Iran escalation sharpens oil, inflation concerns
Lale Akoner, Global Market Analyst, says while the escalation has introduced new risks, the broader investment case for equities in...
Geostrategy
The trillion-dollar paradox in GCC venture capital markets and exits
Despite trillions managed by GCC sovereign wealth funds, late-stage venture capital remains scarce, leaving startups stranded between early traction and...
Economy
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...
- In Abu Dhabi, Q1 2024 recorded 814 residential transactions representing around 38% of the total transactions
- Data from the Dubai Land Department showed a significant surge in total sales transactions in Q1 2024
Economy
March sees GCC Index drop as heavyweight sectors lag
GCC equity markets experienced a March downturn, influenced by seasonal selling pressure during Ramadan, leading to a 3.0% drop in...
- The decline was mainly led by seasonal selling pressure during Ramadan as investors booked profits after last month’s healthy gains
- Qatar suffered the steepest fall by 6.0%., Saudi Arabia was next with a slide of 1.8% while Kuwait and Dubai indices fell by 1.5%
Economy
Abu Dhabi’s private sector grows by over 35 percent in 2023
ABU DHABI, UAE – The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) organized, in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Investment Office...
- Al Multaqa Meetings empower Abu Dhabi to accelerate economic growth, by providing a platform to support investment.
- Supported by private sector and family-owned businesses, Abu Dhabi’s non-oil sectors is going from strength to strength.
Economy
Saudi Arabia offers 50% discount on accumulated traffic fines before April 18
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - The Saudi Ministry of Interior has announced a significant measure aimed at reducing the burden of...
- The objective is to incentivize offenders to settle their fines within a six-month window from the commencement of the initiative
- Payment options include either clearing all fines at once or settling each fine individually, provided there are no additional safety-related violations
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...
- 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
Iran escalation sharpens oil, inflation concerns
Lale Akoner, Global Market Analyst, says while the escalation has introduced new risks, the broader investment case for equities in...
Geostrategy
Company News
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Chinese cluster now world’s top innovation hotspot: UN
Geneva, Switzerland -- Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou has overtaken Tokyo-Yokohama to become the world's top cluster for innovation, the United Nations said...
Business
From entertainment to economics: GCC govts make room for creators in their national vision plans
In Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, digital content creation is a key pillar of economic transformation, and Qatar National Vision 2030...
Economy
China manufacturing shrinks in August despite new US trade truce
Beijing, China -- China's factory output ticked up in August but still recorded a fifth straight month of contraction, official...
Economy
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Economy
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...
- In the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi, nearly 10,000 women collect plastics for recycling, part of an army of informal waste workers
- Viet Nam accounts for 1.8 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, with about 27% of that recycled, making the country a potential leader in tackling the problem
Economy
Fed governor calls for rate cut at September policy meeting
A governor of the US Federal Reserve, Christopher Waller, said Thursday that the central bank should lower its key interest...
- US Federal Reserve, Christopher Waller enthusiasm echoes President Donald Trump's eagerness to cut the rate that is central to US banking and borrowing
- For months the Republican president has called for the cut repeatedly, despite resistance from current Fed chairman Jerome Powell
Economy
Saudi Bank credit grows by over 116 billion in one year by June 2025
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Bank credit extended to the public and private sectors in the Kingdom continued its upward trend,...
- The total bank credit also recorded a quarterly growth of 2.7% by the end of the second quarter of the current year
- Every month, bank credit rose by 0.6% with an increase of USD 4.99 billion (SAR 18,713 million) compared with May 2025, when it stood at USD 844.68 billion (SAR 3,167,558 million)