Pakistan encouraging US-Iran talks but says ‘time is of the essence’
Pakistan is continuing to play a behind-the-scenes diplomatic role between the United States and Iran as tensions remain high over...
Geostrategy
UK withdraws Tehran embassy staff as Trump weighs Iran strikes; JD Vance says “no chance” of long war
Reports suggest some of Trump’s advisers would prefer Israel to initiate any strike, calculating that American public opinion would be...
Geostrategy
Business
Binaa Al Bahrain aims to create expansive mixed-use projects
ABU DHABI, UAE – Chairman of Eagle Hills International Mohamed Alabbar has said that US$4 billion joint venture Binaa Al...
- Binaa Al Bahrain aims to contribute to Bahrain’s long-term development through its iconic projects.
- The JV aspires to create job opportunities for Bahrainis in the real estate, hospitality and healthcare.
Business
UAE-based banks aggregate capital, reserves reach US$131bn by end of November 2023
ABU DHABI, UAE- The aggregate capital and reserves of banks operating in the UAE increased 13.3 percent, reaching US$131 billion...
- The aggregate capital and reserves of UAE-based banks increased 12.3 percent or US$14.4 billion during the first 11 months of 2023
- National banks accounted for 86.5 percent of the total capital and reserves of UAE-based banks logging $113 billion by end of November 2023
Business
Real estate transactions worth over US$74m take place in Qatar in week
DOHA, QATAR - The volume of real estate trading in the country in sales contracts at the Department of Real...
- Total sales contracts for residential units in the Real Estate Bulletin for the same period were US$8 million.
- The list of real estate properties traded for sale include vacant lands, houses, a residential building, and residential units.
Geostrategy
ADGM’s Registration Authority fines two firms for audit failings
ABU DHABI, UAE – The Registration Authority (RA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market has fined Baker Tilly Middle East Limited...
- The RA fined Baker Tilly US$50,000 and Sturgeon US$12,500 for serious failings and gaps in the financial audit
- The RA expects ADGM firms to conduct and prepare audit reports in accordance with professional standards.
Business
Boursa Kuwait posts $51m net profit
Operating profit for 2023 was recorded at US$59 million.
- Total operating revenues of US$99 million were recorded for 2023.
- Consolidated assets came in at approximately US$386 million in 2023.
Business
e& 2023 net profit is US$2.8bn
e& said the net profit is a growth of 3 percent year-over-year.
- Consolidated revenues reached US$14.6 billion which is a growth of 8.3 percent year-over-year.
- Consolidated EBITDA rose by 3.7 percent year-over-year at constant exchange rates, to US$7.1 billion.
Business
Saudi Arabia’s oil exports fall by $13 billion in fourth quarter of 2023
In December, oil exports fell by SAR 13.5 billion or 15.8% to SAR 72 billion ($19 billion) from SAR 85.5...
- Non-oil exports (including re-exports) decreased by 1.2 percent, compared to Q4 2022, decreasing to SAR 71.1 billion from SAR 71.9 billion in Q4 2022.
- In Q4 2023, exports to China amounted to SAR 50.2 billion (16.9 percent of total exports), making this country the main destination for the Kingdom’s exports.
Business
Construction costs set to rise in UAE, Saudi Arabia in 2024: Report
Dubai, UAE -- Construction costs are set to increase in the UAE by 2-3 percent, and in Saudi Arabia by 5-7...
- Construction costs are set to increase in the UAE by 2-3 percent, and in Saudi Arabia by 5-7 percent in 2024.
- Increases will challenge construction firms, which will need to develop new processes and capabilities to keep costs under control and projects on track.
Business
Qatar’s Industrial Production Index up 3.9% in Dec 2023
Doha, Qatar -- Qatar's Industrial Production index (IPI) in December 2023 reached 95.3 points, an increase of 3.9 percent compared...
- IPI reflects the growth of details of the growth of the various industrial economic sectors, with different relative weights, such mining and quarrying (82.46 percent).
- The index of mining sector showed an increase by 5 percent compared to the previous month, due to increase in the quantities of crude oil petroleum and natural gas.
Economy
Oil may rise to $100, gold to hit $3,000 by 2025, says Citi
ABU DHABI, UAE - Oil prices could rise to $100 per barrel and gold prices could reach $3,000 per ounce...
- Analysts say gold is currently trading at $2,016 and could surge by about 50 percent if central banks dramatically increase purchases.
- Another factor that could drive gold prices is the global economy's deep recession, which could prompt the Federal Reserve to cut rates rapidly.
Pakistan encouraging US-Iran talks but says ‘time is of the essence’
Pakistan is continuing to play a behind-the-scenes diplomatic role between the United States and Iran as tensions remain high over...
Geostrategy
Company News
ADIB H1 pre-tax profit $1.08bn
Business
Latest News
ADNOC shifts OMV stake to XRG
Business
ATP and Saudi Arabia’s PIF launch new tennis tech platform
NEW YORK and RIYADH — The ATP Tour, in a landmark partnership with the Public Investment Fund (PIF), has unveiled...
Geostrategy
Austrian university develops technique to renew buildings without demolition
Vienna, Austria - A research team from Graz University of Technology in Austria has succeeded in developing an innovative fastening...
Science
US developers report half of new electric generating capacity will come from solar
Washington, United States - Developers added 12 gigawatts (GW) of new utility-scale solar electric generating capacity in the United States...
Economy
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Economy
Gross national income of GCC countries hits $2.143 trillion
Muscat, Oman -- The latest data released by the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of...
- The value of disposable national income (available for consumption and savings after deducting taxes and other transfers) amounted to US$1.989 trillion.
- The data indicate that the contribution of the non-oil sector to the GCC’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at current prices rose to 71.5 percent by the end of 2023.
Business
TAQA H1 net income $1bn
The group's revenue reached $7.73 billion.
- This growth was led by higher pass-through costs in the Transmission & Distribution (T&D) segment.
- The group reduced its gross debt position to AED61.7 billion, enabled by scheduled repayments and the maturity of a corporate bond.
Economy
Dubai GDP grows by 4 percent to reach $32.58 billion in first quarter of 2025
Human Health and Social Work activities registered the highest growth rate, rising 26 percent compared to the same period last...
- Real Estate activities grew by 7.8 percent, while financial and insurance activities expanded by 5.9 percent.
- Accommodation and food service activities recorded a 3.4 percent increase, and transport and storage rose by 2 percent.