14 Jan 2025. Sharjah is getting a major new convention centre but does the region really need more exhibition space? We ask events expert Natalie Crampton what it means for the industry. Plus, Q4 hiring picked up across the Gulf, we speak to Cooper Fitch’s Dr Trefor Murphy on whether it’s enough to meet the population growth. And with cash use falling fast in the UAE, Visa’s chief economist explains where cash still survives and why digital payments keep winning.