US, China seek to extend trade truce with London talks
After a round of talks in Geneva last month, the United States and China will sit down at the negotiating...
Economy
World Economic Forum unveils framework highlighting transformative technology convergences across key industries
Agentic AI, spatial intelligence and robotic advancements in manipulation and adaptive control are enabling autonomous systems to make intelligent decisions...
Economy
Business
Exports key target of GCC hydrogen strategies
Clean hydrogen could be bigger than the oil and gas economy for the region, says Jo Bamford, chairman of HYCAP,...
- Bamford told TRENDS that the region is blessed with ample solar and wind resources needed for generating the lowest-cost electricity that is eventually needed to produce hydrogen.
- The emergence of the hydrogen industry in GCC nations promises significant economic opportunities, with projections suggesting a market worth $100 billion by 2030.
Economy
Saudi Arabia offers 6 mining opportunities for local, international investors
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - The Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources on Wednesday announced six new mining opportunities for...
- The opportunities are part of the fifth round of mining competitions for exploration licenses and encompass gold, copper, zinc, lead, and silver ores
- Investment opportunities for exploration licenses include Al-Halahila site in the Najran region, estimated to be more than 34 square kilometers in size
Gold hits fresh record above $2,300 as Fed hints at easing monetary policy
On Thursday, bullion touched $2,304.96 per ounce, according to Bloomberg News, after Fed boss Jerome Powell said it would likely...
- Gold has chalked up multiple records over recent weeks as the US Federal Reserve indicates it is about to begin easing monetary policy which makes it more attractive to investors
- Its popularity as a safe haven in times of turmoil has also provided plenty of support, with traders fretting over the Middle East crisis and the ongoing war in Ukraine
Business
Abu Dhabi targets 39.3 million visitors by 2030
Emirate's new tourism strategy aims to increase the sector’s contribution to GDP from $13.34 billion in 2023 to $24 billion...
- The Strategy will generate an estimated 178,000 new jobs by 2030 as the entire tourism infrastructure develops to meet this demand
- It intends to almost double international overnight visitors from 3.8 million in 2023 to approximately 7.2 million in 2030
Business
Russia becomes world’s fourth-biggest LNG producer, says PM
MOSCOW, RUSSIA – Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said the country became the world’s fourth-biggest LNG producer last year.The Russian Prime...
- Mikhail Mishustin said that the volume of LNG exports rose almost three-fold in six years.
- In January - February 2024, natural gas production in Russia increased by 11.3 percent year-on-year.
Economy
World Bank estimates damage to Gaza infrastructure at $18.5bn
The World Bank said in its interim damage assessment, this is equivalent to 97 percent of the combined economic output...
- The bank said the rate of damage appears to be leveling off as few assets remain intact
- The report also found that more than half of Gaza's population were on the brink of famine
Economy
GCC tourism growth skyrockets as diversification drive gains momentum post-Covid
GCC countries collaborate on comprehensive tourism strategy, leading global recovery post-pandemic with remarkable growth rates and ambitious plans for sustainable...
- Four years on, the GCC has not just recovered faster than was expected, but it has also led the global tourism recovery with a 122% surge in arrivals in 2023 compared to 2019
- The region has assiduously worked for it with its two major economies, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, embarking on economic diversification with tourism one of the thrust areas
Economy
SAMA: E-payments share reached 70% of total payments in 2023
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) announced on Monday that the share of retail consumer electronic payments...
- The achievement is attributed to the significant growth of payments processed through national payment systems in 2023
- The evolving cost-effective and reliable e-payment system helps enhance transaction efficiency, and support financial stability
Economy
Middle East economy firm despite challenges
Non-oil growth to stay robust, bolstered by a strong non-oil GDP growth in the region's two biggest economies, UAE and...
- The disruption to Red Sea trade has revived discussions around the need for alternative trade corridors
- There is a growing momentum around green financing following the success of COP28 and the introduction of green finance frameworks
Economy
Gross written premium rises by 12.7% in Q4 2023 to US$14bn, says CBUAE
ABU DHABI, UAE - The UAE insurance sector continued to grow in Q4 2023, as reflected by the increase in...
- The number of licenced insurance companies in the UAE remained at 60, the CBUAE announced in its quarterly economic report.
- The insurance of persons and fund accumulation premiums decreased by 12.4 percent YoY.
US, China seek to extend trade truce with London talks
After a round of talks in Geneva last month, the United States and China will sit down at the negotiating...
Economy
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Analysis
Trump stings friends and foes alike in his tariffs war, countries eye trade talks
The tariff announcements rattled stock markets while safe haven gold hit a new record high, oil prices fell and the...
Economy
China says opposes new US tariffs, vows ‘countermeasures’
China on Thursday said it "firmly opposes" sweeping new US tariffs on its exports and vowed "countermeasures to safeguard its...
Economy
World’s tiniest pacemaker is smaller than grain of rice
Paris, France -- Scientists said Wednesday they have developed the world's tiniest pacemaker, a temporary heartbeat regulator smaller than a...
Science
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Economy
Morocco ‘water highway’ averts crisis in big cities but doubts over sustainability
Morocco is spending hundreds of millions of dollars on tapping northern rivers to supply water to parched cities farther south...
- Morocco has spent $728 million so far on what it dubs a "water highway" to redirect the surplus flow of the Sebou River to meet the drinking water needs of capital Rabat
- Officials say the project has been a success in heading off the immediate threat to the water supply of the country's most populous region
Business
Automakers lead market losses after Trump tariffs on imported vehicles
Wall Street's main indexes opened in the red, with General Motors sinking more than nine percent in early trading while...
- Among European auto firms, Volkswagen shed 2.4 percent, Porsche was down around 3.5 percent, Mercedes lost four percent and BMW fell 2.7 percent.
- In Mumbai, India's Tata Motors, which exports Jaguar Land Rovers to the United States, lost more than five percent.
Geostrategy
From cars to champagne: Trump’s expanding tariffs trigger trade war fears
Paris, France -- From champagne to steel and now cars: it is getting harder to keep up with US President...
- In early March, Trump imposed a 20 percent tariff on products from China, which has a huge trade surplus with the United States and was already his top target during his first term
- Trump announced earlier he would slap 25-percent tariffs on imports from countries buying oil and gas from Venezuela, a punitive measure that could hit China and India.