Syria signs $800 mn port deal with DP World to develop Tartus port
Damascus, Syria -- Syria signed a $800 million deal with UAE-based company DP World on Sunday to develop the port of Tartus, state media reported, as the new authorities continue their efforts to support post-war reconstruction. Following the toppling of longtime Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad in December, the new Islamist...
TSMC’s H1 revenue up 40 percent
Robust demand for AI technology behind the surge.Cricket’s Indian Premier League value surges to $18.5 bn: report
New Delhi, India -- The Indian Premier League's business value has been estimated at $18.5 billion with reigning champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru its wealthiest franchise, according to a report by an investment bank. The world's richest cricket tournament has been a top revenue earner for the Board of Control for...Investments rise in data, AI, outpacing physical assets: UN
Geneva, Switzerland - The purchase of physical assets was eclipsed last year by a surge in investment in intangible items like software, data and AI, the UN said Wednesday, describing a "fundamental shift in how economies grow and compete". Investment in intellectual property-backed assets grew three times faster in 2024...Nvidia tops $4 trillion as US stocks shrug off latest tariffs
After Congress gave Trump a big win last week with his fiscal package, the Republican's aggressive trade posture has returned with a vengeance this week. On Tuesday, he added threatened levies on copper and pharmaceuticals to a laundry list of countries warned of higher tariffs.Dubai Islamic Bank completes $1bn sovereign financing Pakistan
Dubai, UAE -- Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) has announced the successful completion of a landmark US$1 billion syndicated term-finance facility for the Government of Pakistan, arranged in collaboration with a consortium of regional and international financial institutions. The five-year facility is an innovative transaction, partially guaranteed by a Policy-Based Guarantee...Saudi chocolate industry booms with over 3,500 commercial records
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- On the World Chocolate Day, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Commerce announced that the total number of existing commercial records for cocoa and chocolate manufacturing activities in Saudi Arabia reached 3,532 by the end of the second quarter of 2025. Riyadh leads the Kingdom in chocolate manufacturing,...Eyeing early release, prison inmates produce Bulgaria’s coveted dairy products
Smolyan, Bulgaria -- At a prison nestled deep in Bulgaria's southern Rhodope mountains, Georgi Filyanov stirs a large tank of curdling milk to make traditional feta-like cheese in the facility's dairy operation. Filyanov is the latest success story to emerge from the dairy located inside Smolyan prison, where about 15 selected...AI robots pluck weeds in California fields, make up for shortage of laborers
Los Banos, United States -- Oblivious to the punishing midday heat, a wheeled robot powered by the sun and infused with artificial intelligence carefully combs a cotton field in California, plucking out weeds. As farms across the United States face a shortage of laborers and weeds grow resistant to herbicides,...‘Wadeem’ sold out for $1.49bn
This is the highest Abu Dhabi real-estate release to date.Microsoft laying off several thousand employees
San Francisco, United States -- Microsoft on Wednesday said it was slashing a little less than four percent of its global workforce as it seeks to cut layers of middle management and leverage new technologies. "We continue to implement organizational changes necessary to best position the company and teams for...Tesla Q2 sales down 13.5%
Shares rally after the disclosure, better than some forecasts.Eight-country coalition aims to tax luxury air travel
Seville, Spain -- Countries including France, Kenya, Barbados and Spain on Monday launched a coalition to push for taxes on wealthy air passengers to help poorer nations respond to climate change, the French presidency said. The coalition, which also brings together Somalia, Benin, Sierra Leone and Antigua and Barbuda, said...Meta’s AI talent war raises questions about strategy
New York, United States -- Mark Zuckerberg and Meta are spending billions to recruit top artificial intelligence talent, triggering debates about whether the aggressive hiring spree will pay off in the competitive generative AI race. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently complained that Meta has offered $100 million bonuses to lure...TomTom cuts 300 jobs
The firm said it was realigning its organization as it embraces AI.Trump metal tariffs wreak havoc on US factory
Belcamp, United States -- In the sweltering US summer, metal containers decorated with snowmen and sleighs are taking shape -- but tempers are also rising as their manufacturer grapples with President Donald Trump's steep steel tariffs. At Independent Can's factory in Belcamp, Maryland northeast of Baltimore, CEO Rick Huether recounts...Indonesia begins $5.9 bn EV battery project despite environment fears
Jakarta, Indonesia -- Indonesia broke ground Sunday on a $5.9 billion megaproject for EV battery production backed by Chinese giant CATL, despite NGOs raising concerns over a lack of environmental guarantees. Indonesia is the world's largest nickel producer and it is trying to capitalize on its vast reserves, with a...China’s Xiaomi receives almost 300,000 SUV pre-orders in minutes
