- Washington, United States - The US central bank is expected to hold interest rates steady Wednesday after its key policy meeting, as officials gauge the impact of tariffs on inflation -- and despite President Donald Trump's calls for rate cuts. The Federal Reserve has kept the benchmark lending rate unchanged...
IMF says Ukraine war slowing economic growth worldwide
The war in Ukraine has undercut the global recovery, slowing expected economic growth in most countries in the world, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said Thursday. Families already were struggling with higher energy and food prices and "the war has made this much worse."ECB contends with high inflation and weak growth
European Central Bank policymakers meet on Thursday faced with the challenge of threading a response between record-high inflation figures and weak growth due to the war in Ukraine.Economic freedom, effective governance key to attract FDI: AMF
The study calls for the stability of the business environment by reforming relevant laws.IMF unveils new trust to help ‘vulnerable’ countries
The IMF plans to raise at least $45 billion for a new trust to help ‘low-income and vulnerable middle-income countries’.Agencies urge urgent food insecurity action
Major international organizations issued an appeal on Wednesday for urgent measures to deal with rising food insecurity in poor countries.Iran’s oldest tyre factory shuts down
Company workers had gathered Sunday to urge the state to save the factory, local media said.Unvaccinated citizens can travel if they present negative PCR: UAE
The UAE will allow unvaccinated individuals to travel on April 19 if they present a negative PCR test result taken 48 hours before their departure, and fill out the Al Hosn app travel application to change their status to green, the Official Spokesman of the National Crisis and Emergency Management...Iran says preliminary deal reached on frozen funds abroad
Tens of billions of dollars in Iranian money were blocked in many countries including China, South Korea and Japan.Demand surges as Ramadan returns
The shopping behavior has changed a lot in the region in past two years as consumers are looking for promotions and offers especially in food, perishables, groceries and home appliances. Studies suggest that consumers are spending more on cross-border goods, particularly consumer packaged products, during Ramadan this year.Saudi, Kuwait to develop gas field despite Iran complaint
Saudi Arabia and Kuwait will develop a disputed gas field despite Iranian objections, while urging Tehran to engage in negotiations, a statement said Wednesday. The Gulf allies will honour their deal, branded "illegal" by Iran, to develop the Arash/Dorra maritime gas field, the Saudi foreign ministry said.Dubai Next expects increase in ‘fund seekers’
Dubai Next, the digital crowdfunding platform that has attracted many young innovators and start-up ideas, is anticipating an increase in fund-seekers and contributors.Yen slides to 20-year low against dollar
The yen hit its lowest level against the dollar in two decades on Wednesday, extending recent falls as the gap widens between Japan's ultra-loose monetary policy and US tightening. One dollar bought 126 yen on Wednesday afternoon, the lowest rate since 2002.IEA lowers world oil demand outlook on China lockdowns
Russian oil supply, meanwhile, is expected to continue to fall in April by 1.5 million barrels per day amid its invasion of Ukraine, according to the IEA, which advises developed countries on their energy policies.Ukraine crisis pushes US inflation to new four-decade high
"The Russia-Ukraine war has added further fuel to the blazing rate of inflation," Kathy Bostjancic of Oxford Economics said.Sustainability drives region’s luxury car demand
UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are the three top performing GCC markets when it comes to appetite for high-end cars, Hamid Haqparwar, MD of BMW Group Middle East, tells TRENDS.DMCC registers record 665 companies to its Free Zone in Dubai during Q1
Dubai Multi Commodities Centre, the world’s flagship Free Zone and Government of Dubai Authority on commodities trade and enterprise, welcomed 665 companies to its Free Zone in Dubai during the first quarter of 2022. This represents DMCC’s best first quarter since its inception over twenty years ago, a 13 percent...Czech Republic delegation explores business opportunities in Bahrain
A business delegation of Czech Republic visited Bahrain to explore investment opportunities and expansion of economic projects between the two countries. The delegation expressed keenness on cooperating with Bahrain for investment in various private sectors. Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani said that Bahrain welcomes all...Jordan plans to expand cultivation of wheat, barley
The plan includes allocating interest-free loan packages to farmers through the Agricultural Credit Corporation.Qatar, Iran ink bilateral pacts in aviation sector
An agreement to increase the number of flights between Qatar and Iran was also signed.Palestine wheat stocks could run out within 3 weeks
The cost of wheat flour in Palestine has already surged by nearly 25 percent because of the Ukraine crisis.Jordan Interior Ministry introduces 5-year entry visa
The decision also grants visa holders a temporary three-month stay that is obtained directly at border posts on each trip.How do MENA oil prices compare with the world?
