Riyadh, Saudi Arabia-- Saudi Arabia has recorded an 8.7 percent increase in gross domestic product (GDP) in 2022, as against a 3.9 percent jump in 2021, on the back of high oil prices. The kingdom's economy successfully emerged from the Covid-19 crisis and the policies undertaken by the government accelerated...

Campaign group Global Witness labelled Wednesday's announcement as a "climate-wrecking U-turn", urging it instead to invest far more in cleaner energy.

"The shift to a clean energy economy is picking up pace, with a peak in global oil demand in sight before the end of this decade as electric vehicles, energy efficiency and other technologies advance," IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said in a statement. "Oil producers need to pay careful...

The new bill earmarked 12.7 percent of the budget to the oil-rich autonomous Kurdistan region of northern Iraq. It follows long-standing tensions with Kurdish leaders who had previously denounced amendments relating to oil in the budget, resulting in repeated delays to the vote.

Since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine last year, economic sanctions have seen a significant cut in its oil and gas exports to the EU and US. However Pakistan, in the midst of an economic downturn worsening a long-running energy shortage, in May confirmed it had struck a deal with Moscow...

Sharjah, UAE--The Hamriyah Free Zone Authority (HFZA) has signed a deal with Infinite Mining and Energy to set up a multifunctional oil refinery with a daily production capacity of 10,000 barrels and an annual refining capability of up to 3.6 million barrels. In this connection, Saud Salim Al Mazrouei, director...

The UK government said it would scrap a windfall tax on the energy sector should oil and gas prices drop to historically-normal levels for a sustained period. The Energy Profits Levy, introduced after Russia's invasion of Ukraine sent oil and gas prices surging, increased tax on profits from North Sea...

Lima, Peru - The UAE and Peru signed an air services agreement for cooperation between the two countries and promote intra-trade. Mohammed Abdullah Al Shamsi, UAE Ambassador to the Republic of Peru, signed the deal on behalf of the UAE and Gervasi Díaz, Minister of Foreign Affairs, representing Peru. Al...

The Gross Domestic Product at current prices amounted to SAR 1 trillion ($267.95 billion) in Q1/2023. Crude petroleum and natural gas activities had the highest contribution to GDP with 26.7 percent, followed by government services activities with 15.3 percent and manufacturing excluding petroleum refining with 9.7 percent.

Blinken spoke during a Gulf Cooperation Council ministerial meeting in the capital Riyadh following talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

"We consider today an important day in the relations of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Alireza Bigdeli told a flag-raising ceremony. "The cooperation between the countries is entering a new era."

Polls opened on Tuesday in Kuwait's seventh general election in just over a decade, following repeated political crises that have undermined parliament and stalled reforms. More than 793,000 eligible voters will have the chance to determine the make-up of the 50-seat legislature in the Gulf state.

European Central Bank president Christine Lagarde said that a closely watched measure of eurozone inflation does not appear to have peaked yet, fueling expectations of further interest rate hikes. She told a hearing of the European parliament that the latest data suggests "indicators of underlying inflationary pressures remain high.

Analysts had largely expected OPEC+ producers to maintain their current policy, but signs emerged this weekend that the 23 countries may make deeper cuts.

DUBAI, UAE - US special climate envoy John Kerry has met senior Emirati officials in Abu Dhabi, including the head of the United Nations' upcoming climate change conference, official media reported on Sunday. The choice of Sultan Al Jaber, chief executive of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), to head...

The UAE energy minister Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei said he expected the outcome of meeting to "balance the market and ensure we are ready for any challenges in the future". Analysts expected OPEC+ producers to maintain their current policy, but signs emerged that staying the course might fall short of...

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...

