"The Palestinian economy's dire outlook is worsening as the conflict persists," managing director Kristalina Georgieva told the World Governments Summit in Dubai. "Only a durable peace and political solution will fundamentally change it".

Its sales in China slumped 35% from April to December.

Abu Dhabi, UAE--The total public expenditure of Arab countries combined jumped by 9.8% to $957.5 billion in 2022, compared to $878.9 billion in 2021, according to the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF). AMF, in its Joint Arab Economic Report, explained that current expenditure in Arab countries increased by about 9.9% to...

AMMAN, JORDAN - The Chairman of the Amman Chamber of Commerce Khalil Haj Tawfiq has called on Jordanian and Tunisian companies to forge stronger partnerships and enhancing their countries commercial, industrial and investment relations.During a meeting with Tunisian Ambassador to Jordan Mufida Zaribi, Haj Tawfiq emphasized the necessity of boosting...

The luxury giant posted a profit of US$4.6bn in 2023.

Vienna, Austria--The OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) has granted a US$30 million loan to support the development of a key transportation link in Uganda. The rehabilitation of the Katine-Ochero road will provide better, faster and safer transport connections in the central-east region of the country. The project is co-financed...

The company's profit surged to US$6.8bn last year.

Abu Dhabi, UAE-- The UAE's real GDP will grow 5.3 percent in 2024, compared to 3.4 percent in 2023, according to S&P Global Ratings, the world's leading credit rating agency. The credit rating agency in a new report said that UAE banks reported exceptional profits for the full year 2023...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Wednesday said he will make efforts to achieve the unity of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries as well as the stability and prosperity of their people. Mohammed bin Salman, who is also the prime minister of Saudi Arabia said...

Republicans in the House of Representatives scheduled the vote after the Democratic-led Senate released a bipartisan bill Sunday pairing billions of dollars for Israel and Ukraine with some of the strictest immigration curbs in decades. But support for that $118bn package has dwindled, with Donald Trump pressuring Republicans to avoid handing President Joe...

Its earnings were US$36.2bn, half of what is was in 2022.

Doha, Qatar-- Qatar and Egypt are looking to boost trade and economic ties between the two countries, besides exploring ways to encourage investors from Qatar to widen their investment in Egypt. In this regard, Qatar Chamber First Vice-Chairman Mohamed bin Ahmed bin Twar Al Kuwari's met with Vice President of...

Common beliefs associated with gemstones are largely what motivates people to buy them, said Hassan Samimi, a lapidary at the market near the shrine of Shah Abdolazim. Iran subsequently declared the ring "cultural heritage" and a "national asset", Samimi says demand for gemstones has remained relatively steady despite Iran's severe...

The parliament ratified by a huge majority of 92 votes out of 133 an amendment to an article that prohibited the central bank from financing the public treasury. The new measure allows the central bank to lend the state US$2.2 billion to be repaid without interest in 10 years after...

The company aims to reach 142 operational rigs this year.

TEHRAN, IRAN – The country has exported more than 6.7 million tons of agricultural and food products worth US$4.8 billion during the first 10 months of the current Iranian year (March 21, 2023 – January 20, 2024), an Iranian economic official said. Rouhollah Latifi, the spokesman of the Iranian House...

SHARJAH, UAE - The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has announced a series of significant achievements of the year 2023, underscoring its multifaceted endeavors in bolstering the business community. In 2023, the Chamber saw a notable increase in its total registered memberships, reaching 72,187, with 7,160 new members...

The acquisition of 44% stake is valued at US$211.20 million.

Abu Dhabi, UAE - Abu Dhabi Airports, the operator of Abu Dhabi's five commercial airports, has announced the appointment of Elena Sorlini as its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. Sorlini transitions into the role permanently after serving in an interim capacity since June 2023. Since joining Abu Dhabi Airports,...

The company's revenue for the year 2023 stood at US$16.33bn.

Amman, Jordan-- The UAE and Jordan have explored opportunities for collaboration in the fields of economy, investment, food security, renewable energy and sustainability in a meeting between the UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Jordan's King Abdullah in Amman. The meeting between the two leaders, which took place at...

The OECD raised its 2024 world economic growth forecast Monday but warned that the Middle East conflict posed a risk, with disruptions in Red Sea shipping threatening to increase consumer prices. Global growth "proved unexpectedly resilient" in 2023, reaching 3.1 percent as inflation declined faster than anticipated..

DOHA, QATAR - Minister of State and Chairman of Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ) Dr. Ahmad bin Mohammed Al Sayed revealed that QFZ has attracted nearly 500 companies spanning diverse sectors with estimated investments at about US$1.3 billion (QR5 billion). The QFZ Chairman held a meeting with a delegation from...

Istanbul, Turkey - Turkey's annual inflation rate stayed stable in January at nearly 65 percent, but month-on-month consumer price increases jumped sharply following a huge minimum wage hike, official data showed Monday. The year-on-year inflation rate moved to 64.86 percent -- up a notch from 64.77 percent in December, the TUIK...

"The markets continue to forge ahead despite a blowout jobs report from the US last Friday which seems to have finally put the nail in the coffin of the idea rates will be cut next month," said AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.

