US strikes Iran again as Trump says he is considering restarting major operations
Trump also said the United States would begin using frozen Iranian funds under US control to pay for damage to...
Geostrategy
1.1 billion children worldwide face three climate threats
Dubai, UAE -- Nearly half of the world's children – or around 1.1 billion children – are exposed to at...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Iran voices ‘serious doubts’ over Israel’s commitments, including the ceasefire
Iran also writes to the UN chief to recognize the Israeli regime and the United States as the "initiators of...
- According to Iran's health ministry, at least 627 civilians were killed and 4,900 injured during the 12-day war with Israel.
- Retaliatory missile attacks by Iran on Israel killed 28 people, according to Israeli authorities.
Geostrategy
Airlines suspend or reduce flights in Middle East after Iran strikes
British Airways cancelled flights between London's Heathrow Airport and Dubai and Doha on Sunday following the US strikes on Iran....
- Germany's Lufthansa group, whose other airlines include Swiss, Austrian and ITA, has suspended flights to the Middle East until June 30.
- Turkish airline Pegasus has scrapped flights to Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon until June 30, and Iran until July 30.
Geostrategy
MENA Brief | June 19: GCC central banks hold interest rates steady, Diriyah House launched in London
As most currencies in the region are pegged to the US dollar, monetary policy follows the decisions taken in Washington,...
- Saudi-based Cluster2 Airports Company signed a strategic MoU with Airbus. The agreement will see the deployment of the Agnet Turnaround platform across Cluster2’s 22 airports.
- Saudi National Bank (SNB) has issued $1.25 billion in Tier 2 bonds at a 6% profit rate under its $10 billion Euro Medium Term Note program.
Economy
MENA Brief – June 16: Netanyahu eyes Gaza breakthrough, Iran rejects talks, Trump at G7, UAE oil giant bids big
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says there’s a fresh opening to free hostages held in Gaza, backing a US-mediated proposal...
- In major energy news, Abu Dhabi’s state-owned oil company has launched an $18.7 billion takeover bid for Australia’s Santos, offering a 28% premium
- The UAE’s economic momentum remains strong: its GDP grew 4% in 2024 to AED1.77 trillion, driven by a 5% rise in non-oil sectors
Geostrategy
MENA Brief June 14: Iran-Israel War, Abu Dhabi Summit, Saudi Football Rise, & More
Tensions spiked as Iran fired ballistic missiles at Israel in retaliation for Israeli air raids that killed senior Iranian military...
- Tensions spiked as Iran fired ballistic missiles at Israel in retaliation for Israeli air raids that killed senior Iranian military leaders and hit nuclear sites
- French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that the planned UN conference on a two-state solution in New York has been delayed due to security and logistical concerns
Analysis
MENA Brief: Key Geopolitical, Defence, and Innovation Updates – June 11, 2025
Regional tensions, high-stakes defence deals, and new innovation-led collaborations defined the Middle East and North Africa landscape on Wednesday. Here’s...
- Turkey announced a landmark agreement to supply 48 domestically produced KAAN fifth-generation fighter jets to Indonesia
- Kuwait announced that expatriates working in the private sector will now require employer consent to leave the country
Geostrategy
MENA brief Jun 11: Umrah returns, ADGM surges, Abu Dhabi property market up
China has extended visa-free entry for up to 30 days to citizens of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain—boosting bilateral...
- Mashreq Bank’s debut $500 million sukuk listed on Nasdaq Dubai under its $2.5 billion program offers a 5.03 % profit yield.
- Nigeria’s planned $5 billion oil‑backed loan with Saudi Aramco is stalled amid falling Brent crude prices and production constraints.
Economy
From Iran Talks to Dubai Metro: Key Middle East Developments You Need to Know on June 10, 2025
Key developments across the Middle East today highlight regional diplomatic, economic and humanitarian trends
- Sheikh Mohammed launches 30km expansion featuring world's highest metro station (74m) to serve growing population
- After 12-year exclusion, Damascus prepares to reconnect to global banking network to formalize trade
Economy
Key MENA trends: M&A surge to five-year high, Saudi port activity rises in May
Qatar's foreign reserves rise 3.6 percent year-on-year despite a dip in bonds and treasury holdings, Iraq releases Australian and Egyptian...
- Egypt and Turkey continue their coordination on ceasefire efforts and humanitarian aid, as diplomatic momentum struggles against on-ground escalation.
- The ICRC has warned that the healthcare system is on the brink of collapse, with medical infrastructure under increasing strain from ongoing hostilities.
Economy
MENA Outlook: Diversification, AI, and economic integration take centre stage
As the region pivots toward a post-oil future, recent developments across the Middle East and North Africa suggest an accelerating...
- Saudi government announced a $5.6 billion fertilizer JV between SABIC and Aramco, while also adopting new green building codes to reduce emissions
- From launching the world’s first AI-powered media council to streamlining family business, Abu Dhabi and Dubai are reinventing the regulatory ecosystem to attract global capital
US strikes Iran again as Trump says he is considering restarting major operations
Trump also said the United States would begin using frozen Iranian funds under US control to pay for damage to...
Geostrategy
Company News
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Geneva talks loom as Trump backs regime change and redeploys second US carrier
The Pentagon confirmed that the USS Gerald R. Ford is being moved from the Caribbean toward the Middle East, a...
Geostrategy
Citizen-consumers are redefining the global reputation of multinationals: Ipsos study
The report, Impacts of Multinational Corporations: What Citizen-Consumers Want from Foreign Companies Doing Business in Their Country, draws on a...
Geostrategy
Web Summit Qatar 2026 in Doha draws 30,000 participants, global tech leaders
The summit features a high-profile lineup of speakers, including Canva co-founder Cliff Obrecht, IBM Chief Impact Officer Justina Nixon-Saintil, Twitch...
Most Read
How Sensodyne’s 5th Sense is turning oral care into experience
Haleon delivers better everyday health with humanity, as Sensodyne drives trusted innovation through The 5th Sense, Murtaza Mahfouz tells TRENDS
- Nearly half the population experiences tooth sensitivity, but two-thirds do not seek treatment, pointing to a major awareness gap, Murtaza Mahfouz told TRENDS
- Sensodyne’s ‘5th Sense’ uses immersive technologies like VR and multi-sensory design to position tooth sensitivity as a treatable condition, he adds
Opinion
To build a knowledge economy, the GCC must bet on its young minds
In Saudi Arabia, more than 60 percent of the population is under 30, and across the GCC, over 50 percent...
- This generational shift has been accelerated by national visions across the GCC, from Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 to Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030.
- The dynamic, which combines wisdom and creativity, is precisely what national visions need to scale.
Geostrategy
Who has been invited to be on Trump’s Gaza boards?
The White House said there would be a main board, chaired by Trump himself, a Palestinian committee of technocrats meant...
- BOARD OF PEACE - The White House says this body will focus on issues such as "governance capacity-building, regional relations, reconstruction, investment attraction.
- NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF GAZA - This body, made up of technocrats, will "oversee the restoration of core public services, the rebuilding of civil institutions.