. The Google Impact Report in the UAE explores the impact of Google's products in 2024 across three areas: People, Businesses and Communities. Below are the additional findings:Making everyday life easier for people in the UAE• AED 683 a month on average in consumer benefits is created by Google's services for the average person in the UAE.• 63% of adults in the UAE said they have used Gemini, Google's AI Assistant. • 90% of users agreed that Gemini helped them to be more productive. • 71% of users agreed that Gemini is easier to use in Arabic than other AI chatbots.• 50% of adults in the UAE agree that Google Search is essential to their daily lives.• 89% of adults in the UAE reported that Google Maps and/or Waze were very useful when they were avoiding getting lost.• 90% of adults in the UAE agreed that the ability to make contactless payments on mobile devices through the likes of GPay or GWallet makes their life the Growth of Businesses in the UAE• 91% of businesses in the UAE report using at least one AI tool in their workflows.• 73% of 18-24 year olds said they use Google Search at least weekly to shop or browse products online.• 80% of adults in the UAE use Google Maps and/or Waze at least once a month to find a local business.• 86% said they checked Google reviews before visiting a venue or business at least once a month.• 94% of adults in the UAE use Google Search at least once a month to compare the prices of products and services.• 97% of public sector workers in the UAE said that Google AI-enabled tools help them to be more productive at Communities in the UAE This section of the report combines Public First research and Google internal data and estimates Google's contribution to creators, developers and publishers.• AED 455 million of revenue generated by the Android App Economy for UAE-based developers in 2024.• 600+ YouTube channels in the UAE have over 1 million subscribers, an increase of 15% year on year.• 20,000+ journalists and journalism students trained by the Google News Initiative in the MENA region, including in the the researchGoogle commissioned independent consultancy Public First to explore how Google's innovations and products are helping communities, workers and businesses in the UAE, as well as the future potential of AI across the nation. Public First conducted a survey of 1,110 online adults based in the UAE and a survey of 389 business leaders based in the UAE. These surveys were conducted in English and Arabic in March 2025. All results are weighted using Iterative Proportional Fitting, or 'Raking'. The online adult results are weighted by age, gender, education level, and region to nationally representative proportions.
Zawya
11-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
End of cooperation with Israeli banks may harm Palestinian economy, Palestinians say
An Israeli move to cut off cooperation with Palestinian banks could halt the supply of essential goods such as food and fuel to the Palestinian territories, the Palestinian Monetary Authority (PMA) said on Wednesday. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Tuesday had ordered the cancellation of a waiver on cooperation between Israeli and Palestinian banks, a move that puts the Palestinian banking system, trade and overall economy at risk. Israeli banks Hapoalim and Israel Discount Bank work with Palestinian banks. Some 53 billion shekels ($15.2 billion) were exchanged at Palestinian banks in 2023, official data show. Cancelling the waiver would require approval by Israel's security cabinet. No date for a vote has been set and it was not clear whether it would pass. The PMA said it was following developments and warned that such disruption posed a serious threat to Palestinian access to basic goods and services. It noted it has ongoing coordination with the political leadership and international community to safeguard correspondent banking relationships. "These efforts are vital to ensuring the continuity of commercial transactions and the payment of essential imports and services, including food, electricity, water and fuel," the PMA said. Smotrich said his decision came against the "delegitimization campaign" by the Palestinian Authority against Israel globally. The waiver had allowed Israeli banks to process shekel payments for services and salaries tied to the Palestinian Authority, without the risk of being charged with money laundering and funding extremism. Without it, Palestinian banks would be cut off from the Israeli financial system. The PMA said depositors' funds within the Palestinian banking sector are secure and that the banking system remains integrated with the global financial network through a broad range of correspondent banks and continues to provide services to individuals and businesses domestically and internationally. Smotrich, under U.S. pressure, had in late 2024 signed a waiver to extend cooperation between Israeli and Palestinian banks through November 2025. In the past, Smotrich sought to end the waiver but ultimately signed it due to pressure from the U.S. and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. His latest decision came hours after the United Kingdom and four other nations imposed sanctions on him and another far-right minister, accusing them of inciting violence in the West Bank. The sanctions included a freeze on assets and travel bans. Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the action by the five countries was "outrageous". ($1 = 3.4906 shekels)
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Georgia can't afford Medicaid cuts
