Economy EU clears €4bn funding to support Egypt’s economy The European parliament has approved €4 billion ($4.3 billion) in funding to Egypt to bolster economic resilience in what is the most populous country in the Middle East. The parliament adopted Egypt’s macro-financial assistance with 452 votes in favour, 182 against, and 40 abstentions, it said in a statement. In March 2024, the EU […] April 4, 2025
Banking & Finance IHC unit enters Egypt’s consumer finance sector 2PointZero, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi-listed International Holding Company (IHC), has acquired ADVA, an Egyptian consumer finance company. The buyout by Maseera Holding for Financial Investments (Maseera), a subsidiary of 2PointZero, is part of its parent company’s $1 billion investment plan, the state-run Wam news agency reported. ADVA will be Maseera’s technology and data analytics […] April 4, 2025
Oil & Gas Output at Iraq’s largest gas field up 75% since 2017 Production from Khor Mor, Iraq’s largest non-associated gas field, has reached 500 million barrels of oil equivalent, according to a joint statement issued by Abu Dhabi-listed Dana Gas and Sharjah-based Crescent Petroleum. The two companies, each owning a 35 percent stake in Pearl Petroleum consortium, the operator of the gas field in the Kurdistan Region […] April 3, 2025
Economy IMF loans Morocco $4.5bn to support economy The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a new credit facility for Morocco to help in crisis prevention and to support reform. The new two-year $4.5 billion flexible credit line (FCL) will assist the country in rebuilding buffers and accelerating structural reforms in an uncertain external environment, the IMF said in a statement. The facility […] April 3, 2025
Oil & Gas Aramco to use Japanese drone startup to inspect facilities Saudi Aramco has entered into an agreement with Japanese startup Terra Drone to inspect its oil and gas facilities using drones, robotics and artificial intelligence (AI). The memorandum of understanding will advance drone technologies to enhance safety and operational efficiency in the energy sector, Terra Drone said in a statement. In 2023, Terra Drone received […] April 3, 2025
Trade Iraq’s trade balance surplus with US at $6bn Iraq has a trade balance surplus of nearly $6 billion with the US, a senior government official has said. This comes from oil exports to the US more than doubling in two years, state-run Iraq News Agency reported, quoting prime minister’s financial advisor Mazhar Mohammed Salih. The trade volume between the two countries has more […] April 2, 2025
Tech Damac’s data centre unit makes foray into Nordic region Edgnex, the data centre subsidiary of Dubai’s Damac Group, has acquired Finland-based data centre company Hyperco for an undisclosed sum. Hyperco mainly focuses on Finland and Sweden, using the Nordic region’s sustainable energy resources and high connectivity. The company’s three founders and existing team will continue to lead operations. Hussain Sajwani, founder of Damac, said the company aims to […] April 2, 2025
Economy World Bank gives $500m to create new jobs in Turkey Turkey is to receive $500 million from the World Bank to support economic recovery in areas devastated by the February 2023 earthquakes, according to a statement. The earthquakes killed more than 50,000 people and displaced more than 3.3 million. They are estimated to have inflicted a $104 billion hit on the Turkish economy, the Strategy and […] April 2, 2025
Aviation Low-cost carrier Flynas to offload 30% on Saudi bourse Saudi low-cost carrier Flynas has received the market regulator’s approval to offload nearly a third of its shares on the local stock exchange in the latest of a series of bourse flotations. The airline, partly owned by billionaire Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal, will sell 51.3 million shares or 30 percent of its stock in an initial public […] April 1, 2025
Energy GCC companies to bid for Oman’s power projects A Saudi-listed company and a UAE state-run entity are among a dozen companies shortlisted to develop and operate two major independent power producer (IPP) projects in Oman. The list includes Etihad Water and Electricity, Acwa Power, Marubeni Corporation, Reliance Power, Sembcorp Utilities, Samsung C&T Corporation, Sumitomo Corporation, Nebras Power, Korea Western Power and Al Jomaih […] April 1, 2025
Real Estate Golden visa lure draws Turks to Dubai real estate An increasing number of Turkish citizens are investing in real estate overseas, with Dubai and Greece emerging as top destinations, according to a news report. Last year, Turks spent more than $2.5 billion, up 21 percent year on year, in foreign property purchases, Daily Sabah newspaper reported, citing central bank data. In January 2025 alone, […] April 1, 2025
