“New Suez Canal on rails”: Egypt high-speed trains to connect Red Sea, Mediterranean
Workers have started laying tracks in the desert east of Cairo for Egypt's first high-speed train, which will link the...
Economy
Saudi powers forward with deficit spending to fund diversification of its oil-dependent economy
Saudi Arabia greenlit its 2026 budget Tuesday, projecting a deficit of 165 billion riyals ($44 billion) as the kingdom presses...
Economy
Fourth Industrial Revolution centers announced for Riyadh, Muscat, Pretoria
World Economic Forum
Business
Export Bahrain and HKTDC sign agreement to ramp up trade ties
Manama, Bahrain--Export Bahrain and Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) have signed a strategic partnership agreement to strengthen trade ties...
- The agreement between the two sides looks to foster mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation
- As per the dea, both sides will facilitate access to a wide range of opportunities for enterprises in both countries
Business
Qatar’s customs and tax departments link up e-services to ‘facilitate’ business
Doha, Qatar--The General Authority of Customs and the General Tax Authority have announced the launch of the interconnection between their...
- The launch of interconnection is expected to achieve automation and integration of procedures, with the aim of providing the best services to taxpayers
- The chairman of customs said that the e-connection between customs and tax services is part of Qatar's vision to leverage technology and provide advanced and effective services
Economy
Qatar expects a decrease in inflation next year
Doha, Qatar-- Inflation in Qatar is expected to fall in 2024, according to Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, the Minister...
- The Qatari finance minister said the high inflation in Qatar during 2023 was linked to high food prices, and it was a temporary phenomenon
- The minister said the total expenditure in the 2024 budget will be US$55.1 billion, a one percent compared to the current year's budget
Business
UAE, Mauritius conclude CEPA talks, set to boost trade
The CEPA will cover trade in goods and services, investment facilitation amongst others. Once implemented, it will accelerate robust growth...
- Mauritius posted an 8.5 percent GDP growth in 2022 — the fastest in 35 years
- The deal is also expected to drive FDI into fintech, healthcare and tourism sectors
Economy
UAE best performing economy in Arab region, says Arab Monetary Fund
Abu Dhabi, UAE - The United Arab Emirates was named the most economically competitive nation in the Arab world, a...
- The report noted the UAE secured the top position in the government financial sector index, ranking first in the deficit/surplus to GDP ratio and second in the tax burden index
- The UAE also topped the infrastructure sector index, leading in mobile phone subscriptions and the percentage of the population with access to electricity
Economy
UAE insurance sector grows with rise in gross written premiums in Q3 2023
Abu Dhabi, UAE - The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has said that the UAE insurance sector continued to...
- CBUAE stated that by the end of Q3 2023, the number of licensed insurance companies in the UAE remained at 60
- The sector comprised 23 traditional national companies, 10 Takaful national and 27 foreign companies
Economy
Central Bank of Egypt keeps interest rates unchanged
Cairo, Egypt – The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) has kept the current key...
- The decision leaves the overnight deposit rate at 19.25 percent and the overnight lending rate at 20.25 percent
- The MPC noted a decline in key international commodity prices, especially energy, which has eased global inflation pressures
Economy
Saudi EXIM Bank, DBK sign MoU
It will boost the trade between Saudi Arabia and Kazakhstan.
- Under the MoU, both banks have also agreed to exchange information, experiences, and best practices to enhance the development of services and products
- It will also facilitate collaborative research efforts and knowledge sharing to design export credit policies and practices and provide workforce training opportunities
Economy
‘Private sector plays vital role in Gulf integration’
"The GCC has all the potential to become a strong economic alliance capable of asserting itself on the global economic...
- The GCC has all the potential to become a strong economic alliance capable of asserting itself on the global economic map.
- This potential is attributed to its natural resources, distinctive geographical location, and robust global alliances with nations.
Economy
UAE banking sector sees $71.87 billion in savings deposits until October 2023
Dubai, UAE - Savings Deposits in the banking sector in the UAE, excluding interbank deposits, hit $71.87 billion by the...
- The local currency, the dirham, accounted for the largest share of Savings Deposits, with around 82 percent, which is $59.12 billion
- Demand Deposits rose to $262.77 billion at the end of October 2023, with an annual growth rate of 5.6 percent
“New Suez Canal on rails”: Egypt high-speed trains to connect Red Sea, Mediterranean
Workers have started laying tracks in the desert east of Cairo for Egypt's first high-speed train, which will link the...
Economy
Company News
Lithium-sulfur batteries will transform energy storage, says Lyten’s Horvath
World Economic Forum
Latest News
Fourth Industrial Revolution centers announced for Riyadh, Muscat, Pretoria
World Economic Forum
Trump’s next 100 days: Now comes the hard part
In a dizzying first three months, Trump wielded executive power like no other modern president, signing more than 140 orders...
Economy
Massive GCC infrastructure investments set stage for rising foreign equity: Franklin Templeton
The Franklin Templeton Emerging Markets Equity outlook emphasizes how GCC countries have reduced their dependence on oil and gas, opened...
Economy
Apple expects $900 million hit from tariff war
Apple on Thursday reported first-quarter profit above expectations but warned that US tariffs could cost the company and were disrupting...
Economy
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Economy
US reaching out to China for tariff talks: Beijing state media
United States officials have reached out to their Chinese counterparts for talks on vast tariffs that have hammered markets and...
- Punishing US tariffs that have reached 145 percent on many Chinese products came into force in April, while Beijing has responded with fresh 125 percent duties on US imports
- Beijing has vehemently denied any talks are taking place while repeatedly urging the United States to engage in dialogue in a "fair, respectful and reciprocal" manner
Economy
Global stocks mostly rise as Trump grants auto tariff relief
Stocks moved sideways on Monday after notching four straight positive sessions last week as Trump adopted a more conciliatory posture...
- Trump's pivot includes limitations on the impact of multiple tariffs on carmakers and a measure to allow carmakers to offset a portion of the levy for two years
- Investors are "encouraged by the Trump decision to be a little more flexible (...) with the autos," said CFRA Research's Sam Stovall, who predicted stocks could go higher
Geostrategy
Saudi Arabia and Qatar to settle Syria’s World Bank debt
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia and Qatar announced on Sunday that they would settle Syria's debt to the World...
- Both Gulf states have played a key role in the diplomatic outreach to Syria's new rulers since the ouster of longtime strongman Bashar al-Assad in December.
- The statement came just days after Syria's central bank governor and finance minister attended the IMF and World Bank spring meetings for the first time in more than 20 years.