• US pushes back against claims it eased West Bank settler sanctions

    Washington, US--The US Treasury Department pushed back on Friday against claims it had eased sanctions against West Bank settlers after pressure from Israel's finance minister. The US recently sanctioned seven Israeli settlers and two farming outposts in the West Bank in response to a surge in violence, freezing their assets...
  • Saudi Arabia, Turkey sign deals during ‘Turk Expo 2023’ in Riyadh

    Riyadh, Saudi Arabia--Saudi Arabia and Turkey have signed three agreements in the industrial sector during the Turkish Export Products Trade Fair in Riyadh. Saudi Minister of Commerce, who is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority for Foreign Trade, Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi, met here...
  • Egypt’s president meets Russian envoy in Cairo in sign of closer ties

    Renewing their commitment to "continuing to strengthen bilateral relations", Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met with a senior Russian delegation in Cairo, in spite of calls by Western powers to isolate Russia over its invasion of Ukraine last year. Egypt has maintained relations with Russia in part to mitigate the...
  • US Fed, other central banks move to boost global dollar liquidity

    The central banks will step up so-called swap line operations, which give non-US central banks greater access to dollars. "To improve the swap lines' effectiveness in providing US dollar funding, the central banks currently offering US dollar operations have agreed to increase the frequency of 7-day maturity operations from weekly...
  • China third-largest investor in UAE, its top trading partner

    The mutual investments between the two countries are witnessing continuous growth in various economic and commercial sectors, most notably real estate, logistical transportation, storage, financial services, insurance activities, manufacturing and information technology.
  • Qatar-France trade grows to US$4.5bn, in sign of warming ties

    Doha, Qatar--In a sign of growing business ties between Qatar and France, trade between the two countries has increased by 165 percent to $4.5 billion in 2022, compared with $1.70 billion in 2021. Qatar Chamber recently participated in the Arab French Economic Summit 2023 which was held in Paris under...
  • Tadawul market cap vaults 477% to US$2.6trn over last 5 years: CMA

    Riyadh, Saudi Arabia-- The market capitalization of Tadawul, the Saudi stock exchange, has shot up 477 percent to $2.6 trillion during the last five years. According to Yazid Al-Dumaiji, the Capital Market Authority’s (CMA) Undersecretary for Strategic and International Affairs, the exchange takes the ninth place among the world’s stock...
  • Ukraine grain deal extended, says Turkey’s President

    Turkey announced the extension of a deal that has allowed exports of Ukrainian grain to resume following Russia's invasion, but it was unclear if it had been prolonged for 60 or 120 days. Russia said it had agreed to a 60-day extension, while Ukraine's infrastructure minister said the deal had...
  • Jordan Chamber of Commerce, Hungarian envoy discuss economic ties

    AMMAN,  JORDAN -  Vice President of the Jordan Chamber of Commerce (JCC) Jamal Rifai discussed with Hungarian Ambassador to Jordan Attila Kali ways to develop joint economic and trade relations and the role of commerce chambers in strengthening them. According to a JCC statement on Saturday, the meeting went over...
  • India looks to broaden partnership with GCC countries

    New Delhi, India--India has stepped up multi-faceted consultations with GCC states ahead of the Group of Twenty (G20) Summit to be held in New Delhi in September under its presidency. A 12th round of India-Oman Strategic Consultative Group meeting in Muscat “reviewed bilateral ties in different domains and identified new...
  • S&P, Moody’s revise Saudi Arabia’s outlook to ‘positive’

    Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- The global credit rating agency S&P Global Ratings updated its credit report for Saudi Arabia, raising its long and short-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings to 'A/A-1' with a stable outlook, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported Friday. Moody's, a rival ratings agency, also stated that Saudi Arabia's plans will support it despite fluctuating oil prices and a global shift to renewable energy. Moody's also has changed the kingdom's...
  • Emaar Properties to pay dividend

