Number of visitors to Qatar rises 31.9 percent in December, says report
DOHA, QATAR - The total number of inbound visitors to the country reached about 519 thousand in December 2023, recording...Economy Geostrategy
IMF upgrades Saudi Arabia’s 2025 economic growth prediction to 5.5%
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revised its growth projections for Saudi Arabia's economy, revealing a...Economy
Electronic payments overtake cash in Saudi Arabia in 2021
The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) said a study revealed that electronic payments increased from 44 percent in 2019 to 62...The Saudi Central Bank said a study revealed that electronic payments increased from 44 percent in 2019 to 62 percent by volume in 2021
In the business sector, the share of electronic payments reached a substantial 84 percent of all payments in 2021
Egypt appoints new ministers in cabinet reshuffle
A statement said the House of Representatives had approved "all the nominations set forth in a letter from President Abdel...Sisi's official Facebook page said the president had urged parliament to discuss the changes in the more than 30-strong cabinet
The reshuffle does not include the key defense, interior, finance or foreign ministries
Iraqis grow weary of squabbling political parties
Iraq has been ravaged by decades of conflict and endemic corruption. It is blighted by ailing infrastructure, power cuts and...Political deadlock has left Iraq without a new government, president or prime minister following general elections 10 months ago
Coordination Framework says it wants a new government as quickly as possible, and its supporters on Friday began their own sit-in to press for that demand
Droughts exact heavy cost on Morocco
Water shortage has dealt a crippling blow to farming in the North African country as successive droughts exact a heavy...Water shortage is not limited to a few scattered villages but the whole North African country has been hit
According to WHO, at 600 cubic meters of water annually per capita, Morocco is already well below the water scarcity threshold of 1,700 cubic meters per capita per year
Saudi banks disburse $537bn in loans in Q2, up by 14.2%
According to the Kingdom’s Unified National Platform, the Kingdom has been moving toward the Saudi Vision 2030 by developing the...The SAMA data showed that the value of Saudi banks’ aggregate loan portfolio totaled $537 billion at the end of the second quarter of 2022
According to the Kingdom’s Unified National Platform, the Kingdom has been moving toward the Saudi Vision 2030 by developing the trade sector and ensuring its sustainability
US Fed decisions may effect UAE’s inflation scene
The dollar's first-quarter increase of about 10% against a basket of international currencies may reduce the impact of imported inflation...The dollar's first-quarter increase of about 10% against a basket of international currencies may reduce the impact of imported inflation due to dirham's peg to the US currency
Inflation has affected many sectors in the UAE where there is less freedom in price-fixing, says Wael Makarem, Senior Market Strategist - MENA at Exness
Jordan industries’ use 24m cubic feet gas daily in 2021
The average natural gas consumption for Jordan's industries amounted to 24 million cubic feet (CF) per day during 2021, according...Gas production from Risha Field, eastern Jordan, reached about 6,510 million cubic feet during 2021 at a daily rate of 17.8 million cubic feet
The capacity of Risha Field has been raised to about 32 million cubic feet per day, as Risha Wells 53, 51, 50 have entered production in 2021
Jordan, Morocco to launch hospitality training facility
A Jordanian-Moroccan hospitality and tourism training project will be launched in the Hashemite Kingdom as part of the strategic partnership...The Moroccan ambassador stressed on Jordan's pivotal role in joint Arab efforts and regional issues.
The envoy stressed on the partnerships between Jordan and Morocco in tourism, agriculture, renewable energy
President invites Swiss President to visit the UAE
President of the Swiss Confederation Ignazio Cassis, has received a written message from President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan...The UAE is keen on strengthening bilateral relations with Switzerland
Sheikh Abdullah has delivered the written message of the UAE President to the Swiss President
US to boost Taiwan trade, conduct air, sea transits
A new trade plan will be unveiled within days, while US forces will transit the Taiwan Strait in the next...Taiwan has accused China of using the visit by Pelosi as an excuse to kickstart drills that Taipei called that Taipei called a rehearsal for invasion
In response to China's drills, the United States is reasserting its involvement in the area, while reiterating its policy of "strategic ambiguity."
