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
China’s consumer prices rose in Oct, reversing stagnation
Beijing has struggled to maintain a strong economic recovery from the pandemic, as it fights a debt crisis in its...
Economy
COP28 UAE
World unites at COP28 to shift away from fossil fuels
Nearly 200 nations in Dubai have collectively endorsed an agreement to move away from fossil fuels, marking a significant step...
- Nearly 200 countries in Dubai have collectively endorsed an agreement to move away from fossil fuels, marking a significant step in addressing climate change.
- EU climate chief Wopke Hoekstra lauds the historic deal targeting a 43% reduction in emissions by 2030 as a significant breakthrough after decades of discussions.
Business
CBUAE joins the Gulf payments system AFAQ
Abu Dhabi, UAE - The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) joined AFAQ Payments System, which is operated by the Gulf...
- Along with the CBUAE, Barclays Bank joined the AFAQ system, becoming the first financial institution operating in the UAE to achieve this step and begin using the system’s services
- To date, the Central Bank of Bahrain, the Saudi Central Bank, and the Central Bank of Kuwait have joined "AFAQ", in addition to a number of commercial banks from these countries
Geostrategy
Digitalization has high environmental costs, says UNCTAD meet
DUBAI, UAE - With global attention on the COP28 climate summit, UNCTAD’s eWeek 2023 highlighted digitalization’s potential to accelerate climate...
- Data-driven technologies like the Internet of Things, robotics and artificial intelligence can enhance climate change monitoring.
- The digital transformation has left its mark on the planet through raw material depletion, energy and water use, pollution and waste.
Economy
Global trade likely to decline in 2023 due to changing trade patterns, geopolitics
DUBAI, UAE - The outlook for 2024 remains “highly uncertain and generally pessimistic,” UNCTAD says in the Global Trade Update,...
- Other elements affecting trade include lower demand in developed countries, less trade in East Asia and an uptick in trade-restrictive measures.
- The elements also include an uptick in trade-restrictive measures and lengthening supply chains, particularly between China and the US.
Economy
El Salvador to issue bitcoin bonds in first quarter of 2024
With bitcoin, Bukele sought to make it easier, and cheaper, for Salvadorans to receive remittances and to provide financial services...
- Bitcoin became a legal currency in El Salvador, alongside the US dollar, in 2021 at the behest of President Nayib Bukele
- In 2021, Bukele announced a plan to build a "Bitcoin City" in the east of the country, which would be powered by thermal energy from a volcano
Public-private partnerships play key role in environmental finance, says EIF official
DUBAI, UAE – Public-private partnerships have the potential to play a significant role in mobilizing private financing for environmental solutions,...
- The European Investment Fund seeks to address environmental and biodiversity challenges as part of its climate position.
- The European fund has significantly committed to the green transition by mobilizing US$ 2.15 billion in funding.
Economy
Jordan’s mission to save its ancient olive trees
Jordan's culture ministry, Gharaibeh's organization is working to add the trees to the UNESCO Intangible World Heritage List, hoping this...
- Jordan has 11 million olive trees in groves that make up 20 percent of all cultivated land in the country
- They produce 50,000 tons of olives and 25,000 tons of olive oil annually, contributing $169 million to the economy
Business
Riyadh Season draws 9 million visitors to its entertainment zones
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - The number of visitors to Riyadh Season has surged to over 9 million, indicating a significant...
- Riyadh Season, marked by the slogan "Big Time," completed the spectrum of entertainment choices with top-tier events and festivals across various zones
- Boulevard City zone emerged as a site filled with entertainment options, along with Boulevard World which features a variety of international cultures
COP28 UAE
‘Investment policies must align with net-zero goals’
An alliance of public and private sectors is crucial for advancing the green agenda and effectively managing supply chain emissions,...
- An alliance of public and private sectors is crucial for advancing the green agenda and effectively managing supply chain emissions, WEF's Kimberley Botwright tells TRENDS.
- Technological advancements, particularly AI, are key accelerators in sustainable trade, while an estimated $125 trillion is required for the net-zero transition by 2030, she adds.
‘Tech solutions help make food practices sustainable’
UAE's launch of Food Innovation Hub emphasizes the government's eagerness to innovate and collaborate for sustainable food systems, WEF's Tania...
- UAE's proactive role in launching Food Innovation Hub emphasizes the government's eagerness to innovate and collaborate for sustainable food systems, says WEF's Tania Strauss.
- The success of UAE's Food Innovation Hub hinges on public-private sector collaboration, with ongoing work to define roles and ecosystems, adds the head of food and water at WEF.
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
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Beijing slams ‘appeasement’ of US in trade deals that hurt China
China on Monday hit out at other countries making trade deals with the United States at Beijing's expense, promising countermeasures...
Economy
UAE foreign trade increases by 49% to reach $1.42 trillion in 2024
The UAE climbed from 17th to 11th globally in merchandise exports and from 18th to 14th in imports between 2021...
Economy
Trump’s tariffs fallout: Why trade tensions are a ‘storm cloud’ over financial markets
Stocks later rallied after Trump announced a 90-day pause on additional higher tariffs that were set to impact around 80...
Economy
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Economy
Egypt central bank lowers interest rate for first time since 2020
Egypt's central bank on Thursday announced that it was lowering interest rates for the first time since 2020, days after...
- The Central Bank of Egypt cut interest rates by 225 basis points, its monetary policy division said in a statement
- Its overnight deposit rate, overnight lending rate, and the rate of the main operation now stood at 25%, 26 percent and 25.5%, respectively
Economy
Global economy under pressure could slow to 2.3 percent: UNCTAD
UNCTAD report '"Trade and Development Foresights 2025 – Under pressure: Uncertainty reshapes global economic prospects” cited mounting threats including trade...
- Rising trade tensions are impacting global trade, with UNCTAD noting that recent tariff measures are disrupting supply chains and undermining predictability.
- The slowdown will affect all nations, but UNCTAD remains concerned about developing countries and especially the most vulnerable economies.
Economy
OPEC lowers 2025 oil demand forecast over impact of US tariffs
The Saudi-led oil cartel said in a monthly report that it now expects demand to grow by 1.3 million barrels...
- The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries now sees global demand reaching at total 105.05 million bpd this year.
- Oil prices sank to a four-year low last week, dipping under $60 per barrel over concerns about the impact of President Donald Trump's tariffs.