Vast swathes of land across the desert region are seeing the sprouting of new special zones to entice big business to set up shop. But can the model work to power the GCC economy?

Launched under both the Trump and Biden administrations, five major cases from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) are moving forward against major US technology companies -- including two against Google that could see the company split up.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia has imposed anti-dumping duties on seven products imported from 10 European and Asian countries, six of which are subject to the unified GCC law to protect the industry from the damage caused by dumped and subsidized imports, media reports said. The products included all...

London, United Kingdom -- Wall Street stocks slid on Friday despite banks beating expectations at the start of earnings season as oil and gold prices shot up amid worries about the conflict in the Middle East widening. "Geopolitical worries have triggered some risk aversion, but worries about a growth slowdown have...

The bank's CEO warns about risk of persistent inflation.

The cost of investment in North Carolina plant is $1.2 billion.

The UAE especially has become a regional hub for remote work, attracting digital nomads and businesses with its visa programs.

The losses tracked a sell-off on Wall Street and saw the dollar strike a 34-year high against the yen, fueling speculation Japanese authorities will step in to support their beleaguered currency. Figures showing the consumer price index rose 0.4 percent on-month and 3.5 percent on-year were both above consensus for...

It now expects to make $2.1bn in the year to August.

Sales also grew to nearly $120 billion from $80 billion.

Geneva, Switzerland -- The World Trade Organization said Wednesday that global trade should rebound this year from an unexpected slump in 2023, but warned that regional conflicts, geopolitical tensions and economic policy uncertainty risked darkening the picture. In its annual trade forecast, the WTO disclosed that world trade volumes unexpectedly declined...

Saudi startups were the biggest beneficiaries of LEAP24 tech conference, securing the lion's share of the total investment of S254 million.

The energy major's share price gained almost 2 percent.

TEHRAN, IRAN – Iran and Iraq will launch the first maritime passenger transport line within the next two months, an official at Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO) said. The chief executive of the organization noted that an expert-level meeting was held by the Iraqi side with a focus on...

CAIRO, Egypt – Air Arabia Egypt on Sunday commenced its first non-stop flight from Cairo International Airport to Sabiha Gökçen International Airport in Istanbul, Turkey. Upon arrival at Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, the flight was greeted with a traditional water cannon salute and a welcome ceremony, a press release said....

AMMAN, JORDAN – Jordanian industrialists have emphasized the imperative of strategic planning to bolster export diversification, underlining key measures such as facilitating connectivity to global supply chains through e-commerce, and ramping up promotion and marketing efforts for domestic products.They also called for expanding outreach to foreign markets, fostering collaboration between...

It seeks to reassure users over the risks of deepfakes.

Dubai, UAE--Dubai received 3.67 million overnight visitors in January-February 2024, with an increase of over 18 percent year-on-year (YoY), figures released by Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) showed. According to the DET's Tourism Performance Report for January-February 2024, Dubai recorded 1.77 million international visitors in January, and 1.9...

Abu Dhabi, UAE -- Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) is collaborating with Dustour Marine Wooden Boats Trading Establishment to establish a new state-of-the-art project to support the Emirate’s coastal development in line with urban, social, recreational and economic expansion plans. The Musataha agreement was signed during the Abu Dhabi Department...

Abu Dhabi, UAE -- The Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI) announced the establishment of 54 working groups within the Advocacy Hub initiative. These working groups are part of the efforts to support the growth and prosperity of the private sector by providing an ideal platform for businesses...

The pact aligns with CBI’s plan to support innovation in UAE.

It expects operating profits to jump to US$4.89bn.

Abu Dhabi, UAE--A unique national capacity-building fellowship model offering outstanding Emirati graduates the opportunity to gain experience in a cutting-edge academic research environment was established through an agreement with Dolphin Energy to sponsor NYUAD’s Kawader Research Assistantship Programme. Maryam Al-Memari, a Research Assistant at NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), has been...

Clean hydrogen could be bigger than the oil and gas economy for the region, says Jo Bamford, chairman of HYCAP, which invests in net zero and hydrogen economy.

LOS ANGELES, US – The booming use of electric vehicles in parts of California is reducing CO2 emissions in those areas, a study showed on Thursday, bolstering a key pillar of the state's drive towards net zero. Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, say a network of sensors set up...

