Tourism DP World-owned P&O Ferries loses UK government contract Britain says it has cancelled a contract with P&O Ferries “with immediate effect” in its latest action against the DP World-owned company following its decision to axe hundreds of staff earlier this year. The Home Office (interior ministry) said it was ending its agreement with the firm to provide contingency travel services to “juxtaposed ports” […] June 1, 2022
Cinemark subscription surge hails post-pandemic cinema rebound Cinemark Holdings Inc has signed up 1 million paying subscribers to its Movie Club monthly subscription plan, the company said on Wednesday, hailing a rebound in moviegoing after disruptions from the coronavirus pandemic. The third-largest movie theater chain in the United States said it was the first cinema operator to cross the 1 million milestone […] June 1, 2022
Lifestyle Damian Lewis, Salman Rushdie and Rio Ferdinand among UK honours list Actor Damian Lewis, author Ian Rankin and former Northern Ireland first minister Arlene Foster were among more than 1,100 people recognised by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth in her annual birthday honours. The list, which is issued to mark the 96-year-old monarch’s official birthday, honours recipients for their “outstanding” contributions; most awards recognise public service or community […] June 1, 2022
Manufacturing Egypt awards eight gold, metal mining exploration licences Egypt awarded eight gold and metal mining exploration licences in the eastern desert region, the petroleum ministry said on Wednesday, as it seeks to increase investments in this underdeveloped industry. Four companies won the licences – Lotus Gold, AKH Gold, Marine Logistics Gold Mining and Ankh Resources, a source at the ministry said. Egypt has […] June 1, 2022
Abu Dhabi leads $725m fundraising by US insurance broker Acrisure said on Tuesday it had raised $725 million in a fresh funding round led by a wholly owned subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, valuing the insurance brokerage at $23 billion. The company has benefited from a jump in global commercial insurance premiums that rose 11 percent on average in the first quarter, according […] June 1, 2022
Energy Iran’s energy export revenue soars 60% in last two months Iran’s energy export revenue is 60 percent higher in the first two months of the Iranian year (March 21 to May 21) compared to the same period a year ago, an official from the Iranian oil ministry told the ministry’s SHANA news agency on Sunday. The official did not give a reason for the jump […] June 1, 2022
Tourism Qatar Airways ready to see $1bn Airbus dispute through to trial Qatar Airways is ready to see its legal dispute with Airbus over flaws with the protective skin of A350 wide-body jets through to trial, the Gulf carrier said on Tuesday. Qatar Airways is suing the European planemaker in a UK court for $1 billion in damages after grounding about two dozen of its A350s experiencing […] June 1, 2022
Sharjah’s Arada Developments set to raise $350m with debut sukuk Arada Developments, the largest developer in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, was set to raise $350 million in its debut foray in the debt markets, a document showed on Tuesday. The yield was set at 8.12 percent, tightening from initial price guidance of around 8.25 percent. The Islamic bonds, or sukuk, received more than […] June 1, 2022
Energy Russia’s Lavrov to meet GCC ministers in Riyadh on Wednesday Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, Saudi state media said, on a visit that Gulf officials said would feature a meeting with foreign ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. Lavrov, who also visited Bahrain earlier on Tuesday, is expected to meet ministers from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab […] June 1, 2022
Business of Sport Dustin Johnson to headline this month’s Saudi-backed golf tour in London Garcia and Westwood also included in the 48-man field Mickelson could still make it as six spots still open PGA Tour’s Canadian Open ‘disappointed’ with Johnson’s decision Former world number one Dustin Johnson and past major champion Sergio Garcia were listed among competitors for the opening LIV Golf Invitational Series event in a field released […] June 1, 2022
Abu Dhabi Borouge’s $2 billion IPO set to be ADX’s biggest Abu Dhabi-based petrochemicals company Borouge raised more than $2 billion on Tuesday after demand for its initial public offering topped $83.4 billion. The shares are due to start trading on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) on Friday under the symbol BOROUGE, the largest listing to date on the exchange which has seen a string […] May 31, 2022
