Markets Tough IPO rules deter UAE tech startups from listing The UAE’s burgeoning startup sector has helped it become a centre for tech innovation, yet almost none of these fledgling companies have gone public due to stock market regulations. Since 2021 the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) and Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) have welcomed a flurry of initial public offerings as part-privatised government-related companies diversify […] February 19, 2024
Trade Modi’s UAE visit ‘adds to execution of deals’ Indian prime minister Narendra Modi deftly blended politics and commerce last week as he opened the Middle East’s largest Hindu temple on a visit to the UAE, a Muslim state that is home to 3.5 million Indian expatriates and a major trading ally. The temple’s inauguration was widely covered in Indian media, while tens of […] February 19, 2024
Infrastructure Digital economy central to UAE-Greece partnership The UAE’s Ministry of Investment and Greece’s Ministry of Digital Governance have signed an agreement to create a framework for investments in digital infrastructure. The UAE government is keen to invest in data centres and become a technological leader in south-east Europe. Data centres to be developed under the deal will reach a total capacity […] February 15, 2024
Oil & Gas Experts wonder if Saudi Arabia has enough gas to go around Saudi Arabia is investing hundreds of billions of dollars in natural gas, but analysts are divided about the chances of the world’s largest oil exporter becoming a gas-exporting powerhouse too. The kingdom’s biggest gas play is the Jafurah basin, located in the Tuwaiq mountains about 185 miles from Dammam and southeast of the massive Ghawar […] February 14, 2024
Manufacturing Saudi Arabia joins the dots from minerals to manufacturing Consider for a moment how many different steps there are between digging a lump of iron ore out of the ground in Mauritania and pressing the starter button on a new electric vehicle (EV) in Riyadh. The ore must be mined, concentrated, combined with other elements, put through a furnace, a casting machine, cold- or […] February 13, 2024
Trade $112bn of trade with India ‘ready to be tapped’ Untapped trade opportunities between India and the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey could be worth more than $112 billion, research has found. An HSBC report, which analyses data from the UN/WTO International Trade Centre, estimates that there is a $61 billion export gap for Indian companies in the key markets of the UAE, Saudi […] February 12, 2024
Construction Turkey’s construction sector struggles to build Turkey’s construction sector is labouring under the weight of rising material and borrowing costs, fuelled by demand following last year’s devastating earthquakes, but medium-term plans for urban renewal could help to build momentum. January’s sectoral confidence index from the Turkish Statistical Institute – Turkstat – showed the industry as the only major sector to remain […] February 12, 2024
Manufacturing Saudi deal ‘unlikely to cure Iraq’s pharma problems’ Iraq has turned to Saudi Arabia to help it improve its healthcare industry and increase pharmaceutical manufacturing. The ministries of health for both countries are collaborating to boost private healthcare in Iraq and foster partnerships to speed up the establishment of local pharmaceutical factories. However analysts say the impact of the partnership will be limited […] February 8, 2024
Banking and Finance Saudi stock market Nomu poised for listings flurry Saudi Arabia’s lower-tier stock market, Nomu, is poised for a further flurry of new listings this year as an increasing number of the kingdom’s small and mid-sized companies opt to go public to raise money and improve corporate governance standards. Since launching in 2017, Nomu, which means growth in Arabic, has swelled to 79 listed […] February 7, 2024
Industry Gulf steel has a keen edge on Chinese and Indian rivals While the Gulf is currently a minor player on the global steel-making stage, economic diversification and the energy transition may be about to change all that. As the world seeks to decarbonise, Gulf steel makers have a head start, already producing lower-carbon steel than global sector leaders China and India. The region’s ample supplies of […] February 7, 2024
Energy Gunfights on the streets in Lebanon’s electricity Wild West A video is doing the rounds in Lebanon. The clip is not easy to find on social media, but it is being sent from friend to friend – and it’s got people talking since emerging last month. It shows an argument in a Beirut suburb turning ugly when a man pulls a gun on another […] February 7, 2024