Finance IHC invests in Indian snack maker Haldiram’s Abu Dhabi conglomerate International Holding Company (IHC), New York-based Alpha Wave Global and Singapore sovereign wealth fund Temasek have invested in an Indian snack maker as part of an equity financing round, PwC, the financial advisor to the deal, said in a statement. Indian government-owned Press Trust of India (PTI) reported that IHC and Alpha Wave collectively acquired […] April 1, 2025
Mining MDO expands Oman’s mining assets Minerals Development Oman (MDO) is moving ahead with mining projects to exploit the sultanate’s reserves of titanium, copper, chromite and dolomite, according to the state-owned company’s annual report. Nearly 30 percent of engineering work has been completed at the Mazoon Copper project, which was launched last year, the company said in the 2024 report. Tenders […] March 31, 2025
Transport China’s Baidu to launch robotaxis in UAE Chinese tech company Baidu, which is listed on the US Nasdaq stock exchange, is planning to launch an autonomous ride-hailing service in the UAE by the end of 2025, according to a statement. Apollo Go, a Baidu unit, has signed an agreement with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to start autonomous driving testing and […] March 31, 2025
Infrastructure Next phase of Jordan-Iraq power link due by late July The second phase of a Jordan-Iraq electricity interconnection project is set for completion by the end of July, a news report has said. Almost 95 percent of the project’s civil works have been finalised, with installation of electrical equipment and essential testing remaining, Jordan News Agency reported citing Sufyan Batayneh, director general of the state-run […] March 31, 2025
Economy Abu Dhabi economy grew 4% to $327bn in 2024 The non-oil sector has pushed Abu Dhabi’s economic growth to a new high. Real GDP in the the UAE’s largest and most wealthy emirate expanded by 4 percent year on year in 2024, reaching AED1.2 trillion ($327 billion), state-run Wam news agency reported. The growth was driven by an annualised 6 percent increase in the […] March 31, 2025
Infrastructure Turkey to tender rail project under Development Road plan Turkey plans to float a tender for a new rail project that is part of the Development Road Project, a new freight link planned between Asia and Europe, according to a news report. The tender will be issued in the coming months, Daily Sabah newspaper reported, citing transport and infrastructure minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu. Ankara is […] March 31, 2025
Construction Modon to build industrial zone near Egypt’s Ras El Hekma A joint venture between Abu Dhabi-listed Modon Holding and Egypt’s Elsewedy Industrial Development is planning to build a new industrial zone near the $35-billion Ras El Hekma megaproject. The two companies have signed a letter of intent for the project, state-run news agency Wam reported. The 10 million sq m new industrial zone, located south […] March 28, 2025
Telecoms Elon Musk’s Starlink starts operations in Oman Oman’s telecom authority has permitted Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service to start retail and commercial operations. The service will cover all regions of Oman, including remote and challenging terrains, offering speeds of up to 100 Mbps, state-run Oman News Agency reported, citing a statement from the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA). Starlink Muscat was given […] March 28, 2025
Real Estate Mubadala puts more money in US commercial lender Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company has increased its investment in 3650 Capital, a US commercial real estate lender. The UAE sovereign fund and California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS), a pension fund, two existing investors, have invested $215 million to allow the US lender to broaden its investment products, 3650 Capital said in a statement. […] March 28, 2025
Economy Law change enables Kuwait to tap global debt markets Kuwait can now borrow money from international markets after an eight-year hiatus. The government has issued a new law that sets the public debt ceiling at KD30 billion ($97.4 billion) and allows the issuance of financial instruments with maturities extending up to 50 years, the state-run Kuna news agency reported. The law will bolster financial stability and […] March 27, 2025
Tech MGX buys stake in Dubai’s Khazna Data Centers UAE technology investment company MGX and US private equity company Silver Lake have bought a minority stake in Dubai-based Khazna Data Centers. Following the deal, UAE telecommunications company e& – formerly known as Etisalat – has exited from its investment in Khazna but remains a major business partner, Khazna said in a statement. Transaction and financial […] March 27, 2025
