Media & Advertising Dubai doubles down on social media with ‘influencer academy’ Sunsets, skyscrapers, shopping sprees. Type #Dubai into any social media platform and you will find thousands of them. Whether they’re promotional films or holiday snaps, the quality and reach of these images can vary widely. Now Dubai’s tourism authority is setting up an “influencer academy” to teach aspiring digital creators how to make the most […] April 21, 2025
Exclusive Aviation China ‘unlikely to overthrow Boeing-Airbus duopoly’ China’s state-owned planemaker, Comac (Commercial Aircraft Corp of China), is decades away from breaking up the global dominance of Boeing and Airbus, according to the head of the world’s largest airline trade association. The result will be that Gulf Arab carriers such as Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways have little choice but to stomach […] April 18, 2025
Education Education sector in UAE ripe for more M&A deals Mubadala is the latest big name to announce a foray into the UAE’s $7 billion education market as experts predict an increase in mergers and acquisitions in the sector, fuelled by the Gulf state’s rising population, economic diversification and expatriate demand. The Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund has more than $300 billion in assets under […] April 17, 2025
Exclusive Aviation IATA chief: Boeing and Airbus woes are a win for jet leasing Aircraft leasing companies in the Arabian Gulf are profiting from prolonged delivery delays at aircraft makers Boeing and Airbus, with order backlogs at the manufacturers unlikely to clear before the end of the decade. “These [aircraft leasing] guys are in a fantastic position because they have a fantastic fleet of aircraft,” Willie Walsh, director general […] April 16, 2025
Aviation Emirates SkyCargo bullish on US despite tariff turbulence Emirates SkyCargo has said it remains fully committed to the North American market despite escalating trade tensions and uncertainty sparked by Donald Trump’s tariffs. The cargo division of Dubai’s state-owned airline Emirates operates freighter services to cities such as Chicago and Houston. It also uses the belly-hold capacity of passenger aircraft to transport goods in […] April 15, 2025
Analysis Construction Global trade war prompts Gulf construction reassessment The global trade tensions triggered by Donald Trump’s tariff hikes is sending shockwaves through the Gulf’s construction sector, leading Saudi Arabia and the UAE to rethink sourcing materials and supply chain networks. The risk of costs accelerating has risen, but over the longer term prices could temper, providing a cost opportunity for the GCC, industry […] April 14, 2025
Markets GCC investors bank on gold as US-China tensions escalate Gulf investors are joining the gold rush as they look for a safe haven amid the biggest swings in global markets since the Covid pandemic and the 2008 financial crisis. “Demand for gold in the region remains elevated despite the high price levels, likely a sign of rushing to safety,” Azza Al Habsi, an economist […] April 11, 2025
Business of Sport Former Saudi owner of English soccer club returns to pitch The former Saudi royal owner of the English Championship side Sheffield United, Prince Abdullah bin Mosaad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, is returning to the football market with a sports investment fund worth as much as SAR1 billion ($266 million). Prince Abdullah told the Sports Investment Forum in Riyadh this week that his group intends to […] April 10, 2025
Aviation Fuel price down but airlines fear fewer passengers While the lowest oil prices in four years may translate into lower jet fuel costs for airlines, slower economic growth in Europe and Asia could dampen international travel demand for Gulf carriers, analysts say. At Dubai’s Emirates, for example, jet fuel represented the company’s largest single cost in its fiscal year to March 31, 2024 […] April 8, 2025
Markets Global stock market dive likely to delay Gulf IPOs Steep declines in stock markets since President Donald Trump set out sweeping tariffs will almost certainly delay initial public offerings in the Gulf, analysts have told AGBI. Markets around the world have tumbled since the US president announced his plans for import taxes last Wednesday. Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All-Share Index had its biggest one-day fall […] April 8, 2025
