Ramadan drives MENA online shopping boom, UAE takes the lead
As Eid Al-Fitr approaches, online shopping is expected to reach new heights, with anticipated growth in categories like flowers, cakes,...
Economy
Dubai, Abu Dhabi real estate market thrives in Q1 2024
“2024 has opened up to an interesting and promising phase of growth within our sector. As proptech leaders, we can...
Economy
Geostrategy
UAE and Japan look to boost ‘strategic’ relations with focus on energy
Tokyo, Japan-- The UAE and Japan have discussed ways to strengthen the strategic partnership with a sharp focus on the...
- The UAE's Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed met with Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Japan and discussed ways to boost strategic partnership
- The foreign minister pointed to the "pioneering example of strategic cooperation" that has gone on for more than 50 years between the two nations
Economy
UAE bank investments touch record high at US$149.35bn in March
Abu Dhabi, UAE--UAE's bank investments climbed to a record level, touching $149.35 billion by the end of March, the highest...
- According to CBUAE, the investments showed a year-on-year growth of 16 percent as against $129 billion in March 2022
- The stock investments hit $3.26 billion in March, a jump of nearly 0.8 percent from around $3.21 billion in December 2022
Business
KEZAD, Tubacex to build Middle East’s first OCTG-CRA manufacturing facility
ABU DHABI, UAE - Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi – KEZAD Group on Friday announced the signing of a land...
- This would be the first such manufacturing facility in the Middle East and is expected to be operational towards the end of 2024.
- By partnering with Tubacex Group, KEZAD aims to further increase the localization and resilience of supply chains.
Business
Crypto exchange Binance halts US dollar deposits after action
WASHINGTON, US - The world's largest cryptocurrency exchange Binance said it was halting US dollar deposits and encouraged clients to withdraw...
- Binance is alleged to have permitted US residents to trade, even though the platform is not registered in the United States as a securities exchange.
- Binance has criticized the govt's actions, saying that it will continue to vigorously defend ourselves and customers against the SEC attacks.
Business
UK to scrap energy windfall tax if oil, gas prices drop further
The UK government said it would scrap a windfall tax on the energy sector should oil and gas prices drop...
- The government said it would return to 40 percent should average Brent North Sea oil fall to, or below, $71.40 per barrel for two quarters in a row.
- Should prices remain above historical norms, the windfall tax would remain until October 2028 as previously announced.
Economy
Dubai set to welcome 18m tourists in 2023
Dubai, UAE - After welcoming 14.36 million visitors in 2022, a 97 percent Year-over-Year (Y0Y) growth when compared to 7.28...
- Tourists have visited the UAE at an increased rate and Dubai has drawn most of them
- The city alone welcomed six million tourists in the first four months of this year
Economy
Most markets rise on hopes for US Federal Reserve rate pause
Expectations the Fed will stand pat next week -- for the first time since starting its hiking cycle last year...
- But news of a forecast-busting jump in jobless claims for last week -- to the highest since October 2021 -- cemented the belief officials will pause until next month.
- All three main US indexes ended higher, with the S&P 500 entering a bull market after rising more than 20 percent from its October low.
Days after being re-elected, Turkey’s Erdogan appoints new central bank governor
Hafize Gaye Erkan -- whose appointment was published in the official gazette on Friday -- has taken over the post...
- Erkan, a former co-CEO First Republic Bank and managing director at Goldman Sachs, will be the first woman to head the central bank
- Turkish president unveiled a new cabinet on Saturday appointing Mehmet Simsek, a former Merrill Lynch economist, as finance minister
Economy
UAE Fund Transfer System processes $1.06 trn in Q1 2023
Abu Dhabi, UAE - The gross value of interbank fund transfers through UAE Fund Transfer System (UAEFTS) rose to more...
- Statistics showed that bank transfers and customer transfers conducted in the period under review stood at $674.32 billion and $329.90 billion respectively
- Statistics also noted that March was the busiest month with dirham-denominated transfers standing at $397.82 billion
Business
Swiss Parliament to examine UBS’ Credit Suisse takeover
Switzerland's parliament will probe the government-orchestrated takeover of the stricken Credit Suisse bank by larger rival UBS. A parliamentary commission...
- The commission will examine "the legality, opportunity and effectiveness of the activities" of the Swiss authorities in the takeover.
- The commission will be composed of 14 lawmakers - seven from each house of parliament - with all major parties represented.
Ramadan drives MENA online shopping boom, UAE takes the lead
As Eid Al-Fitr approaches, online shopping is expected to reach new heights, with anticipated growth in categories like flowers, cakes,...
Economy
Company News
Latest News
Nationalization efforts transform Saudi workforce
Saudi Arabia's ambitious nationalization initiative has significantly impacted its labor market, with the Kingdom experiencing a historic low unemployment rate...
Economy
GCC eyes economic upswing, business growth in 2024
Despite last year's challenges, the region is set to see robust growth this year, led by the UAE, which is...
Economy
UAE announces reduction in fuel prices for January
ABU DHABI, UAE - The prices of petrol and diesel are set to decrease in the country in January following...
Business
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Business
45 percent of Saudi employees work over 40 hours per week
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Nearly 45.8 percent of employees in Saudi Arabia work more than 40 hours per week and...
- Figures also show that 46.6 percent of employees have received training on health and safety procedures, and 48.7 percent have health and safety departments in their workplace.
- Data also shows that 7.8 percent of employees deal directly or indirectly with chemicals, medical waste, radioactive materials or toxic gases.
Business
Bank takes over Amiantit subsidiary
The bank will absolve Amiantit of all its financial obligations.
- The debt being cleared constitutes approximately 50 percent of the total liabilities that Amiantit owes to various banks.
- Preliminary estimates suggest the company will recognize profits worth US$128 million as a result of this settlement.
Geostrategy
5 WEF reports shaping your 2024 agenda
From AI to the future of jobs and slow climb to gender parity, WEF reports provide insights into some of...
- Buffeted by a global energy crisis, inflationary pressures and geopolitical instability, the move to clean energy has faced a challenging time.
- This year's top 10 emerging technologies will likely become increasingly familiar in the years ahead as they help tackle some of our biggest challenges.