Video length: 02:33 Aviation Saudi low-cost airline budgets for expansion Saudi Arabia’s Flyadeal is set to add four new aircraft to its fleet this year as it realises its international ambitions. The budget carrier, owned by Saudia, the kingdom’s flagship operator, was launched in 2017 to serve the domestic market and is now the second largest operator in the country behind Saudia. Flyadeal launched international […] May 2, 2023
Video length: 02:33 Aviation Qatar Airways CEO plays down threat of competition The CEO of Qatar Airways has said he is “very excited” by the growth of Saudi Arabia’s aviation industry, despite the prospect of tougher competition as regional airline capacity increases. “We will co-operate with them, we will support them, because we feel that relationships matter and there is a lot of business to go around […] May 2, 2023
Business of Sport Qatari sheikh submits final bid for Manchester United Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani has submitted a third and final bid to buy Manchester United FC. It is understood the offer from the Qatari businessman, which was placed ahead of the club’s deadline on Friday, includes investment in manager Erik Ten Hag’s squad as well as money to develop the stadium and surrounding […] April 30, 2023
Banking and Finance UAE banks are likely to weather the brewing US storm UAE banks are equipped to handle any risks posed by another banking storm brewing in the US, according to economists, after the majority posted healthy increases in first quarter profits. First Republic is the latest international bank to see its future thrown into possible turmoil as deposits fell by over $100 billion in the first […] April 28, 2023
UAE to launch homegrown Arabic ChatGPT model Artificial intelligence firm G42 is on the verge of launching its own versions of ChatGPT, including the largest Arabic language platform. G42 group chief executive officer Peng Xiao said it was “working on it as we speak”. “Arabic is a major body of language in the world but not served at all by the big […] April 28, 2023
Banking and Finance HSBC Middle East gets a regional reshuffle Abdulfattah Sharaf has been appointed chairman of the board of HSBC Bank Middle East while the regional reshuffle will see him succeeded as CEO of operations in the UAE by Mohamed Al Marzooqi. Sharaf has served as HSBC UAE CEO for 13 years, combining this with overseeing the bank’s operations in Algeria, Bahrain and Kuwait […] April 27, 2023
Food & Drink Dubai tea bag producer brews record results DMCC Tea Centre has revealed production of tea bags at its Jebel Ali Free Zone facility was up 27 percent year on year in 2022. Saeed Al Suwaidi, director of agri-commodities at Dubai Multi-Commodities Centre (DMCC), described it as a “record-breaking” year and forecast further growth for 2023 driven by technology and automation. “We expect […] April 26, 2023
Food & Drink Relief for online shoppers as food price inflation slows The price of consumer staples bought online increased in 2022, but shoppers in the UAE are now beginning to see costs plateau. The most significant rise was in the price of tea, which increased by almost 26 percent year-on-year in Q1 2023, according to the UAE Ecommerce Consumer Price Index compiled by consultancy Pattern. The […] April 26, 2023
Logistics DP World moves to close trade finance gap for SMEs DP World has launched a digital trade finance platform to build relations between small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and financial institutions and boost trade. The platform gives borrowers access to trade finance while helping lenders assess companies by providing data, visibility and transparency on global trade movements. This allows them to analyse potential areas […] April 25, 2023
Tech AD Ports digital arm buys customs systems firm Maqta Gateway, the digital arm of AD Ports Group, has acquired TTEK Inc, a developer of border control solutions and customs systems, in a deal worth $26.7 million. The acquisition involves an upfront payment of $17.1 million and adds to Maqta Gateway’s digital trade solutions portfolio, which uses disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine […] April 24, 2023
EXCLUSIVE Tech RedSea rules out listing in search for growth Sustainable agriculture business RedSea has revealed plans to raise extra funds, but has ruled out a listing for the company for the moment. Founded in 2018 by plant scientist Mark Tester, agriculture engineering expert Ryan Lefers and material scientist Derya Baran, the Saudi-based agtech startup aims to find ways to feed populations in the face […] April 24, 2023
