Visa expands AI-driven payments program across CEMEA region
Visa launched its global Agentic Ready program in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday, expanding efforts to support artificial intelligence-driven...
Business
Geostrategy
NCSC seeks to regulate Jordan’s cybersecurity market
AMMAN, JORDAN - National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) seeks to regulate the Kingdom's cybersecurity market by outlining and endorsing the...
- One of the NCSC's key measures focuses on issuing Cybersecurity Services Licensing System, its director said.
- This would "effectively" contribute to strengthening and supporting Jordanian companies to enter the cybersecurity market.
Business
Qatar receives more than 3-million tourists in 2023
Doha, Qatar-- Qatar received more than three million tourists from around the world during the ongoing year, making the oil-rich...
- The chairman of Qatar Tourism made the remarks during his opening speech at the 26th session of the Arab Ministerial Council for Tourism, held in Doha
- Al Kharji added that tourism has been one of the most important drivers of economic growth and sustainable development in many countries worldwide
Business
ADQ and Azerbaijan’s AIH set up joint-investment platform
Abu Dhabi, UAE--ADQ, an Abu Dhabi-based investment and holding company, and Azerbaijan Investment Holding (AIH), a strategic sovereign wealth fund...
- The joint-investment platform will leverage investment opportunities with the goal of generating sustainable financial returns on deployed capital
- Both the entities will each hold a 50 percent interest in the joint venture, with each party committing US$500 million to the JV platform
Business
KIPCO sells its stake in GIG
The deal is valued at 256 million Kuwaiti Dinars ($832 million).
- The purchase price was set at KD two per share, with an adjustment of 54 fils per share to account for the cash distributions GIG made in 2022
- The sale of KIPCO's stake in GIG is seen as a testament to the company's effective strategy of acquiring, expanding, and then timely exiting companies
Business
Turkish Airlines to buy 355 planes from Airbus
Istanbul, Turkey - Turkish Airlines said on Friday it has decided to order 355 Airbus aircraft over the coming decade as...
- "It was decided to purchase 355 aircraft from Airbus," Turkish Airlines chief executive Bilal Eksi said in a social media statement
- The Turkish firm said in a separate corporate filing statement that the purchases would made as part of its "strategic plan" for 2023-2033
Business
ADNOC to buy stake in Fertiglobe
ADNOC to buy OCI’s entire shareholding in Fertiglobe.
- Fertiglobe is listed on the ADX and is the world’s largest seaborne exporter of urea and ammonia combined.
- It is also an early mover in sustainable ammonia, with production facilities in Egypt, Algeria and the UAE.
Geostrategy
Storm-1152: Vietnam-based creator of fake Microsoft accounts
Seoul, South Korea - Microsoft has seized the websites of a Vietnam-based group it alleges sold millions of fake accounts to...
- Storm-1152 is "the number one seller and creator of fraudulent Microsoft accounts", creating around 750 million to date, the company said Wednesday
- Storm-1152 pursued a model called "cybercrime-as-a-service" or CaaS, acting as a provider to other criminal groups, Microsoft and Arkose said
Business
Finland’s Vaisala to equip Kuwait airport with observation system
Kuwait City, Kuwait -- The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) of Kuwait has inked a KD 6.7 million ($21.7...
- The contract for three runways at Kuwait International Airport is the largest single airport instrumentation contract for Vaisala ever.
- It includes the design, manufacturing, delivery, installation, maintenance, technical support, and user training.
Business
ENEC, CNNC sign MoU
Both the firms will offer their expertise in the sector.
- The two firms will collaborate on identifying potential development and co-investment opportunities for new international nuclear energy plants.
- They will form a Joint Working Group to leverage their strengths in project management, nuclear technology development and implementation.
Business
Dubai records $3.51 billion in weeklong real estate deals
Dubai, UAE -- The real estate and properties transactions valued at 12.9 billion ($3.51 billion) in total during the week...
- A total 304 plots were sold for AED 3.53 billion, 2,744 apartments and villas were sold for AED 7.15 billion.
- The sum of the amount of mortgaged properties for the week was 1.77 billion, with the highest being a land in Trade Center Second, mortgaged for AED 364 million.
Company News
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Boeing says China not accepting planes over US tariffs
New York, United States -- Boeing's CEO confirmed Wednesday that China had stopped accepting new aircraft due to the US-China...
Business
Saudia to acquire 20 wide-body aircraft
10 of these being acquired for its flydaeal low-cost airline
Business
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Economy
IMF cuts global growth outlook on impact of Trump tariffs
Washington, United States -- The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday slashed its forecast for global growth this year, citing the...
- The IMF projections see the global economy growing by 2.8 percent this year, 0.5 percentage points lower than the previous World Economic Outlook (WEO) forecast in January.
- The IMF expects China, the world's second-largest economy, to see growth slump to 4.0 percent this year, down from 5.0 percent in 2024.
Business
Boeing to sell some assets to Thoma Bravo
The $10.55 bn sale includes portions of digital aviation solutions business.
- The transaction includes Jeppesen, an 81-year-old aviation navigation company that Boeing acquired in 2000.
- Boeing chief executive Kelly Ortberg has described targeted divestitures as a way to improve the company's financial position after a series of losses.
Saudi Aramco, BYD form alliance to develop low-carbon automotive innovations amid EV growth
Saudi Aramco, the world's largest producer of oil, "is exploring a number of ways to potentially optimize transport efficiency, from...
- The Saudi oil giant is already a partner with Renault of France and the Chinese automaker Geely in a joint venture to produce thermal engines
- Saudi Arabia is working to diversify its economy, which is dependent on oil export revenue, and wants to set up 5,000 EV charging stations by 2030