Jakarta, Indonesia - The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) is expected to increase Indonesia’s exports to the UAE by around $4 billion, the country's Chief Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto said on Friday. "It will also increase [our] imports from the UAE by approximately $4 billion,” he added. According to Indonesia's...

Tehran, Iran – Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey witnessed a significant surge in a boycott targeting multinationals that have either pro-Israeli stances or financial ties with Israel such as McDonald’s, Starbucks, and KFC, Lebanese Al-Mayadeen news network reported.  Amidst rising global condemnation of Israel's actions in Gaza, the boycott movement gains...

Dubai, UAE -- A total of1,852 real estate transactions valued at more than AED 9 billion ($2.45 billion) were conducted during the week ending 24th November 2023, according to the Dubai Land Department (DLD). The DLD weekly report said that 384 plots were sold for AED 2.54 billion, 1,468 apartments...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- The Historic Jeddah Program has secured sponsorship rights as the official cultural destination and main supporter of the FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023. This prestigious tournament will be hosted in Jeddah from December 12 to 22, 2023, marking the first time it will be...

Dubai, UAE -- Saudi Arabia’s oil exports fell by 17.1 percent (SAR 17.2 billion or $4.58 billion) in September, mainly leading to the 17.1 percent fall in overall merchandise exports to SAR 103.8 billion, from SAR 125.3 billion in September 2022.   The share of oil exports in total exports increased...

Dubai, UAE - The ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza could result in a significant economic toll for Israel, with estimations pointing to a potential cost of $48 billion over the current and upcoming year, Turkey's Anadolu Agency reports. Yali Rotenberg, the chief accountant at the Israeli Ministry of Finance, was...

New Delhi, India - With the world's largest biometric ID database, a pioneering digital payment system for daily transactions and a flagship space and satellite programme, India knows the power of connected technology. But when trouble brews with political unrest or sectarian violence, authorities are quick to sever internet service to stem...

Beirut, Lebanon - Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has met with Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hizbollah, which has traded cross-border fire with Israel since the start of the Gaza war, the Lebanese movement said on Thursday. Since the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7, the border between Lebanon and Israel...

Cairo, Egypt - Tunisian film star Hend Sabri has resigned as World Food Program goodwill ambassador in protest at what she called the use of starvation as a weapon of war in Gaza. Sabri, a leading figure in Arab cinema, said that she had decided with "a heavy heart and deep...

Manama, UAE--The Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF) has partnered with UpGradelle, a leading French-based consultancy firm, to develop capabilities in the field of digital transformation. The agreement was signed during the visit of Eric Giraud-Telme, the Ambassador of France, who serves to strengthen education and training ties between...

Dubai, UAE - Blue Carbon, a Dubai-based company has secured expansive forested land across several African nations, a CNN report said.  The area, which is estimated to be nearly equivalent to the size of the United Kingdom, is earmarked for conservation projects aimed at safeguarding forests and preventing significant amounts...

The current output strategy by OPEC+ that saw nine members led by Riyadh to cut production in recent months to boost prices has failed to bring about lasting recovery. Some analysts have pointed to possible discord between top crude oil producers Saudi Arabia and Russia.

Paris, France -- The emirate of Qatar has further boosted its status as a specialist power in resolving delicate hostage situations by using its influence to help secure the release of hostages by Palestinian militant group Hamas. Analysts say Qatar has honed a careful balancing act, allowing it to marry warm...

Erdogan went on to reiterate his claim that Israel was a “terrorist state”: “We need to know this once and for all. Israel is a terrorist state. There is no need to hesitate to say this. This is the truth we know. This is the case.”

Seoul, South Korea - Binance boss Changpeng Zhao has become the most powerful cryptocurrency figure to fall in a two-year period chaotic even by the standards of the notoriously volatile industry. Zhao stepped down as CEO of Binance -- the largest crypto exchange in the world -- after he and the...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Nearly 43 percent of people in Saudi Arabia expect to send cross-border payments more frequently in the next 12 months, according to Mastercard’s Borderless Payments Report 2023. Globally, the report highlights two in five (40 percent) senders, and half of receivers, intend to use cross-border payments...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - The World Bank has projected a 3.4% growth in the real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the UAE by the year 2023, with expectations of further increase to 3.7% in 2024. According to the recently published World Bank Gulf Economic Update (GEU) report, the Bank anticipated...

