Saudia Group in ‘landmark’ deal for 105 Airbus planes
In a wide expansion of aviation services, Saudi Arabia's top airline Saudia Group has place an order of 105 aircraft...Business
Iraq now gas self-sufficient, paves the way for surplus exports
Iraq has now become self-sufficient in liquid gas and the surplus is usually exported abroad, strengthening the Iraqi economy.Business Energy
Cinema ticket prices in Saudi Arabia decline by 16% in 2023
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - The average cinema ticket prices decreased by over 16% in 2023 compared to the previous year,...With 627 screens across 69 venues nationwide, Saudi Arabia's cinema sector is expanding at one of the fastest rates globally
In 2022 and 2023, box office sales exceeded $240 million annually, with over 17 million cinema tickets sold in 2023 alone
Crypto market sees drop in scams, stolen funds
The cryptocurrency sector recorded a promising recovery in 2023, with a significant decline in crypto scams and stolen funds revenue,...The cryptocurrency sector recorded a promising recovery in 2023, with a significant decline in crypto scams and stolen funds revenue, says a latest report.
Revenues for crypto scamming and stolen funds fell significantly in 2023, with total illicit revenue down 29.2 percent and 54.3 percent, respectively, it adds.
Dubai posts real estate transactions worth $3.5bn in week ending January 19
DUBAI, UAE - The real estate and properties transactions valued at US$3.5 billion (AED13 billion) in total during the week...The sum of transactions was 3,697 and 184 plots were sold for US$547 million.
2,770 apartments and villas were sold for US$2 billion (AED 7.46 billion).
Qatar real estate trading volume reaches US$91m between January 7-11
DOHA, QATAR - The volume of real estate trading in sales contracts at the Department of Real Estate Registration at...Total sales contracts for residential units in the Real Estate Bulletin from January 7 to January 11 were US$15 million.
The volume of real estate trading in sales contracts from December 31, 2023 to January 4, 2024, exceeded US$222 million.
Tata Steel to slash 2,800 UK jobs
Tata Steel employs about 8,000 staff in the United Kingdom.The company confirmed the closure of two blast furnaces at the Port Talbot steelworks in Wales, according to a statement.
The Mumbai-based conglomerate had threatened to shut the plant unless it received state aid to help decarbonize production and cut emissions.
France flooded with applications for electric car leasing scheme
Paris, France - The French government has been flooded with applications from low-income households to lease a subsidized electric car from...Some 90,000 people have applied to the scheme since the start of the month, French Environment Minister Bechu said.
President Emmanuel Macron unveiled the plan on social media in December as part of efforts to reduce carbon emissions in France.
15 million tons of Lithium deposits found in Thailand
Bangkok, Thailand - Thailand has discovered nearly 15 million tons of lithium deposits, a government spokesman said Friday, a boost for...The 14.8 million tons of lithium are distributed between two separate sites in the southern province of Phang Nga, a government spokesperson said.
The find means Thailand has the third largest lithium resources, behind Bolivia and Argentina, but it is not yet clear how much can be exploited commercially.
In Davos, AI excitement persists but fears over managing risks
A recent IMF report said AI would affect nearly 40 percent of jobs around the world, and some 60 percent...Over the course of the week, more than 3,000 policy makers, business executives, academics and innovators discussed some of the world's most pressing issues at the annual meet.
The Forum announced it will hold a special meeting, hosted by Saudi Arabia, on “Global Cooperation, Growth and Energy for Development” on 28-29 Apr 2024 in Riyadh.
Sony to decide on Zee merger
The tie-up is aimed at helping both firms compete with streaming rivals.The merger was first agreed in 2021, with Zee chief executive Punit Goenka saying that the new outfit would be worth close to $10 billion with annual revenues approaching $2bn.
But closing the deal has been beset by problems, most recently because Sony reportedly does not want Goenka to run the combined entity.
Middle East only region to overcome pre-Covid tourism levels: UNWTO
"International tourism is expected to fully recover pre-pandemic levels in 2024, with initial estimates pointing to 2.0 percent growth above...Europe, the world's most visited region, also saw a strong performance with tourism reaching 94 percent of its 2019 figures, with African figures reaching 96 percent.
In relative terms, the Asia-Pacific region was the weakest with just 65 percent of pre-pandemic levels, despite China's lifting of health restrictions a year ago