Analysts are now divided over whether Saudi Arabia and Russia will keep the group on course with its current output policy, or further curtail production. "The recent inconsistent rhetoric from the two heavyweights certainly threw the spanner in the works and it is hard to predict the outcome," said Tamas...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia's merchandize exports decreased by 14.6 percent in Q1 2023, compared to Q1 2022, a report by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) said. The value of exports amounted to SAR 313.5 billion ($83.6bn) in Q1 2023, down from SAR 367.1 billion ($97.86bn) in Q1...

Abu Dhabi, UAE - ADNOC signed deals with more than 60 UAE-based and international companies to locally manufacture key non-oil products in its supply chain, local media reports said. The deals were signed at the Make it in the Emirates Forum in Abu Dhabi, and bring ADNOC closer to its...

"The 2022 Saudi census marks the "most comprehensive and precise population survey conducted in the Kingdom's history," the General Authority of Statistics said. It set the total population of the country at 32.2 million: 58.4 per cent Saudi nationals and most others from South Asia or elsewhere in the MENA...

"As a result of our ongoing evaluation of effective security cooperation with all partners, two months ago, the UAE withdrew its participation in the Combined Maritime Forces," a statement carried by the official WAM news agency said. The Bahrain-headquartered CMF was established in 2001, initially as a partnership between 12...

In an unprecedented salvage plan, the UN has purchased a super-tanker to remove the oil from the vessel in the Red Sea. The actual pumping will start in about 10 days to two weeks, said Gressly. The 47-year-old Safer has not been serviced since Yemen's civil war broke out in...

Doha, Qatar--Qatar has posted a trade surplus of $6 billion in April 2023, according to a report by the country’s Planning and Statistics Authority.   The figures, according to the Planning and Statistics Authority, reflect a 3.5 percent increase over March while a 35.6 percent decline on an annual basis....

Iraq looks to have renewable energies cover a third of its electricity needs by 2030 and has signed several contracts for solar plants. Its huge oil reserves are enough to produce crude at current rates for another century, but as the world works to wean itself off hydrocarbons, the country...

Tehran, Iran-- Urging OPEC member countries to preserve cohesion and unity among them, Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi said that several Western countries were seeking to divide OPEC member states. The Iranian president made the remark in a meeting with the Secretary-General of OPEC Haitham al-Ghais in Tehran on Saturday. Considering the...

Paris, France--Investment in clean energy across the world is expected to rise to US$1.7 trillion in 2023, with solar set to eclipse oil production for the first time, according to a report by the International Energy Agency. The report noted that Investment in clean energy technologies is significantly outpacing spending...

Sharjah, UAE - The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) organized the UAE-Sao Paulo Business Forum on Thursday, marking a significant stride towards fostering economic relations between the UAE and Brazil. During the forum, the two sides discussed joint efforts and investment opportunities available in both cities, focusing prominently...

The International Energy Agency (IEA) said that while the increasing investment in solar power is a welcome development. but investment in fossil fuels is rising when it should be falling fast to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Investment in clean energy and fossil fuels was equal only five years...

Doha, Qatar-- Qatar is keen to obtain rights for oil and gas exploration in Iraq, according to Iraq's oil minister who was speaking at the Qatar Economic Forum. Iraqi Oil Minister Hayan Abdel Ghani confirmed that Qatar is interested in participating in obtaining rights for oil and gas exploration in...

Speaking on the sidelines of the Qatar Economic Forum, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Energy Prince Salman said OPEC+ pursued three goals of vigilance, initiative and proactiveness. He added that the inaccurate forecasts of the International Energy Agency led to price volatility in the energy market last year and in the...

Doha, Qatar - Qatar's energy minister warned on Tuesday the "worst is yet to come" for Europe's oil and gas shortages, saying a warm winter had prevented greater difficulties in recent months. "The only thing that saved humanity and Europe this year was a warm winter, and the slowdown in the...

Iran said it is capable of ensuring the safety of the vital Gulf waters in cooperation with neighboring countries. Iran and its neighboring countries are capable of cooperating for the security of the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Sea of Oman," Iran's Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces,...

