Telegraph report on Hizbollah weapons at Beirut airport sparks outrage
Dubai, UAE - An article in The Telegraph alleging that Hizbollah is stockpiling Iranian weapons at Beirut International Airport (BIA)...
Geostrategy
Saudi Arabia partners with Microsoft Arabia for AI use in media
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - The Ministry of Media and Microsoft Arabia signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Riyadh on...
Business
Business
NEOM unveils Utamo, a $500bn project to showcase world’s mega artists
NEOM, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia's $500 billion mega project, has introduced Utamo, a new art and entertainment destination set...
- Described by NEOM as "an innovative and multipurpose event and performance space," Utamo features VIP lounges and signature restaurants
- NEOM envisions Utamo as a venue where "reality and the digital realm converge," aiming to redefine entertainment benchmarks
Economy
GCC countries follow US Federal Reserve’s lead in holding interest rates
Abu Dhabi, UAE – The Central Banks of the United Arab Emirates and Qatar have chosen to maintain their current...
- The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) announced that it would keep the Base Rate for the Overnight Deposit Facility (ODF) steady at 5.40 percent
- Following suit, Qatar Central Bank (QCB) also maintained its current interest rates, including the rates for deposit, lending, and repurchase agreements
Business
Andalusia Labs secures $48m funding
The company deals in risk management infrastructure for digital assets.
- Silicon Valley venture capital firm Lightspeed Venture Partners led the round with participation from Mubadala Capital
- Andalusia Labs is a collection of leading technology solutions addressing the security challenges prevalent in the blockchain industry
G42’s split from China could spur other GCC firms to follow suit
Dubai, UAE - With the UAE-based G42's decision to align with US directives by severing ties with Chinese tech partners...
- The G42’s move follows concerns raised by US national security personnel regarding potential espionage risks from Chinese firms
- The ripple effect of G42's decision could extend to other tech companies in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region
Economy
China, Saudi Arabia sign 60 pacts worth $25bn at Beijing conference
Beijing, China - China and Saudi Arabia signed over 60 MoUs and agreements worth over $25 billion at the investment...
- Over 60 MoUs and agreements worth over $25 billion were signed at the China-Saudi Investment Conference
- Agreements were signed in key sectors including energy, agriculture, tourism, mining, financial services, etc
Business
CBUAE joins the Gulf payments system AFAQ
Abu Dhabi, UAE - The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) joined AFAQ Payments System, which is operated by the Gulf...
- Along with the CBUAE, Barclays Bank joined the AFAQ system, becoming the first financial institution operating in the UAE to achieve this step and begin using the system’s services
- To date, the Central Bank of Bahrain, the Saudi Central Bank, and the Central Bank of Kuwait have joined "AFAQ", in addition to a number of commercial banks from these countries
Economy
Global trade likely to decline in 2023 due to changing trade patterns, geopolitics
DUBAI, UAE - The outlook for 2024 remains “highly uncertain and generally pessimistic,” UNCTAD says in the Global Trade Update,...
- Other elements affecting trade include lower demand in developed countries, less trade in East Asia and an uptick in trade-restrictive measures.
- The elements also include an uptick in trade-restrictive measures and lengthening supply chains, particularly between China and the US.
Research
Google releases the top trending searches of the year in MENA
Dubai, UAE - Google on Monday released the top trending searches of 2023 for the Middle East and North Africa....
- Saudi Arabia has been searching for football throughout the year, with many events and tournaments happening on-ground
- In the news list in Egypt, the war in Palestine ranked first, followed by the devaluation of the Egyptian Pound
Business
Riyadh Season draws 9 million visitors to its entertainment zones
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - The number of visitors to Riyadh Season has surged to over 9 million, indicating a significant...
- Riyadh Season, marked by the slogan "Big Time," completed the spectrum of entertainment choices with top-tier events and festivals across various zones
- Boulevard City zone emerged as a site filled with entertainment options, along with Boulevard World which features a variety of international cultures
SEWA seeks to enhance cooperation with Siemens Energy
Sharjah, UAE -- Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority (SEWA), has decided to enhance cooperation with Siemens Energy.in developing energy...
- Heads of both the companies on Sunday discussed the latest developments in the energy sector
- SEWA commited to cooperate with all local and international bodies to apply the latest technologies and digital transformation
Telegraph report on Hizbollah weapons at Beirut airport sparks outrage
Dubai, UAE - An article in The Telegraph alleging that Hizbollah is stockpiling Iranian weapons at Beirut International Airport (BIA)...
Geostrategy
Company News
Latest News
ADNOC buys 25% stake in OMV
Business
QFC signs two MoUs
Business
Global child deaths reach historic low in 2022: UN report
Geneva, Switzerland – The number of children who died before their fifth birthday has reached a historic low, dropping to...
Over 70% report revenue surge in UAE from digital payments, Visa finds
Dubai, UAE - More than 70% of surveyed retailers in the UAE have experienced increased revenue and higher customer footfall since...
Business
Parkin to give more shares to retail investors in its IPO
Dubai, UAE - Parkin Company on Tuesday announced an increase in the number of shares offered in the UAE Retail...
Business
Most Read
Economy
Baghdad, Tehran in talks to import gas from Turkmenistan
Tehran, Iran - Baghdad and Tehran are currently engaged in negotiations to facilitate the import of gas from Turkmenistan, with...
- The pact provides for supplying Iraq with 51 million M3 per day, Iraqi minister of electricity Luay Al-Khatteeb said
- He further noted that the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity has fulfilled all gas-related payments to Iran
Economy
$2bn earmarked for Saudi real estate by Muslim global HWNIs
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Muslim global high net worth individuals (HNWI) are prepared to spend US$ 1.96 billion on real...
- Makkah (30%) has emerged as the top wish list city by Muslim HNWI for real estate purchases in Saudi, while Riyadh (25%) ranks second
- Prices in Makkah have risen by an average of 5.5% over the last 3 years, compared to 5% in Madinah over the same period
Business
Jafza reports 28% year-on-year growth in 2023 of new Indian companies
DUBAI, UAE – Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) is a major contributor to the growing trade between India and the...
- Over 190 new Indian businesses and a total of more than 1,500 Indian companies have set up business in Jafza.
- This move aims to assist Indian businesses in accessing markets across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.