    It will dole out cash dividends to the tune of US$601m.
  • UAE consumer spending vaults 19% in 2022: Majid Al Futtaim

    Dubai, UAE-- Consumer spending in the UAE has shot up 19 percent in 2022 as against the previous year, according to Majid Al Futtaim's "state of the UAE retail economy" Q4 report. There was a notable 13 percent growth in spending across the retail economy for the full year including,...
  • Abu Dhabi-Japan Economic Council reviews growth in bilateral trade and investments

    TOKYO, JAPAN - The ninth session of the Abu Dhabi-Japan Economic Council (ADJEC) here has reaffirmed its commitment to further enhance partnerships and benefits from investments opportunities. Chairman of Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi and President of Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East...
  • UAE, Georgia sign Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement

    The UAE and Georgia signed a joint statement confirming the successful conclusion of negotiations towards the UAE-Georgia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi and Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia Levan Davitashvili...
  • Lebanon central bank chief denies financial misconduct

    Lebanese central bank governor Riad Salameh maintained his innocence following a second day of questioning before European investigators in Beirut as part of a probe into his personal wealth. Salameh, 72, is part of the Lebanese political elite widely blamed for a crushing economic crisis that began in late 2019.
  • Conflict may get us before climate, warns Professor Rangan

    A multi-plural world that embraces diversity and contradictions is crucial for peaceful coexistence free of conflicts, Prof Subramanian Rangan of INSEAD tells TRENDS.
  • Silicon Valley Bank demise: US Fed lends banks $12bn to ease stress

    The Fed had unveiled the scheme alongside the Treasury and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation on Sunday night, as authorities looked to prevent other banks from running into the liquidity issues that ultimately doomed California's SVB. According to data made available Thursday, the Fed drew an additional $152 billion in...
  • India’s Bharat Dynamics Limited picks EDGE’s GradeOne as partner

    ABU DHABI, UAE - Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), a Defense Public Sector Undertaking under India's Ministry of Defense appointed EDGE's GradeOne as an official channel partner. The handing over of the Authorization Letter occurred during the International Defense Exhibition (IDEX) held in Abu Dhabi from February 20-24. Khalifa Al Ali,...
  • Deliveroo 2022 loss at $355m

    The firm's revenue rose 14 percent to nearly US$2.4 billion.
  • Lebanon bank chief turns up for European probe into his wealth

    Salameh had been summoned to appear on Wednesday but failed to show up, alleging that "the presence of international judges in Lebanon and the investigation into the financial matters is in conflict with national sovereignty". The judiciary rejected his claim and the session was rescheduled for Thursday.
  • JCC discusses trade, commerce in economic summit in France

    AMMAN, JORDAN -  The Jordan Chamber of Commerce (JCC) took part in the fourth Arab-French Economic Summit 2023 in Paris. A statement issued by the JCC on Thursday said that the summit , jointly organized by the French-Arab Chamber of Commerce (CCFA), the Union of Arab Chambers, Business France, the...
  • TRENDS poll reveals women in GCC not paid less salaries than men

    While many women still believe they are not adequately compensated, men, in contrast, have a different view, with many saying women are paid the same as men.
  • UAE to invest $30bn in South Korea over the next few years

    Abu Dhabi, UAE  – The United Arab Emirates will invest $30 billion in South Korea over the next few years, Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade said during the meeting with Minister of Trade of Korea, Dukgeun Ahn in Dubai on Wednesday.  The meeting explored joint...
  • World Food Program warns funding gaps threaten Yemen food aid

    In order to reinstate full food rations for millions in Yemen, the WFP has said that it requires more than double the money raised for all United Nations agencies in Yemen this year. The UN was able to raise only $1.2 billion for all its agencies in Yemen at a...
  • Saudi Arabia aims to diversify, double its economy

    "The country continues to grow in various sectors such as the energy sector, including oil, gas, and renewable energy, which contribute significantly to the growth and prosperity of the economy. Furthermore, significant opportunities will be available in all of the Kingdom's economic sectors," he adds.
  • Stock markets sink on banking crisis fears, oil prices fall