Guest opinion writer Natalie Crawford argues that proposed Medicaid cuts would hurt everyday Georgians and the state's Georgia, 1 in 10 adults or 2 in 5 children rely on Medicaid for their health care coverage, over 70% of which is federally funded. While Georgia already has one of the highest uninsured rates in the country with 1.2 million of our fellow Georgians living without critical coverage, lawmakers in Congress are right now weighing legislation that includes major changes to Medicaid which would reduce federal investment in the program by an estimated $625 billion. Not only would such reforms increase our already high uninsured rate and threaten Georgians' access to care, but they would also deeply harm our local economies and state, putting pressure on the state budget. Everyday Georgians, including those who don't receive their health care from the program, will ultimately be the ones shouldering the economic burdens caused by federal Medicaid cuts. Depending on the specific type of cut Congress ultimately enacts, Georgia could lose nearly 17,000 jobs, including nearly nine thousand healthcare jobs in 2026 alone. Georgia also potentially stands to lose $578 million in federal Medicaid funding, putting enormous pressure on our state budget, and forcing our state officials to make difficult choices about which programs will continue to get funding, potentially reversing the strides Georgia has made in addressing issues like maternal and infant mortality and mental health. If Congress were to move forward with the House-passed legislation, it's estimated that between 72,000 and 120,000 Georgians could lose Medicaid coverage. And, we know that when more uninsured Georgians show up to hospitals needing medical attention, rates of uncompensated care increase. More uninsured Georgians means that we all will pay more for our health insurance, as premiums will go up when hospitals raise their prices to shift the cost of uncompensated care to those who can pay. These higher premiums also impact Georgia's employers, especially our small business owners, who may have to make the tough choice between cutting employee benefits, reducing wages, or risking financial strain. Property taxes would also likely increase, because local governments rely on them to sustain struggling community hospitals. Included in the House bill is a framework requiring states to implement work requirements for certain groups of Medicaid enrollees, a method Georgia has piloted for the past two years in Georgia Pathways, Georgia's partial Medicaid expansion program, which launched in 2023. With its low enrollment numbers and high administrative costs, Pathways has proven that work requirements are burdensome to the state, the taxpayer, and the enrollee. In Georgia's 2025 renewal application for the Pathways program, the state has requested to decrease the frequency of work reporting requirements because of the administrative burden. Congress right now is proposing to add reporting requirements for Medicaid programs nationally, which goes against everything we've learned in Georgia. The impacts of proposed federal reforms to Medicaid would be felt most acutely by our state's most vulnerable communities. Folks living in rural areas are more likely to be served by Medicaid, and cuts to the program will threaten an essential revenue stream for our rural hospitals, who often rely more heavily on Medicaid reimbursement. Nine rural Georgia hospitals have closed since 2010, and as many as 18 more are now struggling and in danger of closing or dramatically reducing services. Cutting Medicaid may push many of those over the line. Such closures have ripple effects — local businesses will suffer or be forced to relocate when rural hospitals close, leaving thousands of community members without jobs and access to healthcare. As a proud lifelong Republican and former County Commissioner for Habersham County, I have spent decades pushing for fiscally responsible solutions for our state. Cuts to Medicaid are not only fiscally irresponsible, but they could threaten the livelihoods of our fellow Georgians and the economic opportunities that consistently make our great state a top state for business. Unfortunately, there are many influential voices who use divisive rhetoric, misinformation, and fear mongering to cloud the understanding of what the Medicaid program is delivering for our state, and who really benefits from this safety net. Chances are, you know someone who could lose access to their local hospital, their job, or their healthcare coverage as a result of the proposed Medicaid changes. It might surprise you to learn that I used Medicaid insurance as a young mother, which enabled me to have my first child and take care of my family without going into medical debt — or worse. Without it, I likely would not have been able to become a successful FinTech professional and small business owner, or fulfill my call to public service. Medicaid covers 40% of all babies and kids in our state, thousands of seniors in nursing homes and people receiving long-term care, and many hardworking adults like me. Buying into misinformation will lead to policy decisions that hurt our neighbors and our state economy. While Congress is considering harmful cuts, it's essential everyday Georgians be heard. If enough Georgians speak up for the health of our neighbors and our economy, together, a symphony of voices can rise above the noise. Call your representatives — let them know about the negative impacts that Medicaid cuts would have on Georgians like you and me. Remind them that work reporting requirements add costly red tape without improving accountability. Urge your friends, family members, and neighbors to do the same. A vote to cut Medicaid is a vote against the health — and the economic prosperity — of our state and Georgian families. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Hospitality Net
