Buying furniture online is a terrible experience. So, why are we still doing it? Mainstream fashion largely ignores plus-size men—so some expanded the selection themselves How to create a beautiful home in the age of Instagram Why Pantone turned its 2023 Color of the Year into a $1 million immersive experience AI art is nearing a Renaissance, but ‘algorithm aversion’ could turn off human skeptics The best book covers of 2022 Converse’s new crushed velvet sneakers are made from vintage dresses For better or worse, 2022 was the year of Elon The top reason people want to come back to the office? To actually do some work Inside Microsoft’s quest to lead the new era of design How beauty advent calendars became a big, wasteful business Record-breaking Epic Games fine exposes the pervasive use of deceptive design in gaming Here’s what sound looks like, according to artificial intelligence From Elon’s sink to Lizzo’s crystal flute: 10 objects that defined 2022 These Gen-Z founders turned down cushy consulting jobs to create a TikTok-famous doggie bed for humans 3 predictions for where fashion is heading in 2023 How 2,000 old umbrellas became coats, bags, and tree ornaments 7 design books to look forward to in 2023 Tashkeel’s artist-in-residence is weaving UAE’s culture into her work Was 2022 the year of the weird design material? The most unusual buildings of 2022 Brands want to engage consumers, can augmented reality help? How to make your customers care about climate change—and why it matters 5 ways financial markets can start to make actual climate progress Lebanon has the intent, but does it have the funds to act on climate change? This new magnetic powder can capture microplastics in water Egypt is ramping up initiatives to transition to low-carbon energy. Will it succeed? 5 ethical dilemmas you need to grapple with before you can effect real change Serena Williams’ new venture focuses on recovery She is on a quest to heal Arab women who bear the psychological scars of war Why the world’s most efficient cement plant needs to get a lot more sophisticated Human-machine collaboration can shape a better future. So what’s stopping us? Kuwait’s theater culture is still thriving. Here’s why Building an entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Middle East needs a collaborative mindset These 20 sustainability actions reshaped the Middle East in 2022 Is lab-grown meat actually better for the environment? Here’s how it stacks up Whales may be a secret weapon in the fight against climate change Why is ‘1.5 degrees Celsius of warming’ our climate target? How can brands retain customer loyalty? Put humans at the center of marketing, says Ragy Thomas Small and medium businesses are vital to the Middle East. How can they grow? The world can feed 10 billion people sustainably by 2050. Here’s how 30 of our favorite Fast Company stories of 2022 The year in climate action: three steps forward, two steps back Badeel and ACWA to build Middle East’s largest solar plant in Saudi Arabia Business leaders optimistic about Qatar’s economic prospects PIF subsidiary teams up with Warner Bros, Mattel to bring global attractions to KSA UAE will be a strong supporter of humanity and its development, says UAE president Dubai steps up automation and robotics in aviation and logistics After FIFA World Cup, Qatar keen to host 2036 Olympic Games Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah gets a strong dose of star power Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince reveals NEOM’s first luxury island resort Shah Rukh Khan shoots first Bollywood film at NEOM Saudi Arabia’s Ithra hosts football-inspired NFT art show in Qatar New platform to fund emerging VC managers launched in the Middle East Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah announces 16 additional hotels in hospitality portfolio UAE launches program to support 100 startups to be future ready Emirates NBD teams up with Buna to boost cross-border transactions Al Jazeera seeks ICC's intervention over journalist Shireen Abu Akleh's death First all-female referee team takes charge at FIFA World Cup in Qatar Metaverse to contribute $15 billion annually to GCC economies by 2030 Why are UAE employees keen to switch careers in 2023? For higher salary BMW to test new iX5 Hydrogen model in the Middle East Parents in the UAE believe play builds stronger family bonds Hanging Gardens bags best film award at Red Sea Film Festival UAE takes the top spot in Arab world for talent Disney’s marketing blitz for ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ isn’t as innovative as the film—and that’s its genius Flying to the moon: UAE launches the first Arab-built moon rover Saudi Arabia to invest $1 trillion in real estate and infrastructure Visiting Dubai? Winter tourism campaign launched promoting top attractions DMCC launches gaming center to capitalize on the buoyant gaming sector PIF buys stake in German offshore wind developer Skyborn More women leaders in UAE prioritize workforce reskilling than men Saudi Arabia moves one step closer to World Expo 2030 Meta’s #LoveLocal campaign returns to support small businesses Saudi retail banks to outdo GCC competitors in revenue growth FIFA World Cup in Qatar had united people, says Hassan Al Thawadi KAUST researchers reveal ArtELingo to advance AI more aware of human emotion Egypt to build $5.5 billion-worth green hydrogen project Dubai South and Evocargo launch UAE’s first driverless truck trials DIFC Courts launches world’s first international digital economy court Meta launches digital program for students in Palestine Will desalination technologies worsen salinity in the Gulf region? NYUAD researchers find out Private sector to play a key role in achieving climate goals, says COP28 official Saudi Aramco and TotalEnergies to build petrochemical complex in Saudi Arabia Admiral Mobility to bring 5000 EVs to UAE and Saudi Arabia Meta to train SMEs to boost productivity in Saudi Arabia Oman's sovereign wealth fund invests in US-based silicon battery tech firm COP28 will be inclusive, transparent and pragmatic, says Sheikh Abdullah GCC countries have the potential to lead an agricultural revolution Green deals picking up speed in the Middle East Why 53% of workers want to make a career change in MENA: a new survey UAE to host WTO Ministerial