Gulf economies may not recover to pre-war levels soon as shock will hit many sectors, IMF warns
The IMF projects the Middle East and Central Asia region will contract 0.3 percent in 2026, reflecting its exposure to...
Economy
Fitch sees Saudi fiscal pressure persisting through 2029
Fitch Ratings expects Saudi Arabia’s fiscal deficits to remain wider than previously budgeted, with higher spending and conflict risks weighing...
Economy
Economy
China’s foreign exchange reserves rise by $31bn to $3.44 trillion
Dubai, UAE -- China’s foreign exchange reserves rose to $3.4422 trillion at the end of May, their highest level in...
- SAFE attributed May's increase primarily to exchange-rate valuation effects and changes in prices of global financial assets.
- China remains the world's largest holder of foreign exchange reserves, providing a key buffer against market volatility and external shocks.
Economy
UN food organization sees global cereal output falling in 2026/27
Dubai, UAE -- Global cereal production is expected to decline by 2% in the 2026/27 season to 2.982 billion tons,...
- Record 2025/26 harvests helped build global cereal inventories despite forecasts of tighter supplies in the coming season.
- Lower wheat and barley trade volumes are expected to offset stronger maize and rice shipments worldwide.
Economy
Energy costs push OECD inflation to highest level this year
Dubai, UAE -- Annual inflation across the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) accelerated to 4.4% in April from...
- Energy inflation reached 13.2% across the OECD, with 31 member countries reporting higher energy costs during April.
- U.S. inflation rose to its highest level since May 2023, while Britain's core inflation fell to four-year lows.
Economy
Fragmenting world economy raises costs beyond geopolitical rivals
A report published by the World Economic Forum (WEF) and consulting firm Oliver Wyman found that fragmentation accelerated through 2025...
- Annual economic losses from fragmentation already total up to $307 billion as tariffs and investment restrictions proliferate globally.
- Emerging economies outside major geopolitical blocs could suffer output losses nearly twice the global average under escalation scenarios.
Business
ChatGPT surpasses 1 billion monthly active users in May
Dubai, UAE -- OpenAI's ChatGPT surpassed 1 billion monthly active users in May, becoming the fastest application to reach the...
- Sensor Tower estimates ChatGPT reached one billion monthly users roughly three years after launching in late 2022.
- Growing enterprise adoption and multimodal capabilities have helped fuel demand amid intensifying competition across artificial intelligence markets.
Economy
UAE GDP reaches $517 billion as economy grows 6.2 percent
Non-oil activities drove growth as construction, finance, real estate and transport sectors posted robust gains, underscoring diversification efforts and long-term...
- Trade remained the largest non-oil contributor, accounting for 16.9 percent of GDP, ahead of finance sectors.
- Officials highlighted investments in technology, innovation and digital economy initiatives as drivers of future readiness.
Economy
Closure of Strait of Hormuz may trigger lasting shift in Gulf trade corridors: report
About $650 billion in trade flows are affected, with global maritime routes facing growing disruption and uncertainty risks.
- GCC countries are redirecting cargo flows through alternative gateways, increasing transit costs and causing longer delivery times
- Saudi Arabia could leverage Red Sea access and East African investments to reduce dependence on vulnerable maritime choke points
The generational digital divide is fading among UAE investors, eToro findsÂ
76% of younger investors and 75% of older investors have acted on a recommendation by an AI engine
- Younger investors favour future-facing sectors and mature investors are more likely to support industries that are well established in the UAE
- Both groups share the same top three investing goals: to achieve financial independence, to supplement income, and to provide long-term security
Geostrategy
Next wave of global competitive advantage lies in tech combinations: WEF
Eight technology domains, including AI, robotics, engineering biology and advanced materials are no longer advancing in isolation.
- The United States alone could face a shortfall of between 10,100 and 19,900 surgeons by 2036.
- Organizations are urged to assess where bottlenecks sit in their value chains, determine which technology combinations could shift those constraints.
Economy
MENA faces shortfall of 111,737 construction Project Managers by 2035: PMI
The PMI report finds that MENA will require up to 330,794 construction project management professionals by 2035 under a high-growth...
- Even under a low-growth scenario, the region would still face a shortfall of more than 88,561 professionals.
- Retirement-driven attrition will widen the gap further, compounding pressure on an already strained talent market.
Gulf economies may not recover to pre-war levels soon as shock will hit many sectors, IMF warns
The IMF projects the Middle East and Central Asia region will contract 0.3 percent in 2026, reflecting its exposure to...
Economy
Company News
Global economy stabilizes as fiscal room narrows, WEF says
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70% Saudization for project management jobs from February 2027
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD), in partnership with the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing (MOMAH),...
Economy
SpaceX launches two Falcon 9 rockets 38 minutes apart
SpaceX launched two Falcon 9 rockets from opposite US coasts just 38 minutes apart on Saturday, setting a new launch...
Geostrategy
UAE hiring rebound gains momentum as talent flows recover, report says
The the UAE Economic Graph Report 2026 by LinkedIn and the Ministry of Foreign Trade says real estate led hiring...
Economy
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Economy
UAE records solid first-quarter growth as non-oil sectors account for nearly 80% of GDP
Real GDP rose to $132.0 billion at constant prices in the January-March period, while non-oil GDP expanded 4.8 percent, increasing...
- Finance, construction and technology-led industries powered growth despite regional challenges, underscoring resilience of the diversified economy.
- Real estate activities grew 4.8 percent, public administration, defence and compulsory social security rose 4.5 percent, while wholesale and retail trade expanded 2.6 percent.
Research
Saudi mega-projects could generate 35% of power needs through on-site renewables
A BCG report says rooftop solar and decentralized renewable systems can lower electricity costs, reduce emissions and help developers meet...
- Study says early renewable integration avoids costly retrofits while improving long-term project returns through flexible financing options.
- Report highlights Saudi regulatory reforms and strong solar resources as key drivers accelerating renewable adoption across urban developments.
Business
Kuwait’s annual inflation rises 2.19 percent in June
Dubai, UAE -- Kuwait's consumer price index (CPI), a key measure of inflation, increased by 2.19% year-on-year at the end...
- The Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) said the annual inflation rate was mainly attributed to increases in the prices of food, healthcare, clothing and education.
- The food and beverages group recorded the highest annual increase, rising 5.55% compared with June 2025.