Gaza ceasefire enters phase two despite unresolved issues between Israel and Hamas
The most contentious questions remain Hamas's refusal to publicly commit to full disarmament, a non-negotiable demand from Israel, and Israel's...
Geostrategy
Cybersecurity must evolve from blocking threats to safeguarding the innovation process
When businesses increasingly rely on AI to make decisions, a manipulated dataset can cause more harm than a ransomware attack,...
Interview
Business
Saudi Aramco share sale nets $12.35 billion on investor demand
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Aramco netted $12.35 billion, $1 billion more than expected, from a secondary share sale after exercising...
- The offering announced in May was the largest in the Middle East since Aramco's record initial public offering (IPO) in 2019, bolstering Saudi's finances.
- Aramco, the jewel of the Saudi economy that remains mostly state-owned, announced on May 30 that it would sell 1.545 billion shares.
Business
Shell, TotalEnergies and BP take stakes in UAE gas project
Dubai, United Arab Emirates -- Energy majors TotalEnergies, Shell and BP will each take a 10 percent stake in a liquefied...
- Japanese trading company Mitsui & Co. will also acquire 10 percent of the Ruwais LNG plant, scheduled to come online in 2028, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) said.
- ADNOC, the UAE's key revenue-earner, will retain a 60 percent majority stake, the firm said following a signing ceremony.
Business
Saudi records $412m venture capital funding in H1, highest in MENA
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia has maintained its first rank across MENA in terms of the amount of Venture...
- E-commerce/retail was the highest sector in the Kingdom in terms of VC funding, accounting for 52 percent of total funding, amounting to $215 million.
- FinTech continued to lead the Kingdom's total number of deals, capturing 14 percent of deals in the first half of 2024.
Business
Methanol-powered ship to set sail for Europe’s first ‘green’ route
Rotterdam, Netherlands -- The first methanol-powered ship to ply routes between Europe's busy ports was unveiled Tuesday in Rotterdam, with shipping...
- The Eco-Maestro, a 13,675-tonne container carrier will head off to Antwerp in the next few days, before plotting a course for Klaipeda in Lithuania and Riga in Latvia.
- Completed in China earlier this year, the Eco-Maestro is kitted out with the latest engines that can run on methanol -- a sustainable fuel made from decomposed organic matter.
Business
China’s BYD signs deal to open electric car plant in Turkey
Istanbul, Turkey -- China's electric vehicle giant BYD on Monday signed a one-billion-dollar agreement with Turkey to open a plant in...
- The one-billion-dollar agreement would likely help China dodge new European Union tariffs.
- The BYD facility will have an annual capacity of 150,000 vehicles as well as a research and development center.
Business
Chip giant TSMC briefly joins trillion-dollar club
New York, United States -- Chip-making juggernaut Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. briefly surpassed $1 trillion in market capitalization on Monday as...
- TSMC controls more than half the world's output of chips and supplies them for everything from Apple's iPhones to Nvidia's cutting-edge artificial intelligence hardware.
- The company hit the threshold briefly after the opening bell in New York, but slipped lower in later trading.
Geostrategy
Gaza battles rage as mediators push for truce deal
Mediators Egypt and Qatar were due to host new talks this week, according to officials, as the bloodiest-ever Gaza war...
- Cairo and Doha have resumed diplomatic efforts to halt the fighting, aiming for an initial six-week ceasefire
- Hamas has signaled it would drop its insistence on a "complete" ceasefire
Geostrategy
Is Artificial Intelligence a major drain on the world’s energy supply?
Paris, France -- When Google announced this week that its climate emissions had risen by 48 percent since 2019, it pointed...
- The International Energy Agency (IEA) said in a report earlier this year that data centers in general used roughly 40 percent of electricity on computing and 40 percent on cooling.
- Big tech firms have been rushing to pack all their products with AI ever since OpenAI launched its ChatGPT bot in late 2022.
Business
Airbus nets satellite deal
The $2.5bn contract was awarded by the German army.
- The contract was awarded for next generation SatcomBw 3 military communications satellites, the European aerospace firm said.
- The contract, for deployment by the end of the decade, includes the prime contractor of two satellites "as well as the ground segment (receiving stations.
Business
European Union slaps Chinese electric cars with tariffs of up to 38%
Brussels, Belgium -- The European Union on Thursday slapped extra provisional duties of up to 38 percent on Chinese electric car...
- A European Commission probe launched last year concluded that state subsidies for Chinese EV manufacturers were unfairly undercutting European rivals.
- The Chinese Chamber of Commerce to the EU slammed the tariffs, coming on top of current import duties of 10 percent, as "politically-motivated" and "protectionist".
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Revenue from Saudi cinema may exceed $1bn by 2030KSA, UAE play well as e-gaming trends across GCCExclusive: Middle East’s retail sector rides on AR and hybrid shopping to become $600bn digital economyTECOM Group profit soars 13%UAE startups eye Saudi Arabia for growth, expansionSaudi Arabia leads GCC AI healthcare raceDisparity remains as Saudis, Emiratis see wealth gains
Gaza ceasefire enters phase two despite unresolved issues between Israel and Hamas
The most contentious questions remain Hamas's refusal to publicly commit to full disarmament, a non-negotiable demand from Israel, and Israel's...
Geostrategy
Company News
Kamco Invest launches two funds
Business
Latest News
Trump doubles down on Gaza shock plan, says Israel will turn over the territory to US
Trump said that by the time of the handover, Palestinians "would have already been resettled in far safer and more...
Geostrategy
Morgan Stanley sees upswing in MENA M&A deal volumes and values
After a challenging year where M&A activity in the Middle East and North Africa took a tumble, Morgan Stanley forecasts...
Syrian President’s first foreign trip to Saudi Arabia signals Syria’s shift away from Iran’s influence.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, marking his first foreign visit and signaling...
Geostrategy
Most Read
Business
UAE most attractive Arab destination for auto investment, business
Kuwait -- The UAE has topped the Arab list as the best and most attractive destination for investment and business...
- The automotive sector in Arab countries attracted 184 foreign projects valued at more than $25 billion, providing more than 102,000 jobs.
- Five countries: Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Algeria, Morocco and Kuwait had around 75 percent of overall vehicle sales in the region by the end of 2024.
Business
SIB’s 2024 profit $272m
The profit surpassed AED 1 billion for the first time in bank's history.
- The bank's net profit before tax increased by 36.5 percent, reaching AED1.15 billion.
- The bank saw a significant increase of 45.3 percent in fee and commission income, reaching AED400.4 million
Business
GCC leaders explore regional growth and opportunity at Doha investment meet
The burgeoning creator economy presents an unprecedented opportunity for GCC to outpace global cities and establish itself as the epicenter...
- The event was organized by The Business Year (TBY), a media group that has been providing investors and governments with first-hand insights into the world’s most dynamic markets.
- Attendees and panelists delved into comprehensive discussions that paved the way for an evening of cross-border knowledge sharing.