Dubai, UAE -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) holds nearly 40 percent of the aircraft fleet in the Arab region, Director-General of the Arab Civil Aviation Organisation (ACAO) Abdennabi Manar said. Speaking to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the sidelines of the ongoing third International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)...

Moscow, Russia - Pakistan has filed an application to join the BRICS group of nations in 2024 and is counting on Russia’s assistance during the membership process, the country’s newly appointed Ambassador to Russia Muhammad Khalid Jamali has told Russian news agency TASS in an interview. When asked whether the...

UAE, Dubai - UAE has approved the year 2024 official holidays calendar for both public and private sectors. As part of the UAE's ongoing efforts to enhance work and life balance in government and private sectors, the resolution aims to enable all community members working in various sectors in the UAE,...

CAIRO, EGYPT -  Atlantic fishing nations have agreed to better protect sharks and rays by limiting the retention of several bycatch species, but advocacy groups warn progress is still lagging. At the conclusion of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) this week, countries agreed on "new measures...

The state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported "the deaths of three citizens -- two journalists and another civilian -- in enemy bombing" of the Tair Harfa area

Dubai, UAE -- The current production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) represents less than 1 percent of the sector's demand, despite the production and usage accelerating threefold in 2023 compared to the previous year. This has led to significant investments in the field, with airlines committing to purchasing available quantities...

Dubai, UAE -- UAE defense conglomerate EDGE Group has inked deals worth at least $1.8 billion during the Dubai Airshow, with the Emirati military as a key customer, media reports said. A $1.1 billion deal with UAE Ministry of Defense for aircraft munitions was the biggest of the deals. This...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) has signed a three-year currency swap agreement with the Central Bank of China. The maximum value of the swap is 50 billion Chinese yuan ($7.02 billion). The agreement is part of the financial cooperation between the two central banks, which works...

Israel marks the 15th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks by designating Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a Pakistan based militant group, as a terrorist organization, Indian media reported. The move, independent of any formal request from India, aims to combat terrorism globally. The Israeli Embassy confirmed the completion of all necessary procedures...

Abu Dhabi, UAE--The UAE has solidified its stature as a key player in the global financial landscape, through launching economic projects and initiatives that have made it an ideal partner for the NYSE in exploring new markets, said John Tuttle, Vice Chairman of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and...

New Delhi, India - The L&T Energy Hydrocarbon (LTEH), hydrocarbon business unit of Larsen & Toubro (L&T), said on Monday that it has secured a mega contract from a client in the Middle East. While specific details regarding the contract size and the client's identity were not disclosed by the...

Oslo, Norway -- Norwegian fertilizer group Yara International on Monday signed a contract to begin transporting CO2 produced at its Netherlands plant to Norway so it can be buried under the seabed, as of 2025. The agreement with Northern Lights, a joint venture grouping oil giants Equinor of Norway, Anglo-Dutch Shell...

Dubai, UAE -- Nearly 48 percent of individuals in the UAE anticipate an uptick in cross-border payments over the next 12 months and 36 percent expect to receive more cross-border payments during the same period, according to the recently released Mastercard Borderless Payments Report for 2023. Globally, the report indicates...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - The Saudi capital market has witnessed a surge in foreign investments, with the value soaring by 300% over the past five years. From 2018 to the end of 2022, the foreign investments totaled SAR 347.01 billion ($92.53 billion), according to the Capital Market Authority (CMA). This...

Dubai, UAE--Elon Musk’s X has made good on its promise to back users who are being punished for statements they make on his social media platform, coming to the defense of a University of Illinois student after the school launched disciplinary proceedings against him over statements he made on Twitter,...

Dubai, UAE--In order to reduce food loss and waste by 50 percent, the UAE has launched Ne’ma Food Loss and Waste Reduction Roadmap, looking to achieve the target by 2030. The project was unveiled by Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and the Environment The roadmap was announced...

