Industry Advanced unit awards $191m contract for new Saudi petchem plant Advanced Petrochemical Company (Advanced) said its subsidiary has awarded engineering, procurement and construction contracts (EPC) worth $191.3 million for the first isopropanol (IPA) plant in Saudi Arabia. The plant will be built in Jubail Industrial City and has a production capacity of 70,000 tonnes per annum. The contracts were awarded to SGC eTEC Company and SGC Arabia […] February 18, 2024
Trade Turkey targets $30bn trade with Saudi Arabia Turkey intends to increase its trade volume with Saudi Arabia to $30 billion, according to a local media report. Bilateral trade between the two countries reached $6.8 billion in 2023, with investments from Saudi companies making up $2 billion of the total, Daily Sabah reported, citing Turkey’s vice president Cevdet Yılmaz. “We believe investments can […] February 16, 2024
Manufacturing Saudi’s Shaker and LG to produce AC compressors Saudi-listed Al Hassan Ghazi Ibrahim Shaker Co. (Shaker Group) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with South Korea’s LG Electronics (LG) to manufacture AC compressors in the kingdom. As part of the deal a feasibility study will be carried out to review the viability of establishing a local production facility for AC compressors and […] February 16, 2024
Aviation Flydubai expands in Europe with four new routes Dubai low-cost airline Flydubai has launched four new services to expand its European network to 43 destinations in 21 countries. The carrier will be the first UAE airline to operate direct flights to EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, starting August 2. Flydubai is also marking its first entry into the Baltic region with direct flights to Riga International Airport […] February 16, 2024
Industry Tenaris opens $60m industrial complex in Abu Dhabi Tenaris, a global supplier of pipes for the oil and gas industries, has opened its AED220 million ($60 million) industrial complex in Abu Dhabi, a boost for the UAE government’s “Make it in the Emirates” initiative. Etihad Tubulars, the newly established 200,000 sq m industrial complex in Abu Dhabi Industrial City, will house a training centre […] February 16, 2024
Economy Saudi 2023 budget deficit at $22bn as oil revenue dips Saudi Arabia recorded a budget deficit of SAR81 billion ($21.6 billion) in 2023 in line with expectations, as expenditure increased against a backdrop of falling oil revenue, the finance ministry said on 15 February. Total expenditure increased by 11 percent annually to SAR1.3 trillion last year, as revenues reached SAR1.2 trillion, according to data released […] February 15, 2024
Aviation Oman Air 2023 losses down 25% on higher ticket sales State-owned Oman Air cut its losses by a quarter in 2023 as it streamlined expenditure and improved ticket sales, chairman Said Hamoud Al Ma’awali said. The airline is expected to see “good growth” in its financial performance by 2026 under its four-year transformation plan, state-run Oman News Agency reported, citing the top executive. No other […] February 15, 2024
Banking and Finance Saudi Arabia raises $230m from its first savings product Subscriptions to the first round of the Saudi government’s sukuk savings product reached SAR861 million ($229.6 million), the National Debt Management Center (NDMC) said. The total number of savers for the sukuk product stood at 35,000, with the yield set at 5.64 percent, the state-run Saudi Press Agency reported. The sukuk maturity date is February […] February 15, 2024
Logistics Adnoc logistics subsidiary profit up 138% Adnoc Logistics and Services (L&S) reported a 138 percent year on year increase in net profit to AED2.3 billion ($620 million) as all its business segments continued to perform strongly. Revenues at Adnoc’s logistics subsidiary rose 41 percent year on year to $2.8 billion, particularly aided by the integrated logistics division, Adnoc L&S said in a […] February 15, 2024
Food & Drink Americana 2023 revenue rises on 300 new store openings Americana Restaurants, the Middle East and North Africa franchisee of fast-food restaurants KFC and Pizza Hut, said it will remain focused on growth and market penetration after opening a record 300 new stores last year. The new stores pushed revenue at Americana to $2.4 billion in 2023, a gain of 1.5 percent year on year. […] February 15, 2024
Trade Modi’s visit to Abu Dhabi deepens UAE-India trade ties Top-level talks between the UAE and India have taken place in Abu Dhabi, on the back of a deal to strengthen their ties and a 16 percent rise in bilateral trade. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the UAE, and Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister, met on Tuesday to review progress since […] February 14, 2024
