WASHINGTON, US - The growth of the economies in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is expected to fall sharply this year, the World Bank said. The region’s gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to fall to 1.9 percent in 2023 from 6 percent in 2022, due to oil...

The changes brought a good deal of criticism, journalist Tom Warren of The Verge website posting on X: "It's the latest in a long line of dumb changes on this platform."

Dubai, UAE -- The value of real estate deals in Dubai increased by 40 percent to reach AED 97.55 billion ($26.55 billion), compared to AED 69.5 billion in the third quarter of 2022, real estate company D&B Properties said. The emirate's market surged 22 percent in terms of transactions, with...

Baghdad, Iraq - Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani is scheduled to embark on a two-day visit to Moscow from October 10 to 11, where he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Reuters reported on Wednesday, quoting sources. Prime Minister Al-Sudani is set to leave Iraq on October 9,...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - In a historic diplomatic event, Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi delivered a speech in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, becoming the first Israeli politician to do so in a country that had no prior diplomatic ties with Israel, Jerusalem Post reported. “We greatly appreciate the tireless efforts...

Doha, Qatar -- QatarEnergy has been awarded a new exploration block offshore Egypt as part of the 2022 EGAS International Bid Round. The results of the competitive bid process were announced by Egypt's Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, awarding exploration and production rights for block EGY-MED-E8 (East Port Said)...

Brasilia, Brazil-- The UAE and Brazil have explored opportunities to develop cooperation in trade, energy and climate issues in a meeting between Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UAE, and Mauro Vieira, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, in the capital, Brasilia. The meeting,...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Saudi “flynas” airline announced the delivery of five A320neo aircraft to increase its all-Airbus fleet to 56 airplanes, reflecting a growth of more than 100% in the past two years. The latest deliveries come as part of the expansion plan launched under the title "We connect...

Dubai, UAE - : Recently crowned Miss Universe Queens Miss Universe Bahrain 2023 Lujane Yacoub and Miss Universe Pakistan 2023 Erica Robin on Tuesday promoted halal and wellness travel in the Philippines, after the country won the Emerging Muslim-Friendly Destination Award earlier this year. With the Muslim travel market forecast...

Washington, US - Growing geopolitical fragmentation since the invasion of Ukraine has hit commodity markets, threatening to slow the transition to renewable energy as the world looks to combat climate change, the International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday. The fractures have led to a doubling in new trade restrictions on commodities...

Dubai, UAE -- Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) Tuesday signed a 30-year water purchaser agreement worth SAR 3.42 billion ($911 million) with Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power for phase 1 of the Hassyan sea water desalination project using solar power. The project is part of DEWA’s efforts to increase its...

RAS LAFFAN, QATAR - Qatar's state-owned energy giant began construction on Tuesday on a project to expand production from the world's biggest natural gas field through an export terminal on the Gulf emirate's northeast coast. There has been mounting demand for Qatari gas as European consumer nations have scrambled to replace...

Abu Dhabi, UAE -- Top executives from South Korean companies have affirmed that numerous firms are actively looking to expand and inject new investments into the UAE's oil and gas sector, noting that the UAE is attracting capital seeking unprecedented growth and prosperity opportunities worldwide. In statements to Emirates News...

Abu Dhabi, UAE - Global demand for all forms of energy is forecast to rise by 25% through 2045, according to Haitham Al Ghais, Secretary-General of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). “By 2045, the world's energy demand is expected to increase by 25% from current levels, as...

Abu Dhabi, UAE - UAE’s clean energy powerhouse Masdar expands Central Asian presence with agreement to explore ground-mounted solar, onshore wind, floating solar and hydropower in land-locked and water-rich Tajikistan MW Energy, a joint venture between Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company – Masdar and W Solar Investment, has signed an...

Doha, Qatar -- UAE president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan who is on a visit to Qatar attended the inauguration of the International Horticultural Expo 2023 in Doha by Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Monday.  Several heads of states and international delegations are attending the...

Washington, United States - US manufacturing activity contracted in September by the least since late 2022, beating analyst expectations despite weakness in new orders, survey data showed Monday. The Institute for Supply Management's (ISM) manufacturing index came in better than anticipated at 49 percent last month, up from 47.6 percent in...

Foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani, while voicing support for Azerbaijan's reclamation of the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region last month, said Tehran is "against making geopolitical changes in the region and this is our clear position." He was referring to the Zangezur land corridor which would connect mainland Azerbaijan to its exclave...

Telecoms giants say that they need more money to maintain and update the infrastructure to meet Europe's voracious data needs, and that it would be fairer if firms like Netflix contributed towards the cost. But tech behemoths say telecoms companies already get money from customers, while digital rights activists fear...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia has so far issued 162 regional center licenses to the companies relocating their headquarters to the Kingdom, Saudi ministry of finances said. The Regional Headquarters Program, a collaborative effort spearheaded by the Ministry of Investment and the Royal Commission for Riyadh, is working diligently...

Dubai, UAE - Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on Sunday shared a rare video from his visit to China 30 years ago while extending congratulations to China on its 74th National Day.  In a heartfelt message posted in Chinese on Platform X,...

Abu Dhabi, UAE - Abu Dhabi International Progressive Energy Congress (ADIPEC) 2023 begins today here to deliberate decarbonization of the energy system and to collaborate on the energy system of tomorrow. ADIPEC 2023 is expected to attract more than 160,000+ attendees from 164 countries for its biggest edition ever. The...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia is among the top 10 countries in the world in coffee consumption, leading the government to adopt various initiatives and programs to foster the beverage's cultivation. The Kingdom currently produces more than 400,000 Arabica coffee trees, yielding over 800 tons annually, from the regions...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Consumer spending in Saudi Arabia grew 8 percent to SAR 115.4 billion ($30.76 billion) in August 2023, from nearly SAR 107.1 billion during the same month last year, Argaam reported. Consumer spending includes total cash withdrawals, point-of-sale (POS) transactions and e-commerce sales through "Mada". POS transactions rose 10...

ROME, ITALY - An Italian-Palestinian student detained without charges by Israel since August was due to be released, his lawyer in Rome said on Sunday. Khaled El Qaisi, 27, was arrested on August 31 while crossing from the West Bank to Jordan after a family vacation in his home city of...

London, United Kingdom -- The collapse of cryptocurrency platform FTX, whose disgraced former boss goes on trial this week, sparked shock waves worldwide, with regulators still seeking to get to grips with the sector. Sam Bankman-Fried, once the wunderkind of crypto, will appear in a federal New York court on Tuesday...

Doha, Qatar -- The main building of Expo 2023 in Doha has made it to the Guinness World Records for having the largest green roof in the world. The roof of the building, implemented by Qatar's Public Works Authority (Ashghal), has an area of 4,031 square meters. The new global...

Bridgetown, Barbados-- The UAE and Barbados have discussed prospects for bolstering bilateral cooperation, particularly in climate action and renewable energy, besides looking to boost economic and trade ties between the two countries. The subject was discussed in a meeting between Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs...

Monaco, Monaco--The Old Doha Port has signed several agreements with professional global companies, specialized in yacht during its participation in the global 2023 Monaco Yacht Show, to put the Old Doha Port on the global map. Executive Director of the Old Doha Port, Mohammed Abdullah Al Mulla, pointed out that...

Beijing, China - China on Saturday accused the United States of being an "empire of lies", hitting back after a State Department report claimed Beijing spends billions of dollars to spread disinformation globally. The report, released on Thursday by the US State Department's Global Engagement Center, accused China of financing propaganda,...

PARIS, FRANCE - A new roadmap to reduce the environmental risks from chemicals and waste was adopted at a United Nations conference on Saturday as part of a drive to manage damaging chemical exposure. The Global Framework on Chemicals was adopted by governments, companies, and NGOs at the fifth International Conference...

Tripoli, Libya - A Rome-bound aircraft departed on Saturday from Libya's capital, restarting flights to Italy after a nearly decade-long suspension due to an EU ban, authorities in Tripoli said. The European Union in 2014 halted flights operated by Libyan airlines and banned them from entering member states' airspace, as the...

Manama, Bahrain - A fourth Bahraini soldier has died after an attack this week on his country's contingent in the Saudi-led coalition battling Yemen's Houthi rebels, the Gulf archipelago's army said. Bahrain had previously announced the deaths of three of its soldiers in Monday's attack near the Saudi border with Yemen....

