GCC countries attract $523.4bn in foreign investment in 2023
Muscat, Oman -- The GCC countries have seen a steady rise in foreign investment, according to data from the Statistical...
Business
Building a secure future: Key takeaways from WEF’s Dubai meetings
The Annual Meeting on Cybersecurity, held jointly with the Global Future Councils, focused on strengthening global cooperation to enhance digital...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Israel accounts for 46 percent of global Jewish population
TEL AVIV, ISRAEL – The total global Jewish population rose to 15.7 million over the last year, while the number...
- Data showed that the global Jewish population grew by some 100,000 over the past year.
- The US has the second-largest Jewish population in the world, after Israel, - at 6.3 million.
Geostrategy
UAE, China’s Hainan Province ink multiple deals to boost trade, economic ties
DUBAI, UAE - The UAE and China's Hainan Province have signed four major private-sector agreements aimed at boosting the rapidly...
- UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade promoted the country’s unrivalled access to global markets, which have been enhanced by CEPA program.
- He highlighted the growing relationship between Hainan and the UAE, which resulted in bilateral non-oil trade doubling in 2022 to reach $900 million.
Business
Saudi business delegation visits ZSBVC steel factory in Vietnam
HANOI, VIETNAM - A delegation of 80 Saudi businessmen, representing over 50 companies, and representatives from national specialized bodies and...
- The visit aims to explore investment opportunities, enhance trade, investment and industrial cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Vietnam.
- The visiting delegation was briefed on the production lines at Zamil Steel Building Vietnam Co and witnessed the skill of the workers.
Geostrategy
Transfer of Iran’s unfrozen foreign assets to Qatari banks soon
TEHRAN, IRAN – The foreign minister of Qatar said the procedures for the transfer of Iran’s unfrozen foreign assets to...
- Qatar has been a mediator in talks that led to a prisoner exchange deal between Iran and the United States.
- The deal involves the release of five prisoners from each side and the unfreezing of some US$6 billion worth of Iranian funds.
Business
Emirates NBD Group invests in sustainability startup Erguvan
Dubai, UAE - Emirates NBD made an investment in Erguvan, a climate and financial technology venture aimed at providing financial...
- The investment was made via Deniz Ventures, an investment fund launched by DenizBank A.S., Türkiye, under the umbrella of Emirates NBD Innovation Fund
- The Group-wide fund was created to enable investments in FinTech, SustainTech and Tech companies and start-ups across Emirates NBD’s key markets
Geostrategy
Diverse business models needed for trade with China, say Union of Arab Chambers
BEIRUT, LEBANON – The secretary general of the Union of Arab Chambers has called for diversified business models to facilitate...
- The secretary general of the Union of Arab Chambers said there was a rise in the variety of goods traded between China and the Arab world in recent years.
- Arab nations and China cannot simply rely on the traditional pattern of cooperation that emphasizes on imports and exports of products.
Geostrategy
Relations with Iran will be strong, says Saudi envoy
TEHRAN, IRAN - Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to Iran Abdullah bin Saud al-Anzi has said that relations between the two countries...
- The Saudi envoy expressed satisfaction with his country's ties with Iran and the two sides' resumption of bilateral diplomatic relations.
- He said that any pact between Saudi Arabia and Iran will lead to the enhancement of peace and security in the entire region.
Business
Agthia okays H1’23 interim dividend
The interim dividend reflects the firm’s robust balance sheet.
- Agthia Group had announced strong first-half results, with group net revenue increasing 10.3 percent year-on-year to US$599 million.
- EBITDA increased 18.3 percent supported by margin expansion in snacking, protein, water and food, and a 6.6 percent increase in group net profit.
Business
ADNOC L&S boosts barge fleet
With the latest acquisition, the firm now owns 39 JUBs.
- This expansion comes when JUB charter rates are robust due to the high demand for offshore services.
- One of the JUBs will serve the Iraqi market, marking ADNOC L&S’ entry into a new market and supporting the firm’s regional expansion.
Business
Iran-US non-oil trade reaches US$31m in January-July 2023
TEHRAN, IRAN - The US Bureau of Statistics in its latest report said the trade between Iran and the United...
- Trade between Iran and the US in January- July 2023 registered a 26 percent growth compared to the same period last year.
- Iran and the United States had traded US$24.7 million worth of non-oil products from January to July 2022.
GCC countries attract $523.4bn in foreign investment in 2023
Muscat, Oman -- The GCC countries have seen a steady rise in foreign investment, according to data from the Statistical...
Business
Company News
RAKBANK, DP World sign pact
Business
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Alpha Dhabi acquires interest in NCTH
The deal increases NCTH's portfolio to 8 hotels with 1,500 keys.
Business
Fourth Industrial Revolution centers announced for Riyadh, Muscat, Pretoria
Davos, Switzerland -- The World Economic Forum (WEF) has announced signing agreements for three new Centers for the Fourth Industrial...
World Economic Forum
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GCC equity markets ended 2024 in positive territory
Five of seven GCC equity market indices under coverage ended 2024 on the rise, according to an in-depth report on GCC equity...
- DFM led its peers, wrapping up 2024 with an annual rise of 27 percent
- GCC traded values rose at an annualized rate of about 29 percent in 2024,
Geostrategy
18 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes on northern, southern Gaza
Palestinian news agency (WAFA) reported that eight Palestinians were killed, and others were injured in an airstrike by the Israeli...
- In Khan Younis, in southern Gaza Strip, six Palestinians were killed, and others were injured in an airstrike by the Israeli forces targeting a building in the city center.
- Moreover, three Palestinians, including a woman, were injured when Israeli aircraft bombed a school sheltering displaced people northwest of Nuseirat in central Gaza Strip.
Business
NDMC arranges $2.5bn credit facility
The Shariah-compliant facility spans a tenure of three years.
- It is aimed at financing the general budgetary needs and was secured with the participation of three regional and international financial institutions.
- The arrangement of these credit facilities aligns with the Kingdom's medium-term public debt strategy, aimed at diversifying funding channels.