Syria processes first international card payment in 15 years
Dubai, UAE -- Syria has processed its first international card payment in more than 15 years, Mastercard and QNB Group...
Business
Iran says Hormuz remains closed despite transit agreement with Oman
US president Donald Trump, meanwhile, says that all mines have been cleared from the waterway's international waters and that Tehran...
Geostrategy
Business
Emaar 2023 revenue at $7.3bn
Emaar property sales rose to US$ 11 billion in 2023.
- Emaar also achieved 63 percent growth in EBITDA, reaching US$4.4 billion (AED 16 billion) during 2023 as compared to 2022.
- This performance was supported by growth in tourism, a continued upward trend in retail sales and a consistent increase in real estate demand.
Business
UAB net profit grows 65%
Total assets grew 25% in 2023 on strong growth in loans, advances.
- UAB’s financial performance was aided by significant progress across the core businesses with total operating income recording a 15 percent growth.
- Total assets grew 25 percent year-on-year in FY 2023 to AED17.6 billion, driven by the strong growth in loans, advances, and Islamic financing.
Business
Presight net profit $155m
The net profit grew by 5.1 percent to $155 million.
- The company said the financial results were underpinned by major domestic project deployments throughout the year and more so in the last quarter of the year.
- Presight listed on the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange on March 27, 2023, with an offering, excluding its corner stone investor, that was oversubscribed 136 times.
Business
Dubai Land Department records $172bn in realty deals in 2023
Dubai, UAE -- The Dubai Land Department (DLD) records an all-time high of 1.6 million transactions worth AED 634 billion...
- Real estate investments' value grew by 55 percent during the same period, reaching approximately AED 412 billion.
- There were 157,798 investments attributed to 113,655 owners, including 71,002 new investors, indicating a 20 percent increase.
Business
ADNOC Distribution posts record EBITDA
The EDITDA of $1bn benefited from OPEX saving of $28m.
- The company said it successfully delivered on the five-year target it communicated to the market during its first Capital Markets Day in May 2019.
- The company recommended a dividend of $350 million for the second half of 2023.
Geostrategy
Halting funding to UNRWA perils Middle East stability: Arab League
Cairo, Egypt -- The potential termination of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East...
- According to the Arab League secretary general, "the desire of some countries to exclude the role of UNRWA by suspending its funding is a moral, humanitarian and security mistake."
- He said this "dangerous trend" is consistent with the position of right-wing parties in Israel, which have always sought and are still seeking to limit UNRWA's activities.
Geostrategy
4,895 students killed, 400 schools damaged in Palestinian territories
The Palestinian Ministry of Education said more than 4,851 students were killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, while 8,227 others...
- The Ministry said that 239 teachers and administrators were killed and 836 were injured in the Gaza Strip and six were injured and more than 71 detained in the West Bank.
- Nearly 90% of government school and education buildings were directly or indirectly damaged, while 29% were damaged to an extent that they are not operational anymore.
Business
Maqta acquires stake in Dubai Technologies
The majority stake was acquired for $7.6 million.
- The founder will retain a 40 percent stake in the company, and the existing leadership team will remain in management to deliver on the strategic growth plans.
- The company's FY2023 financial performance recorded revenues of AED70.5 million and EBITDA of AED8.4 million.
Business
Saudi, UAE ‘prior’ countries for Russia’s inbound tourism push
Moscow, Russia -- China, India, Iran, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia will become prior countries for Russia...
- In 2024, attention will be given to five prior countries: China, India, Iran, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, said Director General of the Center for Strategic Research Pavel Smelov.
- "It is expected that by 2030 the implementation of the concept presented will result in the annual flow of 16 million foreign tourists," he said.
48 Middle East and North Africa IPOs raise $10.7bn in 2023: Report
Five listings, mainly in the energy and logistics sectors, contributed 58 percent towards the total IPO proceeds raised, said the...
- During Q4 2023, 19 IPOs raised US$4.9bn in proceeds. ADES Holding Company raise the most funds and contributed 25% to the overall IPO in Q4.
- Saudi Arabia dominated IPO activity in the region with 14 of the 19 listings in Q4 2023. ADES was the biggest with US$1.2bn in proceeds.
Syria processes first international card payment in 15 years
Dubai, UAE -- Syria has processed its first international card payment in more than 15 years, Mastercard and QNB Group...
Business
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Emirates becomes first airline cargo carrier to deploy Boeing 777-300ERSF
Dubai, UAE -- Emirates is marking a significant milestone in the expansion of its cargo fleet by becoming the first...
Business
Iran demands MoU implementation before US talks in Doha
Trump said US envoys were travelling to Qatar for what he described as a "perhaps important, perhaps not" meeting, adding...
Geostrategy
GCC asset management reaches $2.7 trillion as retail growth outpaces institutions
Boston Consulting Group says regional asset managers must strengthen distribution capabilities and technology adoption as industry competition intensifies globally.
Business
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Business
OpenAI limits release of new model after US government request
Dubai, UAE --Â ChatGPT developer OpenAI is restricting access to its latest artificial intelligence (AI) model at the request of...
- OpenAI launched a limited preview of its GPT-5.6 models after a request from the US government before wider release.
- The preview includes Sol, Terra and Luna models, initially available only to a small group of trusted partners.
Business
Sharjah Chamber registers 30,000 memberships in H1
Dubai, UAE -- The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) reported an impressive surge in registered memberships in the...
- Saudi Arabia ranked as Sharjah’s largest export destination, with the total export and re-export values surpassing AED1.5 billion, followed by Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, and Ethiopia.
- SCCI reported 26,100 membership renewals across industrial, commercial, and professional sectors and 900 free zone memberships (new and renewed
Business
Saudi Arabia mandates tougher money laundering risk assessments
Dubai, UAE -- Saudi Arabia has updated the executive regulations of its Anti-Money Laundering Law, introducing stricter disclosure requirements for...
- Travellers must declare cash, gold, jewellery and precious items worth SAR40,000 or more when entering or leaving the kingdom.
- New rules establish Riyadh as headquarters of the General Directorate of Financial Intelligence, with authority to open nationwide branches.