Ahmedabad, India -- Opener Travis Head hit a sparkling 137 to power Australia to a record-extending sixth World Cup title with a convincing six-wicket win over India in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Chasing a tricky 241 for victory in the final, Australia slipped to 47-3 before the left-handed Head hit his second...

NEW YORK, US - The US transition to electric cars has hit a speed bump, with concerns about vehicle range and limited charging capacity adding to core affordability issues. Automakers in recent weeks have pushed back EV sales targets and delayed capital projects as they seek to reduce inventories of unsold...

Paris, France -- National climate policy action across the countries that produce nearly two-thirds of total greenhouse gas emissions only increased by 1 percent in 2022, the lowest annual growth recorded since 2000, and reflecting a deceleration in ambitions to meet the Paris Agreement temperature goals amid growing energy security...

PARIS, FRANCE - Rarely a month goes by without big tech companies getting fined for price fixing, squashing competitors or misusing data, but it can take years before they pay a penny. Ireland's data regulator confirmed to AFP that Meta has not paid any of the US$2.2 billion (2 billion euros)...

The Argentine replaces Nuno Espirito Santo who took Al Ittihad to the Saudi title last season. The Portuguese former Tottenham and Wolves manager was fired earlier in November following a run of bad results and amid reports of a difficult relationship with star striker Karim Benzema, who joined the club...

Manama, Bahrain-- The ongoing war in Gaza represents a serious setback for the efforts to reduce tension in the region as a whole, said Dr. Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE President. Speaking at the 19th Manama Dialogue, he warned: “Prolonging the war would only amplify its associated risks,...

Cairo, Egypt - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Saturday said she was opposed to the "forced displacement of Palestinians" during a meeting in Cairo with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Von der Leyen "thanked Egypt for its key role in providing and facilitating humanitarian aid to vulnerable Palestinians",...

Beirut, Lebanon - In a ramshackle Palestinian refugee camp here, Hayat Shehadeh wrings her hands as she watches the Israel-Hamas war. Her daughter is in Gaza, and she has not spoken to her for a week. "I can't sleep. I get up at 3:00 am... I go to watch the television,"...

Dubai, UAE-- At least 15 patients from Gaza arrived in the UAE to receive medical treatment in the UAE's hospitals. The arrival of patients from Gaza is part of the initiative directed by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President, to provide medical treatment for 1,000 children. The UAE...

Dubai, UAE - The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), serving as the UAE's independent nuclear regulatory body, has officially issued the Operating License for Unit 4 of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant to Nawah Energy Company. The authorization, spanning 60 years, empowers Nawah to proceed with the commissioning and...

Washington, United States - The X platform has launched a new update that includes the job search feature, which provides a simple way to search all the jobs that are currently listed by organizations in the app. A job search tool similar to the LinkedIn platform is now available on...

Brussels, Belgium - Tech giants Meta and TikTok are contesting the scope of an EU law that from March will set new rules on competition in the digital marketplace. The European Commission has designated 22 big online companies as "core platform services" to be subject to additional scrutiny and obligations under...

BERLIN, GERMANY - Germany and Turkey's leaders traded barbs on Friday over Israel's war on Hamas, with Frank-Walter Steinmeier stressing the country's right to exist while Recep Tayyip Erdogan demanded an end to Israel's military operation. Turkey’s President Erdogan is on a highly controversial visit to staunch Israel defender Germany, made...

Israeli settler violence has increased significantly since the outbreak of the ongoing Israeli genocide campaign in Gaza, rising from an average of three incidents to seven per day, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OHCA).

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Ibrahim Sarhan, the Chairman and Managing Director of e-Finance for Digital & Financial Investments based in Egypt, has disclosed that Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), has submitted an application to the Egyptian Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) seeking to boost its ownership...

Washington, United States - Google said on Thursday that Google Photos now groups together similar photos and organizes screenshots and photos of documents into easy-to-find albums. The company said in a blog post that Google Photos will automatically identify and group similar photos that were taken close together into Photo...

Abu Dhabi, UAE – ADASI, the EDGE Group entity, a regional leader in autonomous systems and services, said on Thursday that it has signed an AED 239 million ($65 million) contract to supply GARMOOSHA unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to the UAE Ministry of Defence. "We are honoured to deliver our...