Beijing, China -- Chinese electric vehicle maker Xiaomi received almost 300,000 pre-orders within an hour for its first sport utility vehicles in what the company said was a "miraculous" moment for the industry. Lei Jun, founder and CEO of the electronics-turned-car company, said he was astonished by the reaction from...Roblox’s Grow a Garden explodes online video game numbers
Paris, France -- A gardening game created by a teenager on online platform Roblox has attracted a record 21 million simultaneous players, a figure rarely seen in the industry. "You could quite easily never have heard of Grow a Garden... and yet it is by some measures the biggest video...Oil slides, stocks rise as Iran-Israel ceasefire holds
The main international and US oil contracts briefly bounced off their lows as Israel and Iran accused each other of breaking the ceasefire, but then fell around five percent after Trump berated the two countries in an expletive-laced outburst.Airlines suspend or reduce flights in Middle East after Iran strikes
British Airways cancelled flights between London's Heathrow Airport and Dubai and Doha on Sunday following the US strikes on Iran. Air France halted flights to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates until at least Tuesday inclusive, the airline said.Japan’s high-tech sunscreens tap into skincare craze
Tokyo, Japan -- When YouTuber Hannah Price set out to compare Japanese and Australian sunscreen, she wasn't expecting her deep dive into the subject to rack up over two million views. The huge number of people poring over Price's video shows the growing interest in skincare products from Japan, much...Tesla expected to launch long-discussed robotaxi service, will use Model Y
New York, United States -- Tesla is expected to begin offering robotaxi service Sunday in Austin, an initial step that Elon Musk's backers believe could lead to the company's next growth wave. The launch -- which comes as Musk refocuses on his business ventures following a controversial stint in Donald...Aldar nets $953m in sales at Fahid
Aldar said 42 percent of the buyers are under the age of 45.Oil prices drop, stocks climb as Iran-Israel war fears ease
Israel's surprise strike against Iranian military and nuclear sites on Friday -- killing top commanders and scientists -- sent crude prices soaring as much as 13 percent at one point on fears about supplies from the region.WhatsApp introduces first major advertising features
San Francisco, United States -- WhatsApp announced Monday it will introduce its boldest advertising features yet, marking a significant shift for the messaging platform that has largely remained ad-free since its launch. The move is a sensitive one for WhatsApp, whose chief firmly denied a report in 2023 that said...Abu Dhabi state oil firm makes US$18.7 billion bid for Australia’s Santos
Sydney, Australia - Abu Dhabi's state-owned oil company is leading a takeover bid for Australian energy group Santos, valuing it at US$18.7 billion, Santos said Monday. Santos's board said it plans to unanimously recommend the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company's offer to shareholders if it can agree on the takeover...Boeing lowers 2044 global air fleet outlook amid supply chain woes
New York, United States -- The global commercial aviation fleet will stand just under 50,000 planes in 2044, with most built over the next 20 years, according to a Boeing forecast released Saturday. The global fleet will nearly double to 49,600, a bit below Boeing's prior annual outlook, the company...Saudi EXIM Bank signs MoU with Credit Oman to boost bilateral exports
Copenhagen, Denmark -- The Saudi Export-Import Bank (Saudi EXIM) participated as a sponsor of the TXF Global 2025 conference held in Copenhagen, Denmark, from June 10 to 12, aiming to enhance the bank’s role in global trade and establish strategic partnerships to support the growth and competitiveness of Saudi non-oil...OpenAI enlists iPhone designer to create ideal device for using AI
New York, United States -- ChatGPT-maker OpenAI has enlisted the legendary designer behind the iPhone to create an irresistible gadget for using generative artificial intelligence (AI). The ability to engage digital assistants as easily as speaking with friends is being built into eyewear, speakers, computers and smartphones, but some argue...Chip-maker Micron expands US investment to $200 bn backed by Trump
Washington, United States -- Chip giant Micron Technology on Thursday said it was expanding its domestic investment plan to $200 billion as its seeks to boost US semiconductor manufacturing, with the backing of the Trump administration. The move, aimed at strengthening America's domestic chip supply chain, represents an additional $30...Nvidia marks Paris tech fair with Europe AI push
Paris, France -- Drawing high-powered tech CEOs and a presidential visit, the Vivatech trade fair opened in Paris on Wednesday with a bang as Nvidia boss Jensen Huang announced a major push into Europe. "In just two years we will increase the amount of AI computing capacity in Europe by...Trump touts ‘done’ deal with Beijing on rare earths, Chinese students
Trump said on his Truth Social platform that China would supply rare earth minerals and magnets -- vital elements for American industries -- while Washington would allow Chinese students to remain in US universities.Sharjah’s real estate sector records $1.49bn in transactions during May
Sharjah, UAE -- Sharjah's real-estate market during May 2025 recorded a total of 8,415 transactions worth AED 5.5 billion. Of these, 1,574 were sales transactions, accounting for 18.7% of the total, a clear indicator of increasing demand for real estate. The total traded area of sales transactions reached 13.2 million...ADNOC Gas announces $5 billion investment in Rich Gas Project
