Lebanon annual inflation surges more than 200%
Annual Inflation in Lebanon has spiked to 208 percent in March despite the intervention of the country's Central Bank. According to the government data, transportation costs rose 489 percent compared to March 2021, with health expenses up 441 percent. Food and beverages climbed 390 percent, while restaurant and hotel costs...ADNEC’s launches, successes in 2021
The company said it added about $653m to Abu Dhabi's economy.Eurozone posts growth in April despite Ukraine war
Economic growth in the eurozone accelerated and hit a seven-month high in April, a key survey showed on Friday, despite concerns about inflation and Russia's war in Ukraine. Meanwhile goods and services prices rose at an unprecedented rate in April amid another near-record rise in firms' costs.Sustainable development hinges on fate of world’s cities
Martha Delgado, President of the UN-Habitat Assembly called for resilient, sustainable “smart cities” that are more inclusively governed and better prepared to navigate future shocks and crises.Saudi Arabia taps Fawaz Alhokair and Partners to support designers
The MoU is expected to help the commission as well as the company to support Saudi fashion designers.UAE’s central bank launches two new notes made of recyclable polymer
The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has launched two new banknotes, in five and ten dirham denominations, made of polymer and enhanced by advanced technical characteristics and security features. The new banknotes are the third issue of the national currency, and reflect the CBUAE’s aim to keep pace with...ECB to put an end to bond buying in July
The European Central Bank "should" end its stimulus program at the beginning of the third quarter, its vice-president said in an interview published Thursday, opening the door to raising interest rates from historic lows.UAE government holiday for Eid al-Fitr begins on 29th day of Ramadan
The holiday will last till the third day of the month of Shawwal, which is yet to be declared.Oil prices up as traders weigh demand and supply issues
Oil began inching upward on Thursday after a day of losses over demand concerns linked to the Covid-19 lockdown in China. Ongoing restrictions in the country, including in the economic hub of Shanghai where tens of millions are confined to their homes, have hit transport networks but traders are balancing...UAE hotel industry basks in festive Ramadan spirit
Now, hotel bookings will rise for Eid Al-Fitr, with Gulf markets predicted to see a considerable spike in travel bookings from April 28 to May 5, 2022, which coincides with the resumption of large exhibitions in several GCC capitals.BNPL gains currency in the UAE
It also seems to be extremely helpful for customers who want to pay for a purchase in installments or make payments later, but do not qualify for credit cards. However, they have to be able to qualify for the BNPL schemes being offered, with criteria including a good credit score.Temporary aid can offset inflation hit to families: IMF official
Faced with surging inflation that is hitting poor families especially hard, which has sparked unrest in some countries, policymakers should take immediate steps to offset the pain with targeted and temporary relief, IMF chief economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas said Tuesday. "We've seen already in some countries people protesting when they see...Arab economies expected to grow by 5% in 2022: AMF
The expected growth rate for 2022 reflects the rise in the growth of the Arab oil-exporting economies to 5.6 percent due to the anticipated increases in the output of the oil and gas sectors.Italy looks to Africa for gas to end Russia dependence
Meanwhile, Italy is also looking into buying or renting two floating storage and regasification units (FSRU) to allow it to import more LNG. Diversification will not be cheap, warn experts, who foresee extra taxes passed on to businesses and families.India turns to dung as new energy source
Cultivating alternative energy sources is an urgent priority in India, which burns coal to meet nearly three-quarters of the energy needs of its 1.4 billion citizens.Gross bank assets up 0.8% to AED3,321.5bn at Dec 2021 end: CBUAE
The UAE Central Bank announced that the money supply aggregate M1 increased to AED 701.9 billion at the end of December 2021.Oil stabilizes after big drop on IMF growth cut
Asian markets were flat on Wednesday as oil began clawing its way back up from a big drop after the International Monetary Fund downgraded its global growth forecast for 2022. The IMF lowered its outlook to 3.6 percent -- a .08 percent slash from its previous estimate released in January...UAE real non-oil GDP grew by 7.8 percent in Q4 2021: CBUAE