Trade Middle East revenues hit record high for top UK firms Middle East revenues as a proportion of global sales for top UK companies have climbed to a new high, analysts have announced. Companies listed on the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 indexes (the top 100 and the top 101st to 350th companies by market cap on the London Stock Exchange) saw their Middle East revenues […] February 6, 2024
Markets Saudi Arabia and UAE to dominate Mena IPOs in 2024 Nearly 30 companies in the Middle East and North Africa plan to launch initial public offerings this year, despite mixed share price performance from many regional businesses that went public last year, a report has found. Businesses from Saudi Arabia and the UAE will again dominate Mena IPOs in 2024, according to the report by […] February 6, 2024
Infrastructure Turkey quakes still taking a toll on economy one year on A year on, the twin earthquakes that devastated much of Turkey’s south continue to send tremors through the nation’s economy. The quakes on February 6 2023 inflicted a $103.6 billion hit on the Turkish economy, according to the Strategy and Budget Department of the Office of the President. Some $85 billion of this was the […] February 6, 2024
Trade Saudi-US trade banks sign deal despite kingdom’s China links The export-import banks of Saudi Arabia and the US have signed a new agreement that seeks to build on bilateral trade of SAR130 billion ($34.7 billion) between the two countries in 2022. Saudi Exim Bank said the deal with US Exim will focus on facilitating more trade financing, supporting exports, and promoting investment opportunities in […] February 2, 2024
Banking and Finance Kuwait banks boosted by likely mortgage law reform Kuwait bank stocks are hitting highs as traders bet that a long-awaited liberation of the country’s mortgage laws will come into force and provide a windfall for lenders. Currently only the government-controlled Kuwait Credit Bank (KCB) provides financing to Kuwaiti citizens and companies for them to buy real estate, and commercial banks are not permitted […] February 2, 2024
Health Gulf embraces a personalised approach to healthcare The Gulf is shifting towards a more personalised approach to healthcare, but the growth of the sector faces challenges in terms of talent and data management according to experts. Traditional medicine tends to address only the initial health issues without tailoring solutions to the unique requirements of each patient, says Vadim Fedotov, CEO of Bioniq, […] February 1, 2024
Retail The perks and pitfalls of the UAE’s retail loyalty sector When customers consistently fly with Emirates or buy their daily coffee at Tim Hortons, the chances are high that they are members of a loyalty programme – and companies deploy them to ensure they return to the brand. But UAE consumers are increasingly discerning about the brands and products with which they interact. “The direct […] February 1, 2024
Oil & Gas Oil output to shield Libya from $1.8bn flooding bill Libya’s economy will be largely shielded from the multi-billion-dollar costs of catastrophic flooding by an increase in oil production, a report has predicted. The cost of reconstruction and recovery is estimated at nearly $1.8 billion, according to research from the World Bank, United Nations and European Union. Damage and economic losses are said to total […] February 1, 2024
Agriculture UAE in talks to buy more African land to aid food security The UAE has 14 land acquisition deals in the pipeline, mainly in Africa, as it looks to keep food security high on its policy agenda. It has already signed 56 land agreements, with the first completed more than 50 years ago in Sudan. The 14 deals are subject to either an expression of interest, a […] January 31, 2024
Aviation Flying taxis ‘within a decade’ says Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia has published a plan to launch advanced air transport, such as flying taxis, within the next 10 years. However, experts have played down the kingdom’s impact on the fledgling industry globally. The kingdom’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (Gaca) said it wanted to revolutionise the aviation sector by supporting technologies such as unmanned […] January 31, 2024
Economy Oman expects a ratings rebound but oil’s grip is strong Oman is on course to regain its investment-grade rating but analysts say challenges remain in reducing the economy’s dependence on hydrocarbons. Standard Chartered has forecast that Oman’s continued improvements in fiscal performance, de-leveraging (lowering debt) and commitment to reform could see the sultanate’s rating rebound “as early as 2024”. The bank’s Global Focus 2024 report […] January 24, 2024
