First European Union airline flight in 35 years lands in Baghdad
Baghdad, Iraq -- Iraq's transport ministry said Tuesday that a flight operated by Greece's Aegean Airlines had been the first...
Geostrategy
AI tools help choose best embryos, increase success rate for IVF
Paris, France -- Artificial intelligence tools can now help choose the most promising embryos for in vitro fertilisation (IVF), although...
Science
Arts & Culture
‘Cultural initiatives key to nation’s advancement’
"Poetry holds a distinguished position among literary arts, especially within the Arabic language. As the foundational literary form in Arabic,...
- UAE’s Minister of Culture highlights the significance of cultural endeavors and poetry in social and individual advancement.
- World Poetry Day celebration emphasizes the foundational role of poetry in Arabic heritage and language, adds Sheikh Salem.
Business
Tabreed approves record dividend
The cash dividend of 15.5 fils per share was okayed at Tabreed's AGA.
- As disclosed in the company’s recent full-year results for 2023, this represents an increase of 15 percent over the previous year.
- Tabreed’s AGA also confirmed the appointment of two new board members: Geert Bunkens and Marion Deridder Blondel.
Business
Real estate deals worth $23bn recorded in Abu Dhabi in 2023: ADREC
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- Real estate deals worth AED 87.1 billion ($23.71 billion) were recorded in Abu Dhabi during 2023,...
- The value of buying and selling activities surged by 159.5 percent compared to 2022, reaching AED61 billion.
- ADREC reported this increase based on 15,653 transactions, representing a 73.7 percent rise from 2022.
Business
Al Ansari to pay $81m dividend
This brings the total amount of dividend for 2023 to $162m.
- The approved cash dividend payment is in line with the dividend policy set out in the IPO prospectus.
- The company had reported a net profit of AED495 million for 2023, a decrease of 15.7 per cent year-over-year, from AED595 millon.
Geostrategy
Hate crimes surge 32 percent in France following Gaza war: Govt
Police recorded 8,500 crimes and misdemeanors "committed because of the ethnicity, nationality, supposed race or religion" of the victim across...
- There were twice as many crimes and misdemeanors recorded in October-December as in the same period in 2022.
- "The increase can be seen from October, with a level of offences holding at the same high level in November before falling back in December," the report said.
Business
Nearly 71% firms plan to expand workforce in ADGM in 2024
Abu Dhabi, UAE: A total of 70.81 percent of companies anticipate expanding their workforce in Abu Dhabi Global Market during...
- Asset Management is poised to take the lead, as 18.56% of respondents recognize its significant growth potential.
- Fintech and the fields of Digital Assets, Blockchain, and Distributed Ledger Technology, came second, with 17.08% and 16.83% of stakeholders banking on their rise respectively.
Geostrategy
Planet ‘on the brink’, with new heat records likely in 2024: UN
The annual State of the Climate report by the UN weather and climate agency confirmed preliminary data showing 2023 was by...
- "Earth's issuing a distress call," UN chief Antonio Guterres said in reaction to the report, pointing out that "fossil fuel pollution is sending climate chaos off the charts".
- One especially worrying finding was that marine heatwaves gripped nearly a third of the global ocean on an average day last year.
Business
ACWA Power refinances Al Dur debt
ACWA was the sole financial advisor to Al Dur Phase II IWPP project company.
- The $1 billion project uses sea water reverse osmosis (SWRO) technology to produce 227,000 cubic meters per day of desalinated water.
- The list of lenders to the project include Ahli United Bank, APICORP, Al Rajhi Bank, Arab National Bank, Banque Saudi Fransi and Gulf International Bank.
Business
UAE first: Islamic banking assets by 2023 end cross $190bn mark
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- The assets of Islamic banks operating in the UAE exceeded AED 700 billion ($190 billion) for...
- Deposits in Islamic banks rose to AED 495.5 billion at the end of last December, an annual increase of about 12.6 percent, compared to about AED 440 billion in December 2022.
- The total investments of Islamic banks reached AED 132.7 billion at the end of last December, an annual increase of 27.1 percent or AED 28.3 billion.
Geostrategy
Russia working to establish visa-free travel with Gulf nations: Bogdanov
Moscow, Russia -- Russia is working to establish a visa-free regime with all Gulf countries, said Mikhail Bogdanov, Russia's deputy...
- "In principle, such work is going on systematically. Because, of course, I think it is in the interests of our countries," said Mikhail Bogdanov, Russia's deputy foreign minister.
- In September last year, Russia offered the complete cancellation of tourist visas to Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia.
First European Union airline flight in 35 years lands in Baghdad
Baghdad, Iraq -- Iraq's transport ministry said Tuesday that a flight operated by Greece's Aegean Airlines had been the first...
Geostrategy
Company News
Latest News
BP announces $7bn gas project
Business
Lulu Retail Q3 profit $35m
Business
Tunisia women herb harvesters struggle with drought and heat
In Tunisia's highlands, women harvest wild herbs to earn a living, but drought is making their work harder, shrinking incomes...
Geostrategy
AD Ports Group secures $2.125 billion refinancing deal
The move aims to optimize financing costs.
Business
UAE says will not arm Sudan paramilitary RSF: White House
Washington, United States -- The United Arab Emirates has informed the United States that it will not arm paramilitaries in Sudan's...
Geostrategy

Most Read
Business
Honda and Nissan in merger talks as electric vehicle competition intensifies
Tokyo, Japan --Japanese auto giant Honda and its struggling rival Nissan will reportedly begin talks on a merger to boost their...
- At the same time, Taiwanese electronics behemoth Foxconn has approached France's Renault to buy its large stake in Nissan.
- A merger between Honda and Nissan would not be a marriage of equals. Honda's market capitalization is around $41.2 billion, while Nissan's is around $10.5 billion.
Geostrategy
Turkey, Iran leaders at Cairo summit urge action to address Gaza, Syria crises
Cairo, Egypt -- The leaders of Turkey and Iran were in Egypt on Thursday for a summit of eight Muslim-majority countries,...
- The gathering of the D-8 Organisation for Economic Cooperation, also known as the Developing-8, was being held against a backdrop of regional turmoil.
- The organization includes Egypt, Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Malaysia besides Turkey, which historically backed the opposition to Assad, while Iran supported him.
Business
Turkey’s Pegasus Airlines says to buy 200 Boeing 737 aircraft
Istanbul, Turkey -- Turkey's Pegasus Airlines said Thursday it would buy 200 Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft in its largest-ever order...
- "The first 100 aircraft, for which we have placed firm orders, will begin joining our fleet starting in 2028," said Pegasus CEO Guliz Ozturk.
- Established in 1990, Pegasus Airlines operates 109 international routes to 53 countries as well as flying to 35 destinations within Turkey, its website says.

