Opinion Entrepreneurs What can GCC startups learn from Africa? It would benefit both regions to build stronger ties with one another May 30, 2025
Artificial Intelligence ‘Wins for America’: Nvidia chief hails Gulf deals Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang used a first-quarter earnings call on Wednesday to highlight artificial intelligence infrastructure deals in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, describing them as major US victories at a time when export controls have dented the company’s Chinese sales. Ahead of Nvidia’s Q1 call, the Financial Times reported that Trump had ordered US […] May 30, 2025
Video length: 03:49 VIDEO Banking and Finance Crypto crimes drop due to blockchain transparency Illicit activity in cryptocurrency transactions has plummeted as a result of investment in compliance levels across the digital asset industry. Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange platform, says shadowy practices including money laundering have dropped from 0.6 percent to 0.15 percent. More traditional currencies, which are usually issued by governments, last year had a much […] May 29, 2025 In association with
Markets Gulf stocks mixed as oil climbs on latest Trump tariff twist Equity markets across the Gulf had a mixed day on Thursday as a rebound in oil prices and a temporary lull in global volatility offered some respite following a US court ruling that struck down former President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff measures. Brent crude rose 1 percent to $63.78 a barrel by 15:00 Gulf Standard […] May 29, 2025
Analysis Agriculture African and local sheep on the menu as livestock trade shifts As Eid al Adha approaches, consumers in Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf region can expect imports of animals and meat of varying provenance from their traditional suppliers, analysts say. African exporters and Gulf self-sufficiency projects are stepping in to fill gaps in the Middle East’s livestock supply as Australian and other providers step back. […] May 29, 2025
Analysis Education International business schools enter Gulf to plug skills gap Demand for executive education in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other Gulf states is growing as local governments and corporations seek to train the next generation of leaders to support economic and enterprise development goals. Several business schools and universities offering professional development programmes are expanding in the Gulf region. These include the London Business […] May 29, 2025
Oil & Gas Oil climbs 1% as US court blocks Trump’s tariffs Oil prices rose on Thursday after a US court blocked most of President Donald Trump’s tariffs from taking effect. Markets are also watching out for potential new US sanctions curbing Russian crude flows and an Opec+ decision on hiking output in July. Brent crude futures climbed 78 cents, or 1.2 percent, to $65.68 a barrel. US West […] May 29, 2025
Leisure & Hospitality China grants visa-free status for all GCC citizens China has implemented a visa-free status for all GCC countries, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson has confirmed. “China decided to include more countries in its visa waiver programme and extend the visa-free policy to ordinary passport holders from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain on a trial basis from June 9, 2025, to June 8, […] May 28, 2025
Health Quadria commits 25% from $1bn healthcare fund to GCC Quadria Capital, a Singapore-based healthcare-focused private equity company, plans to allocate up to a quarter of its latest $1 billion fund to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “In the GCC, we intend to deploy capital across healthcare infrastructure such as hospitals and clinics, biopharma, diagnostics and digital health,” Quadria Capital partner Sunil Thakur told AGBI […] May 28, 2025
Trade GCC and Malaysia begin official FTA talks The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Malaysia have restarted negotiating a long-delayed free trade agreement (FTA) to strengthen economic and trade relations. “Malaysia considers the GCC to be one of its most valued trade partners in West Asia,” investment, trade and industry minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz said in a statement. The GCC comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, […] May 27, 2025
Oil & Gas Russia says no talks yet of Opec+ output hikes from July Russian deputy prime minister Alexander Novak said on Monday that the Opec+ group of leading oil producers has not yet discussed increasing output by another 411,000 barrels per day (bpd) ahead of its meeting, RIA news agency reported. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, led by Russia, will hold an online […] May 27, 2025
Opinion Logistics With sanctions lifted, Syria’s supply chain is cranking back into life The GCC was quick to recognise the opportunities May 23, 2025
Opinion Trade Trump in the Gulf: There’s substance behind the hype Was it all just for show? The investment agreements 'signed' during the trip are clearly ludicrous May 22, 2025
Analysis Finance ‘Protection gap’ is growing in the Gulf as insurance costs rise It is perhaps no surprise that, after the heaviest rains 13 months ago since records began and billions of dollars in flood damage, the cost of insuring homes in Dubai and Abu Dhabi has jumped. But it is the so-called protection gap in the Gulf insurance market, which the average 10 to 15 percent rise […] May 22, 2025
Opinion Trade In the Gulf, the US outpaces China where it counts Gulf states know there is more to gain from denser cooperation with US defence and tech companies May 21, 2025
Analysis Artificial Intelligence Thirsty for data: water scarcity challenges Gulf’s AI ambitions Water scarcity could complicate the Gulf’s ambitious plans to build ever-larger and more powerful data centres, experts say. “Water accessibility can significantly limit data centre capacity, particularly as cooling demands increase with higher density workloads and rising ambient temperatures,” Rasheed Ahmad, technical director at American Water and Environmental Solutions, tells AGBI. Saudi Arabia’s new AI […] May 20, 2025
Oil & Gas Oil price drop fails to dent Gulf and Western capex Gulf national energy companies and their Western rivals are likely to maintain their capital expenditure guidance for the year but independent US producers may cut spending as oil prices decline, analysts have said. For now, Gulf oil and gas companies are sticking to their investment plans despite a drop of almost 15 percent in the […] May 19, 2025
Analysis Finance Qatar’s $526bn wealth fund bets big on technology Qatar Airways captured the headlines this week with its near $100 billion order for Boeing aircraft during US President Donald Trump’s Gulf visit. But behind the scenes the country’s $526 billion sovereign Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) is making investments that could prove to be of greater strategic importance to the country, with an increasing focus […] May 19, 2025
Analysis Finance The multi-trillion dollar deals agreed on Trump’s trip During his trip to the Gulf region from May 13 to 16, US president Donald Trump visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE and announced a series of deals across a number of sectors, which, according to the White House, added up to nearly $2.5 trillion. Artificial intelligence Saudi Arabia’s newly-established AI developer Humain said […] May 19, 2025
Opinion Trade Trump’s Gulf visit was grand – but the real test starts now Pledges and deals may change when reality hits May 18, 2025
