Business
Tech’s carbon footprint: can AI revolutionize responsibly?
The planet's 8,000 or so data centers are the foundation of our online existence, and will grow ever further with...
- In 2019, researchers trained several large language models, and found that training a single AI model can emit the CO2 emission equivalent of five cars over their lifetimes.
- Between 2010 and 2018, global data center energy use rose by only 6 percent, despite a 550 percent increase in workloads and computing instances, according to the IEA.
Business
DEWA presses into service seven 132 KV transmission substations in H1
Dubai, UAE--Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has pressed into service seven new 132 transmission substations in the first half...
- DEWA's MD and CEO, Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, said that the total cost of electricity transmission network projects under construction exceeds $1.14bn
- Al Tayer further revealed that the total number of transmission substations across Dubai reached 368 stations by the end of the first half of 2023
Analysis
Gulf banking sector flourishes amidst rising rates
GCC banks experienced robust lending growth during Q2-2023, despite multi-decade high rates from US hikes, with loans from GCC-listed banks...
- GCC banks experienced robust lending growth during Q2-2023, despite multi-decade high rates from US hikes, with loans from GCC-listed banks hitting a record $1.9 trn
- Customer deposits in the GCC rose 1% quarter-on-quarter to $2.3 trillion, with a loan-to-deposit ratio of 79.0%, and net income surging 3.5% to 13.7 billion in Q2-2023
Business
China’s Country Garden wins vote on debt to avoid default, says media
BEIJING, CHINA - Chinese developer Country Garden has won approval from creditors to extend a deadline for a key bond repayment,...
- One of China's biggest builders, Country Garden had racked up debts estimated at 1.43 trillion yuan ($196 billion) by the end of 2022
- Country Garden's bondholders voted this week to delay repayment on a bond worth 3.9 billion yuan ($535 million), to give it time to recover financially
Geostrategy
Iraq-Iran rail link to facilitate travel, tourism and medical treatments
Iraq's prime minister inaugurated construction work on what is slated to become the first railway line connecting the country to...
- The project had been under discussion for years before an agreement was reached in 2021.
- The Iraqi PM thanked Iran for planned demining operations at the border to clear the way for the train line.
Business
Iraqi Trade Center to be launched at ACC’s headquarters in Jordan
AMMAN, JORDAN - Amman Chamber of Commerce (ACC) and the Iraqi Embassy here agreed to open Iraqi Trade Center at...
- The center's inauguration will allow Jordanian and foreign businesspeople to view investment opportunities offered by the Iraqi government.
- The center will provide Jordanian companies with the opportunity to learn about Iraqi industries and agricultural products.
Business
Leather, knitwear industries contribute 2.4% to GDP, says JCI
AMMAN, JORDAN - Representative of the leather industries and knitting sector at Jordan Chamber of Industry (JCI), Ehab Qadri, said...
- The sector's exports achieved a "remarkable" growth during the past year by nearly 21 percent, reaching $2.3 billion, compared to 2021.
- The sector, as per data from Social Security Corporation, employs around 76, 000 workers, constituting 27 percent of the total workforce.
Business
DFM registers 34,800 new accounts in 8 months
Dubai, UAE - Brokerage firms in the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) witnessed a substantial influx of New Investor Numbers (NIN),...
- The number of newly registered investor accounts exceeded 51 percent during the first eight months of the year
- 29 brokerage firms listed on the DFM conducted over 2.57 million deals on 80 billion shares worth $37.1 billion
Economy
Saudi Arabia and Singapore pledge to ramp up economic ties
Singapore-- Saudi Arabia and Singapore have pledged to enhance economic cooperation between the two countries and also reviewed the challenges...
- The two sidies reviewed the state of their economic relations and also discussed the progress of Saudi Vision 2030 and its key programs
- The Saudi finance minister met with an array of private sector players and Singaporean government agencies and discussed financial cooperation
Market Report
Energy, commodity prices hurt profits of GCC firms
GCC-listed companies' net profit dropped to US$ 57.9 billion in Q2-2023. While retail, capital goods, and utilities sectors faced profit...
- GCC-listed companies' net profit dropped to US$ 57.9 billion in Q2-2023. While retail, capital goods, and utilities sectors faced profit declines, the banking sector thrived
- Energy, materials, and capital goods sectors faced y-o-y profit fell in Q2-2023 as Saudi Aramco's profits fell by 37.3%, while Dubai-listed companies saw a 28.6% profit rise
Company News
Infosys lowers revenue forecasts
Business
OYO New Year Eve bookings up 64%
Business
Latest News
Borouge signs supply agreement
Business
Saudi Arabia leads GCC in project awards this year
The 2024 outlook for the MENA region's project market is exceptional, with an anticipated surpassing of $270 billion in value,...
Business
Norway’s sovereign wealth fund posts record US$213bn profit
Oslo, Norway - Norway's sovereign wealth fund, the world's biggest, said Tuesday it raked in a record profit of 2.2 trillion...
Business
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Business
Pfizer reports loss in Q4
The drugmaker's revenues fell 41 percent to $14.2 billion.
- The drugmaker lost $3.4 billion in the fourth quarter, compared with profits of $5.0 billion in the year-ago period
- Pfizer reiterated its 2024 revenue forecast of $58.5-$61.5 billion after 2023 revenues came in at $58.5 billion
Business
Oman and Etihad Rail Co, Al Jazeera Steel sign MoU for raw materials
Sohar, Oman -- Oman and Etihad Rail Company (OER), the developer and operator of the UAE-Oman Rail Network, and Al...
- Under the terms of the agreement, OER will leverage the UAE-Oman Rail Network to support Al Jazeera Steel in optimizing inbound and outbound logistics from its factories in Oman.
- Once fully operational, the UAE-Oman Rail Network will unlock efficiency in freight movement by reducing travel time between both countries.
Business
Ras Al Khaimah witnesses rise in issue of valid business licenses in 2023
RAS AL KHAIMAH, UAE - The economic growth of the Emirate continued to accelerate in 2023, with the Department of...
- The industrial sector in Ras Al Khaimah achieved a 5.3 percent annual growth rate in valid licence capital.
- Commercial licences experienced a 14.4 percent annual increase, bringing their total capital to $1.3 billion.