How Viet Nam’s informal waste workers are leading the plastic pollution fight
Behind nearly 90% of all plastic recycled in Viet Nam is someone like Ms Nguyen Thi Kenh or Ms Nguyen...
Economy
Egyptian farmers behind world’s perfumes face climate fight alone, yield drops by half
For years, Egyptian jasmine picker Wael al-Sayed has collected blossoms by night in the Nile Delta, supplying top global perfume...
Economy
Economy
Global inflationary waves may hit Arab world’s growth
Rising rates and global slowdown pose challenges for economic growth and investment in Arab countries, which expect to expand at...
- Rising rates and global slowdown pose challenges for economic growth and investment in Arab countries, which expect to expand at 3.4% in 2023, down from 5.6% in 2022
- Diversified Arab economies are better equipped against economic shocks, says Arab Monetary Fund, adding that the regional inflation may hover around 6.8% for 2023
Business
Stock markets drop over fears of more interest-rate hikes
In Asian stock market trading, Hong Kong extended the week's losses Friday, even as e-commerce titan Alibaba surged on a...
- Official data Thursday that showed US inflation rising less than expected in July failed to stop bets on the Federal Reserve raising borrowing costs
- Across the Atlantic, better-than-expected UK growth data Friday increased the likelihood of more BoE tightening, boosting the pound
Business
IEA predicts record oil demand of 2.2m barrel a day in 2023
PARIS, FRANCE - The International Energy Agency said Friday it had revised upwards its forecast for global oil demand growth in...
- World oil demand already hit a record 103 million barrels per day in June and August and "could see yet another peak", IEA said.
- "For 2023 as a whole, global oil demand is set to expand by 2.2 million barrels per day to 102.2 million barrels per day," it said.
Economy
Non-oil sectors to maintain UAE economy’s robust growth: OPEC
This performance will be delivered through constant contributions from the non-oil sector, especially from tourism, leisure and real estate. The...
- The report said the oil demand growth is forecast to slow to 2.2 mb/d in 2023, down from 2.4 mb/d in the previous assessment.
- The main drivers of liquids supply growth for 2023 are expected to be the US, Brazil, Norway, Kazakhstan Guyana and China, while the largest decline is expected from Russia.
Markets struggle again as US inflation fails to sooth rate worries
A highly anticipated report showed July consumer prices rose more than the previous month but less than feared, giving the...
- Hong Kong and Shanghai fell further, even as Alibaba surged in response to an earnings report showing a forecast-busting rise in first-quarter revenue
- Sydney, Singapore, Manila and Jakarta also fell, though Seoul, Wellington and Taipei eked out gains. Tokyo was closed for a public holiday
Economy
Iraq’s apex bank introduces new exchange categories for dollar sales to travelers
BAGHDAD -- The Central Bank of Iraq has introduced three distinct categories of exchange companies dedicated to selling dollars to...
- Exchange companies will operate under strict Central Bank regulations and Anti-Money Laundering Law
- Enhanced electronic platform by the Central Bank of Baghdad will oversee all dollar sales to citizens
Economy
Iraq streamlines imports, focuses on strengthening domestic industries
In a move to fortify the local market, Iraq's Ministerial Council of Economy has taken decisive steps, including the removal...
- Iraq's Ministerial Council of Economy removes four items from import lists
- 4% customs tariff reduction announced for imported live animals for slaughter
Business
Dubai Municipality parks attract more than 15m visitors in H1
Dubai, UAE-- More than 15 million people visited Dubai Municipality public parks, neighborhood parks, lakes, and recreational facilities for the...
- The record-breaking trend marks a 50 percent increase in the same period of 2022, which recorded approximately 10 million visitors
- The spike in the number of visitors to the parks and other recreational facilities is made possible by their location and ease of access
Business
World’s largest cruise ship all set to sail
TURKU, FINLAND - With cruise bookings seeing a resurgence after the Covid pandemic caused luxury liners to mothball, a Finnish shipyard...
- Royal Caribbean's luxurious new vessel Icon of the Seas is nearing completion in the Turku shipyard on Finland's southwestern coast.
- Resembling a village more than a ship, the mammoth vessel boasts colourful waterparks, more than 20 decks and can carry nearly 10,000 people.
Business
UAE witnesses record 2.4m tourists in first six months of 2023
Abu Dhabi, UAE - A record 2.4 million tourists visited the UAE during the first six months of 2023, a...
- The emirate’s hotel establishments generated revenues exceeding AED3 billion during the same period, a 26 percent growth compared to last year.
- The hotels also recorded an average occupancy rate of 70 percent, with the average stay in the emirate's hotels being 2.7 nights.
How Viet Nam’s informal waste workers are leading the plastic pollution fight
Behind nearly 90% of all plastic recycled in Viet Nam is someone like Ms Nguyen Thi Kenh or Ms Nguyen...
Economy
Company News
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Oil prices surge, Asian markets fall following Iran explosions
Oil prices surged more than three percent in early Asian trade, and Asian stock markets slumped by over 3 percent...
Economy
From sand dunes to boardrooms: Strategies for success in challenging times
"Leadership teams must recognize that the livelihoods of their employees' families hinge on the stability of the business. Understanding that...
Low-pressure system eases over UAE: Dubai Airport delays remain
The Ministry of Interior has announced the end of the low-pressure weather system that wreaked havoc for many Dubai International...
Economy
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Business
Special economic zones are a new craze in Middle East
Vast swathes of land across the desert region are seeing the sprouting of new special zones to entice big business...
- In 2023, Saudi Arabia set up four new special economic zones, with incentives for international companies to operate within the kingdom
- SEZs are seen as catalysts for economic diversification, which offer platforms for innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment in non-oil sectors
Economy
Saudi Arabia surpasses homeownership goals, sets sights on 70% by 2030
The kingdom's housing program achieves remarkable success, surpassing targets and reducing waiting times from 15 years to immediate entitlement, revolutionizing...
- The housing program, which implements over 15 development initiatives and programs, successfully increased Saudi families' homeownership rate to more than 60% by 2023
- It also accomplished over 165,000 housing units and plans to provide 365,000 housing units over the next few years, with 95,000 units going to the most vulnerable families by 2025
Space economy set to triple to $1.8trn by 2035, reveals new research
The growth of the space industry will largely be built upon the increased reach of space-based and/or -enabled technologies, such...
- The growth will largely be due to space-based and -enabled technologies, such as communications positioning, navigation and timing.
- Space technologies are delivering greater value to a more diverse set of stakeholders than ever before, including in industries as varied as food and beverage, among others.

