Nations divided ahead of decisive week for shipping emissions
London, United Kingdom -- Members of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) are divided over whether to approve a carbon tax on...
Geostrategy
Norway nears 100% goal of all-electric cars
By comparison, the share of electric cars in Europe was just 13.6 percent in the full-year 2024, a decline for...
Geostrategy
Economy
Oil prices up on Saudi, Russia push for output reduction
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Collaboration between Saudi Arabia and Russia to drive OPEC+ members toward output cuts has resulted in...
- The OPEC agreement entails a substantial 2.2 million barrels per day reduction for the first quarter of next year
- Despite these global efforts, US output continued at a high of over 13 million barrels per day, contributing to a surplus in the market
Geostrategy
Mideast ministers met with Joly, Trudeau in Ottawa to discuss Israel-Hamas war
OTTAWA, CANADA — A group of foreign ministers from the Palestinian Authority, Saudi Arabia and Turkey met Canadian Foreign Affairs...
- The quietly planned meeting focused on ways countries could help efforts to secure peace for Palestinians and Israelis.
- The group is not a joint peace project with Israel, and says its leaders aim to speak on behalf of Arab and Muslim people people.
COP28 UAE
UAE leads global renewable energy drive: IRENA envoy
The UAE plays a pivotal role as IRENA headquarters and key renewable energy hub, Dr Nawal Al Hosany, the permanent...
- The UAE plays a pivotal role as IRENA headquarters and key renewable energy hub, Dr Nawal Al Hosany, the permanent representative of the UAE to IRENA, tells TRENDS.
- The ongoing COP28 aims to deliver an ambitious energy package, targeting significant increases in renewable capacity and energy efficiency by 2030, Al Hosany adds.
Business
People-positive approach needed in clean power transition: WEF paper
Dubai, UAE -- Building massive infrastructure for clean power projects in pursuit of climate goals will need nearly $4.5 trillion in...
- The white paper calls for a dialogue between the industry and community groups and NGOs to define common standards for a people-positive energy transition.
- It also urges governments to not only focus on the lowest price but also the wider societal value creation in their transition plans.
Geostrategy
Russian oil price cap partially successful
LONDON, UK - A Western price cap imposed a year ago on Russia's oil has had limited success with Moscow increasingly...
- The cap was jointly imposed on December 5, 2022 by the European Union, Australia and the Group of Seven rich countries.
- Initially successful, it lost its impact once President Vladimir Putin's Russia found new buyers for its oil and new tankers to deliver it.
Business
Tawzea, NWC ink pacts
The companies have signed two agreements.
- Tawzea is a 50:50 joint venture between Saudi Arabian Amiantit Co and Sustained Infrastructure Holding Co.
- Under the first contract, Tawzea will operate and maintain the water network in Makkah and its governorates.
COP28 UAE
COP28 draft agreement includes option to do nothing on fossil fuels
The fate of oil, gas and coal is the thorniest issue being thrashed out at the COP28 UN climate talks...
- The draft of global climate agreement forms the basis of negotiations that will unfold in coming days, with a final text expected in theory by December 12
- It is a formal response to the "global stocktake", a damning report card published in September that highlighted how little the world had done to confront the climate crisis
COP28 UAE
Saudi Arabia spurns fossil fuel phaseout push at COP28
A tentative "phasedown/out" was included in a first draft of an agreement on climate action that delegates are haggling over...
- UN chief called for a total phaseout of fossil fuels, warning "complete disaster" awaits mankind
- Saudi Arabia has revamped its energy sources, invested in renewables and improved energy-efficiency
Geostrategy
Masdar City to construct region’s first net-zero energy mosque
Abu Dhabi, UAE - Masdar City, an Abu Dhabi, UAE-based sustainability and innovation hub dedicated to making all cities a...
- The mosque’s total energy requirements were reduced by 35 percent compared to international baselines using passive design
- Low-flow water fixtures, drought-resistant landscaping, and the use of recycled water for irrigation will reduce water use by 55 percent
COP28 UAE
We respect climate science, says COP28 head
DUBAI, UAE - The Emirati president of the UN's COP28 talks said on Monday he respects climate science, after a leaked...
- Sultan Al Jaber also repeated his past statements that a phase out of fossil fuels was "inevitable".
- He acknowledged that global greenhouse gas emissions must be cut by 43 percent by 2030.
Nations divided ahead of decisive week for shipping emissions
London, United Kingdom -- Members of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) are divided over whether to approve a carbon tax on...
Geostrategy
Company News
GAS, SPPC ink two contracts
Business
Latest News
Iran signs big contracts to increase oil production
Iran sealed contracts worth billions of dollars with domestic companies to boost its oil production in the face of Western...
Geostrategy
Middle East leads way in global methane mitigation
The Middle East is emerging as an important region in the battle against methane emissions, crucial for curbing global warming....
Economy
Non-oil sectors contribute 50% to Saudi Arabia’s real GDP in 2023
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – Non-oil activities in the Kingdom have achieved a historic milestone, reaching a 50 percent share of...
Economy

Most Read
Economy
Baghdad, Tehran in talks to import gas from Turkmenistan
Tehran, Iran - Baghdad and Tehran are currently engaged in negotiations to facilitate the import of gas from Turkmenistan, with...
- The pact provides for supplying Iraq with 51 million M3 per day, Iraqi minister of electricity Luay Al-Khatteeb said
- He further noted that the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity has fulfilled all gas-related payments to Iran
Business
Saudi Arabia transfers 8% Aramco stake to PIF-owned firms
Saudi Arabia said it transferred an additional eight percent stake from oil giant Aramco to firms owned by the kingdom's...
- The transfer was "a continuation of Saudi Arabia's long-term initiatives to boost and diversify the national economy and expand investment opportunities".
- The move brings the state's ownership of Aramco shares to 82.19 percent.
Business
GAS, SPPC ink two contracts
The duration of each contract is of 22 months.
- The two contracts entail the engineering, procurement and construction of Qassim and Taibah gas pipelines.
- The first contract is valued at $90 million (SAR341.09 million), while the second is worth $68 million (SAR256.1 million).