    Global markets have been rattled by the collapse of tech sector lenders Silicon Valley Bank and Signature, which forced US authorities to intervene at the weekend to prevent contagion. After a rebound on Tuesday, equities fell again on Wednesday, with European indices tumbling by more than three percent.
  • Indian, UAE cooperating in green hydrogen development: Indian minister

    New Delhi, India -- India’s Minister for New, Renewable Energy and Power, R K Singh said on Tuesday that India and the UAE have both taken a lead in the development of renewables at low costs.  “The two countries are moving towards a strong relationship in the field of renewable...
  • Air Arabia to pay 15% dividend

    The shareholders approved dividend after record growth.
  • Syrian students learn German in order to prepare for life abroad

    Damascus, Syria--His medical studies in Syria keep Mohammed Shasho busy enough but whenever he can he also pores over German vocabulary and grammar points in hopes of a move to Europe. Like many youngsters in the war-ravaged country, he dreams of joining the almost one million Syrians already in Germany to...
  • In troubled Libya, young robotics fans see hope in hi-tech

    Libya has seen more than a decade of stop-start conflict since a 2011 NATO-backed revolt toppled strongman Moamer Kadhafi, with myriad rival militias, foreign powers and multiple governments vying for influence. The country remains split between a supposedly interim government in the western capital, Tripoli, and another in the east...
  • US banking crisis after SVB fall to have limited impact on Europe: rating agencies

    Markets were rocked earlier this week by the collapse of two US regional lenders, SVB and Signature Bank, which forced authorities to launch measures aimed at preventing contagion across the sector. S&P Global Ratings said the European banks it follows and rates did not have the same economic model or...
  • OPEC projects world oil demand to average 101.9 mb/d in 2023

    Vienna, Austria  – The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) projected oil demand to grow by a healthy 2.3 mb/d YoY in 2023 to average at 101.9 mb/d, driven by the ongoing recovery in the travel and transportation sectors. “Following estimated growth of 2.5 mb/d y-oy in 2022, oil...
  • UAE and Japan look to widen economic, trade, investment ties

    Tokyo, Japan--The UAE and Japan are looking to increase economic, trade and investment cooperation, and explore new economic opportunities of common interest. This came at the Abu Dhabi Business Forum, which was organised by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development following the conclusion of the 9th session of the...
  • Morocco joins Spain, Portugal to launch bid for 2030 World Cup

    Morocco has joined the bid by Spain and Portugal to host the centenary World Cup in 2030, according to its ruler, King Mohammed VI. The king said in a message delivered as he was named the winner of the African Football Confederation 2022 Award of Excellence in Kigali, where FIFA...
  • US consumer inflation high, Federal Reserve under stress

    US consumer inflation edged down in February but remains elevated, according to government data, adding pressure to the Federal Reserve as it balances its inflation fight with financial stability concerns. The central bank has been on an aggressive campaign to tame inflation, raising interest rates eight times since early last...
  • Grain deal talks ongoing after Russian proposal, says UN

    Consultations to prolong Ukrainian grain exports deal are continuing, the UN said, after a Russian proposal for just a 60-day extension cast doubt over its fate. "The United Nations will do everything possible to preserve the integrity of the agreement and ensure its continuity," Jens Laerke, spokesman for the United...
  • UAE GDP grew by 7.6%, FDI flows surged to $172bn in 2022: Minister

    New Delhi, India - The GDP of the UAE went up by 7.6 percent in 2022 and the FDI inflows to the country amounted to US$171.6 billion, the UAE minister of economy Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri revealed in his speech at the CII Partnership Summit 2023, being held in...
  • UAE issues license for electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft

    DUBAI, UAE - The UAE Regulations Lab has issued a license for an electric cargo aircraft to promote eco-friendly transportation and enhance the sustainability of the air cargo industry in the country. The license is aimed at reducing carbon emissions by encouraging the adoption of clean energy and leveraging technology...
  • Lebanese pound plunges 100,000 to dollar as banks go on strike

