5 WEF reports shaping your 2024 agenda
From AI to the future of jobs and slow climb to gender parity, WEF reports provide insights into some of...
Geostrategy
Business
Saudi Arabia Railways launches hydrogen train tests
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) has announced the launch of hydrogen train tests in the Kingdom, following...
- The tests were launched following the signing of an agreement with the French company Alstom.
- It will conduct operational tests and studies necessary to prepare this type of train to fit the Kingdom's environment.
Geostrategy
MOCCAE and Tadweer sign MoU to launch ‘Waste to Zero’ initiative
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- UAE's Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) and Abu Dhabi Waste Management Company (Tadweer) have...
- The initiative is part of the Year of Sustainability and UAE's preparations for hosting the Conference of the Parties COP28.
- The initiative aims to strengthen the UAE's role in leading global action and contribute to international efforts to achieve the 43% emission reduction target by 2030.
Business
Saudi Arabia’s cement sales fall by 8.5 percent in September
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- The aggregate sales of 17 Saudi cement producers decreased by 8.5 percent to 4.1 million tons...
- Locally, eight market players reported better sales, led by Al-Safwa Cement Co. with a 20 percent year-on-year (YoY) surge.
- Six companies exported 183,000 tons of cement in September. Saudi Cement led the way with around 128,000 tons of exports.
Economy
Middle East economic growth to fall in 2023, says World Bank
WASHINGTON, US - The growth of the economies in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is expected to fall...
- The region’s gross domestic product is expected to fall to 1.9 percent in 2023 from 6 percent in 2022, due to oil production cuts.
- The decline in growth this year is expected to be more pronounced in the oil exporting countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Arts & Culture
Norwegian playwright Jon Fosse wins Nobel literature prize
Sometimes compared to Samuel Beckett, another Nobel-winning playwright, Fosse's work is minimalistic, relying on simple language which delivers its message...
- Fosse's writing is defined more by form than content, where what is not said is often more revealing than what is.
- Fosse's oeuvre, written in Nynorsk -- a written form of Norwegian used by 10 percent of the population -- spans a variety of genres.
Business
EWEC, Masdar sign purchase pact
Power to be purchased generated from UAE's Wind Programme.
- This strategic agreement will see EWEC procuring power from the UAE's utility-scale wind programme for the first time.
- Located at Sila, Sir Bani Yas Island and Delma Island, the wind power farms have a generation capacity of up to 99 megawatts.
Business
ADNOC to deploy UAE-made drones
ADNOC's partnership with EDGE Group aimed at cutting emissions.
- EDGE’s autonomous systems arm, ADASI, will repurpose its existing UAVs for ADNOC to deploy in its operations, to minimize emissions and enhance environmental performance.
- ADNOC has allocated an initial $15 billion (AED55 billion) to lower-carbon solutions, new energies and decarbonization technologies.
Business
Value of Dubai realty deals up 40 percent in third quarter 2023
Dubai, UAE -- The value of real estate deals in Dubai increased by 40 percent to reach AED 97.55 billion...
- The emirate's market surged 22 percent in terms of transactions, with Q3 2023 recording 31,216 transactions compared to 25,503 in the same period in 2022.
- In terms of the number of transactions, Jumeirah Village Circle topped with 1,418 transactions, followed by Arjan (1,163) and Sobha Hartland (1,115).
Business
ADNOC signs pacts with 30 firms
This will create manufacturing opportunities worth $2.7bn.
- The new agreements, outline the companies’ intention to locally manufacture products potentially worth up to AED10 billion ($2.7 billion) in ADNOC’s supply chain, ADNOC said.
- Personal Protective Equipment, which will enhance the safety of operations across all ADNOC Group companies, are among the products to be produced locally.
Business
QatarEnergy awarded new Egypt offshore exploration block
Doha, Qatar -- QatarEnergy has been awarded a new exploration block offshore Egypt as part of the 2022 EGAS International...
- The block EGY-MED-E8 (East Port Said) was awarded to a consortium comprising of QatarEnergy (33 percent), ENI (Operator, 34 percent) and BP (33 percent).
- Qatar has a total of four offshore exploration blocks, including interests in Red Sea Block 3 and Block 4.
Company News
Latest News
NEOM launches ‘Topian’ to ensure climate-proof agriculture in Saudi
NEOM, Saudi Arabia: NEOM, a mega-city project in Saudi Arabia characterized by futuristic urban planning and advanced technologies, Sunday announced the...
Business
Over-confidence leaves UAE consumers prone to online frauds: Visa study
Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Over-confidence is leaving consumers in UAE open to becoming victims of fraud, according to Visa’s...
Business
Saudi Crown Prince launches urban plan of Qiddiya city
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, Prime Minister and Chairman of the board of directors of the...
Business
Most Read
Business
ROSHN, Retal sign $99m deal
363 single-family villas will be constructed in Riyadh.
- SEDRA, spanning eight phases over 35 million square meters, integrates nature and local heritage, creating a unique living experience.
- The latest agreement with Retal underscores the commitment to delivering a modern, upscale, and sustainable urban community, ROSHN said.
Real estate deals in Bahrain decline marginally in third quarter: CBRE
Manama, Bahrain - Real estate transactions in Bahrain recorded a marginal 2.5 percent decline in Q3 2023, totaling 5,145 compared to the...
- Quoted apartment sales experienced a slight decrease of 1.7 percent, while apartment rents rose by 3.2 percent.
- Villa rents and sales, on the other hand, saw significant increases of 4.3 percent and 1.2 percent, respectively
Geostrategy
Ambitious agreements mark Saudi Crown Prince’s Qatar visit
Doha, Qatar – Following a landmark visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to Qatar,...
- The two countries expressed deep concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the need for a comprehensive and just resolution to the Palestinian question.
- Economic and trade discussions focused on enhancing economic partnerships, diversifying trade, and investing in opportunities within the framework of their transformative visions.