Rights group slams Meta for silencing pro-Palestinian voices
"Meta's censorship of content in support of Palestine adds insult to injury at a time of unspeakable atrocities and repression...
Geostrategy
Business
Qatar bid for Man Utd awaiting clarity after reports of exclusivity offer
London, United Kingdom -- A source close to Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani said Thursday that the Qatari bidders...
- United announced in November that the board was exploring "strategic alternatives to enhance the club's growth", with a full sale one of the options.
- Sheikh Jassim made a final bid for the club and it is understood that his offer is viewed more favorably by the owners than a rival bid from British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe.
Economy
Saudi inflation in May rises slightly to 2.8% on higher rents
Dubai, UAE -- Saudi Arabia’s inflation increased by 2.8%, compared to May 2022, slightly higher than April 2023 (2.7 percent),...
- The main driver of CPI inflation in May was the higher prices of housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels by 8.4 percent, and food and beverages by 0.9 percent.
- The cost-of-living index for May rose to 109.37 points, according to the base year 2018, from 106.42 points in the same month a year earlier.
Business
Tecom secures $2.06bn loan
This facility replaces an existing partially utilized term loan of the same amount.
- The loan is split into a term loan of AED 4.4 billion, equivalent to the drawn-down amount from the previous agreement, and a revolving credit facility of AED 3.2 billion.
- The company said the new loan facility offers greater financial flexibility and more favorable terms, resulting in immediate interest expense savings over the five-year period.
Business
Mawani to set up $533m petroleum products storage center
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Ports, known as Mawani, has joined forces with Albanova International Company,...
- This initiative is part of a project aimed at developing a leading center for bunkering ships at King Fahd Industrial Port in Yanbu.
- The 393,000-square-meter center aims to accommodate storage tanks for trading, blending, and storing petroleum materials, meeting the logistical demands of the petroleum industry.
Business
SABIC okays $1.43bn H1 dividend
SABIC's board cleared an 18 percent cash dividend at $0.48 per share.
- SABIC had reported a 90 percent decline in net income to SAR 0.66 billion ($177 million) in the first quarter, compared to SAR 6.47 billion ($1.77 billion) in Q1 2022.
- SABIC paid a total cash dividend of SAR 12.75 billion for 2022, or 42.5 percent of its net income, in two instalments.
Business
UAE to see second biggest migration of millionaires in 2023: Report
Dubai, UAE -- The United Arab Emirates will see the second biggest migration of high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) in 2023 with...
- Other countries in the top 10 include Singapore, the US, Switzerland, Canada, Greece, France, Portugal, and New Zealand.
- The countries that are predicted to lose the most millionaires in 2023 include China (13,500), India (8,000), UK (3,200) and Russia (3,000).
Business
Mubadala-Proprium joint venture formed
The joint venture will invest in Japanese multifamily property.
- The $600 million venture will focus on acquiring and managing high-quality, stabilized rental properties in Tokyo and Osaka.
- The joint venture will also target sustainability initiatives, such as reducing the carbon footprint of its properties, Mubadala said in a statement.
Videos
GCC banking’s tech shift saves time, money
GCC banks started adopting online and mobile banking, and ATMs, in the 1990s and 2000s. More recently, they've integrated advanced...
- As of 2019, there were over 5,000 bank branches in the GCC region, catering to a population exceeding 50 million.
- On average, customers spent about 30 minutes in these branches to avail themselves of banking services.
Economy
Investments focus as KSA gets Civil Transactions Law
The new law seeks to provide a robust legal framework governing all contracts and transactions, instilling confidence in business sector...
- The new law seeks to provide a robust legal framework governing all contracts and transactions, instilling confidence in business sector and fostering growth across industries
- To ensure fairness and transparency in business dealings, the Saudi law brings clarity and consistency to the legal landscape while increasing the ability to predict judgments
Geostrategy
Gulf nations stress on cementing unity, pledge support for Palestine
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- The Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has stressed the need for coordination, integration...
- The Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council approved the foreign action plan in the field of human rights for the years 2023-2026.
- It emphasized on the completion of the requirements for finalizing the Customs Union and ensuring equal treatment for citizens within the GCC Common Market.
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Revenue from Saudi cinema may exceed $1bn by 2030KSA, UAE play well as e-gaming trends across GCCExclusive: Middle East’s retail sector rides on AR and hybrid shopping to become $600bn digital economyTECOM Group profit soars 13%UAE startups eye Saudi Arabia for growth, expansionSaudi Arabia leads GCC AI healthcare raceDisparity remains as Saudis, Emiratis see wealth gains
Company News
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ACWA Power 9M net profit up 22%
The company said higher operating income was the main driver.
Business
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Business
Agreements worth $3.54bn inked at Global Health Exhibition
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- A total of 138 agreements, MoUs and deals worth more than SAR 13.3 billion ($3.54 billion)...
- More than 300 local, regional and international companies from 29 countries presented the latest healthcare innovations and technologies at the event.
- The exhibition, in its sixth edition, offered health practitioners 30-credit-hour of Continuing Medical Education (CME) programs.
Business
Second quarter foreign investments in Saudi Arabia hit $666bn
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Foreign investments in Saudi Arabia increased 4 percent year-on-year (YoY) to SAR 2.50 trillion ($666. 39...
- The foreign investment balance recorded an increase of 5 percent quarter-on-quarter, or nearly SAR 109.9 billion.
- Foreign direct investments (FDIs) represent 41 percent, or SAR 1.02 trillion, of total investments, Argaam reported.
Business
e& net profit up 20% in Q3
The company's revenues increased by 3.3 percent to $3.64 billion.
- The company said that at constant exchange rates, consolidated revenue increased by 8 percent and consolidated EBITDA increased by 6.9 per cent.
- The number of etisalat by e& subscribers in the UAE reached 14.0 million in Q3 2023, representing an increase of 4.7 percent.