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- ADNOC Gas announced Tuesday it has made a final investment decision on the first phase of its landmark Rich Gas Development (RGD) Project, awarding $5 billion in contracts to kickstart its largest-ever capital investment. The massive project is central to the UAE's strategy to boost liquid...Saudi Arabia’s real GDP grows by 3.4 percent in Q1 mainly on non-oil activities
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia’s first quarter real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 3.4 percent year-on-year, according to the latest report from the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), primarily driven by a 4.9 percent surge in non-oil activities and a 3.2 percent rise in government activities. GASTAT’s data...Qualcomm to Alphawave for $2.4 bn
The deal makes Alphawave the latest tech company to depart London.MENA Mergers & Acquisitions deal value up 66% in Q1, hits $46 Billion
Dubai, UAE -- The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has kicked off 2025 with a record-breaking first quarter in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), as deal value soared to $46 billion—a 66% increase year-on-year (YoY). According to Saudi M&A Consulting, this robust growth reflects rising investor confidence, favorable regulatory...US aerospace manufacturers insist they have no use for tariffs
New York, United States -- US airlines and aerospace manufacturers insist they have no use for tariff protections, warning that the proposed Trump administration levies could eat into the healthy trade surplus the sector has enjoyed for more than 70 years. At the request of President Donald Trump, Commerce Secretary...Apple under pressure to shine after AI stumble
Apple will showcase plans for its coveted devices and the software powering them at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) kicking off Monday in Silicon Valley.Gamers get hold of Nintendo’s hotly awaited Switch 2
Tokyo, Japan -- Gamers finally got their hands on Nintendo's new Switch 2 on Thursday, the console that could score record early sales for the Japanese "Super Mario" creator. The device, which features a bigger screen and more processing power, is an upgrade to the Switch that became a global...Equinor signs $27 bn gas deal
The 10-year contract was signed with Centrica.Israel arms exports to UAE, Bahrain, Morocco rise sharply after 2023
Sales to countries considered part of the Abraham Accords -- the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco who signed groundbreaking normalization agreements with Israel in 2020 -- appeared to have sharply risen from 3 percent in 2023 to 12 percent.New WEF report reveals how tech convergence will reshape industries
Geneva, Switzerland – The World Economic Forum today released a new report examining how emerging technology combinations are reshaping industries and how business leaders can harness these insights to guide investment, build capabilities and position ecosystems strategically. It also offers valuable insights to policy-makers by highlighting how emerging technologies intersect...Middle East tourism projected to reach $350 billion by 2030: ATM report
Dubai, UAE – The Middle East’s tourism sector is poised for unprecedented expansion, with a new report predicting a 50 percent surge in travel spending by 2030, reaching nearly $350 billion. The ATM Travel Trends Report 2025, compiled by Tourism Economics for Arabian Travel Market (ATM), highlights the region’s rapid...Meta secures nuclear energy in 20-year Illinois plant deal
Washington, United States -- Facebook owner Meta announced Tuesday a 20-year nuclear energy agreement with US-based Constellation Energy to secure power from a nuclear plant in the state of Illinois. The investment marks big tech's latest move to meet surging electricity demand from artificial intelligence, with Microsoft, Google and Amazon...Airlines less optimistic for 2025, facing ‘headwinds’: IATA
New Delhi, India -- Airlines on Monday revised down their traffic and profit forecasts for 2025, citing "headwinds" for the global economy, with industry chiefs warning of the risk of increased tariffs impacting the sector. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimates fewer than five billion air journeys will take...Indian airline IndiGo orders 30 Airbus A350 widebody planes
New Delhi, India -- Indian airline IndiGo said on Sunday it had signed an order for 30 more Airbus A350-900s, bringing its shopping list for the widebody aircraft from the European aircraft manufacturer to 60. "We are placing a firm order for 30 Airbus A350-900s," said Pieter Elbers, the CEO...Oil under $65 a boon for consumers, but a burden on producers
London, United Kingdom -- US President Donald Trump's tariffs, his call to "drill baby drill" and especially a decision by OPEC+ to hike crude output quotas have oil prices trading at lows not seen since the Covid pandemic. That is good news for consumers but not so much for producers,...The five biggest-selling gaming consoles
From the first video game consoles of the 1970s to the Nintendo Switch 2 due out on Thursday, hundreds of millions have been sold to players eager to immerse themselves in their favorite franchisesSilicon Valley VCs navigate uncertain AI future
The generative AI frenzy unleashed by ChatGPT in 2022 has propelled a handful of venture-backed companies to eye-watering valuations.