Spotify, Netflix sign deal to stream video podcasts
Stockholm, Sweden -- Music and video streaming giants Spotify and Netflix have penned a deal to bring several video podcasts...
Business
Abu Dhabi awards contract for mega solar project
Dubai, United Arab Emirates -- Abu Dhabi, the capital of leading oil producer the United Arab Emirates, said Friday it...
Business
Business
Global construction industry projected to reach $12.9 trillion by 2028
Dubai, UAE -- The global construction industry is projected to reach a staggering $12.9 trillion by 2028, with a robust...
- The study says residential construction will continue to dominate, driven by rising per capita income and disposable income.
- The Asia Pacific region is poised to retain its leadership position, attributed to increasing urbanization and robust infrastructural development.
Business
ADGM’s Registration Authority fines KPMG Lower Gulf $30,000
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- The Registration Authority (RA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) has fined ADGM-registered audit firm, KPMG...
- ADGM audit regulatory framework requires audit reports to be issued and signed by ADGM Registered Audit Principals on behalf of an ADGM Registered Auditor.
- Prior to imposing the penalty, the RA had engaged in ongoing communication with KPMG over a period of several months, ADGM said.
Business
Viacom18 nets Indian cricket broadcast rights for $721 million
Media rights are a huge earner for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), one of the richest...
- The agreement priced the average match nearly 13 percent higher than the $944 million rights deal for 2018-23 signed by Star, Disney's local subsidiary.
- Star had held the rights to broadcast international matches since 2012 and was also a bidder in Thursday's auction, along with Sony Sports.
Geostrategy
Qatar Credit Bureau, Supreme Judicial Council to share data
DOHA, QATAR - Qatar Credit Bureau signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) pertaining to...
- The primary objective of this cooperation is to regularize the electronic connection between the bureau and SJC.
- SJC will supply the bureau with the outcomes of the rulings related to its work in quest of achieving data accuracy.
Business
Saudi Arabia’s oil exports down 33.4 percent in second quarter
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia's oil exports fell by 33.4 percent to SAR 227.7 billion ($60.70 billion), from SAR...
- The value of exports amounted to SAR 291.6 billion in Q2 2023, down from SAR 427.8 billion in Q2 2022.
- The share of oil exports in total exports decreased from 79.9 percent in Q2 2022 to 78.1 percent in Q2 2023.
Business
Borouge to pay $650m H1 dividend
The interim dividend is equivalent to 7.9 fils per share.
- The interim dividend will be paid to shareholders who have purchased Borouge shares as of 7 September 2023.
- This represents the first part of the expected total FY 2023 dividend of $1.3 billion (AED4.8 billion), equivalent to 15.8 fils per share.
Business
EGA H1 net profit $533 million
The firm expects growth in primary production and recycling business.
- EGA announced H1 2023 adjusted EBITDA of AED4.2 billion ($1.1 billion). EGA’s aluminum segment adjusted EBITDA margin was 27 percent, leading global industry peers.
- EGA’s average realized London Metal Exchange price for its aluminum was $2,359 per ton compared to $3,063 per ton during H1 2022.
Business
Microsoft bows to EU competition concerns over Teams
In a bid to address the concerns, Microsoft will unbundle Teams from its Microsoft 365 and Office 365 suites in...
- EU Commission launched the investigation in July to see whether the US tech giant was "abusing and defending its market position" by bundling the software together
- Microsoft bundles Teams with its cloud-based Office 365 and Microsoft 365 suites, which include its popular Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Excel programmes
Economy
In China, Baidu leads public rollout of AI chatbots
China issued new regulations this month for the country's AI developers that maintain the government's tight control on information while...
- Chinese generative AI apps must "adhere to the core values of socialism" and refrain from threatening national security
- By making ERNIE widely available, Baidu will be able to gain "massive" human feedback to improve the app at a swift pace
Business
SAMA licenses new company to provide E-wallet solutions
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) licensed “Alhulul AlMubassatah Financial Company (SiFi)" to provide E-wallet solutions. With...
- With SiFi, there are now 25 licensed companies offering payment services in Saudi Arabia
- SAMA is endeavoring to support the payments sector and increase efficiency of financial transactions
Spotify, Netflix sign deal to stream video podcasts
Stockholm, Sweden -- Music and video streaming giants Spotify and Netflix have penned a deal to bring several video podcasts...
Business
Company News
Air Arabia 2023 net profit $408m
Business
Latest News
ADNOC Drilling profit soars 29%
Business
World’s only Dragon Ball theme park launched in Saudi Arabia’s Qiddiya City
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – The Board of Directors of the Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) revealed on Sunday the launch of...
Arts & Culture
IOTA Foundation launches US$10m investment fund at Investopia 2024
ABU DHABI, UAE – Minister of Economy and Chairman of Investopia Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri attended the unveiling of...
Business
EU imports US$120.5bn worth of energy products in Q4 2023
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – In the fourth quarter of 2023, the EU imported US$120.5 billion (€111.3 billion) worth of energy products...
Business
Most Read
Nike’s long international struggle with Adidas
German newspapers reported that the American sports equipment giant overcame their rival's home advantage with a bid of around 100...
- Nike scored their biggest upset this week when they persuaded the DFB to drop Adidas after four World Cup wins and 70 years
- The Adidas contract with the German Football Federation will end after the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico
Geostrategy
EU to tell big tech firms to curb election risks or face fines
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – The EU will put more pressure on the most popular online platforms, like X and TikTok, to tackle...
- The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, is expected to adopt new guidelines.
- They will come under the EU's mammoth content moderation law, the Digital Services Act.
Geostrategy
Middle East oil policies not dictated by US, says Russia
MOSCOW, RUSSIA – US will no longer be able to dictate oil prices in the Middle East, Director of the...
- The US cannot dictate prices, although they would like to as the world is becoming a multipolar one, a Russian official said.
- "This multipolarity is expressed in particular in the existence of the group of countries known as OPEC+," he added.