Employment Moroccan graduates struggle as unemployment rate soars Almost one-fifth of graduates in Morocco cannot find work in the country as the number of jobless continues to soar. The unemployment rate increased to 13.5 percent in the third quarter of the year compared to the same period last year, according to Morocco’s statistics office, HCP. The total number of unemployed stood at 1.625 […] November 7, 2023
Banking and Finance GCC attracts growing level of global capital Members of the Gulf Cooperation Council are emerging as prime destinations for capital deployment from across the world, as countries in the GCC look to domestic investment opportunities to fund growth beyond hydrocarbons. Private capital assets under management (AUM) in the countries that make up the GCC hit $12.3 billion in 2022, from $1 billion […] November 6, 2023
Economy Lay-offs in Egypt as economy continues to contract Businesses in Egypt cut staffing levels for the first time in three months as inflationary pressures hurt demand, although foreign exchange reserves rose slightly, according to the central bank. Egypt’s non-oil private sector contracted for the 35th consecutive month, according to the latest headline Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) survey from S&P Global. However net foreign […] November 6, 2023
Finance Global investor looking to Middle East healthcare sector The global asset management group Janus Henderson Investors is targeting the Middle East’s trillion-dollar medical sector to deliver healthy returns. The group has $308 billion in assets under management and 24 offices globally, including one in Dubai International Financial Centre since 2012. The healthcare team’s strategy has a pot of more than $10 billion, while […] November 3, 2023
Renewable Energy Lootah Biofuels strengthens Maldives presence Dubai’s Lootah Biofuels has signed a deal with Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts to provide and supply biodiesel and deliver waste cooking oil recycling services in the Maldives. The agreement also supports the collection and recycling of used cooking oil from luxury resorts, hotels, restaurants and households to produce biodiesel. The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation […] November 3, 2023
Economy UAE non-oil business surges to four-year high Non-oil business activity in the UAE grew at the fastest pace in four years in October, spurred by a surge in new orders, according to a new survey published on Friday. The latest S&P Global UAE Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) increased to 57.7 last month, from 56.7 in September, its highest level since June 2019. […] November 3, 2023
Cop28 Philanthropy to play key role in negating climate threat The trillion dollar philanthropy industry can be the “glue” that brings together governments and the private sector in the global fight against climate change, according to the special representative for business and philanthropy at this month’s Cop28. Speaking at the Dubai Business Forum this week, Badr Jafar, who is also CEO of Crescent Enterprises, explained […] November 2, 2023
Tourism UK singer Robbie Williams reveals Dubai hotel plan UK pop singer Robbie Williams has revealed plans to build a hotel resort in Dubai. The 49-year-old former member of Take That, who performed in Abu Dhabi last month, told Wondery’s Brydon & podcast that he is building a 700-room hotel in Dubai. He explained to host Rob Brydon that the development was spurred by […] November 2, 2023
Finance UAE and Jordan to explore $2bn opportunities The UAE’s Ministry of Investment has signed a deal with the government of Jordan to explore potential opportunities worth more than $2 billion. The memorandum of understanding will look to boost bilateral investments in sectors including renewable energy, industrial projects, manufacturing, transport, pharmaceuticals and food processing, the UAE state-run news agency Wam said. The UAE’s […] November 2, 2023
Construction Appeal court green lights Drake & Scull restructure Dubai’s court of appeal has approved a plan to restructure the troubled Dubai construction contractor Drake & Scull International (DSI). In what has been a lengthy battle through the courts, a previous verdict had called for the company to be placed into liquidation. This has now been overruled, and the court has given DSI one […] November 2, 2023
Construction Dubai’s Union Properties reports $5m profit for Q3 The Dubai developer Union Properties (UP) has reported a net profit of AED20 million ($5.45 million) for the third quarter of the year, backed by continued strong demand in the emirate’s real estate sector. UP, best known for its Motor City development in Dubai, transformed a AED966 million net loss in 2021 to a AED30 […] November 2, 2023