Tourism Archaeologists uncover ancient mummies and statues at Saqqara Archaeologists have uncovered hundreds of ancient Egyptian coffins and bronze statues of deities at a burial site in Saqqara. Statues of the gods Anubis, Amun, Min, Osiris, Isis, Nefertum, Bastet and Hathor were among the objects found at the newly discovered cemetery – along with a headless statue of Imhotep, the architect who built the […] May 31, 2022
Energy Russia’s Lavrov meets Gulf ministers, oil and Ukraine on agenda Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will visit Saudi Arabia on Wednesday where he will meet with foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (GCC). Lavrov is expected to meet with ministers of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar in the GCC headquarters in Riyadh. It was unclear what the meeting will […] May 31, 2022
Development Israel signs major trade pact with UAE Israel signed a free trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, its first big trade accord with an Arab state that reduces or removes tariffs and over time targets lifting annual bilateral trade to more than $10 billion. The pact was signed in Dubai by Israel’s Minister of Economy and Industry Orna Barbivai […] May 31, 2022
Business of Sport Roman era ends as Abramovich completes sale of Chelsea FC Roman Abramovich has completed the sale of Chelsea FC to an investment group led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, the Premier League club said on Monday. The consortium, which won the bid to acquire the London side earlier this month, received approval from the Premier League and the British government last week. A final […] May 30, 2022
Israel’s long-awaited sovereign wealth fund to start on June 1 Israel’s long-delayed sovereign wealth fund can begin operating on June 1 now taxes on profits from natural gas have passed 1 billion shekels ($301 million), the country’s Finance Ministry and Tax Authority said on Monday. Finance minister Avigdor Lieberman will sign an order to transfer 1.14 billion shekels in levies to the fund on Wednesday, […] May 30, 2022
Israel and UAE ink bumper trade deal Israel and the United Arab Emirates will sign a free trade agreement in Dubai on Tuesday in a move aimed at boosting trade between the two countries, Israel's Economy Ministry said on Monday May 30, 2022
Lifestyle Ecclestone denies arrest for carrying illegal gun Former Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone today denied he had been arrested in Brazil and said an illegal gun found in his luggage before boarding a flight was never used and had no ammunition. The 91-year-old Briton, now in Portugal, said a “silly, tiny little incident” had caused a lot of aggravation as he and […] May 27, 2022
Agriculture Ukraine war sees Egypt put pressure on local wheat farmers to replace shortfall Egypt typically the world’s biggest wheat importer Most purchases came from Russia and Ukraine Local farmers have to sell 60% of crop to the state Government offer is well below international prices At an agricultural storage complex in the Egyptian city of Banha, Ahmed Nasser watches truck after truck offload freshly-threshed grain from the surrounding […] May 27, 2022
Turkey to receive $500m from World Bank for COVID-19 vaccines The World Bank said on Thursday that its board had approved $500 million in additional financing to support Turkey in its efforts to fight against COVID-19. The funds, which will have a maturity of 10.5 years with a five-year grace period, will be used to ensure access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines in Turkey, […] May 27, 2022
Banking and Finance Abu Dhabi’s first SPAC lists, raising $100m from share sale Abu Dhabi’s first special-purpose acquisition company listed today, raising $100 million in the share sale, its co-owners said. ADC, owned by state investor ADQ and Chimera Investment, will identify scalable businesses with strong management teams and acquire one or more businesses, the statement said. Shares of ADC were trading at 10.50 dirhams, up from an […] May 27, 2022
Business of Sport Bahrain’s Investcorp ends talks for AC Milan buyout Investcorp and US fund Elliott have ended talks over the buyout of Italian soccer champions AC Milan, a top executive of the Bahrain-domiciled asset manager said. Reuters last week reported that Investcorp had put on hold its plans to purchase the club, which is owned by Elliott, clearing the way for US investment firm RedBird […] May 27, 2022
