Arrangements hailed as pilgrims leave Saudi Arabia after Hajj

• This year over 1.8 million worshippers performed the hajj, which is one of the five pillars of Islam and is among the world's largest religious gatherings
• This year's attendance figures marked a dramatic increase on the 926,000 from last year, when numbers were capped at one million following the Covid-19 pandemic

UAE, Armenia non-oil trade reaches $1.53bn in 2022

• The UAE is the top trading partner for Armenia in the GCC in 2021, accounting for 90 percent of Armenia's total trade with GCC countries
• The total UAE non-oil exports to Armenia amounted to almost $229 million in 2022, with a growth rate of 245 percent compared to 2021

France, UAE share vision to shift towards clean energy

• The UAE and his country are working together on low-carbon energy solutions, the French minister said.
• The minister highlighted the rising number of natural disasters globally caused by climate change.

Canada, others to seek damages from Iran at UN court over downed jet

• Iranian forces shot down Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 shortly after takeoff from Tehran on January 8, 2020, killing all 176 people on board
• Canada, Britain, Sweden and Ukraine - which had a number of citizens on board - have been seeking reparations on behalf of victims' families

IMF and Pakistan reach $3 billion stand-by deal

• The economy has been stricken by a balance-of-payments crisis, while months of political chaos have scared off potential foreign investment
• Inflation has rocketed, the rupee has reached a record low against the dollar, and the country can no longer afford imports

US to sell $440m in ammunition, parts to Taiwan

Gift purchases for MENA men to increase by 25% in 2023: study

• The rise in sales has been attributed to several factors such as the long-standing tradition of gift-giving as part of the celebrations, thereby driving the demand for gifts
• The introduction of new product categories specifically tailored to male recipients, including confectionery, live plants, perfume, and coffee also played a role

London Climate Action week: COP28 President-Designate urges investors to fund climate technology

• Dr Sultan Al Jaber also visited Octopus Energy and its founding CEO, Greg Jackson, in their London headquarters
• They discussed the latest technologies that support the rollout of renewable energy and storage solutions

UAE Head of Cyber Security leads delegation to conference in Israel

• The UAE delegation met with the stakeholders in the Israeli cyber ecosystem including investors and top experts.
• The visit provided valuable insights into the latest global trends in cybersecurity and allowed the participants to explore potential collaborations.

Gulf oil states on a charm offensive across South Pacific

• Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - two of the world's biggest crude oil producers - have been ramping up efforts to shed their reputations as global climate laggards
• Both have been lavishing money and attention on small, isolated and often indebted Pacific nations, where rising sea levels are already creeping up on low-lying coastal communities