Analysis Industry Uranium prices rise with demand for nuclear power Barakah in the UAE, Dabaa in Egypt, Bushehr in Iran and Akkuyu in Turkey. Nuclear energy is now seen by many countries as central to emissions reduction. It is little surprise then that demand for feedstock – mainly uranium – has been spiking. Prices for the mineral, which is critical to the production of nuclear power […] February 26, 2024
Sustainability UK’s Solent Cluster courts Gulf for green investment The Solent Cluster, a network of 114 companies with interests on the English south coast, is considering working with Gulf companies to deliver $15 billion of green investment. The group is prioritising decarbonisation and among its proposals are a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plant for which Dubai’s national carrier Emirates and other airlines could become […] February 26, 2024
Analysis Banking & Finance VC firms ready for Mena investment rebound Venture capital companies expect investment activity in the Middle East and North Africa to rebound this year after a slump in 2023, with startups in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates likely again to dominate dealmaking. In 2023 there were 517 VC deals in the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey. They raised a […] February 26, 2024
Trade UK cheese sales buck trend in F&B exports to the GCC British cheese continues to grow in popularity with regional consumers, but it could not prevent total food and drink exports from the UK to the GCC declining in 2023. Exports were down by almost 7 percent year on year to £816 million ($1 billion). The UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs attributed the […] February 22, 2024
Opinion Health Gulf’s longevity sector has a long way to go Growing lifespans call for a joined-up approach to personalised medicine, preventative care and nutrition February 21, 2024
Trade Maharashtra plans food security corridor with UAE The central Indian state of Maharashtra is working to develop a food security corridor with the UAE. The government of Maharashtra, which has 11 million farmers, has linked up with US fund manager Pegasus Capital Advisors for the food trade project. Under their agreement, the Maharashtra authorities will share an operational plan within three months, […] February 14, 2024
Opinion Retail Gulf retailers are missing a digital trick Consumer behaviour on social platforms has rapidly evolved and companies need to keep up February 13, 2024
Banking & Finance Investcorp stays cool on digital assets Investcorp, the Gulf region’s largest alternative investment company, will not be turning to digital assets to boost its bottom line in the short term. The Bahrain company’s Abu Dhabi-listed Investcorp Capital invested more than $639 million in the first half of its financial year to December 31, 2023. The company’s latest financial reports revealed a […] February 13, 2024
Economy IMF chief says oil cuts weigh on Mena GDP growth Gross domestic product (GDP) growth for the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) is expected to reach 2.9 percent in 2024, which is higher than last year, but still below October 2023 projections, International Monetary Fund (IMF) managing director Kristalina Georgieva said. “This is largely due to short-term cuts in oil production, the Gaza-Israel conflict, […] February 12, 2024
Exclusive Retail Asia’s largest beauty retailer plans GCC expansion Watsons, Asia’s largest health and beauty retailer, is to launch in two more GCC markets after recording sales growth of 53 percent in the region last year. The company has 18 stores in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar through a franchise deal with AI Futtaim Group. It is targeting expansion into Bahrain and Kuwait […] February 9, 2024
Tech Gulf militaries rush to keep up with drone tech progress A new form of drone warfare used during the Ukraine conflict has changed the nature of battle and created a challenge for military planners in the Gulf region, industry experts said at a defence show in Riyadh this week. Drone swarms have been launched by both sides since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. The unmanned […] February 8, 2024
Economy OECD predicts modest growth but conflict risk remains Global growth is holding up and inflation is falling, but conflict in the Middle East represents a significant near-term risk, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has said. In its interim outlook published on Monday, the Paris-based organisation projected that GDP expansion worldwide would remain moderate at around 3 percent in 2024-2025. Energy […] February 7, 2024
Markets Gulf markets attracting more international investors International investors are increasingly considering opportunities in Gulf markets, according to traders and observers. The only exception is China, where interest in investing in the Gulf remains relatively low. GCC countries raised $6.8 billion through 29 offerings during the first nine months of 2023, buoyed by a privatisation push in Dubai, several record-breaking listings from […] February 6, 2024
Economy Red Sea attacks dent Mena business activity The attacks on shipping in the Red Sea are depressing economies across the Middle East and North Africa, as supply chain disruption takes its toll on business activity. The latest economic monthly bulletins for the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt all show a drop in operating activity for January. Houthi rebels in Yemen have been […] February 5, 2024
Real Estate Millennial ‘co-living’ concept gains momentum in Gulf The appetite for “co-living”, a form of communal housing that offers private rooms and shared spaces, is on the rise in the GCC, and more investors are entering the sector. Co-living as a sub-segment of residential property has gained in popularity in markets such as the UK and the US, as developers seek to provide […] February 2, 2024
Opinion Economy Gulf is resilient as Fed holds interest rates Once the cuts come, GCC central banks will follow February 2, 2024
People & Lifestyle Kuwait and Bahrain propose changes to working week Lawmakers in Kuwait and Bahrain are pushing for major amendments to the working week, aiming to improve workers’ rights and boost the work-life balance in the two Gulf states. In Bahrain, the focus is on extending the weekend to three days: Friday, Saturday and Sunday. “There is an urgent need to keep pace with global […] January 29, 2024
Opinion Health How tech is reinventing regional healthcare Local governments are leveraging AI to shape the future of medicine January 29, 2024
Opinion Banking & Finance Strong results likely from Gulf banks – but there’s more to success than profit Expect healthy returns for 2023, yet look beyond the financials for 2024 January 26, 2024
Tech Saudi is ‘young market’ for video surveillance tech Demand for video surveillance technology is expected to grow rapidly in Saudi Arabia over the next few years, industry experts have said. “Saudi Arabia is a new and young market for video surveillance, and regulations are still being drafted,” Ettiene van der Watt, regional director at Swedish manufacturing company Axis Communications, told AGBI last week […] January 22, 2024
Opinion Education Chasing the elusive gold star for Gulf schools Global education benchmarks are useful, but they don't tell the full story January 22, 2024
Opinion Employment Gulf must pioneer on pension reform There is a unique opportunity to set a new global standard in retirement savings January 18, 2024