Editor's Insight Economy Taking on the almighty dollar There is much to discuss during President Trump’s visit to Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia next week. Oil and gas, investment into the US and tariffs, technology transfers and nuclear power, weapons sales and security guarantees, Yemen and Iran are all likely to feature. By way of welcome, Qatar has said that it will buy a fleet of […] May 8, 2025
Opinion Markets GCC investors need a multi-currency mindset to survive Investors are scrambling to reduce exposure to erratic US policies May 8, 2025
Trade US might ease chip export curbs on some Gulf nations President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he will soon have an announcement on whether the US will ease microchip export restrictions to some Gulf countries. “We might be doing that, yeah,” Trump said. “And it will be announced soon.” Trump is preparing for his first major diplomatic trip next week that includes a three-country Middle […] May 8, 2025
Analysis Trade Gulf funds weigh risk and reward in Trump’s new trade world order Gulf sovereign wealth funds, including Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala and Saudi Arabia’s Neom Investment Fund, see both risk and opportunity in the heightened global trade tensions linked to US tariffs. “We know what an economic recession looks like – here we’re dealing with something slightly different,” said Oscar Fahlgren, chief investment officer at Mubadala’s alternative asset […] May 7, 2025
Trade Malaysia continues GCC trade talks that began in 2011 Malaysian prime minister Anwar Ibrahim has said that talks on closing a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Gulf Cooperation Council are continuing, 14 years after they first began. The deal will deepen commercial partnerships and expand economic growth, Kuwait’s state-run Kuna news agency reported, quoting Ibrahim. The GCC and Malaysia agreed on a trade […] May 7, 2025
Opinion Renewable Energy GCC states bet big on renewables in Central Asia Green energy deals are the foundations for closer trade relationships May 6, 2025
Opinion Oil & Gas Opec+ throws the car into reverse, but keeps its grip on the wheel It is a stretch to see how the current market can be regarded as anything but uncertain May 5, 2025
Analysis Leisure & Hospitality UAE hotels absorb rising costs at expense of profit Many UAE hoteliers are reluctant to raise prices to compensate for rising operational costs, even as intensifying global competition and geopolitical volatility tighten profit margins. According to data from CBRE Middle East, growth in UAE hotel revenue per available room (RevPAR) has slowed over the last two years, from 6 percent in 2023 to 3 […] May 5, 2025
Media & Advertising Ad spend in Mena among world’s lowest thanks to digital media Early and widespread adoption of digital media means countries across the Middle East and North Africa are spending less on advertising per capita than almost any other region. The UAE, Saudi Arabia and Turkey are among the economies with the lowest ad spending as a percentage of GDP in the world, according to data from […] May 5, 2025
Opinion Artificial Intelligence No matter where you are, it pays to be nice to AI Polite and intimate, or businesslike and rude – which approach is best? I asked the expert May 2, 2025
Editor's Insight Tech Gulf enters chip wars Chip War by Chris Miller is an account of the most competitive, most brutal industry in the world – more competitive and brutal than the oil business, which is saying something. Miller reckons that US supremacy in the manufacture and design of semi-conductors was a major contributor to victory in the Cold War. More advanced chips […] May 2, 2025
Analysis Trade Oman’s tile law could set pattern for the GCC Oman plans to implement anti-dumping measures on ceramic tile imports from China and India, saying the materials that are widely used in the building industry are being sold at below-cost prices. This comes amid a global debate around the impact of increased US import tariffs on China, the world’s biggest manufacturer, and whether the tax […] May 2, 2025
Analysis Trade UK urged to seek standalone trade deals with Gulf states Trade experts, including a former UK government senior advisor, are questioning why talks between the UK and GCC to secure a free trade agreement are taking so long. Many recommend that London pursue bilateral deals with Gulf countries if and when a wider GCC deal is signed. “[The negotiations] have been going on for yonks […] May 2, 2025
Analysis Tech AI will be front and centre during Trump’s Gulf trip Artificial intelligence is expected to be top of the agenda during US president Donald Trump’s visit to Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in mid-May, with officials from all sides eager to announce fresh partnerships. Discussions are likely to focus on securing more GCC investments into US technology and expanding Gulf states’ access […] May 2, 2025
Opinion Finance Stick or twist? How to invest during the Trump turmoil Today's volatility is uncomfortable, but modest compared to the 2008 meltdown or the pandemic May 1, 2025
Analysis Artificial Intelligence Focus on investment in AI as Mena lags in research The Gulf and wider Middle East and North Africa region make a woefully small contribution to global artificial intelligence research and academics, but strategic investments could help mitigate some of the risk of dependency on others, industry experts say. The Mena region contributed just 5 percent of all AI-related academic publications and less than 10 […] April 30, 2025
Opinion Markets India is the GCC investor’s safe haven by design and default The $4 trillion South Asian juggernaut is relatively insulated from Trump's protectionist caprice April 30, 2025
Economy Eric Trump: the Gulf is dependent on a strong America The Gulf region is dependent on a strong United States and wants security so local economies can flourish, the US president’s son Eric Trump said in an interview with Reuters. In Dubai as an executive of the president’s family business, the Trump Organization – which launched a new tower in the city in partnership with […] April 30, 2025
Analysis Oil & Gas Gulf oil investment ‘can weather price slump’ International oil prices may have fallen to their lowest in four years but that is unlikely to disrupt the exploration and production investment plans of Gulf national oil producers, energy analysts have said. But Middle East and North Africa producers outside the GCC may not be so lucky. Crude oil fell below $60 a barrel […] April 29, 2025
Analysis Markets Dollar slump impacts foreign Gulf stock investors The dollar’s descent to multi-year lows against other major currencies presents a dilemma for foreign investors in Gulf stocks. Regional currencies are pegged to the US currency, aside from the Kuwaiti dinar which tracks a basket of currencies that is heavily dollar weighted. So, a lower dollar makes buying Gulf stocks cheaper for investors from […] April 29, 2025