Health Burjeel Holdings plans to triple its medical tourism Burjeel Holdings has revealed plans to triple its medical tourism business by the end of the decade. The UAE-based private healthcare services provider has a network of 61 assets, including 16 hospitals and 23 medical centres, as well as pharmacies and other services. CEO John Sunil, who has been with the company for 12 years, […] April 24, 2023
Real Estate Luxury comes at a price for Dubai’s real estate brokers The cameras have all but stopped rolling on the third series of Dubai Hustle, a BBC docudrama that tracks the lives of real estate brokers in one of the world’s ritziest cities. Glamour junkies await their fix of tears and laughter, clothes and interiors – and firings and hirings – which feature in the lives […] April 21, 2023
Health M42 buys European dialysis group Diaverum Abu Dhabi’s newest tech-enabled healthcare company, M42, has made its first investment with the acquisition of Diaverum, a global renal care service provider. The value of the deal for Bridgepoint Group’s European dialysis clinic chain was not disclosed, although previous reports by Bloomberg suggest it could be in the region of $2.5 billion. M42 launched […] April 19, 2023
Business of Sport Saudi Arabia in talks with Indian Premier League Reports linking Saudi Arabia with an Indian Premier League-style cricket tournament are both “unsurprising” and a “logical next step” in the continued growth of the sport across the region, according to a leading industry analyst. Saudi Arabia is in discussions with the owners of the IPL to establish a new T20 competition, according to a […] April 18, 2023
Banking and Finance Union Properties considers selling Dubai Autodrome Developer Union Properties could sell racing circuit Dubai Autodrome as it seeks to offload AED1 billion ($272 million) worth of assets in the next two years as part of its ongoing recovery plan. Dubai Autodrome is a fully owned subsidiary of Union Properties. Managing director Amer Khansaheb revealed the company holds 15 million square feet […] April 18, 2023
Employment GCC consulting market to exceed $4 billion The GCC consulting market is expected to pass $4 billion in revenues this year, as the huge raft of giga-projects continue to transform the region. According to a report from UK research firm Source, the region’s consulting sector witnessed almost 16 percent growth in 2022 to reach $3.87 billion. Dane Albertelli, research analyst at Source, […] April 18, 2023
Tech Mena IT spending to lag behind global average IT spending across the Middle East and North Africa is forecast to drop below the global average this year as rising inflation dents consumer spending. While global growth in IT spending is expected to hit 5.5 percent by the end of this year, predictions for the Mena region show just a 2 percent increase, according […] April 17, 2023
Tourism Ramadan travel still falling short of pre-pandemic highs Ramadan travel from the GCC is up on 2022 levels in many member states, but is still lagging behind the heights enjoyed by the industry in 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a sector professional. Olivier Ponti, vice president of insights at London-based global travel data and analytics firm ForwardKeys, revealed outbound flight bookings […] April 14, 2023
Economy Mena inflation to remain ‘uncomfortably high’ Inflation in the Middle East and North Africa is to remain “uncomfortably high” for the foreseeable future, according to a leading banking expert. Headline inflation across the 16 Mena economies increased on average to 19.4 percent year-on-year between March and December last year, as reported by the World Bank in its most recent economic update. […] April 14, 2023
Banking and Finance Saudi public-private partnerships worth billions Public-private partnerships in Saudi Arabia are driving the kingdom’s economic growth and diversification plans. A pipeline of 200 projects spanning 17 sectors, involving more than $50 billion in investment, have been approved by Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Privatization and PPP (NCP). Projects include four airports, seven desalination plants, six wastewater treatment plants, 10 strategic […] April 14, 2023
Manufacturing Manufacturing sector fuels industrial success in Saudi Manufacturing activity in Saudi Arabia increased by 17 percent year-on-year in February boosting overall growth in industrial production across the kingdom, alongside improvements in mining and quarrying and electricity and gas supplies. The Saudi General Authority for Statistics (Gastat) found that in February the Industrial Production Index (IPI) rose 6 percent year-on-year. According to the […] April 13, 2023
