Aviation Syrian Air restarts flights to Dubai and Sharjah Syria’s flag carrier, Syrian Air, will resume direct flights to Dubai and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, the airline said in a Facebook post. All flights between Syria and the UAE had been suspended in January after Islamist-led rebels toppled the country’s former leader, Bashar al-Assad, in December last year. The announcement […] April 18, 2025
Economy Egypt cuts interest rates for first time in 5 years Egypt’s central bank lowered overnight interest rates by 225 basis points (bps) on Thursday, its first cut in more than five years, saying lower inflation had opened the way to yet further rate cuts in the future. The bank lowered the lending rate to 26 percent and the deposit rate to 25 percent. The median forecast in […] April 18, 2025
Banking & Finance Warburg Pincus and Adia to invest $877m in Indian bank India’s IDFC First Bank will raise up to 75 billion rupees ($877 million) from affiliate companies of private equity group Warburg Pincus and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority sovereign wealth fund, the lender said on Thursday. IDFC First Bank will issue Warburg Pincus, an existing investor, and Adia convertible shares, which, if fully converted, will give them a combined 15 percent […] April 17, 2025
Oil & Gas Saudi Arabia and UAE to cut oil output in Opec’s latest plan Opec has received updated plans for seven countries including Saudi Arabia and the UAE to make further oil output cuts to compensate for pumping above agreed quotas, the group said on Wednesday. Opec+, which includes Opec plus Russia and other allies, has implemented a series of output cuts since late 2022. Its compensation plan is […] April 17, 2025
Oil & Gas Turkey’s largest refiner buys Russian oil after price drop Turkey’s largest oil refiner Tupras has returned to buying Russian Urals crude cargoes, after it stopped doing so earlier this year due to stronger US sanctions on Moscow, according to three trading sources and shipping data. Tupras did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment. The three sources said Tupras resumed its purchases […] April 17, 2025
Transport 2026 launch on track for Lucid’s midsize electric SUVs EV maker Lucid is on track to launch its midsize electric SUV in 2026, as it looks to tap an increasingly competitive segment dominated by rival Tesla’s bestselling Model Y crossover. “There are a lot of crazy things going on in the world that can affect that [timeline]. But currently we are on track,” said Lucid […] April 16, 2025
Business of Sport Saudi Arabia explores options to own F1 team Owning a Formula 1 team could be the next step for Saudi Arabia after sponsoring the sport and hosting a grand prix, according to the chairman of the kingdom’s automobile and motorcycle federation. Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal told reporters in a video call ahead of this weekend’s race in Jeddah that the interest […] April 16, 2025
Banking & Finance Sources say Saudi Arabia plans to pay off Syria’s World Bank debts Saudi Arabia plans to pay off Syria’s debts to the World Bank, sources have told Reuters, paving the way for the approval of millions of dollars in grants for reconstruction and to support the country’s paralysed public sector. The plans were revealed by “three people familiar with the matter”, Reuters said. It would be the […] April 14, 2025
Economy Turkey says oil price under $65 will tame inflation Turkey’s finance minister Mehmet Simsek said that if the oil price remains below $65 a barrel, it will lower year-end inflation by 1 to 1.6 points this year. Responding to a Reuters question on the impact of a fall in oil prices following recent global trade measures, Simsek said persistent oil prices below $65 could […] April 14, 2025
Oil & Gas Adnoc explores bid for US natural gas assets Abu Dhabi state oil company Adnoc is in the early stages of considering a bid for Dallas-based Aethon Energy Management’s US natural gas assets, according to a person familiar with the matter. Adnoc has done a string of acquisitions in gas and chemicals, which, along with liquefied natural gas and renewables, it considers as pillars […] April 14, 2025
Economy Egypt raises fuel prices by 15% as it seeks to cut subsidies Egypt increased prices on fuel products on Friday by up to almost 15 percent, state media reported, marking the first increase in 2025. The government is trying to reduce fuel subsidies as required by the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) $8 billion support package. The increases of between 11.76 percent and 14.81 percent on a wide […] April 11, 2025
