Riyadh, Saudi Arabia--Saudi Arabia and Oman have launched a joint tourist visa to boost trade and investment cooperation in tourism-related projects.The unified tourist visa between the two countries was one of the several initiatives agreed upon at a high-level meeting held between officials of the two countries. The new cooperation in...

Dubai, UAE -- Non-institutional foreign investors increased their ownership in Tadawul-listed equities, excluding Saudi Aramco, to SAR 310.80 billion ($82.87 billion), in the week that ended on June 1, Argaam reported.The ownership of non-institutional foreign investors is represented by swap agreements, residents, and qualified foreign investors (QFIs). However, it does...

Tourism and Finance were the next flourishing sectors named in the poll in which the majority of the respondents were in the 20-29 age group and mostly from Egypt.

Dubai, UAE -  Around 70 percent of top-performing teams in the GCC have a higher percentage of women, underscoring the positive impact of gender diversity on organizational success, a survey by Bain & Company has revealed. Leading the way in this transformation are the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar, while...

Vienna,  Austria – OPEC+ has decided to adjust the level of overall crude oil production to 40.46 mb/d, starting 1 January 2024 until 31 December 2024.This was announced by the global organisation in a statement following the 35th OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting in Vienna today.According to the statement, OPEC...

TRENDS investigation uncovers Media-Public Relations Nexus as PR companies in the region are found crossing ethical boundaries to secure favorable coverage.

Rising disposable incomes, demand from businesses and events, online food delivery services, and increased tourism are driving the growth of Gulf catering services market.

Abu Dhabi, UAE -- The UAE's economic growth is expected to remain robust, averaging 4.6 percent from 2022 to 2024, driven by higher oil prices and improved business confidence, according to the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF). The AMF's "Arab Economic Outlook Report" forecasts a 4.2 percent growth rate for the...

Major GCC newspapers -- including Khaleej Times and Gulf News -- have ceased weekend editions due to financial pressure and declining readership.

Key challenges faced by coffee equipment makers in the GCC include market competition, customer price sensitivity, and managing complex distribution and logistics networks.

The UAE's strategic allure for global talent through enticing policies clashes with Saudi Arabia's ambitious Vision 2030, diversifying economy and broadening talent avenues.

The exhibition has become a popular platform for falconers to purchase elite captive-bred falcons from local and international farms.

Bentley's Regional Director for the UK, Middle East, Africa, and India also anticipates further growth luxury car market throughout 2023 on the back of economic stability and increased business activity in the Middle East.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia--The GCC has called for the strengthening of trade and investment relations with the United Kingdom amid the ongoing negotiations over a GCC-UK free-trade agreement.The call was made by the organization's secretary general Jassem Mohamed Albudaiwi during a meeting with Kemi Badenoch, UK business secretary in Riyadh today.Commenting...

LONDON, UK -  British Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch will hold talks for a modern, comprehensive trade deal as she visits Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates this week, according to a press release issued by the UK Embassy in the UAE.Meeting her ministerial counterparts in each...

Amid rapid tech growth and rising environmental concerns, understanding the current automotive industry trends, especially in luxury, is vital, says Dr Manfred Bräunl of Porsche.

Global supply chain constraints and escalating inflation are unlikely to affect IT spending in the Middle East, Turkiye, and Africa region, which is set to reach US$233.8bn.

Saudi Arabia emerges as an appealing market for foreign corporations interested in M&A deals due to rising global crude oil demand, Vision 2030, and private sector development.

The Emirates' non-oil sector is projected to grow by 4.8 percent, driven by robust domestic demand, particularly in tourism, real estate, construction, transportation, and manufacturing sectors, the bank's officials said.

The GCC is the third largest source of foreign investment in Turkey, with 1,973 Gulf companies currently operating in the country.

TRENDS explores how the growing number of high net worth individuals (HNWIs) in the GCC region is boosting demand for luxury goods and services across various sectors.

Muscat, Oman - Moody's has upgraded Oman's credit rating from Ba3 to Ba2 while maintaining a positive outlook due to the reduction in public debt and the improvement in the Sultanate's ability to meet its financial obligations in 2022.This comes after S&P revised Oman's outlook from stable to positive in...

The oil-rich kingdom has supported private institutions targeting startups to further boost investment in non-oil sectors.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- The Gulf Cooperation Council has hailed Qatar's efforts for its role in the ceasefire between Israel and Palestinians that came into effect on Sunday.Jassem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the GCC, said the Qatari diplomacy has been successful in dealing deal with several international and regional...