Finance Dubai’s ICD could tap IPO market to fund expansion The Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD), the principal investment arm of the emirate’s government, could potentially turn to the capital markets with a raft of listings over the next year or so, according to analysts. Established in 2006, ICD is worth about $340 billion and already has one of its crown jewels – Emirates NBD, […] April 7, 2025
Markets Gulf stocks slide as investors fret over US tariffs Dubai’s stock index tumbled on Thursday, poised for its biggest daily decline this year, and other Gulf bourses slid after US president Donald Trump announced wide-ranging tariffs on importers. Losers outnumbered gainers 34 to 10 on Dubai’s benchmark, which was down as much as 2 percent in early trade, mirroring declines on Asian bourses as […] April 3, 2025
Opinion Business of Sport Gulf funds hope for slam dunk with European basketball Sixteen franchises could be launched across Europe and sold for a fee of about $500 million each. April 3, 2025
Banking & Finance Damac chairman Sajwani’s wealth doubles to more than $10bn The fortune of Hussain Sajwani, the chairman of Dubai-based Damac Properties, has doubled in the last year as he takes his place among the world’s wealthiest individuals to become the richest businessman in the Middle East. The 72-year-old real estate magnate is worth $10.2 billion, the annual rich list from Forbes says, significantly higher than […] April 2, 2025
Lifestyle Shisha smokers turn to healthier alternatives In the same way that non-alcoholic drinks are now a regular feature in restaurants and bars in the UAE, hookah smokers are increasingly turning to healthier substitutes to satisfy their shisha fix. “People are seeking alternatives that are better for their health yet do not impact lifestyle choices,” said Naim Madaad, a founding member of […] March 31, 2025
Oil & Gas Adnoc’s XRG seals a 10% stake in African gas projects XRG, the low-carbon energy and chemicals investment arm of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), has completed its acquisition of a 10 percent stake from Portugal’s Galp Energia in the Rovuma basin concession in Mozambique. The Rovuma basin, one of the largest gas discoveries in the past 15 years, offers XRG access to liquefied natural […] March 28, 2025
Giga-projects Saudi jobs growth ‘likely to halve’ as PIF reins in spending Employment growth in Saudi Arabia will halve by 2026 as the kingdom reins in spending and focuses on delivering Vision 2030 projects, recruitment and real estate specialists are saying. Growth in recruitment for jobs in the Saudi economy, after hitting a high of nearly 10 percent in 2022, will slow to 3 percent by 2026, […] March 27, 2025
Analysis Media & Advertising Warner-OSN tipped to inspire more deals for Mena streamers The tie-up between US giant Warner Bros Discovery and Dubai’s OSN Streaming could be a sign of things to come for the Middle East’s entertainment industry, media insiders have told AGBI. Warner Bros said on Monday it would pay $57 million for a one-third stake in the streaming business, a subsidiary of Orbit Showtime Network […] March 27, 2025
Tax Bahrain approves environmental tax on companies Bahrain is to become the first country in the Arabian Gulf to introduce an environmental tax on companies as the island state struggles to rein in a growing budget deficit and bring government finances under control. The government of the region’s smallest nation by population has approved in principle a levy on carbon dioxide emissions […] March 26, 2025
Real Estate Bahrain struggles to fill existing office space as supply grows Bahrain is facing difficulty in filling its available office space even as the kingdom prepares for more supply. Demand for the space is “weak”, with limited interest from existing businesses and new entrants, commercial real estate services and investment provider CBRE said in a report. The Gulf state, the smallest by population in the six-member […] March 25, 2025
Retail Majid Al Futtaim reports 6% profit drop as sales slow Shopping mall owner Majid Al Futtaim has reported a drop in profit for 2024, attributing the decline to lower retail revenue, a higher tax burden and currency devaluation in some of its international markets. Total revenue fell 2 percent to AED33.9 billion ($9.2 billion) and profit dropped 6 percent to AED2.5 billion in 2024, MAF […] March 24, 2025
Aviation Narrow-body aircraft to push growth of Middle East fleets Gulf Arab airlines and other Middle East carriers will expand their fleets at almost double the rate of the global average over the next ten years, industry experts say. They will also increase the share of narrow-body planes over twin-aisle aircraft. Globally, fleet size is expected grow by 2.8 percent per year over the next […] March 23, 2025