UAE’s real non-oil GDP grew by 7.8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2021, owing to the easing of business closures and the decline in restrictions on international travel, the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) said. The bank said there was a 9.3 percent annual increase in Emirati oil...UAE’s non-oil contribution to GDP hit 72.3% in 2021
The hotels and restaurants, wholesale and retail and health and social services sectors contributed 21.3 percent, 14.1 percent and 13.8 percent respectively.As major economies meet, US looks to increase pressure on Russia
Russian officials are expected to participate remotely in this year's G20 meeting led by Indonesia.Jordan economy is strong, far from bankruptcy: Khasawneh
Khasawneh said the World Bank had confirmed that Jordan’s economy is more immune to the Russian-Ukrainian crisis.Moroccan MPs call for cap on oil firms’ profit margins
Moroccan lawmakers on Monday called for a cap on oil firms' profit margins, describing them as "exorbitant" amid soaring fuel prices in the wake of the Ukraine war. During a plenary session with Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch -- himself the owner of the main fuel distributor in the kingdom --...Increase in demand helps GCC real estate recover
From the UAE to Saudi Arabia, Qatar to Kuwait, the GCC countries have posted robust growth in the real estate sector, with the transactions touching $137.4 billion in 2021.UAE cabinet approves regulations of decree on entry, residence of foreigners
The UAE Cabinet has approved the executive regulations of the Federal Decree-Law on Entry and Residence of Foreigners aimed at strengthening the UAE's position as an ideal destination to live, work, and invest. The executive regulations provide comprehensive information on the types and conditions of entry visas and residence permits....Abu Dhabi Business Centre adds 80 new economic activities during 2021
The Abu Dhabi Business Centre (ADBC), a part of Department of Economic Development (ADDED), announced that 80 new economic activities were added during 2021, brining the total of economic activities to 4062 by the end of last year. New added activities cover many vital business sectors, including 40 new commercial...Key Libyan oil export port closed amid shutdown ‘wave’
Libya's National Oil Corporation announced Monday the closure of operations in major oil fields after staff in the key export terminal of Zueitina were blocked from working. "The National Oil Corporation is obliged to declare a state of force majeure on the oil port of Zueitina, including all fields and...Morocco’s official reserve assets reach $33.39 billion on 1 Apr
Morocco's official reserve assets amounted to 329.1 billion ($33.39 billion) Dirhams on 1 April 2022, up by 8.2 percent compared to the same period in 2021, Morocco's central bank (Bank Al-Maghrib) has said. During the week of April 7-13, 2022, the Dirham depreciated by 1.06 percent against the US Dollar...Iraqi PM sets up workgroup to coordinate gas supply with Iran
Al-Kadhimi asked the workgroup to visit Iran and remove the obstacles hindering the supply of gas to Iraqi electricity power plants.Jordan is regional hub for trade, investment: Minister
Jordan Minister of Investment, Khairy Amr, said the government seeks to turn Jordan into a destination for foreign and Arab investments.KSA converts its deposit with Central Bank of Mauritania into soft loan
The move comes as an extension of the Kingdom’s continuous support for the people and government of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.China economy grows 4.8% in first quarter as virus bites
The world's second-biggest economy was already losing steam in the latter half of last year with a property slump and regulatory crackdowns.Libya’s National Oil Corporation announces closure of Al-Fil oil field
Libya's National Oil Corporation announced Sunday the closure of production at a major oil field in the country's south, declaring a "force majeure". "On Saturday... the Al-Fil field was subjected to arbitrary closure attempts, due to the entry of a group of individuals and the prevention of the field's workers...Wheat harvesting begins in villages of Oman’s Adam Wilayat
The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources in the Wilayat of Adam in the Governorate of A'Dakhiliyah has started harvesting wheat crop in various villages, Omani media reports said. The cultivation of wheat crop begins in Adam in November until March each year. Wheat is harvested in a number of...Policy eyed as Mideast bears brunt of climate change
Disasters caused by climate change since 2000 have killed approximately 2,600 people, affected seven million others, and caused $2 billion in direct material damage. It may have also reduced annual economic growth by 1-2 percentage points on a per-capita basis, it adds.SAMA starts consumer microfinance licenses in kingdom