WASHINGTON, US - The United States is heading toward a government shutdown this weekend with no foreseeable way out of a deadlock in Congress over hardline Republican calls for deep spending cuts. The new US fiscal year begins on October 1, but sharp disagreements in the Republican Party over the scale...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia has unveiled plans to expand the number of licensed companies authorized to offer services to overseas pilgrims for the 2024Haj season, local media reported.  Under the new regulations, the licenses will be valid for a period of five years, and the estimated fee for...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia--Iran has proposed to Saudi Arabia to set up a working group to look into the idea of cancelling visas between the two countries. In this regard, the Iranian deputy tourism minister traveled to Saudi Arabia to proposed the to Saudi Arabia the idea of visa cancellation. A...

Athens, Greece - Greece and Saudi Arabia announced their agreement to establish a jointly-owned company with the goal of connecting their power grids. This marks the initial phase of their ambitious plan to provide Europe with more affordable green energy, according to a statement from the Greek energy ministry, as...

Shanghai, China - Huawei has unveiled an ambitious five-year initiative that will see a total investment of $430 million dedicated to driving technological advancement and digital transformation in the 28 countries located north of the equator within the African continent. The investment plan is structured as follows: $200 million will...

Peaceful protests have swept Sweida province, the heartland of the country's Druze minority, since President Bashar al-Assad's government ended fuel subsidies last month. The move dealt a heavy blow to Syrians reeling from more than a decade of war and economic woes.

PARIS, FRANCE - Europe must invest more quickly and massively in its energy transition if it wants to remain a global industrial power, top policymakers warned on Friday. The plea was made at a conference on the clean energy transition hosted by the International Energy Agency, the European Central Bank and...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Assets held by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) declined by SAR 24 billion ($6.39 billion) month-on-month (MoM) to SAR 1.76 trillion in August. When compared to August 2022, SAMA’s assets fell by around SAR 229.2 billion, according to data released by SAMA, Argaam reported. SAMA’s investments...

PARIS, FRANCE - Wavering ambition by governments and a growing belief that science is politically subjective are great causes for concern in a rapidly escalating climate crisis, an expert told AFP. A cascade of extreme weather events have inflicted devastation in 2023, which the European Union's climate monitor says is likely...

Washington, United States - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held discussions in Washington, highlighting the potential of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor. The significant initiative, born out of India's G20 presidency, aims to foster transparent, sustainable, and high-standard infrastructure investments. "At the...

Dubai, UAE - Chinese luxury electric vehicle manufacturer Zeekr, a subsidiary of Geely, is set to make its debut in the Middle East next year, as part of its global expansion efforts leading up to a planned initial public offering (IPO) in the United States, Financial Times reported on Friday. ...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  -- Saudi Arabia aims to become a global player in manufacturing electric vehicles (EVs) and related products, including electric batteries, Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Al-Khorayef said on Thursday  “The inauguration of Lucid Motor’s plant confirms the sound implementation of the National Industrial Strategy...

WASHINGTON, US  - China is seeking to surpass the United States as the top power in the world, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday, as he again warned on Taiwan. Successive US presidents have called China the top long-term challenge to the United States, but some US analysts...

ABU DHABI, UAE - The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) and the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) on Thursday entered into a Bilateral Currency Swap Agreement between the UAE Dirham (AED) and the Egyptian Pound (EGP). The agreement, signed by Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the Central Bank of...

New York, US - The generative AI platform ChatGPT can now fetch data directly from the internet and gather up-to-date information in real-time, its creator OpenAI said, in a major milestone for the software. Until now, ChatGPT's responses to user queries were based on a vast database, which did not contain...

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL - Israel's US$3.5-billion sale of its Arrow 3 missile defense system to Germany, sparked by security fears after Russia's Ukraine invasion, is the biggest yet for the small country's outsized arms sector. With its armed forces steeled by a tragic history of war, Israel is now the ninth...

Tehran, Iran--Iran has exported 27.7 million tons of goods worth $9.1 billion to BRICS member countries from March 21-August 21, 2023). In the first five months of this year of 1402 in the Iranian calendar nearly 37 million tons of goods worth $25.1 billion were exchanged between Iran and current...