GCC countries are investing in infrastructure and programs to become leading tourist destinations. With strategic locations, excellent connectivity, iconic attractions like the tallest building, and a commitment to eco-friendly tourism, they are poised for success in attracting visitors from around the world.

Muscat, Oman - The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries met here on Thursday to address the obstacles affecting inter-country trade and to discuss the establishment of a common market.The 64th meeting between Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Trade Cooperation Committee and Committee for Standardization Affairs was attended by the GCC ministers...

China aims to play a more central role in the Gulf region, focusing on investment opportunities beyond the oil and energy relationship.

Its transformative power to reshape life has left people awestruck across the world, but the technology that powers ChatGPT might put at risk about 10 million jobs in the GCC.

Saudi Arabia remains the largest projects market in the GCC as the total value of contracts awarded increases by 54.7 percent YoY during Q1-2023 to US$29.9bn, says a latest report.

Sustainable mobility necessitates taking into account the entire lifecycle of a vehicle, not just the use phase. This includes sustainable design, end-of-life considerations, and incorporating recyclable materials, say experts.

The TRENDS poll highlights the need to invest in transportation infrastructure, streamline customs procedures, and improve warehousing and distribution capabilities.

Gulf health ministers discuss ways to upgrade healthcare systems in the region and relief work in Sudan, seeking to enhance and unify efforts since the outbreak of the crisis.

Abu Dhabi, UAE -- UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Thursday spoke on the telephone to discuss bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to strengthen them further.The two leaders reviewed current areas of UAE-Qatar cooperation...

Despite significant rise in SMEs across GCC, there is still room for improvement in terms of governance, bringing in external shareholders, Rabih I. Khoury of MEVP tells TRENDS.

The visit comes against the backdrop of a rapprochement between regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia, and increased Arab engagement with Damascus. Iran is a major ally of President Bashar al-Assad.

Amanat will own 85 percent of the post-merger entity.

Since the beginning of 2023 alone, three digital and physical platforms have been launched by Qatar, Oman and Kuwait to facilitate investments by foreigners and the local private sector.

The weakening of the judiciary and concentration of power will harm the high tech sector, deter foreign investment and make Israel less attractive as an economic partner.

Major cloud service providers such as Microsoft, Tencent Cloud, Oracle, Amazon Web Services, and Alibaba Cloud are establishing local cloud regions. 

Arab countries gathered in Jeddah on Friday to discuss ending Syria's long spell in the diplomatic wilderness as regional relations shift following Saudi Arabia and Iran's decision to resume ties.

Friday's nine-nation talks in Jeddah come after Syria's foreign minister arrived on a previously unannounced visit -- the first since the outbreak of the country's civil war in 2011. It was one in a flurry of events that were nearly unthinkable before Saudi Arabia and Iran announced to restore ties.

In 2017, Bahrain joined Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt in imposing a diplomatic blockade on Qatar. The countries' rivalry goes back even further, however, and Bahrain is the last to renew ties. Agreement on the reconciliation was reached in talks at the Gulf Cooperation Council headquarters in...

DUBAI, UAEI--Dubai saw remarkable growth in medical tourism in 2022 with 674,000 medical tourists spending $270 million in the year.According to a report issued by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), 39% percent of the medical tourists who came to Dubai were from Asian countries, 22% from Europe and the Commonwealth...

Most of the participants, in the poll from as far away as Egypt and Lebanon, picked up Dubai to celebrate the festival in, with Doha coming at a distant second.

By the end of 2022, the UAE was expected to attract more than 4,000 high-net-worth individuals. Around 25 percent of GCC's millionaires are moving to the UAE.

The latest developments are generating substantial growth opportunities for both local and international service providers in the outsourcing market, a report points out.

Dubai, UAE-- The total spending by UAE-based organisations on outsourcing services from local and offshore providers was estimated at over US$4.8 billion in 2018 and is expected to reach US$6.8 billion in 2023.This was highlighted in a new report by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in collaboration with Forward MENA previously...

Tripoli's mushrooming arcades have driven rapid growth in Libya's nascent gaming community, Mattouss says. The increasingly organized community is "motivating players and pushing other young people without experience to start training". He predicts that the sector will continue developing quickly.

The current healthcare expenditure in the Gulf Cooperation Council region is expected to reach $135 billion in 2027, implying an annualized growth rate of 5.4 percent.

Gulf countries have substantial financial and other resources to achieve zero- emission goals but they need to identity and address the obstacles.