Saudi tourist arrivals rise to 122.6 million in 2025, spending hits $81 billion
The growth was driven primarily by domestic travel, which reached 93.3 million tourists, up 8.3% from 2024, while inbound visitor...
Business
Etihad enters largest summer season with more than 300 daily flights
Dubai, UAE -- Etihad Airways is entering its largest summer season on record, operating more than 300 flights a day...
Business
Opinion
Disinformation, misinformation hurt global businesses
"These risks are serious because they limit our ability to tackle the big global challenges we are facing. Changes in...
- Rebuilding trust and fostering global collaboration are essential to address the present challenges.
- The role of AI and digital innovation in combating misinformation and boosting productivity.
Business
Google to slash ‘few hundred’ jobs
The internet giant will cut jobs from its global ad team.
- The jobs will be cut by the company amid a push to use artificial intelligence for efficiency and creativity
- The company made no mention of generative AI, which is disrupting many sectors including advertising.
Geostrategy
WTO hopes to finalize fishing agreement
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - The head of the World Trade Organization's fisheries talks voiced optimism on Tuesday about striking an agreement on...
- The 164 WTO members kicked off a month of negotiations this week at the global trade body's headquarters in Geneva.
- The draft text is intended to help members reach agreement on a so-called "clean text" for submission to ministers in Abu Dhabi.
Geostrategy
Shell halts Red Sea shipments over attack fears, say report
WASHINGTON, US - British oil giant Shell has paused transit through the key Red Sea shipping route indefinitely, over fears of...
- The worries of escalation grew after United States and United Kingdom strikes on scores of sites in rebel-held Yemen.
- The Houthis have been targeting what they deemed Israeli-linked vessels, but after the strikes, they declared US and British interests "legitimate targets."
Business
Emirates to recruit 5,000 crew members in 2024
DUBAI, UAE – Emirates will hire 5,000 people as it awaits the arrival of its fleet of Airbus A350s. The airline...
- The airline is inviting fresh graduates with internships or part-time jobs on their résumés.
- It is inviting individuals keen to embark on an exciting career travelling the globe. .
Business
Nespresso faces $330 m lawsuit in Switzerland over capsules
Zurich, Switzerland - A French television star and a group of investors are demanding 280 million Swiss francs ($330 million) from...
- A French television show host Jacques Essebag, who goes by the name Arthur, is leading the suit against the Nestle subsidiary
- Nespresso, when contacted by AFP, acknowledged the lawsuit filed by ECC but said it did not comment on ongoing legal proceedings
Business
Counterfeit products cost Europe $13 billion, 200,000 jobs a year
Paris, France - Counterfeit products -- mainly clothes -- cost the European economy 16 billion euros a year and result in...
- The findings, based on data from 2018 to 2021, show that fakes take the biggest toll on the clothing sector, costing 12 billion euros ($13.1 billion) annually
- The bulk of the counterfeiting occurred in just five EU members, with Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Austria accounting for half the yearly losses
Business
Markets drop as Middle East tensions rise, rates cut delayed
While inflation is on a general downward path, there is a worry that it could pop back up anytime, particularly...
- Equities soared at the end of 2023 as falling inflation saw the Fed indicate that it was preparing to reverse more than a year of hikes to US interest rates
- However, January has seen the wind come out of the sails with Fed officials saying they were keen to keep rates elevated for some time
Business
Goldman Sachs profits up 58%
Revenues rose seven percent to $11.3 billion.
- In the fourth quarter, Goldman Sachs' revenues from equity trading surged 26 percent, while the bank's own holdings in public equities also enjoyed a hefty increase.
- Rival financial heavyweight Morgan Stanley reported a 35 percent drop in profits to $1.4 billion on a one percent rise in revenues to $12.9 billion.
Business
Sales of $10m-plus homes in Dubai grow by record 92% in 2023
Dubai, UAE -- The total number of US$10 million plus home sales in Dubai grew by 92.4 percent to 431...
- The total value of sales above this price point grew by 91 percent last year to US$7.6 billion, 28 percent of which was achieved in Q4 alone.
- The Palm Jumeirah remains at the epicenter for luxury home sales in Dubai, according to Knight Frank.
Saudi tourist arrivals rise to 122.6 million in 2025, spending hits $81 billion
The growth was driven primarily by domestic travel, which reached 93.3 million tourists, up 8.3% from 2024, while inbound visitor...
Business
Company News
Ford’s US Q1 auto sales dip
Business
Latest News
Goldwind 2024 revenue up 12.5%
Business
Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos, his fiancee Lauren Sanchez arrive in Venice for lavish wedding
Bezos, 61, and Sanchez, 55, are said to have booked out the city's finest hotels for a star-studded guest list...
Business
Oil slides, stocks rise as Iran-Israel ceasefire holds
The main international and US oil contracts briefly bounced off their lows as Israel and Iran accused each other of...
Geostrategy
Oil prices seesaw as investors await Iran response to US strikes
US stocks edged higher while European markets retreated and Asian equities were mixed, with markets keeping a close eye on...
Geostrategy
Most Read
Business
Tesla expected to launch long-discussed robotaxi service, will use Model Y
New York, United States -- Tesla is expected to begin offering robotaxi service Sunday in Austin, an initial step that...
- The launch will employ the Model Y sport utility vehicle rather than Tesla's much-touted Cybercab, which is still under development.
- The long-awaited launch follows the dramatic meltdown earlier this month in relations between Musk and Trump, which saw a cascade of bitter attacks from both men.
Geostrategy
Aldar nets $953m in sales at Fahid
Aldar said 42 percent of the buyers are under the age of 45.
- Nearly 42 percent of buyers are under the age of 45, signaling growing demand for luxury wellness-focused living among younger demographics.
- Notably, 67 percent of buyers are first-time Aldar customers, demonstrating Aldar’s expansive reach and the appeal of the Group’s thoughtfully curated destinations.
Geostrategy
MENA Brief | June 19: GCC central banks hold interest rates steady, Diriyah House launched in London
As most currencies in the region are pegged to the US dollar, monetary policy follows the decisions taken in Washington,...
- Saudi-based Cluster2 Airports Company signed a strategic MoU with Airbus. The agreement will see the deployment of the Agnet Turnaround platform across Cluster2’s 22 airports.
- Saudi National Bank (SNB) has issued $1.25 billion in Tier 2 bonds at a 6% profit rate under its $10 billion Euro Medium Term Note program.