GCC countries record $587.8 billion in nominal GDP by end of Q4 2024
Muscat, Oman -- The nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries reached US$587.8 billion by...
Economy
Dubai real estate transactions exceed $117.34 billion in first half of 2025
The number of new investors in the market reached 59,075, with investments totaling $42.74 billion, a 22 percent increase in...
Business
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.
Business
Borouge 2024 net profit $1.24bn
The company said it will maintain a $1.3bn dividend for 2025.
- EBITDA climbed 14 percent year-on-year to $2.48 billion, driven by a 4 percent year-on-year revenue increase to $6 billion.
- Sales volumes reached their highest-ever level of 5.3 million tonnes, supported by strategic positioning in high-growth markets across Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
GCC countries record $587.8 billion in nominal GDP by end of Q4 2024
Muscat, Oman -- The nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries reached US$587.8 billion by...
Economy
Company News
Latest News
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...
Analysis
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...
Geostrategy
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
Economy
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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
Economy
IMF upgrades Saudi real GDP growth forecast to 6% in 2025, up from
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revised upwards its forecast for Saudi Arabia's economic growth to...
- This adjustment from earlier estimates reflects the impact of extended oil production cuts and a slower-than-expected rebound in oil output.
- The IMF anticipates that inflation will remain contained, with an average annual rate holding steady at 2.1 percent in 2025 and easing slightly to 2 percent the following year.
Geostrategy
New WEF report reveals how tech convergence will reshape industries
Geneva, Switzerland – The World Economic Forum today released a new report examining how emerging technology combinations are reshaping industries...
- AI is a key enabler, making many emerging tech synergies commercially viable across industries.
- Digital twins, enhanced by AI and sensors, are expanding efficiency in sectors from aerospace to healthcare.