INSEAD Day 4 - 728x90

Economy

EasyLease H1 profit $12.2m

Revenue rises on stronger operations.

FAB profit edges higher

Income growth supports steady earnings.

UAB H1 profit climbs

Income, lending drive first-half growth

Sanad posts record revenue

Growth driven by global demand for services.

Bank of Sharjah profit up 39%

Bank's total assets grow 10% to $14.4 billion.

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...

Economy

Digital innovation fuels surge in Iraq’s banking sector

"These banks excel not only in financial performance but also in adapting and innovating. Through partnerships with global entities like...

Opinion
Economy

Egypt to privatize key state companies as inflation surges

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli announced Sunday a string of planned privatisations of state-owned companies, as Cairo grapples with an...
  • Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli laid out plans for 10 state-owned companies and two army-owned companies to be listed on the stock market later this year.
  • By 2025, the government hopes to see "private sector contribution in investment grow to 65 percent," up from 30 percent today.
Business

Sanctions-hit Iran considering gas exports to Europe: official

Iran is considering the possibility of exporting gas to Europe, an oil ministry official said Sunday against the backdrop of...
  • Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February sent global oil and gas prices soaring, with many European countries dependent on energy imports from Russia.
  • Tehran and Baghdad had signed a memorandum of understanding a few weeks ago that will see the country increase gas exports to Iraq.
Business

PIF launches Saudi Coffee Company

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) today announced the launch of the Saudi Coffee Company. The company is established to enable...
  • The launch of the Saudi Coffee Company aligns with PIF’s strategy, which focuses on developing and enabling 13 promising sectors
  • The Saudi Coffee Company’s primary goal is to ensure the national coffee industry is enabled along its entire value chain, from bean to cup
Interview

GCC firms should focus on digital change: QIB chief

Bassel Gamal, the Group CEO of Qatar's second-largest bank, tells TRENDS that leaders should empower their employees to make decisions.
  • "Today, all GCC economies are recovering from the pandemic thanks to higher oil prices, supporting government spending and normalizing business activity."
  • "The leadership has shifted towards a more collaborative approach, fostering teamwork, productivity, innovation and creativity."
Economy

Saudi inflation surges in April, food and beverages cost more

Annual inflation in Saudi Arabia has spiked to 2.3 percent in April, up from 2 percent in March. According to...
  • the consumer price index, or CPI, in April 2022 has surged 2 percent when compared to the corresponding period a year earlier
  • Food and beverages prices increased by 4.3 percent due to an increase in meat prices by 3.5 percent, and vegetable prices by 13.5 percent
Economy

Iraq’s prized rice crop threatened by drought

Drought is threatening the Iraqi tradition of growing amber rice, the aromatic basis of rich lamb and other dishes, and...
  • After three years of drought and declining rainfall, Iraq's amber rice production will be only symbolic in 2022
  • Normally, rice fields planted in mid-May should stay submerged all summer until October but that's a luxury Iraq can no longer allow
Geostrategy

Lebanon votes in first election since crisis

Lebanon headed to the polls today for its first election since multiple crises dragged it to the brink of failed...
  • Observers have warned not to expect any seismic shift, with every lever of power firmly in the hands of traditional sectarian parties
  • Since the last election, the country has been mutilated by a blast at the Beirut port that went down as one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history
Economy

Oman, India bilateral trade rises to $9.9b in 2021-2022

There has been a 94.8% increase in the number of Indian businesses registering with Oman MoCIIP’s Invest Easy portal, up...
  • There has been a 94.8% increase in the number of Indian businesses registering with Oman MoCIIP’s Invest Easy portal, up from 450 in 2019 to 877 in 2021
  • Qais Al Yousef was in India to develop new business opportunities and strengthen investment and trade ties in manufacturing, healthcare and renewables
Arts & Culture

Dare to be different to make positive change: Joumana

Lebanese writer, journalist, and human rights activist Joumana Haddad tells TRENDS why she is unperturbed despite being one of the...
  • Joumana Haddad pays a price for her strong voice advocating for the rights of people, addressing otherwise taboo subjects
  • A big believer of self-expression, she uses her publication Jasad to tackle issues related to art, literature, and politics of the body
Economy

Emirate attracts expats and HNWIs alike

World-class infrastructure, successful pandemic response and visa and labor reforms have made the city an ideal destination for expats. Also,...
  • The city has established itself as the region's business hub, which creates abundant job opportunities for expats as only one in 23 workers in Dubai is an Emirati national.
  • Dubai had 7.28 million visitors last year despite the global pandemic, making it an ideal place to live, work, and visit.

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...
Economy

Company News

Latest News

There are no frozen assets abroad, says Iranian President

TEHRAN, IRAN   – Iran President Ebrahim Raisi on Tuesday said that the country’s money is only blocked in South Korea...
Geostrategy

Qatar’s trade balance surplus increases by 12.8 percent in July

Doha, Qatar -- Qatar's foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus...
Business

GCC optimistic about FDI growth despite hiccups

Despite a decline in FDI inflows in the past few years, GCC countries remain optimistic as they expect strong economic...
Videos
INSEAD Day 4- 300x600
INSEAD Day 4- 300x600

Most Read

Economy

Saudi Arabia’s banks post 9.6% rise in aggregate profits in July to US$1.71bn

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia-- Banks in Saudi Arabia have reported a 9.6 percent increase in aggregate profit to $1.71 billion in...
  • The central bank said the aggregate assets of the banks jumped 8.84 percent year-on-year in July to $1.02 trillion
  • The bank also revealed that loans disbursed to the private sector increased 9.97 percent year-on-year in July to $648 billion
Business

Sharjah to host Gulf-Iraq business forum to ramp up economic ties

Sharjah, UAE--Sharjah will host the first-ever Gulf-Iraq Business Forum on 26th and 27th September to boost economic ties between the...
  • The business forum will look into boosting investment and trade ties between the GCC countries and business groups within Iraq
  • Iraq has been an old business and trading partner for the countries in the GCC region and the forum will seek to consolidate the cooperation
Economy

Saudi Arabia and Turkey to boost ties in industrial, mining sectors

The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU to boost mining cooperation in critical minerals needed in new technologies...
  • The two countries desire to ramp up mutual investments in the manufacturing sector
  • Turkish companies would attempt to obtain more shares of Saudi Arabia's projects