    Officially pegged at 15,000 to the dollar, the pound was trading at 100,000 against the greenback, dealers said -- a dizzying plunge from 1,507 before the economic crisis hit in 2019. The currency's market value was at around 60,000 to the dollar in late January.
  • European lawmakers demand tax on ultra-rich individuals

    Most of the MEPs who signed are from Green or left-wing parties. They were joined by non-governmental organizations, including Oxfam, supported by a dozen economists and by 20 millionaires. The signatories claimed that in 2018 Tesla owner Elon Musk, "then the second-richest man in the world, did not pay a...
  • Saudi banking sector poised for gains, after profitable 2022: BCG

    Riyadh, Saudi Arabia--Saudi Arabia’s banking sector grew in 2022 on the back of potent revenue growth and is set for further gains, according to the Boston Consulting Group.   Analysis by the US-based firm reported the Kingdom’s banking profits after taxes have grown an average of 7.9 percent per year since...
  • Oil prices fall 2% as Silicon Valley Bank demise rattles markets

    New York, United States - Oil prices fell over 2 percent in volatile trading on Monday as the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank roiled equities markets and raised fears of a fresh financial crisis, but a recovery in Chinese demand provided support, Reuters reported. Brent crude futures settled down $2.01,...
  • World Bank applauds UAE for improving gender balance

    Abu Dhabi, UAE--Commending the UAE for being in the forefront of the drive to improve gender balance in the country, Iva Hamel, the World Bank representative in the UAE, said the UAE is the most progressive country in the Middle East and North Africa in terms of women’s empowerment. She...
  • Joe Biden reassures Americans about safety of banking system

    Washington, United States--President Joe Biden sought to reassure Americans over the country's financial system Monday as more US banks and leading European lenders were hammered amid contagion worries. Silicon Valley Bank -- a key lender to startups across the United States since the 1980s -- collapsed after a sudden run on...
  • SVB’s demise:  Warning signs were missed by investors, regulators

    Banking experts have been among those alarmed at the rapid collapse of SVB, the country's 16th biggest bank by assets and how its demise became a harbinger of Sunday's failure of another lender, Signature Bank. The failures have "exposed the inadequacy of regulatory reforms that have been made since the...
  • Turkish current account deficit rises to 40-year high

    Istanbul, Turkey - Turkey's current account deficit increased to $9.85 billion in January, the highest monthly deficit since 1984, the first year for which such a record is available, according to figures from the central bank released on Monday. The increase was caused by a rising energy cost and imports...
  • Saudi Arabia and South Korea sign several MoUs to deepen ties

    Riyadh, Saudi Arabia--Saudi Arabia and South Korea have signed multiple memorandum of understandings aimed at supporting SMEs, along with enabling entrepreneurs to enter the field with more confidence and emphasis. The two countries also looked at ways to enhance cooperation in the fields of entrepreneurship and innovation, as the Kingdom’s...
  • Iraq finalizes three-year budget designed to instill fiscal stability

    Just days ahead of the 20th anniversary of the US-led invasion that resulted in war, chaos, and political instability, Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said that his government had prepared a three-year budget for the oil-dependent economy traditionally plagued by budgetary delays. The bill will include financial aid to...
  • Russia agrees to grain export deal extension for 60 days

    Russia has agreed to extend the Ukraine grain export deal following talks with the United Nations - but only for a further 60 days. Moscow said it wanted to see "tangible progress" on a parallel agreement on Russian exports before the deal comes up for renewal again.
  • Governments to vet crucial UN climate science report

    Diplomats from nearly 200 nations and top climate scientists begin a week-long huddle in Switzerland Monday to distill nearly a decade of published science into a 20-odd-page warning about the existential danger of global warming, and what to do about it. Since its creation in 1988, the IPCC - an...