The Saudi Central Bank, or SAMA, has launched licenses for consumer microfinance operations in the Kingdom. This follows the bank’s announcement of the third license for a consumer microfinance company in the Kingdom, Sulfah. Microfinance targets individuals and small businesses, including self-employed people, who may otherwise lack access to banking...Iran-Oman trade reaches a record $1.3b: Envoy
Ali Najafi said that during the last Iranian year which ended on March 20, Iran’s exports to Oman were worth 716 million dollars.Morocco: World Bank forecasts 1.1% growth in 2022, 4.3% in 2023
"Growth in Morocco is projected to slow to 1.1 percent in 2022, as agricultural output declines by 17.3 percent due to the drought,” the WB said in its latest MENA Economic News Bulletin.GCC exchanges recoup their losses
From the UAE to Saudi Arabia, the main indexes made up for their losses as the week came to a close.Lebanon: War in Ukraine means price rises amid climate crisis
There will be little to eat for many Lebanese when they break their fasts this Ramadan – but support from the World Food Programme is delivering hope in the face of crushing price rises.Tunisia tourism revenues climb 48% to $200m by April 10
The country’s external debt services went up 5 percent, from nearly TND2 billion ($666.69 million) to about TND2.1 billion ($700.02 million).45% employees in UAE yet to save for retirement
While 44 percent of UAE residents want to retire from their jobs before they turn 55, most of them have not come up with any financial plan for their lives after retirement.Euro slides to two-year low as ECB dithers over rate hike
The euro slumped to a near two-year low on Thursday after the European Central Bank remained vague about when it will raise interest rates in the face of soaring inflation. The ECB stood still in the face of record eurozone inflation, keeping its stimulus plans and rates unchanged.Sri Lanka imposes fuel rationing as economic crisis worsens
Cash-strapped Sri Lanka imposed fuel rationing on Friday in another worsening of the economic crisis that has sparked widespread demonstrations calling for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's resignation.Investopia first UAE trademark to be registered under Madrid Protocol
The Ministry of Economy (MoE) has received the request to register the Investopia Summit trademark internationally, in line with the country's accession to the Madrid Protocol for International Trademark Registration. Once the procedure is complete, the registration with World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) will protect the Summit's trademark in more...Swiss prosecutors probe Libyan gasoil ‘looting’
"A maritime gasoil smuggling network resulting from the looting of Libyan state oil refineries was allegedly carried out between 2014 and 2015 in the context of the Libyan conflict," Swiss state prosecutors said.Fitch revises Saudi Arabia’s outlook from stable to positive
The international credit rating agency ”Fitch” updated its credit report for Saudi Arabia affirming its “A” rating for the Kingdom and revising the stable outlook from its July 2021 rating to positive. The outlook revision reflects the Kingdom's improvement in its sovereign balance sheet due to higher oil revenues resulting...Iraqis queue for fuel as stations protest government
Motorists in Iraq formed long queues for fuel Thursday after some owners of filling stations shut off their pumps to protest government policies on fuel distribution and pricing. Some government-run fuel stations have been ordered to operate around the clock to meet demand, the official news agency INA reported.USA to ease limitations on E-15 gasoline sale as oil demand surges
In an effort to ease Americans' pain at the gas pump, President Joe Biden has announced his administration will ease restrictions on the sale of E15 -- gasoline that includes 15 percent ethanol -- and new investments in biofuels as a whole. But the decision hasn't pleased scientists who study...Ecuador starts oil mining in protected area of Amazon rainforest
Current President Guillermo Lasso has plans to double Ecuador's oil production in spite of opposition from indigenous communities and environmentalists.World Bank says war in Ukraine raising risks for Middle East
The war in Ukraine has "multiplied risks" for the Middle East and North Africa's poorer countries by raising food and energy prices, the World Bank said, warning of potential social unrest. In its latest update the development lender said inflationary pressures set off by Covid-19 "are likely to be exacerbated"...




















































