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...
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...
Economy
Business
DP World posts record $20bn revenue
The adjusted EBITDA rose by 6.7% to $5.5bn in 2024.
- DP World capacity exceeded 100 million TEU due to selective infrastructure investment in key growth markets.
- Capital expenditure of $2.2 billion ($2.1 billion in 2023) was invested across the existing portfolio.
Business
Meraas awards $544m contract
It has been awarded for construction of Design Quarter at d3
- It includes the first residential community within Dubai Design District (d3), a global creative and design ecosystem.
- Scheduled for completion by mid-2027, the Design Quarter at d3 comprises a collection of 558 apartments.
Interview
Tech and sustainability drive Singapore’s smart tourism vision
To realize its vision for “smart tourism”, Singapore Tourism Board is leveraging cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, data analytics, and...
- STB’s Tcube, a hybrid innovation space launched in 2021, has helped tourism businesses introduce tech solutions, including Al, into their operations.
- More than 1,100 tourism companies have benefited from Tcube programs. Its Singapore Tourism Accelerator has supported 47 start-ups to develop 58 industry solutions across 6 cohorts
Business
Salik 2024 net profit before taxes $348m
The toll operator's revenue increased by 6% to $626 million.
- The company said that EBITDA for the full year reached AED1.6 billion, a 13.6 percent YoY growth.
- The Board of Directors proposes a dividend of AED619.8 million to be paid during H1 2025 (equivalent to 8.2645 fils per share).
Economy
Saudi Arabia’s inflation rate 2 percent in Jan, rental prices main driver
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia's annual inflation rate in Jan 2025 reached 2 percent compared to January 2024, the...
- According to GASTAT, Saudi Arabia's inflation rate is considered the lowest among the G20 countries.
- CPI measures the prices paid by consumers for a fixed basket of goods and services consisting of 490 items.
Business
AD Ports Group 2024 net profit $484m
The Group's revenue increased 48 percent year-on-year.
- Net profit attributable to owners grew 24 percent YoY to AED1.33 billion led by strong operating performance.
- Total assets grew by 15 percent YoY to AED63.70 billion in 2024 while total equity increased 15 percent YoY to AED27.83 billion.
Business
ADNOC L&S 2024 net profit $756m
The company's revenue increased by 29 percent to $3.54 billion.
- EBITDA rose by 31 percent to $1.149 billion (AED 4.219 billion) in the same period, driven by robust performance across all business segments.
- The Company's Q4 revenue increased by 6 percent year-on-year (y-o-y) to $881 million (AED 3.237 billion).
Business
ADNOC Distribution 2024 net profit down 7%
Minus UAE corporate tax, it would have grown by 2.4% to $725m
- The company achieved its highest-ever (EBITDA) of $1.05 billion (AED3.86 billion), an increase of 4.8 percent year-on-year.
- The company's Board of Directors has recommended a cash dividend of $350 million (AED1.285 billion) for H2 2024.
Economy
IMF projects 3.3% global growth for 2025, MENA to rebound to 3.6%
Dubai, UAE -- The International Monterey Fund (IMF) has projected global growth to remain at 3.3 percent this year and...
- IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said that growth in the Middle East and North Africa is expected to rebound to about 3.6 percent in 2025.
- She warned that global public debt is projected to hit 100 percent of global GDP by 2030.
Business
UAE non-oil foreign trade up by 14.6% in 2024 to reach $816bn
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- UAE's non-oil foreign trade increased by a record 14.6 percent in 2024, compared to 2023, reaching...
- He said that of all the positive indicators, the most encouraging is the increasing contribution of non-oil exports to UAE's foreign trade.
- Last year, they climbed 27.6 percent in to reach a record AED561.2 billion – nearly 70 percent of the AED800 billion target.
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...
Economy
Company News
Latest News
ADNOC’s listed companies post over $2.3 billion net profit in first quarter
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- ADNOC Group's publicly traded portfolio companies combined to deliver over $2.3 billion (AED8.4 billion) in first...
Business
Massive GCC infrastructure investments set stage for rising foreign equity: Franklin Templeton
The Franklin Templeton Emerging Markets Equity outlook emphasizes how GCC countries have reduced their dependence on oil and gas, opened...
Economy
Two-State solution nearing point of no return: UN chief
He renewed calls for an immediate and lasting ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and full humanitarian access. He...
Geostrategy
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Business
SAIB reports $139 million Q1 net profit
its assets increased by 20.08 percent to $43.65bn.
- The profit growth was driven by a 4.7% year-on-year (YoY) hike in the first-quarter net special commission income, mainly due to higher returns from financing and investment
- Its clients' deposits were valued at SAR 101.66 billion, which is 14.96 percent higher than SAR 88.43 billion a year ago.
Business
Emirates Islamic Q1 profit $394m
The bank's profit crossed AED 1bn mark for the first time.
- Total income rose 8 percent year-on-year to AED1.45 billion ($394 million) in Q1 2025.
- Operating profit increased by 5 percent compared to Q1 2024, while the net profit margin remained robust at 3.85 percent.
Business
Bank credit to Saudi public and private sectors up by $105 billion: SAMA
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Total bank credit granted to the public and private sectors in Saudi Arabia reached its highest...
- Total bank credit recorded a monthly growth of 1.2%, increasing by SAR 37.035 billion compared to last Jan, when it stood at SAR 3.005 trillion.
- The bank credit granted to the public and private sectors was distributed across more than 17 diverse economic activities.