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
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...
Economy
Business
Saudi Central Bank licenses debt-based crowdfunding finance firm Manafa
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia---The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) has licensed Manafa, a finance company specialized in debt-based crowdfunding in the kingdom....
- Manafa  is a closed joint-stock company with a capital of SAR 40 million.
- The license was granted to the company after a successful trial run in SAMA's Regulatory Sandbox, an experimental environment dedicated to innovative financial products, services.
Business
Dubai records over $462 million in real estate transactions: DLD
Dubai, UAE--- Dubai real estate market recorded deals worth AED1.7 billion ($462 million) on Thursday, according to Dubai Land Department....
- The deals included 617 sales transactions worth AED1.45 billion, in addition to 85 mortgage deals of AED257.35 million, and 19 gift deals amounting to AED34.64 million.
- The sales included 532 villas and apartments worth AED1.11 billion, and 85 land plots worth AED338.47 million.
Economy
Qatar Central Bank’s foreign reserves surge 6.82 percent in Nov
Doha, Qatar---The foreign currency reserves and liquidity of the Qatar Central Bank (QCB) increased by 6.82 percent to reach QR...
- The figures issued by the QCB show the bank's official reserves increased by the end of November 2022 year-on-year by about QR 13.169 billion to reach QR 166.109 billion.
- The rise has been driven by the increase in the QCB's balances of bonds and foreign treasury bills by about QR 18.896 billion to the level of QR 124.656 billion in November 2022.
Geostrategy
Lebanon parliament fails to elect president for the ninth time
Parliament is split between supporters of the powerful Iran-backed Hezbollah movement and its opponents, neither of whom have a clear...
- Hezbollah opponent Michel Moawad, who is seen as close to the United States, won the support of 39 MPs but fell well short of the required majority.
- Moawad's candidacy is opposed by Hezbollah, whose leader Hassan Nasrallah called last month for a president ready to stand up to Washington.
Geostrategy
WHO member states agree to develop draft of pandemic accord in early 2023
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - Member states of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Thursday agreed to develop the first draft of a...
- This zero draft of the pandemic accord, rooted in the WHO Constitution, will be discussed by member states in February 2023.
- The agreement by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body, comprising WHO’s 194 member states, was a milestone in the global process to learn from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Geostrategy
Netanyahu secures parliament majority, closer to forming govt
Some Israeli political analysts had forecast that Netanyahu would move to announce a coalition days after receiving his mandate from...
- In Israel's fifth election in less than four years, held on November 1, Netanyahu's right-wing alliance triumphed with ease
- Although a final coalition agreement has not yet been signed, the agreement with Shas gives Netanyahu control over 64 of the 120 seats in the Knesset
Business
ADEX to provide US$25m funding to Togo to raise solar park capacity
The Abu Dhabi Exports Office (ADEX) has signed an agreement with Togo’s Ministry of Economy and Finance to raise the...
- The Abu Dhabi Exports Office will provide a loan of US$25 million, while the Emirati company EMEA Power will undertake the construction and operation of the new complex
- In 2021, Abu Dhabi Fund for Development financed the first phase of Mohamed bin Zayed Solar Energy Complex at a value of $15 million
Geostrategy
Foreign ministers of Jordan, Egypt, Iraq hold tripartite meeting
The ministers agreed to maintain "institutional" communication to follow up on the implementation of the trilaterally agreed upon projects and...
- The ministers agreed to maintain "institutional" communication to follow up on the implementation of the trilaterally agreed upon projects and coordinate future steps
- They also agreed to hold upcoming meetings within the framework of the tripartite cooperation mechanism in preparation for the fourth summit in Egypt next year
Arts & Culture
Saudi Arabia launches drive to embed role of culture in development
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia— Saudi Arabia has unveiled the "Culture & Green Future" initiative, aiming to enhance the role of culture...
- Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, Minister of Culture and Chairman of the National Committee for Education, Culture and Science, launched the drive
- The initiative will include five themes, including culture and sustainable development to create the green future, climate change and local cultural policies
Economy
First shipment of UAEGD-compliant gold exported to Indian International Stock Exchange
The UAEGD is a standard that provides a framework for the gold sector, in line with international best practices.
- The deal consists of exporting about 100 kilograms of gold worth $4 million from the Emirates Gold Refinery to the IIBX
- The UAEGD is a standard that provides a framework for the gold sector, in line with international best practices
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
Company News
Latest News
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...
Economy
Saudi National Bank launches US dollar-denominated sukuk
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - Saudi National Bank (SNB) commenced the US dollar-denominated senior unsecured sukuk issuance through a special-purpose vehicle. The sukuk are offered to qualified...
Business
‘Israeli army tortures and rapes Palestinian girls’
The experts have expressed concern that an unknown number of Palestinian women and children, including girls, have reportedly gone missing...
Geostrategy
Most Read
Business
Construction in China-Saudi Arabia ethylene project begins
FUZHOU, CHINA - Construction of the main complex of a joint-investment ethylene project, which involves petrochemicals giant Saudi Basic Industries...
- The project is being built in the Gulei petrochemicals base in Zhangzhou city, in eastern China’s Fujian Province.
- The project entails a total investment of $6.3 billion from SABIC and Fujian Energy Petrochemical Group Co. Ltd.
Business
Iran-EU trade surpasses US$5bn in 2023, says Eurostat
TEHRAN, IRAN - The Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat) reported that Iran and the 27 European Union member...
- Trade between Iran and member states of the EU recorded a decrease of 9 percent from January to December 2023.
- During that period, the exchange of products between Iran and the EU member states was valued at US$5 billion.
Business
KEZAD Group, Al Ghurair Group’s APT ink lease pact to set up manufacturing facility
ABU DHABI, UAE – Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (KEZAD Group) and Al Ghurair Group subsidiary Automotive Precision Technology (APT)...
- The 30,000 square meters advanced manufacturing facility for APT in KEZAD will be located adjacent to Emirates Global Aluminum.
- The facility will be one of the largest manufacturers of aluminum in the world and will be operational by early 2025.