London, United Kingdom - Britain's competition regulator deepened Thursday its probe into Vodafone's planned merger of British mobile phone operations with those of Three UK, owned by Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison, citing concerns over higher prices. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which began in January a formal investigation into the...

MUSCAT, OMAN – As part of its investment solutions and Sharia-compliant products and services, ahli islamic, ahlibank’s Islamic banking window, introduced the first of its kind Islamic Money Market Fund in the Sultanate. ahli islamic customers now have the opportunity to invest and gain exposure to attractive local and regional...

Geneva, Switzerland -- The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for February 2024 global passenger demand, with total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs), rising 21.5 percent year-on-year (YoY). Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), grew 18.7 percent YoY. The February load factor was 80.6 percent...

The aim is to offer trade finance solutions to businesses in UAE.

Abu Dhabi, UAE -- AD Ports Group and the General Company for Ports of Iraq (GCPI) sign an agreement to establish a joint venture to develop Al-Faw Grand Port and its economic zone, as well as any future expansion. Furthermore, the agreement also encompasses the potential investment, management, and operation...

It is working on a robot that may be helpful to people.

On Thursday, bullion touched $2,304.96 per ounce, according to Bloomberg News, after Fed boss Jerome Powell said it would likely be appropriate to cut borrowing costs "at some point this year". Eyes are now on the release of US jobs figures due at the end of the week.

Vienna, Austria--The participants of the 53rd Meeting of the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, OPEC+, agreed to keep current oil production levels unchanged. During the meeting which took place via videoconference today, the JMMC reviewed the crude oil production...

Emirate's new tourism strategy aims to increase the sector’s contribution to GDP from $13.34 billion in 2023 to $24 billion by 2030.

In December, the airline ordered 230 Airbus planes.

MOSCOW, RUSSIA – Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said the country became the world’s fourth-biggest LNG producer last year. The Russian Prime Minister said this in an annual report at the State Duma (lower house of the parliament), TASS reported. “Energy is adjusting gradually as well. A serious adjustment of logistics...

Oil prices rose around one percent, with Brent crude closing in on $90 per barrel, as OPEC experts met to discuss extending supply cuts. "Geo-political risks linked to conflict in the Middle East, OPEC supply cuts and better data out of China are helping to drive bullish sentiment currently," said...

This helps EasyLease expand its presence in mobility sector.

Tehran, Iran -- The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) has said that shale oil deposits have been discovered in 10 different locations across the country. The director of exploration at the NIOC, Mehdi Fakour, announced that the company's specially designed model will enable the extraction of oil from these resources....

Abu Dhabi, UAE -- The value of real estate transactions in Abu Dhabi reached AED 15.9 billion ($4.32 billion) during the first quarter of 2024 (Q1 2024), recording 5,127 sales and mortgage transactions on various types of real estate units. According to data from the DARI platform of the Department...

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – flynas, the Saudi air carrier and the leading low-cost airline in the Middle East and the world, celebrated taking delivery of the 50th airplane out of a large order for Airbus A320neo jetliners at a reception held at King Khalid International Airport here. The company is...

Tehran, Iran--The trade exchanges between Iran and Turkey in the first two months of 2024 reached $930 million, showing a one percent increase compared to the same month last year. According to the latest figures released by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TURKSTAT), Iran’s trade with the neighboring country stood at...

Manama, Bahrain--The Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) announces that the monthly issue of the short-term Islamic leasing bonds, Sukuk Al Ijara, has been oversubscribed by 186%. Subscriptions worth $128.67 million were received for the $69.14 million issue, which carries maturity of 182 days. The expected return on the issue, which...

The decline was in part due to a weak sales market in China.

The two will work to develop AI-based banking capabilities.

Dhahran, Saudi Arabia – Saudi energy giant Aramco Tuesday awarded engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts worth $7.7 billion for a major expansion of its Fadhili Gas Plant in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The project is expected to increase the plant’s processing capacity from 2.5 to up to 4...

Abu Dhabi, UAE -- The UAE's national carriers have witnessed significant growth in their destination network, reaching approximately 603 destinations worldwide by the end of the first quarter of 2024, compared to 586 at the close of 2023. This 3 percent increase reflects the rebounding aviation sector and caters to...

This will raise its share capital by $163 million to $944 million.

The suit filed in June of 2020 sought US$5bn in damages.

Arcera will aim to improve the quality of "human life."