23-05-2025
- Business
- Hospitality Net
Travel & Tourism Employment in South Africa Set to Hit Record High, But Key Challenges Remain
London, UK - New data from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has revealed South Africa's Travel & Tourism sector is projected to reach a major milestone this year, set to support more jobs than ever before, but wider data points to a sector still in recovery mode. According to WTTC's latest Economic Impact Research (EIR), in 2025 Travel & Tourism is forecast to support 1.9 million jobs, surpassing 2019 levels and marking an all-time high, underlining its role as a key employer and major source of opportunity, with the sector accounting for 11.3% of all jobs in South Africa. Domestic visitor spending continues to show stronger resilience, with 2025 total forecast at ZAR 445 billion, 3.8% above 2019 levels. But while employment is set to reach an all-time high and domestic spending continues to grow, Travel &Tourism's contribution to GDP and international visitor spend, continues to lag. Travel & Tourism's total contribution to the economy is projected to reach ZAR 659.8BN, equivalent to 8.9% of national GDP, but still 3.4% shy of the 2019 peak. International visitor spending, while set to grow steadily, is expected to remain below pre pandemic levels at ZAR 128.4BN, trailing 2019 by ZAR 37.7BN South Africa's Travel & Tourism sector is slowly turning the corner. Jobs are leading the recovery, with employment expected to reach new highs, showing the enormous human impact of the sector's growth. As South Africa takes on the G20 Presidency in 2025, it has a unique opportunity to place Travel & Tourism at the heart of its agenda. WTTC is delighted to be working with Minister Patricia de Lille, a truly dynamic Minister, in contributing to the G20 process, including an Investment Summit in September. Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO Drawing from 2024 In 2024, WTTC South Africa's Travel & Tourism contributed ZAR 618.7BN to the nation's economy - 9.4% below 2019, whilst the sector employed 1.8MN people. International visitor spending reached ZAR 116.5BN, whilst domestic spending hit ZAR430BN. A Decade of Opportunity WTTC believes that with the right national priorities, strengthened public-private collaboration under the powerful leadership of Minister Patricia de Lille, South Africa can unlock a new era of unprecedented growth. The global tourism body forecasts strong momentum through 2035, with Travel & Tourism adding an additional 620,000 new jobs, reaching a total of 2.6MN – 13.8% of the country's workforce. The sector's economic contribution could grow to ZAR 911.7BN, representing a 10.3% share of GDP. For more information and to access the full factsheet, including WTTC's latest Environmental Social Research (ESR), please visit WTTC's Research Hub. All figures given in ZAR About WTTC The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) represents the global travel & tourism private sector. Members include 200 CEOs, Chairs and Presidents of the world's leading travel & tourism companies from all geographies covering all industries. For more than 30 years, WTTC has been committed to raising the awareness of governments and the public of the economic and social significance of the travel & tourism sector. WTTC Press Office WTTC View source
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DesignRush Selects the Leading Digital Marketing Companies in May 2025
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - May 23, 2025) - As online competition intensifies, effective use of digital channels is critical for growth. According to Google's Economic Impact report, businesses typically earn $2 for every $1 spent on Google Ads. This continues to make digital advertising a high-impact strategy for modern businesses. To help brands maximize this potential, B2B marketplace DesignRush has identified the leading marketing firms that deliver targeted, data-driven digital campaigns. These agencies specialize in helping businesses capture the right audience, boost conversions, and scale performance across platforms. The top digital marketing companies in May are: Humble Digital Agency - The Fields Agency - Hero Digital Marketing Agency - High Quality Ads & Media - MazhWeb Digital - Clicks4Grow - AlgoSaga - DigiGenX - Bahia Brand Marketing - KP Innovations - Digital Ignite - AMSDIGITAL TECHNOLOGY & MEDIA SERVICES PVT LTD - Creative Marketing Workshop, LLC - Ecodians Tech Innovators - DiPuzzle - Simply Co - Boutique für digitale Kommunikation - Make It With Jam - Cronboost - Calectia Digital Marketing Agency, LLC - NYMO & Co - Content Station - Time to Market - Seventy Seven Collective - Bright Nation - Good At Marketing - Digi Align - BRANDIFIED. - Click Track Marketing - Outplay Marketing - Brands can explore the top digital marketing companies by location, size, average hourly rate, and portfolio - all on DesignRush. About DesignRush is a B2B marketplace and media platform connecting businesses with agencies through expert reviews and agency ranking lists, awards, knowledge resources, and personalized agency recommendations for vetted projects. Media Contact Lensey Etcubañas lensey@ +1 305-370-1017 To view the source version of this press release, please visit Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