Oil & Gas Oil prices set to drop for a second week Oil prices increased slightly on Friday morning but were still set for an overall drop for a second week due to concerns about a prolonged trade war between the United States and China. If the the world’s largest economies continue their tit-for-tat tariff increases, the fear is they will crush crude consumption as their dispute curtails economic […] April 11, 2025
Oil & Gas Saudi oil exports to China will rise in May after price fall Saudi Arabia’s crude oil supply to China will surge in May from the prior month as a sharp price cut by the kingdom attracted more demand, sources said on Friday. State oil company Saudi Aramco will ship about 48 million barrels to China in May, a tally of allocations to Chinese refiners showed, up from April’s 35.5 […] April 11, 2025
Oil & Gas Production at Adnoc’s new offshore block set for 2027 Pakistan’s Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) expects to start production in Abu Dhabi’s offshore block-5 by 2027, while also increasing domestic oil and gas output and diversifying into minerals, its CEO said on Wednesday. OGDCL partnered with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) in 2021 to explore and develop oil and gas resources in the block. […] April 10, 2025
Banking & Finance Judge in Lebanon paves way for ex-central bank chief indictment A judge in Lebanon has published a court decision in the embezzlement charges against the country’s former central bank chief, Riad Salameh, paving the way for an indictment. Judge Bilal Halawi published a “presumptive decision” concluding that Salameh, who served as central bank governor for 30 years before his term ended in disgrace in July 2023, had engaged […] April 9, 2025
Oil & Gas Oil at four-year low as US hits China with 104% tariff Oil prices dropped to their lowest in more than four years in early trade on Wednesday fuelled by an escalating tariff war between the US and China, the world’s two biggest economies, and a rising supply outlook. Brent futures lost $2.13, or 3.39 percent, to $60.69 a barrel as of 01:08 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate […] April 9, 2025
Oil & Gas Italy’s Eni plans $26bn energy push in North Africa Italian energy group Eni will invest around €24 billion ($26.24 billion) in Algeria, Libya and Egypt over the next four years to help boost energy production, CEO Claudio Descalzi said on Tuesday. The investments would coincide with the Rome government’s efforts to relaunch its economic and political ties with Africa as part of its so-called Mattei […] April 9, 2025
Mining Ma’aden seeks foreign partner for rare earth processing Saudi Arabia’s flagship mining company Ma’aden is considering choosing at least one of four foreign companies to form a rare earths processing partnership, three sources with knowledge of the matter said, as the kingdom bids to become a global critical minerals hub. Ma’aden is weighing a partnership with US-based MP Materials, China’s Shenghe Resources, Australia’s Lynas […] April 8, 2025
Oil & Gas Oil prices rise 1% after heavy US tariff-driven selloff Oil prices rose more than 1 percent on Tuesday, rebounding after a hefty selloff in recent sessions led by concerns that US tariffs might depress demand and lead to a global recession. Brent futures were up 81 cents, or 1.26 percent, at $65.02 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 92 cents, or […] April 8, 2025
Oil & Gas US energy secretary heads to Gulf to secure oil flows US energy secretary Chris Wright is to begin a nearly two-week tour of three Middle East countries, including Saudi Arabia, marking his first visit as a US official to the de facto leader of the Opec oil producer group, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters. The trip, which will also include visits to […] April 8, 2025
Markets Turkish stocks drop 3% during global selloff Turkish stocks dropped more than 3 percent on Monday, led by banks and fuelled by a global market selloff over US tariffs and counter moves. There is also ongoing pressure on the lira due to the jailing last month of Istanbul’s mayor. Istanbul’s main share index was off 2.5 percent at 08:50 GMT after opening […] April 7, 2025
Oil & Gas UAE and India to develop energy hub in Sri Lanka The UAE and India agreed to develop an energy hub in Sri Lanka, India’s foreign ministry said on Saturday, as New Delhi’s competition with China grows in the Indian Ocean island nation. The three nations signed the agreement during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka, the first by a global leader since […] April 7, 2025
