SAN FRANCISCO, US - Microsoft, the tech titan that has invested billions of dollars in ChatGPT creator OpenAI, has been given a seat on the startup's board. The nomination was shared in a memo to OpenAI staff on Wednesday that was later posted to the company's blog and included a list...

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - Company bosses are boosting their cybersecurity following an alarming increase in cyberattacks, a new study commissioned by Kaspersky has found. The data shows that 71 percent of companies in Saudi Arabia suffered at least one cyber incident over the last two years. One of the main...

ABU DHABI, UAE - The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE) hosted several events with Islamic finance infrastructure organizations dedicated to sustainable Islamic finance. The events, which took place in Abu Dhabi on November 27-28 2023, are part of CBUAE’s efforts to promote sustainable finance and expedite initiatives...

Abu Dhabi, UAE -- Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), a leading international financial center of the UAE’s capital, Thursday announced that 14 major financial institutions representing a total Assets Under Management AUM of $452 billion have committed to establishing new operations in ADGM. A year into Abu Dhabi’s “Falcon Economy”,...

DUBAI, UAE – The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization (MoHRE) has notified over 12,000 private companies with 20-49 workers that Cabinet Resolution No. (33/5W) of 2023 regarding the expansion of Emiratization targets will be in effect starting January 2024. Companies with 20-49 workers will be required to hire one...

Abu Dhabi, UAE -- Dr. Karim El Solh, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Gulf Capital, said Thursday Abu Dhabi is positioned as one of the globe's fastest-growing financial hubs between West and East Asia. Speaking to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) during Abu Dhabi Finance Week, El Solh underscored...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Consumer spending in Saudi Arabia increased 4 percent to SAR 110 billion ($29.32 billion) in October, from nearly SAR 105.3 billion during the same month last year, according to the Saudi Central Bank's (SAMA) monthly bulletin.  Consumer spending includes total cash withdrawals, point-of-sale (POS) transactions and...

It received more than US$41 billion in investor orders.

It will pour US$3.4bn into the new venture this decade.

Dubai, UAE--ENOC Group has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Neste, the world's leading producer of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), in a pivotal step towards exploring the possibilities of supplying and purchasing of SAF regionally in the coming years. This ambitious goal underscores ENOC's proactive approach to fostering a...

DUBAI, UAE - Presenting its category B candidacy in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council at the organization’s focus group in London, the UAE delegation has displayed the country’s contributions to the sector that have influenced the industry globally. Boasting a rich maritime history and a coastline of 1650 kilometers,...

The firms will explore starting eVTOL services in Saudi Arabia.

Ottawa, Canada -- The Canadian government and Google have reached a deal to support the country's media, heading off an imminent threat by the digital giant to block news on its platform, sources said on Wednesday. That threat was made in response to Ottawa's Online News Act, which was due...

Abu Dhabi, UAE -- First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) became the first MENA bank to publish a Task Force for Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) aligned climate report. The TCFD standard, promoted by the Financial Stability Board since 2015, urges entities to specify the resilience of their strategies to climate-related risks...

Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund is to buy 10 percent of London's Heathrow airport from Spanish infrastructure giant Ferrovial, whose departure from the hub leaves Qatar as its biggest shareholder. Ferrovial said it was offloading its 25 percent stake for nearly US$3 billion, with the other 15 percent going to...

Dubai, UAE - Aster, an integrated healthcare provider, is separating its India and GCC businesses, subject to regulatory and corporate approvals including Aster India’s shareholders’ approval. The separation plan will unlock value for the shareholders by allowing both the India and GCC businesses to adopt a market-focused strategy and create...

The SUVs produced by Toyota, Volkswagen, and Hyundai-Kia have all posted sales increases of more than 150% over the past decade, meaning the companies are moving "in the opposite direction" of efforts to curb CO2 emissions, Greenpeace said. The analysis came out a day before the COP28 climate summit is...

Tehran, Iran--Iran’s export to African countries in the first seven months of the current Iranian calendar year registered a 185 percent hike compared to the same period in 2020, an official said. Iran’s direct and indirect exports to the African continent in the administration of President Ebrahim Raeisi have significantly...

Abu Dhabi, UAE--The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) and the People’s Bank of China today signed an agreement to renew the currency swap between the UAE and China and a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance technical and technological cooperation in the development of central bank digital currencies. The...

Abu Dhabi, UAE--Abu Dhabi IPO Fund (ADIPOF) is working on three initial offerings in the technology, hospitality, restaurants, and financial sectors, expected toward the end of 2024. It was revealed by Bassel Al Khawaja, Advisory Head at Abu Dhabi IPO Fund (ADIPOF) on the sidelines of the 2nd day of...

Beijing, China - China's central bank and several government agencies unveiled 25 new measures Monday to support private economy. These initiatives aim to diversify financial avenues for private businesses, marking a continued effort to bolster the sector crucial for the country's economic progress. According to Global Times, these measures represent...

Antwerp, Belgium - As European capitals prepare to implement long-awaited sanctions on Russia's diamond exports, Belgian traders are bracing for new scrutiny of their industry. In Antwerp's renowned diamond district -- which handles an estimated 86 percent of the world's rough diamonds -- polishing "labs" are turning to blockchain technology to...

The firm announced in May to purchase land for $37 million in India.