Prices of crude oil have skyrocketed across the world, thanks to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent sanctions placed on Moscow.WTO: War in Ukraine could halve 2022 global trade growth
Russia's invasion created a crisis of 'immense proportions' and a 'severe blow' to the global economy. Russia's war in Ukraine could almost halve world trade growth this year and drag down global GDP growth too, the World Trade Organization (WTO) projected Monday. The WTO said that the Russian invasion dealt...UAE approves formation of council for digital economy
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has given go-ahead to the formation of a digital economy council in a cabinet meeting. It also approved a plan according to which the digital economy can contribute 20 percent to the gross non-oil national economy in the coming years.World Bank warns of bleak economic outlook for Ukraine, region
The conflict also has caused prices of grains and energy to soar.Dubai issues 24,662 new business licenses in Q1 2022
Dubai has issued 24,662 new business licenses in Q1 2022, a report by the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) said. This marked a growth of 58 percent from Q1 2021, when 15,580 licenses were issued. DET Business Registration and Licensing (BRL) issued its first-quarter 2022 report on the business...Egypt inflation rises to 12.1 percent as foreign reserves dip
Egypt’s annual inflation rate hit 12.1 percent in March, official figures showed Sunday, as foreign reserves declined by $4 billion during the same month, according to the central bank. "The annual headline inflation rate recorded 12.1 percent for March 2022, compared to 4.8 percent for the same month last year,"...Iraq cleans up river as first green projects take root
The 200 volunteers at work in Baghdad remove garbage from a stretch of one of the mighty rivers that gave birth to the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia.Iraq witnesses dust storm that lands dozens in hospital
Iraq is particularly vulnerable to climate change, having already witnessed record low rainfall and high temperatures in recent years.Famine-threatened Yemen fears impact of Ukraine war
Across the MENA region, people are struggling to secure even the most basic staples in view of soaring food and fuel prices triggered by Russia's February invasion of Ukraine.GCC keeps pace with global solar, wind trends
Countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Oman appear on track to take giant strides in diversifying their portfolios when it comes to power generation.Spurred by higher oil prices, GCC indices post gains this week
The GCC's main indices closed higher toward the end of week, spurred by higher oil prices. The Saudi index "TASI" reached 13,314 points, achieving an increase of 0.4 percent on Thursday, its last trading day. At the same time, the Dubai index increased by 0.2 percent during the week as...S&P degrades Russia’s forex payments rating to ‘selective default’
Credit rating agency S&P Global Ratings on Saturday downgraded Russia's foreign currency payments rating to "selective default" after Moscow paid a dollar-denominated debt in rubles this week.S&P keeps Kuwait’s credit ratings at A+ with negative outlook
Kuwait's long and short-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings have been affirmed at 'A+/A-1' by Standard & Poor's Global Ratings agency with a negative outlook. "The negative outlook primarily reflects risks over the next 12-24 months relating to the government's ability to overcome the institutional roadblocks preventing it...North Sea oil project wins Israeli takeover boost
A North Sea oilfield project off Scotland's coast opposed by environmentalists and paused after energy giant Shell decided to exit the Cambo initiative has been boosted by an Israeli takeover. Ithaca Energy, owned by Tel Aviv-listed Delek Group, announced late Thursday a deal to buy Siccar Point Energy for an...UN seeks $80m to avert ‘imminent’ Yemen oil spill
Yemen's Huthi rebels already agreed a "framework for cooperation" with the United Nations on the issue last month.Russia’s ruble stages rebound despite Western sanctions
After a historic collapse in the wake of Russia's military offensive in Ukraine, the ruble has staged a spectacular bounceback, supported by strict capital controls and energy exports. Four days after President Vladimir Putin sent troops into the pro-Western country, the central bank more than doubled its key interest rate...Tech savvy UAE becomes Arab world’s digital hot spot
The UAE has earned a unique distinction of becoming the only Arab country to be propelled into the premier club of nations with the most technologically advanced governments.UAE, UK hold technical workshops on illicit finance threats and risks
UAE and UK authorities met for a series of technical workshops in March 2022 in both Abu Dhabi and London to share information on issues of mutual concern and enable participants to better understand illicit finance risks, threats, and typologies. The workshops were held under the UAE-UK Partnership to Tackle...World food prices hit record high over Ukraine war: FAO
Russia's invasion of Ukraine sent ‘shocks’ through markets for staple grains and vegetable oils, the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization has said.Economic licenses issued in Abu Dhabi saw 21.5 percent growth in 2021
Abu Dhabi issued 25,427 new economic licenses in 2021, an increase of 21.5 percent compared to the 2020 figure of 20,925, according to the 2021 Business Activity Report published by the Abu Dhabi Business Center at the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) . The report said that renewed...Shanghai lockdown snarls world’s busiest port and China supply chains
Beijing has refused to budge from its strict zero-Covid strategy, and that has forced many companies to halt production and slow new projects, while those still operating are struggling with a shortage of truck drivers on top of onerous permit and Covid testing requirements.‘Islam forbids infringement on intellectual property rights’
The Committee for Ifta pointed out that ideas have value according to the regulations issued in this regard, and therefore an infringement on them is not permissible.UAE’s GDP beats expectations, grows at 3.8 percent
The UAE's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2021 has exceeded expectations, registering the highest rate in the region of AED 1.489 trillion. "In a turbulent and changing world, the UAE has been moving steadily forward,” Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said ...IMF, Lebanon strike conditional deal on $3 bn aid
The IMF announced Thursday a conditional agreement to provide Lebanon with $3 billion in aid to help it emerge from a severe economic crisis, following months of negotiations. The deal is "a visa stamp for donor countries to begin co-operating with Lebanon and to put Lebanon back on the global...Fuel price fall by five percent as demand takes a hit
The pullback came as US Federal Reserve meeting minutes showed several officials at the central bank favoring a hike in interest rates by half a percentage point.IMF reaches agreement on $3 billion deal for Lebanon
The country has been battered by triple-digit inflation, soaring poverty rates, and the collapse of its currency since a 2020 debt default, and officials in Beirut applauded the announcement as it will open the door to additional financial support.EGA, Ma’aden tech cooperation
The two will explore potential collaboration in the aluminum value chain.Rich nations to tap 120m barrels from emergency oil reserves: IEA
The IEA members which include the United States, European countries, Australia and Japan, among others had already pledged last month to release 62.7 million barrels of oil.Rome unveils €650m boost for electric vehicles
"First the pandemic and now the war (in Ukraine) are putting a severe strain on this sector which represents one of the jewels of Italy," said Italy's Economic Development Minister.




















































