Retail UAE’s Brands For Less sets sights on Asia and Africa UAE retail group Brands for Less (BFL Group) has revealed plans for international expansion including a $20 million distribution centre in Saudi Arabia. The 38,000 square metre facility in Sudan City for Industry and Businesses close to Riyadh will employ 350 people and be able to store three million products. BFL Group plans to increase […] September 14, 2023
Media & Advertising Blinx launches to cater to ‘tech-savvy youth’ A new digital media centre has launched in the Middle East focusing on Gen Z and millennial content creation, storytelling and reporting. Dubai-headquartered Blinx (spelt as “blinx”) wants to capitalise on the region’s burgeoning media and entertainment industry, expected to be worth over $61 billion by 2028, according to research from Mordor Intelligence. Blinx will […] September 13, 2023
Markets Philippines reveals plan to issue first sovereign sukuk The Philippines government intends to issue its first sovereign sukuk before the end of the year, as it ramps up investment and trade opportunities in the Gulf. Discussions are ongoing about the sukuk’s potential structure, Rosalia de Leon, national treasurer, told reporters during the 2023 Philippine Economic Briefing in Dubai on Tuesday. She said it […] September 12, 2023
Economy Dubai businesses ease up on discounting as costs climb Dubai’s appetite for discounting waned in August as more companies opted to pass on increased costs to customers, a survey of non-oil businesses has found. The S&P Global Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for August found that the impact of rising input costs on margins made companies “less inclined to offer discounts on their products and […] September 12, 2023
People & Lifestyle Amanat and Mada to develop Saudi health PPPs Amanat Holdings has partnered with Mada International Holding to develop public-private partnerships (PPPs) in the healthcare industry across Saudi Arabia. Amanat, a Dubai-listed healthcare and education investment company, and Saudi developer Mada are already considering a tender for the 900-bed PPP post-acute care facilities in Riyadh and Dammam. The tie-up is expected to fuel Amanat’s […] September 11, 2023
Logistics Logistics companies targeted in latest global cyber fraud Logistics companies in the Middle East and Africa are being targeted by a worldwide scam that impersonates businesses’ websites in order to defraud consumers. According to Group-IB, a global cybersecurity company based in Singapore, the fraud – known as Classiscam – has targeted 251 brands in 79 countries. This includes 15 countries across Middle East […] September 11, 2023
Agriculture UAE fish farm angles for $200m to produce Atlantic salmon A fish farming company in the UAE aims to raise $200 million to produce Atlantic salmon locally. Ocean Harvest needs the investment to build a 100,000 square metre facility in Ras Al Khaimah. Jawad Jamil, co-founder and CEO of Ocean Harvest, said they were appealing to sovereign wealth funds across the Mena region, impact and […] September 7, 2023
Retail GCC retail industry concern as shoppers move online The Gulf’s retail industry remains an area of concern amid ongoing changes in consumer spending habits. The Q2 2023 edition of the Middle East Turnaround and Restructuring Survey, published by professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal, found more than two-thirds of respondents anticipated continued pressures in the sector as consumers increasingly turn to digital shopping […] September 6, 2023
Finance Qatar’s budget surplus nears $3bn despite higher capex Qatar reported a budget surplus of 10 billion riyals ($2.74 billion) in the second quarter of 2023, as oil prices remained higher than estimated, the finance ministry said. The Gulf nation has surpassed its 2023 surplus forecast of 29 billion riyals for the year. The first quarter reported a fiscal surplus of 19.7 billion riyals, […] September 1, 2023
Business of Sport Saudi Arabia pins down $100m MMA investment Saudi Arabia’s SRJ Sports Investments has acquired a minority stake in mixed martial arts (MMA) organisation the Professional Fighters League, reported to be worth $100 million. Founded in 2018, the PFL is second behind the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in terms of its global popularity. PFL Mena will begin in 2024 having launched in Europe […] August 30, 2023
Tech Saudi and Coursera to train 100,000 new tech workers Saudi Arabia is teaming up with online learning platform Coursera to train 100,000 new technology workers across the kingdom. Its Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and the National eLearning Center have launched a ‘Fuel’ programme offering training on the platform in various tech-related skills. Aimed at job seekers, graduates and those looking to improve […] August 30, 2023