ABHA, SAUDI ARABIA - Extending over 34 kilometers, the Abha Valley Basin enjoys a variety of wildlife aspects, civilizational features and variety of terrain that makes it ideal for tourism. Situated at an altitude of 2,983 meters and having steep slopes, the basin, with a dense vegetation cover, is terraced...

SNB Capital's Single Stock Options debut marks a leap forward, enhancing liquidity and expanding investor choices.

The two companies will jointly develop Doha Port.

Cairo, Egypt -- Egypt's global prominence received a boost as it jumped from 11th to third place in the 2023 Offshore BPO Confidence Index. The Offshore BPO Confidence Index 2023 report, highlighting Egypt's ascent, delves into key global outsourcing locations. Egypt's performance across seven categories—Local Labor Market, Infrastructure, Commercial Property,...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- The Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Korea Trade Insurance Corporation (K-SURE) have announced the signing of a financing agreement through which PIF has raised a term loan from a syndicate of nine top international lenders that will be covered by K-SURE. The financing carries a door-to-door...

Profit after tax stood at £324 million.

Shein was valued at $66 billion earlier this year.

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - Al Rajhi Bank said on Monday that it has appointed Abdullah bin Sulaiman Al Rajhi as chairman of the board of directors. The bank said in a regulatory filing on the Tadawul that it also named Ibrahim bin Mohammed Al Romaih as vice chairman. Al Rajhi...

Stockholm, Sweden - Electric carmaker Tesla on Monday filed a lawsuit against the Swedish state over a strike by postal workers that is blocking deliveries of license plates for its new cars. Tesla is currently facing strikes on multiple fronts in Sweden over its refusal to sign a collective wage agreement...

ABU DHABI, UAE - Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) on Monday announced that it will conduct its Q4 2023 auction for Clean Energy Certificates (CECs) here, with registration now open and the auction closing on December 14 2023. Introduced by the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE), CECs are...

Abu Dhabi, UAE -- The financial sector in the UAE has experienced a surge of 30 percent in the second quarter of this year. Forecasts predict a continued upward trajectory, with an expected annual growth rate of 13 percent in 2023, according to a senior economic official. Addressing attendees at...

Spanish energy company Iberdrola announced £7 billion of funding for offshore wind infrastructure while US tech giant Microsoft plans to invest £2.5 billion in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, including data centers.

Stock markets were mostly in wait-and-see mode as investors eyed the release this week of key US inflation data that could guide Federal Reserve plans for interest rates. Oil prices slid nearly two percent before cutting their losses as dealers awaited a delayed meeting of OPEC and its allies to...

In 9M, the firm's restructuring led to a turnaround.

ABU DHABI, UAE - Emirates Development Bank (EDB) has committed US$350 million (AED 1.3 billion) to support the Energy Transition Accelerator Financing (ETAF) platform to accelerate the financing and drive funding of renewable energy projects in developing countries. The ETAF platform is a global climate finance facility established by the International...

Shanghai, China -- In a bid to attract Chinese tourists, the Saudi Tourism Authority recently concluded its first, and the largest, international promotional campaign in China, which resulted in a 277-percent surge in bookings. Running from November 17 to 23, 2023, the campaign unfolded as a grand spectacle, reaching millions...

The firms will build primary and secondary infrastructure works.

Abu Dhabi, UAE-- The world's top heads of multinational companies, policy-makers, and investors will gather in Abu Dhabi today to take part in the three-day long "the Fortune Global Forum" to discuss major challenges faced by the global economy. Organised by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), the...

Dubai, UAE--DP World and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) have signed a cooperation agreement to accelerate the use of renewable energy and cut emissions from the ports and maritime logistics sector. Signed by IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera and DP World Group Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem,...

Abu Dhabi, UAE--AD Ports Group in collaboration with KazMorTransFlot (KMTF) has announced the acquisition and commencement of operations of two state-of-the-art vessels designed for the transportation of Kazakhstan's oil across the Caspian Sea. The two oil tankers were named Liwa and Taraz - after ancient cities in the UAE and...

Billions of dollars are being invested into ventures to grow food in the GCC to make the arid, hot region self-sufficient, in a sector vulnerable to the vagaries of war, climate and disease.

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA  - The General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises (Monsha'at) has released its latest quarterly SME Monitor, which showed a 3.5 percent growth in the number of SMEs in the Kingdom in Q3 2023, bringing their total number to 1.27 million. With over 40,000 new businesses created...

SHARJAH, UAE - Bank of Sharjah announced its selection as joint lead manager and bookrunner in the debut US$350 million 144A/Reg S senior unsecured sukuk for Abu Dhabi-based Ittihad International Investment LLC, alongside other international and regional banks. In response to the successful closure of this transaction, Mohamed Khadiri, CEO...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Entertainment Ventures (SEVEN), a PIF subsidiary, has announced the fifth entertainment destination in the Kingdom, in Aseer region, that will be developed with an investment of SAR 1.3 billion ($347 million). The destination is strategically located between the cities of Abha and Khamis Mushait, near...

Abu Dhabi, UAE -- The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) has launched a program to improve the access of SMEs to financial services and enable them to grow further and play a greater role in the sustainable development. ADDED said the “SME Finance Facilitator” program is being launched...

Manama, Bahrain-- Bahrain and the European Union (EU) have held discussions to boost cooperation in various domains, including the energy sector. In this regard a meeting took place in Manama between Dr. Mohammed bin Mubarak Bin Daina, Minister of Oil and Environment and Special Envoy for Climate Affairs and Christophe...

It said client database may have been compromised.