Jane Birkin’s Hermes handbag up for auction in Abu Dhabi
Paris, France -- A Hermes handbag once belonging to Jane Birkin will be auctioned in Abu Dhabi on December 5,...
Business
Billionaire Ronaldo tops Forbes footballer rich list again
Paris, France -- Portugal great Cristiano Ronaldo once again topped the Forbes highest-paid footballers list for the 2025-26 season, as...
Business
Economy
Israel suspension of Gaza exports risks ‘catastrophe’: businesses
Osama Nofal, of the Gaza economic ministry, put the value of Gaza exports to Israel and the occupied West Bank...
- Israel's army chief on Monday ordered a halt to commercial deliveries from Gaza to Israel after an alleged attempt to smuggle explosives
- The Gaza Strip has been under a crippling Israeli blockade since the Islamist group Hamas seized power in the Palestinian territory in 2007
Business
stc buys stake in Telefónica
The group invests in information, communications and technology sectors.
- The group's growth strategy has resulted in investments in the Information, Communication and Technology sectors inside Saudi Arabia and globally
- The most recent investment being the acquisition by Tawal, a subsidiary of stc Group, of United Group’s telecommunications tower assets in Bulgaria, Croatia and Slovenia
Business
Smart factories transform manufacturing across GCC
Saudi Arabia and UAE lead the region in rapidly embracing the Fourth Industrial Revolution, shifting from traditional factories to smart...
- Saudi Arabia and UAE lead the region in rapidly embracing the Fourth Industrial Revolution, shifting from traditional factories to smart ones.
- Bahrain's commitment to transform 300 factories by 2026 solidifies the region's dedication to technological advancements in manufacturing.
Business
Iran’s IKCO to buy electric vehicles from Chinese firm Dongfeng
Tehran, Iran - The CEO of Iran’s largest car manufacturing company, IKCO (Iran Khodro Industrial Group), said that his company...
- IKCO’s CEO Alimardan Azimi said on Monday that EV imports by the company will amount to 6,000 units by March 2024.
- The announcement comes days after the unveiling of more than a dozen EV charging stations in the Iranian capital Tehran.
Business
L’Occitane shares nosedive
Shares dropped 29% after talks on taking the firm private called off.
- The firm, headquartered in Luxembourg and Geneva, said last month it was considering a possible take-private deal with an offer price of no less than HK$26 ($3.30) per share.
- The group's portfolio includes L'Occitane en Provence, French beauty brand Melvita, Korean skincare line Erborian, and Elemis, a British care product brand
Business
UAE looks to deepening trade relations with ASEAN bloc
Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade, led the UAE delegation to Jakarta, Indonesia, the...
- Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade, led the UAE delegation to Jakarta, Indonesia, the host of ASEAN Business and Investment Summit.
- UAE and Indonesia agreed to work in unison to ensure they deliver on the projection of US$10 billion in bilateral non-oil trade within five years.
Business
Arm seeks $52bn valuation
Arm is a world leader in designing chips that are used in smartphones.
- Arm's IPO is being closely watched by the financial markets, with large tech IPOs something of a rarity in recent months.
- Tech giants including Nvidia, Apple, Samsung Electronics and Intel are interested in investing in Arm once the company is listed.
Business
Saudi Arabia and Russia extend oil cuts, Brent crude price up
The Saudi production cut of one million barrels per day which first took effect in July will continue "for another...
- Brent crude rose above $90 per barrel on the news for the first time since November, while West Texas Intermediate, the main US futures contract, jumped 1.9 percent to $87.16.
- Riyadh, the world's biggest crude exporter, first announced its cut after a June meeting of the 23-nation OPEC+ alliance, which also includes Russia.
Infographics
Saudi construction sector employs 3 million workers
GCC countries employ close to 20 million foreign workers, who are subject to vastly different conditions and wags compared to...
- The Gulf Cooperation Council countries have a high reliance on foreign labor. In 2020, foreign workers accounted for 60 percent of the total labor force.
- GCC countries face high unemployment among nationals, shortage of skilled labor and a mismatch between the skills of nationals and the requirements of the labor market.
Videos
A glimpse into GCC’s financial evolution
As the winds of change blow, three major forces—regulation, consolidation, and digitization—are shaping the trajectory. These elements intertwine, creating a...
- Driven by regulation, consolidation, and digitization, the region's financial services sector is undergoing a pivotal transformation
- Dive into the TRENDS Explainer video to understand and navigate the evolving landscape of the banking sector across the region
Jane Birkin’s Hermes handbag up for auction in Abu Dhabi
Paris, France -- A Hermes handbag once belonging to Jane Birkin will be auctioned in Abu Dhabi on December 5,...
Business
Company News
NatWest profit soars 32%
Business
Latest News
QEWC 2023 net profit US$426m
Business
Qatar looks to boost tourism sector by streamlining regulations
Doha, Qatar-- Qatar is looking to develop "plans and strategies" to streamline procedures and regulations in order to solve solve...
Business
UAE bolsters air cargo industry with launch of ‘CARDS’ data platform
Abu Dhabi, UAE--The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has launched the Cargo Data Reporting System (CARDS), which provides a range...
Business
Middle East to receive millions of Chinese tourists lost in Covid pandemic
Dubai, UAE-- Outbound travel from China is estimated to almost double this year, compared with 2023 and will only be...
Business
Most Read
Business
Spain grabs 3% Telefonica stake after concerns over Saudi deal
Madrid, Spain - Spain's government has acquired a three-percent stake in telecoms giant Telefonica following concerns over a Saudi firm taking...
- Spanish state-owned holding company SEPI said in a filing with the stock market regulator late Monday that the move was "in line with a cabinet decision in December".
- At the time, the government of Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said it was to safeguard the firm's "strategic capacities and essential importance" to Spain
Arts & Culture
Saudi RCU begins rock excavation for Sharaan Resort in AlUla
ALULA, SAUDI ARABIA – The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) has marked a significant milestone in the development of the...
- The initial excavation symbolizes the start of a mission that combines Jean Nouvel’s architectural innovation with Bouygues' engineering expertise.
- This milestone is an important step forward in AlUla's evolution into a premier destination for sustainable luxury tourism.
Arts & Culture
Hotel Dar Tantora is inspired by Saudi’s AlUla ancient mudbrick buildings
ALULA, SAUDI ARABIA – Situated in the heart of Old Town here, Dar Tantora Hotel offers guests a chance to...
- AlUla’s Old Town, with its origins going back over 700 years, prospered along the renowned incense trade route.
- With over 900 traditional mudbrick homes, the Old Town stands as a testament to the Kingdom’s enduring cultural heritage.