With little investment and few projects in operation around the world so far, the technology to capture carbon before it goes into the atmosphere as a potential global warming solution is currently nowhere near the scale needed to make a difference to global emissions.

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.

Tehran, Iran-- Iran is looking to deepen energy ties with Russia as the latter is keen to explore and develop oil and gas projects in the Islamic Republic. This was stated by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak during talks with Iranian Oil Minister Javad Owji in Tehran. He is...

PARIS, FRANCE -  Russia's oil exports rose in April to the highest level since its invasion of Ukraine, boosting revenues by US$1.7 billion despite Western sanctions, the International Energy Agency said on Tuesday. The Paris-based organization said Russian exports increased by 50,000 barrels per day to 8.3 million bpd last month, estimating...

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...

Dubai, UAE-- Qatar and Bahrain have agreed to restart flights toward the end of the month, in a sign of warming relations between the estranged countries. According to Bahrain News Agency, the resumption of flights between Bahrain and Qatar “comes within the framework of the brotherly relations between the two...

ABU DHABI, UAE - First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) is hosting a one-day summit that brings together aviation thought leaders and industry stakeholders to explore economic development opportunities as the sector transitions to net-zero. The Aviation Sector Summit, held in collaboration with Boston Consulting Group (BCG), consist of talks, panel...

ARBIL, IRAQ- Officials in Iraqi Kurdistan say Baghdad is still waiting to reach a "final agreement" with Ankara to resume oil exports to Turkey, where the results of tightly-contested presidential elections hang in the balance. After defying Baghdad and independently exporting crude through Turkey for nearly a decade, Iraq's autonomous...

Oil alone will make up almost 29 percent of the world’s energy needs by 2045, requiring an investment of over $500 billion each year to maintain a steady supply, Al Ghais said.

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - Al-Hilal president Fahd Bin Nafel refused to comment on the possibility of signing Lionel Messi, insisting his Saudi Arabian side is "more important than just one player", as fans clamor for the World Cup winner. "Don't ask me about Messi," Bin Nafel told reporters when asked after...

The Kurdish regional government had for years earned billions of dollars in revenues exporting crude oil to Turkey without the Iraqi federal government's approval. But the exports were suspended in late March when international arbitrators ruled in favor of the Iraqi federal government's right to control oil exports going through...

Iraqi Kurds are watching with anxiety the tightest electoral battle yet for Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the outcome of which could have major security and economic implications for their region. But no matter what the outcome of the vote, Iraq's Kurdish region will seek to continue with its strategic partnership with...

The dollar wobbled following strong gains in the wake of Friday's solid US labor market figures, while oil prices dropped on Chinese data suggesting that recovery in the world's number two economy was still taking time. Focus is now on Wednesday's consumer price index report for April and the following...

The cost to secure thousands of inactive oil and gas wells in the US Gulf of Mexico could top $30 billion, as per research published weighing potential environmental damage against estimated price tag. With new US government funding available for plugging old fossil fuel wells, the authors focused on offshore...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- The real GDP of Saudi Arabia grew by 3.9 percent in the first quarter of 2023, compared to Q1 of 2022. Flash estimates of GDP for Q1 of 2023, issued in a report by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), showed a 5.8 percent increase in...

Baghdad, Iraq -- Iraq's oil minister Hayan Abdel-Ghani has said the Iraqi government was keen to support the Lebanese people and consider their fuel needs. Abdul-Ghani received the Lebanese Minister of Energy and Water, Walid Fayyad, and his accompanying delegation. During the meeting, they discussed prospects for bilateral relations and...

TEHRAN, IRAN- Iran executed Swedish-Iranian dissident Habib Chaab for "terrorism" on Saturday, according to the judiciary. "The death sentence for Habib Chaab... nicknamed Habib Asyud, the head of Harakat al-Nidal terrorist group... was executed today, Saturday morning," the judiciary's Mizan Online website reported. Chaab had been held in Iran since October...