Leisure & Hospitality Cenomi Centers gets $1.4bn to support growth plans Cenomi Centers, Saudi Arabia’s largest shopping mall operator, has secured sustainability-linked financings worth SAR5.3 billion ($1.4 billion) from a consortium of regional banks. HSBC Saudi Arabia led the syndication, with participation from Saudi National Bank, Saudi Awwal Bank, Arab National Bank, Commercial Bank of Dubai, Mashreq Bank, and Qatar National Bank. The new facilities consist […] February 14, 2024
Energy Taqa energy company doubles earnings in 2023 Abu Dhabi National Energy Company’s (Taqa) net income more than doubled to AED17 billion ($4.6 billion) in 2023. The higher income was driven by a one-off gain of AED10.8 billion recognised on the acquisition of a five percent shareholding in Adnoc Gas. However, it was offset in part by a one-off AED1.1 billion deferred tax […] February 14, 2024
Finance Remittances to Pakistan from Saudi Arabia and UAE reach $6.5bn Total remittances from Saudi Arabia and the UAE to Pakistan reached $6.5 billion between July 2023 and January 2024, a Pakistani local daily reported. Saudi Arabia led the list of nations with remittance inflows to Pakistan, reaching nearly $4 billion in the first seven months of fiscal year 2024, Dawn news outlet reported, citing State […] February 14, 2024
Finance Al Ansari profit falls 16% as remittance takes a hit UAE remittance and foreign exchange house Al Ansari Financial Services reported a 16 percent year on year decline in profit due to a drop in the remittance segment and increased expenses. The company reported a net profit of AED495 million for 2023, hoping the newly announced remittance fee hike will help offset costs and strengthen […] February 14, 2024
Finance Egypt-Turkey trade hits nearly $6bn in 2023 Trade between Egypt and Turkey reached nearly $6 billion in 2023, Egypt’s trade and industry minister, Ahmed Samir, has disclosed. Egypt’s exports to Turkey rose 28 percent year on year to nearly $3 billion last year. “Turkey has become Egypt’s largest recipient of exports in 2023 and one of its key trading partners,” Egypt Today […] February 14, 2024
Aviation Air Arabia remains upbeat despite profit drop in Q4 Air Arabia remains optimistic about the future of low-cost air travel despite reporting a drop in profit in the last quarter of 2023. Based in Sharjah, the no-frills airline reported a net profit of AED225 million ($61 million) in the fourth quarter of 2023, down 37 percent year on year in the last three months […] February 14, 2024
Industry Emirates Steel Arkan profit rises 18% on robust sales Abu Dhabi-headquartered Emirates Steel Arkan said net profit increased by 18 percent year on year to AED602 million in 2023, on robust domestic and global sales. Revenue fell 5.3 percent year on year to nearly AED9 billion amid a challenging and volatile global economic landscape and its impact on commodity prices. The steel division accounted […] February 14, 2024
Finance Egypt’s 144 reforms propelled private sector says Madbouly The Egyptian government has implemented 144 reforms since May 2022 to support the private sector and attract foreign and local investors, according to Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly. More than 1,000 private sector companies are participating in state-run programmes to boost the Egyptian economy and promote private sector engagement, Egypt Today newspaper reported, citing Madbouly in […] February 13, 2024
Finance Ooredoo’s 2023 profit reaches all-time high of $824m Qatari telecom major Ooredoo reported an all-time high net profit of QAR3 billion ($824 million) in 2023, up 28 percent year on year thanks to solid performances in Iraq, Kuwait, Algeria and the Maldives. Revenue increased by two percent year on year to QAR23.2 billion, the company, which trades on the Qatar stock exchange, said […] February 13, 2024
Artificial Intelligence Cutting ties with Chinese companies ‘not easy’ says G42 CEO Abu Dhabi artificial intelligence (AI) company G42’s decision to sever ties with Chinese businesses was difficult, CEO Peng Xiao said on Monday. He was speaking at the World Government Summit in Dubai. G42 has accepted constraints imposed on it to work with US companies, he said, citing the need for governments to safeguard the technology. […] February 13, 2024
Oil & Gas Adnoc Drilling 2023 profit jumps 29% to $1bn Abu Dhabi-listed Adnoc Drilling reported a 29 percent increase in net profit to $1 billion from $802 million a year ago, supported by its fleet expansion strategy and accelerated growth of oilfield services. Revenue rose 14 percent annually to $3 billion, driven by offshore jack-up and oilfield services segments, which increased 31 percent and 37 […] February 13, 2024
