Analysis Economy Ratings agency moves Bahrain outlook to negative A major ratings agency has downgraded its outlook on Bahrain to negative, warning that fiscal reforms may be insufficient to lower the kingdom’s debt-to-GDP ratio and that foreign currency reserves remain weak. Lower oil prices and reduced crude production due to maintenance work at Bahrain’s Abu Safah oil field, which it shares with Saudi Arabia, […] April 24, 2025
Markets Bahrain Bourse The Bahrain Bourse (BHB), also called the Bahrain Stock Exchange, offers listing, trading, settlement and depositary services. There are 43 companies listed on the exchange. The Bahrain All Share Index, the Dow Jones Bahrain Index and the Estirad Index all track the Bahrain Bourse. Established in 1987 by Amiri decree, the bourse began operations in […] April 15, 2025
Tax Trump tariffs threaten $22bn in Arab exports says UN Bahrain and Jordan are the countries likely to be most affected by tariffs planned by President Donald Trump on non-oil exports by the Arab world to the US worth nearly $22 billion, a United Nations body has warned. Despite a sharp fall in the region’s sales of oil to the US over the past decade, […] April 21, 2025
Banking & Finance Tarabut Tarabut, previously Tarabut Gateway, is the Mena region’s first and largest regulated open banking platform, connecting a regional network of banks, fintechs and businesses via a universal application programming interface (API). Tarabut was established in 2017 by founder Abdullah Almoayed. Starting in Bahrain, the company has since expanded to the UAE and Saudi Arabia. It […] April 23, 2025
Banking & Finance Tarabut Gateway Tarabut, previously Tarabut Gateway, is the Mena region’s first and largest regulated open banking platform, connecting a regional network of banks, fintechs and businesses via a universal application programming interface (API). Tarabut was established in 2017 by founder Abdullah Almoayed. Starting in Bahrain, the company has since expanded to the UAE and Saudi Arabia. It […] April 23, 2025
Markets Value of GCC bonds down in first quarter The value of bonds issued by the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) slumped by 7 percent in the first quarter of 2025 following a steep fall in Saudi Arabia, according to a Kuwaiti think-tank. The total value of bonds and Islamic sukuk issued by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman was $51.5 […] April 21, 2025
Tax Saudi Arabia to expand VAT base as oil prices fall Saudi Arabia has introduced new regulations allowing visitors to the country to claim back value added tax (VAT) to facilitate the tourism industry, but it plans to widen the tax base to include online transactions. The world’s second largest oil producer is facing a steep decline in international oil prices on which the government relies […] April 22, 2025
Energy Saudi Arabia and China to advance nuclear cooperation Barely a week after a deal on cooperation with the US, Saudi Arabia and China have agreed to work more closely on nuclear energy development, China’s state-run Global Times reported. The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding at a China-Gulf Cooperation Council forum on nuclear technology in Chengdu on Monday. The agreement comes after […] April 22, 2025
Banking & Finance Al Ansari says BFC buyout will lift revenues by a fifth Dubai-listed Al Ansari Financial Services expects a 13 percent rise in profits and a 20 percent increase in revenues following its acquisition of BFC Group Holdings, a competing money exchange business, the company CEO has said. “After completing the BFC deal, we have become the largest exchange company in the UAE and Bahrain and the […] April 15, 2025
Leisure & Hospitality Saudi ticketing app webook plans European expansion Riyadh-based Webook, which describes itself as Saudi Arabia’s largest booking platform for events and experiences, says it is expanding beyond the Middle East into Europe to tap a growing market for ticketing. Set up in 2016 under the name Hala Yalla, Webook initially focussed as a service to book football pitches, before expanding to include […] April 24, 2025
Trade Donald Trump will visit Gulf nations in May US President Donald Trump will visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates from May 13 to 16, the White House has confirmed. The highly-anticipated visit to the Gulf region will mark Trump’s second foreign trip of his second term, as he will first travel to Rome this week for Pope Francis’ funeral. “The […] April 23, 2025
Petrochemicals Sabic Agri-Nutrients Company Sabic Agri-Nutrients Company was established under in 1965 with capital of SR100 million, the first petrochemical company in Saudi Arabia. Now, Saudi Arabian Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) owns 50.1 percent with 49.9 percent being held by the private sector and the public. It produces and sells fertiliser products, mostly ammonia and urea. In 2024 it […] April 15, 2025
Employment UAE labour market: Too many people, not enough jobs More people are looking for jobs in the UAE than there is work available for them, according to a labour market report from recruitment consultancy Cooper Fitch. Hiring in the second-largest Arab economy grew by less than 1.3 percent in the three months to March 31 compared with the same period last year, the report […] April 24, 2025
Markets Population burst bolsters Dubai’s listed companies Listed companies in Dubai were on average the most profitable last year among the Gulf exchanges as the emirate’s banking, real estate and telecom sectors benefited from its expanding population. Net profit at Dubai’s listed companies totalled $25.4 billion, up 16 percent compared with the year before, according to a report by Kuwaiti asset manager […] April 21, 2025
Trade Oman in talks with US to review reciprocal tariff Oman is holding talks with the US to review the implications of reciprocal tariffs, according to a news report. “Despite the existing free trade agreement with the US, the new tariffmeasures have included Omani exports,” Oman Daily Observer, a local news outlet, reported, quoting Shaikh Saud Al Nahari, a board member of Oman Chamber of […] April 18, 2025
Banking & Finance Bahrain Islamic Bank Bahrain Islamic Bank (BisB) is a commercial bank based in Manama, Bahrain, founded in 1979. It is the first Islamic bank in Bahrain and operates under the supervision of the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB). BisB operates under an Islamic retail banking license authorised by the CBB. Bahrain Islamic Bank says it focuses on customer-centric […] April 7, 2025
Banking & Finance Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait The Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait (BBK) was established in 1971 in Bahrain and Kuwait. Shareholders include the public, the Bahraini government and Kuwaiti banks and investment companies. With Tariq Jaleel AlSaffar as the chairman, BBK operates in Bahrain, Kuwait and India and has a representative office in Dubai, UAE. BBK offers retail banking, treasury […] April 7, 2025
Food & Drink Saudi coffee chain Barn’s plans IPO on Tadawul Barn’s, a homegrown Saudi coffee chain, is planning an initial public offering (IPO) on the Tadawul stock exchange, with an aim to generate funds to finance Middle East expansion. It is working with Saudi regulator Capital Market Authority to meet the IPO criteria and appoint bankers for the potential offering, Bloomberg reported, citing CEO Mohammed […] April 15, 2025
Business of Sport Saudi Arabia explores options to own F1 team Owning a Formula 1 team could be the next step for Saudi Arabia after sponsoring the sport and hosting a grand prix, according to the chairman of the kingdom’s automobile and motorcycle federation. Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal told reporters in a video call ahead of this weekend’s race in Jeddah that the interest […] April 16, 2025
Banking & Finance Al Salam Bank Established in 2006 in Bahrain, Al Salam Bank is the fastest-growing bank in Bahrain. The Islamic bank’s services include retail banking, corporate banking, private banking, asset management, international transaction banking and treasury services. Al Salam Bank says it is committed to supporting the social and financial well-being of the community. With a Bahrainisation rate of […] April 9, 2025
