Unemployment rate among Saudi nationals 7.8 percent in Q3
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Unemployment rate among Saudi nationals reached 7.8 percent in the third quarter of 2024, a year-on-year...
Economy
Egypt tests Suez Canal extension aimed at boosting vessel capacity
Cairo, Egypt -- Egypt has tested a new 10-kilometre (6.2-mile) extension to the Suez Canal as it tries to minimize the...
Business
Business
Non-oil trade between UAE and US hits $31.4 billion in 2023
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- Non-oil trade between the UAE and the United States reached $31.4 billion in 2023 and is...
- Danny E. Sebright, President of the US-UAE Business Council, said that US exports to the UAE reached $24.8 billion last year, exceeding 2022 exports of $20.8 billion by 19 percent.
- He highlighted that US exports to the UAE support 125,000 jobs in the US, while UAE exports to the US totaled $6.6 billion last year.
Business
Eyes on Bank of Japan as unions announce big wage hikes
Tokyo, Japan -- Japan's largest trade union said Friday it had secured the highest wage hikes since 1991 in preliminary data...
- The Rengo union said that in spring wage talks so far, its members had secured pay rises of nearly 5.3% on average, compared with 3.8% at this point last year.
- Wage growth has been sluggish in Japan for decades, and the government partly blames this for the economy's woes.
Geostrategy
UAE rises to seventh rank globally in UN gender balance index
Dubai, UAE -- The UAE advanced to the seventh rank globally in the Gender Inequality Index 2024, issued by the...
- The UAE rose from its 49th place in 2015 and 11th place in 2022 from Gender Inequality Index 2024 by the UNDP.
- The UNDP announced UAE's achievement during the meetings of the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, being held until 22 March in New York.
Geostrategy
UN probe: ‘No exchange of fire’ before Israel shelled media in Lebanon
Two Israeli shells hit the group in quick succession as they were working near the border village of Alma al-Shaab...
- UNIFIL's investigation found that as there was no exchange of fire at the time of the incident, "the reason for the strikes on the journalists is not known".
- An AFP probe into the attack, jointly conducted with Airwars, an NGO that probes attacks on civilians in conflict situations, pointed to a tank shell only used by Israeli army.
Science
SpaceX mega rocket lost in final phase of third test flight
The sleek mega rocket is vital to NASA's plans for landing astronauts on the Moon later this decade -- and...
- Starship's third launch test in its fully stacked configuration was its most ambitious yet and the company said it was able to meet many of its objectives.
- These included opening and closing Starship's payload door to test its ability to deliver satellites and other cargo into space.
Business
Gulf Cooperation Council’s first UAE Bond ETF launched by Lunate Capital
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- The launch of Gulf Cooperation Council's first UAE bond Exchange Traded Fund (ETF), which will list...
- The Chimera JP Morgan UAE Bond UCITS ETF will track the performance of the JP Morgan MECI UAE Investment Grade Custom Index.
- The ETF will hold Investment Grade sovereign, quasi-sovereign and corporate bond issues with at least $500 million in face amount outstanding.
Business
Majid Al Futtaim net profit is $735m
The Group reported a 12% increase in EBITDA to $1.25 billion.
- MAF – Properties recorded a 20 percent YoY increase in revenue to AED 6.9 billion and 21 percent increase in EBITDA to AED 3.6 billion.
- The Group's net debt increased to AED 15 billion, primarily due to investments in working capital.
Business
ADNOC Drilling to pay $358m dividend
This brings the total dividend for 2023 to $717 million.
- The dividend will be paid on or around 3rd April 2024 to all record shareholders as of 21st March 2024.
- ADNOC Drilling said the annual distribution is expected to grow by at least 5 percent per annum on a dividend per-share basis over the next three years (2024-2026).
Business
Parkin record-breaking IPO raises $428m
The offer was oversubscribed 165 times for all tranches combined.
- Dubai Investment Fund (selling shareholder) had announced 749 million shares, or 24.99% of Parkin's total issued share capital, for the IPO.
- Parkin is expected to commence trading on the DFM on 21st March 2024. At listing, the company will have a market capitalization of AED 6.30 billion ($1.72 billion).
Saudi families utilize henna art to encourage kids in fasting
Arar, Saudi Arabia -- In a unique and creative initiative, families in Saudi Arabia's Northern Borders Region are using henna body...
- The practice involves drawing intricate henna patterns on the hands of young girls, often featuring symbols related to Ramadan and fasting
- These designs serve as a visual reminder for the children to refrain from eating and drinking during daylight hours
Unemployment rate among Saudi nationals 7.8 percent in Q3
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Unemployment rate among Saudi nationals reached 7.8 percent in the third quarter of 2024, a year-on-year...
Economy
Company News
Masdar acquires Saeta Yield
Business
Latest News
Saudi Arabia opens resort island at futuristic mega-city NEOM
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia's planned futuristic mega-city known as NEOM announced on Sunday the opening of its "first physical...
Geostrategy
Saudis part ways with coach Mancini after a run of poor results
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia's football body said it was ending the contract of national coach Roberto Mancini after 14...
Arts & Culture
Israel to send negotiators to new Gaza truce talks in Qatar
The head of Israel's Mossad spy agency, David Barnea, will head to Qatari capital Doha on Sunday, the Israeli prime...
Geostrategy
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Geostrategy
Beirut’s suburbs ravaged by Israeli air raids as Blinken urges de-escalation with Iran
Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah's southern Beirut stronghold destroyed six buildings in the deadliest assault since the war began, despite U.S....
- In southern Lebanon, Israeli strikes pounded Tyre, leaving swathes of its centre in ruins and sparking a new exodus from the once vibrant coastal city
- Concerns are mounting over tens of thousands of civilians trapped by fighting in Gaza's aid-starved north, where Israel launched a major air and ground assault this month
Interview
WEF Dubai: UAE fosters global dialogue
The UAE has agile governance and it is not beholden to short-termism, Maroun Kairouz, Head of Regional Agenda for the...
- This year’s knowledge-share platform touched on a wide range of socio-economic challenges, from the ongoing humanitarian crises in the region to the shifts reshaping GCC industries
- Kairouz calls for a unified regional vision that can inspire a positive outlook on the future and provide alternatives to the deprivation that plague parts of the Middle East
Economy
IMF predicts slightly slower global growth in 2024 and 2025
In its new World Economic Outlook (WEO) report, the International Monetary Fund also estimates that global inflation will continue to...
- "In our baseline analysis, in advanced economies (inflation) will be back at central bank targets in 2025," he said.
- The IMF expects growth in the Middle East and Central Asia to pick up slightly to 2.4% in 2024, before jumping to 3.9% in 2025 as the effect of oil and shipping disruptions fades.