Economy Bahrain economy grows 2% despite GCC trade slump Bahrain’s economy grew by 2 percent year on year in the second quarter of 2023, despite a drop in trade with neighbouring GCC countries. The kingdom saw its non-oil sector increase by 2 percent, while the oil sector was up 2.2 percent. Bahrain’s fiscal and current account break-even oil prices are among the highest in […] November 1, 2023
Banking and Finance Dubai launches $136 million venture capital fund Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority has launched a venture capital fund, backed by a AED500 million ($136 million) pot, to support tech startups. Oraseya Capital was announced at the Dubai Business Forum on Wednesday by Dr Mohammed Alzarooni, executive chairman of DIEZ Authority. He said Oraseya Capital’s key aim is to “foster innovation and drive […] November 1, 2023
Banking and Finance Fund managers hedge bets between Dubai and Abu Dhabi A growing number of hedge funds are choosing to register in both the UAE’s financial hubs, according to the CEO of a consultancy that advises businesses on setting up in the Emirates. Clare Curtis, CEO of Effecta Compliance, told an investment conference on Monday that there was strong interest in the Dubai International Financial Centre […] November 1, 2023
Energy World Bank warns of record oil prices if war escalates Oil prices could hit record highs of $150 a barrel if the war between Israel and Hamas escalates into a wider conflict, according to an economic risk assessment from the World Bank. In its latest Commodity Markets Outlook, the World Bank cautioned that the cost of crude could enter “uncharted waters”. It outlined three risk […] October 31, 2023
Economy Emirates economy grows 3.7% in first half of year The UAE economy grew 3.7 percent in real terms in the first half of the year, buoyed by strong tourism revenues and increased activity in other non-oil sectors. “While this may seem modest, it represents a robust growth against a backdrop of global and regional uncertainty,” minister of economy Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri told […] October 30, 2023
Sustainability UAE mangrove restoration project to be global template A project to restore mangroves around Abu Dhabi will be used as a template and exported around the world. Environment Agency Abu Dhabi and environmental tech company Dendra are working to plant 27 million mangroves in the UAE capital by 2030, in partnership with the emirate’s sovereign wealth fund ADQ. It makes up almost a […] October 30, 2023
EXCLUSIVE Trade Scotland to forge GCC trade links independently of UK Scotland will continue to build relations throughout the region even after a long-awaited trade deal between the UK and the GCC is signed, according to a government minister. Neil Gray, Scotland’s cabinet secretary for wellbeing economy, fair work and energy, signed a memorandum of understanding in the UAE last week with Dr Thani bin Ahmed […] October 30, 2023
Renewable Energy Scotland looks to Emirates to help fund energy transition Scotland plans to “scale-up” its relationship with the UAE to help fund its transition to net zero, according to Neil Gray, the country’s cabinet secretary for energy. The Scottish minister has been on a visit to the Middle East, strengthening relations between the two countries ahead of Cop28 next month. State-owned Abu Dhabi Future Energy […] October 27, 2023
Analysis Leisure & Hospitality UAE’s indoor entertainment smashes it out of the park Have you ever looked at your smartphone, laptop, or even that dreaded printer, with utter rage and felt the urge to crush it into tiny little pieces? You’re not alone – and the UAE’s The Smash Room offers just that service. It is now planning to break into the Indian and Saudi Arabian markets, as […] October 27, 2023
Tourism Envi Lodges to launch third round of fundraising Envi Lodges, the tented camps and eco-pods specialist, is preparing a third round of fundraising as it seeks to expand regionally and internationally. The UAE ecolodge brand and management company, founded in 2021, has already completed two funding rounds, raising $2 million from investors in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, France and the UK. Envi Lodges […] October 25, 2023
Banking and Finance Morocco signs $280m deals with African Development Bank Morocco has signed three agreements with the African Development Bank (AfDB) worth more than MAD2.9 billion ($280 million). The deals will improve access to healthcare, support increased social security coverage and provide emergency help in the wake of September’s devastating earthquake in Al Haouz, according to an announcement by the government. The first agreement, worth […] October 25, 2023