Conference in 2024 AstraZenca and G42 Healthcare to manufacture pharma products in Abu Dhabi Omani official offers $1 million for Messi’s bisht ADNOC to buy 24.9% stake in Austria's OMV from Mubadala New report calls for greater digital inclusion in MENA region Majority of MENA CEOs want to combine ESG with core business Any takers for online courses? Survey finds majority in UAE are open to it in 2023 Dubai and Airbnb team up to attract remote working professionals World Cup 2022 had a 'positive effect’ on the Dubai real estate market Jordan’s Umm Qais and Saudi’s AlUla are among UNWTO’s best tourism villages Women entrepreneurs surge in the UAE, running businesses worth $16.3 billion Saudi Arabia launches intellectual property strategy to promote economic growth Use of robotics in the oil and gas industry to rise with advances in customizable robots Beyoncé to make a comeback with a $24 million gig in Dubai UAE warns against cyberattacks during the New Year holidays Saudi Arabia unveils new regulations to bolster tourism Aircraft lessor Dubai Aerospace Enterprise secures $800 million financing After almost 3 years, China is easing its zero-COVID-19 policy—here’s how its impacting the world Dubai introduces 'Strategic Plan 2026' to expand real estate investments Egypt may produce 20 million tons of green hydrogen by 2035: EIB Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Global leads the way in achieving Vision 2030 goals: Report FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 ranks as 'century's best': BBC Sports poll Saudi Arabia's PIF acquires majority stake in AR developer Magic Leap for $450 million 80% of waste from FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 stadiums has been recycled Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power to build 1.5 GW wind plant in Uzbekistan DEWA’s TESTIAC project cuts 44,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually Arab Monetary Fund, AGFUND sign MoU to promote economic development in the Arab region UAE to bolster knowledge economy with unemployment insurance policy Egypt empowers private sector with new policy, in line with IMF demands EWEC announces over 60% of the total power demand delivered from renewable and clean energy sources 10 books that Fast Company staff are giving for the holidays Stuck on last-minute gifting? Here are 10 ideas Here are 10 best hikes in the Middle East Not sure of what to do for New Year’s Eve? Here are some cool ways to celebrate Amazon’s Kindle Scribe is a slick but limited handwriting tablet Care about privacy? It’s time to ditch Apple’s Messages for Meta’s WhatsApp Generative AI tools are already changing the creativity landscape—and some artists aren’t happy about it Web3 investor Li Jin thinks a Universal Creative Income can help bolster the ‘passion economy’ Entrepreneurship is in the DNA of youth in the Middle East, says Hattan Ahmed Is your company making this foundational mistake? Adobe at 40: The past, present, and future of creativity software’s enduring giant Elon Musk’s Twitter will create a toxic ripple effect across social media The road to climate hell is paved with concrete Why Facebook is threatening to ban all news from its platform AI-powered businesses in the Middle East need a new CEO. Yes, Chief Ethics Officer NFTs are taking the Middle East by storm. But what do they mean for the future of retail? ChatGPT reported out this whole story—the results were a mixed bag Why FIFA will regret its decision to make its own video games Fictional reality: Why the real metaverse doesn’t require a headset Can your boss make you sleep at work? How blockchain tech could help keep Elon Musk accountable The Elon Musk jet tracker is living rent-free inside the Twitter owner’s head NTT is developing the ‘world’s fastest wireless communication technology’ Here’s how Amazon plans to automate its warehouses in the future NFTs are dead. Long live digital collectibles Why does a smart city need a digital twin? The 5 most promising uses for CRISPR gene-editing technology so far The top 4 creator economy trends to watch in 2023 Twitter Blue profiles are already a hotbed of misinformation 5 scientific breakthroughs in 2022 that should give you hope for the future Want to support women in tech? Let them lead From baby formula to Tylenol, 2022 was the year in shortages, but what’s in store for 2023? Here are the 4 ways banking will evolve in the next decade ChatGPT? Stable Diffusion? Generative AI jargon, explained Innovation often follows a boom-and-bust cycle—just look at Atari and Bitcoin 12 dumbest tech moments of 2022 2022: the year we sobered up about the metaverse Crypto’s no good, very bad year More Zoom users are coming around to virtual backgrounds Where is generative AI headed in 2023? The tech we’re most looking forward to in 2023 The state of streaming TV in 2023 What AI means to art and artists (and it’s not what you think) LEAP is changing the game in Saudi's digital transformation. Here's what to expect 3 ways you can resist the urge to multitask You’re thinking the wrong way about company culture The power of reverse mentoring No one taught me the importance of managing up—here’s why you may need to be your boss’ boss The science of miscommunication at work How to use ‘design fiction’ to spark innovation Why leaders should walk the talk of their brands Why you need to take a break from work in order to be successful What does it really mean to be happy at work? Probably not what you think. Workers need more empathetic leaders this holiday season—here are 4 things you can do to be more empathetic Workplaces in the Middle East need to change. Will the companies be ready for it in 2023? Ask yourself these 3 questions to actually fix a toxic workplace How to take control of your career in 2023 4 leadership trends to watch in 2023 12 CEOs predict their biggest challenges in 2023 7 steps to replace irrational optimism with a roadmap for action How LinkedIn Learning and digital certificates are impacting the job application process Don’t make a single New Year’s resolution until you do this Career coaches help executives get ahead—workers deserve coaching, too Leaders: These are the resolutions you need to make for gender equity in 2023 9 leaders share their biggest failures in 2022 How to set boundaries at work in the New Year