Transport DP World signs partnership with Turkish port operator Global port operator DP World has signed a partnership deal to strengthen its position in Turkey. The equity agreement between DP World Yarimca Port and Turkey’s Evyap Group will secure supply chain services in the critical Marmara gateway market. The transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals. Once complete, DP World will own 58 percent of […] August 29, 2023
Giga-projects Saudi Arabia reveals latest giga-project with 11km canal Saudi Arabia has announced its latest giga-project with plans to develop an 11-kilometre-long canal north of Jeddah. The mixed-use waterfront destination, which will be home to over 130,000 residents, will be developed by Roshn Group in partnership with the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund. To be known as Marafy, the project includes the first manmade canal […] August 29, 2023
Real Estate Qatar wealth fund buys troubled New York hotel A luxury Manhattan hotel, which has been on the market for a number of years after being caught up in the 1MBD Malaysian investment fund scandal, has been sold to Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund. The Qatar Investment Authority has bought the 46-storey Park Lane Hotel for almost $623 million, according to city records, as first […] August 29, 2023
Transport Kuwait airport passenger numbers flying higher Passenger traffic through Kuwait International Airport is forecast to grow by 7 percent this year, fuelled by increased activity across the summer months. Total passenger numbers to and from the airport is expected to reach 15.5 million, according to the Gulf state’s Directorate General of Aviation, up from 14.46 million passengers reported in 2022. Abdullah […] August 28, 2023
Manufacturing Tunisia to scale up phosphate production Tunisia’s state-owned phosphate company is getting ready to ramp up production as part of its TD235 million ($76 million) investment programme. Next month the Gafsa Phosphate Company (CPG) will receive the first batch of machinery, including equipment to increase its capacity to transport raw phosphate and extract commercial phosphate. It will also take delivery of […] August 28, 2023
Logistics Saudi Arabia to build 59 logistics centres by 2030 Saudi Arabia will have 59 logistics centres by 2030, as the kingdom aims to transform itself into a global logistics hub. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman unveiled the masterplan for the centres as part of ongoing initiatives under the national transport and logistics strategy. The 59 centres will have a total area of more than […] August 28, 2023
Banking and Finance 3D printer Immensa looks to fund global expansion Immensa, a company focused on 3D printing and digital warehousing, is preparing to close a second funding round. Founder and CEO Fahmi Al Shawwa said the funding will be used to fuel international expansion of the company, which uses data and technology to streamline warehouse operations. The company is based in Dubai, but opened a […] August 25, 2023
Banking and Finance UAE consumers save less, borrow more in second quarter UAE consumers saved less and borrowed more in the second quarter of the year, data from the country’s top 10 banks revealed. The overall loan-to-deposit ratio (LDR) rose from 74.9 percent in Q1 2023 to 76.3 percent in Q2, recording the first increase after four successive quarterly declines, according to the latest quarterly UAE Banking […] August 25, 2023
Real Estate Meraas appoints main contractor for Jumeirah project China Railway 18th Bureau has been appointed main contractor for the latest residential project to be built in Dubai’s Port De La Mer. Developer Meraas Holding appointed the company for its Le Ciel project, in which three residential buildings will be built, consisting of eight floors with 178 properties, ranging from one to four bedrooms. […] August 25, 2023
Trade Exeed joins Chinese push to corner UAE EV market Another brand name is about to join the growing list of Chinese electric vehicles available in the UAE, with premium sports utility vehicle Exeed ready to enter the market in the next two years. AG Auto, an automobile subsidiary of Dubai-based family conglomerate Al Ghurair Investment, is the exclusive distributor for Exeed in the UAE. […] August 24, 2023
Economy Oman’s inflation rate falls again in July Oman’s rate of inflation in July dropped to its lowest level since March 2021, driven by a decline in transport and communications costs, as well as falls in the price of fruit, vegetables and meat. Inflation in the sultanate, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), fell to 0.41 percent last month, down from 0.69 […] August 24, 2023