DUBAI, UAE - The total M&A market dropped 15 percent, to US$3.2 trillion, the lowest level in a decade, as dealmakers grappling with high interest rates, regulatory scrutiny and mixed macroeconomic signals had to be more selective about which deals to pursue in 2023. But the biggest obstacle was the...

The value of certificates of origin issued stood at US$65m.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia--Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), held a virtual meeting with ministers from the region to discuss a strategy for food security in the Middle East. Ministers responsible for agriculture and food security from the GCC countries attended the meeting. The meeting discussed...

DOHA, QATAR - The total number of inbound visitors to the country reached about 519 thousand in December 2023, recording a monthly increase of 31.9 percent (compared to November 2023), and an annual decrease by 15.4 percent (compared to December 2022). The new issue of Qatar Monthly Statistics bulletin, released...

Africa is moving away from stereotypes of poverty and incapacity to a narrative of ability and competitiveness, Sithembile Ntombela maNdaba, the CEO of Brand South Africa, tells TRENDS.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia has revised the regulations of its Privatization Law, setting the minimum limit for a public-private partnership project at $54 million (SR 200 million). The amended executive regulations, published in the official gazette Umm Al-Qura, outline that the minimum value for the transfer of asset...

The company profit vaulted to US$36bn during the year 2023.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - The Saudi Central Bank Governor (SAMA) Ayman Al-Sayari discussed the recent developments in central banking and the outlook for the global economy in a meeting with President of the European Central Bank (ECB) Christine Lagarde at SAMA’s headquarters in Riyadh on Thursday. Several events were organized...

Erkan resigned just a week after completing a historic series of interest rate hikes that have pushed the baseline rate from 8.5 percent to 45 percent. The bank said last week that it intends to keep rates high for the immediate future to make sure inflation is brought under control.

BEIJING, CHINA - China's economic slowdown is likely to persist in the coming years as the Asian giant struggles with sagging productivity and a rapidly aging population, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Friday. The world's second-largest economy last year saw some of its slowest growth in decades, as a...

DOHA, QATAR - The Qatar Central Bank issued treasury bills and sukuk with maturities of one week, one month, three months, six months and nine months totaling US$686 million (QR 2.5 billion). In a statement posted on the social media platform "X" on Thursday, QCB said that the issuance was...

Abu Dhabi, UAE--Despite geopolitical uncertainties and potential economic headwinds, S&P Global expects GCC banks to maintain their well-capitalised, profitable, and liquid status. S&P Global‘s ‘GCC Banking Sector Outlook 2024’ reveals a challenging yet optimistic perspective. The ratings agency anticipates overall stability in key metrics for GCC banks in 2024. Credit...

But its sales in China dropped during October to December.

DUBAI, UAE - The total investable wealth currently held in the BRICS bloc amounts to US$45 trillion and its millionaire population is expected to rise by 85 percent over the next 10 years, a report said.   There are currently 1.6 million individuals with investable assets of over US$1 million...

ABU DHABI, UAE - Madrid wants the upcoming 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) here next month to address the potential challenges of de-globalization and its impacts on global supply chains, Minister of State for Trade of Spain Xiana Mendez said. “The main challenges we may...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Foreign Direct Investment inflows into Saudi Arabia hit SAR 17 billion in the third quarter of 2023, a decrease of 14.4 percent compared to the second quarter, the Kingdom's General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) said. The total FDI outflows reached SAR 5 billion, a decrease of...

Abu Dhabi, UAE--In a significant move that underscores the interconnectedness of global monetary policies, central banks across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have announced decisions to hold their interest rates steady, mirroring the recent actions of the US Federal Reserve. This collective stance reflects a cautious approach to navigating the...

Geneva, Switzerland-- Air cargo demand rebounded in 2023 with a particularly strong fourth quarter performance despite economic uncertainties, according to new data for global air-freight market released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). As per the new data full-year demand reached a level just slightly below 2022 and 2019....

With inflation up at 35 percent, and amid a severe foreign currency crunch, the Egyptian pound is plunging and the US dollar has become hard to come by. The country's highly import-reliant economy, dominated by military-linked enterprises and with a fondness for infrastructure mega-projects, has been hit hard by a...

"Markets are eagerly anticipating today's meeting from the Federal Reserve with traders looking for signs over whether a March rate cut is plausible," said Joshua Mahony, chief market analyst at Scope Markets.

It made record profit on the back of higher interest rates.

In recent years, China's auto sector has grown remarkably largely because of massive investments in electric cars, an area where Japanese firms have been more cautious. The JAMA figures showed that Japan shipped 4.42 million vehicles in 2023, compared with 4.91 million exported by China, as reported by China's automobile...

Its board has proposed a cash dividend of US$76.24m.

Its operating profit for Q4 was US$2.1bn.

The updated figure, released in the latest World Economic Outlook (WEO) report, is 0.2 percentage points higher than the International Monetary Fund's previous forecast in October. "The global economy continues to display remarkable resilience, with inflation declining steadily and growth holding up," IMF chief economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas said.