Opinion Shifting sands: Three years of rapid change in the Middle East The region emerged stronger from the pandemic and 2023 promises even more January 18, 2023
Business of Sport Qatar and Abu Dhabi to host F1 races in October and November Formula One will have 23 races this season, still a record and one more than last year, with the sport facing a four-week gap in April after deciding not to replace the cancelled Chinese Grand Prix. The race in Shanghai, originally scheduled for April 16 as the fourth of 24 rounds, was axed last month […] January 18, 2023
Opinion Economy Unravelling the Gulf’s energy conundrum The region gained wealth and political clout last year. Now, as the UAE prepares to host Cop28, it will be expected to find – and fund – climate solutions January 16, 2023
Opinion Tech The metaverse is alive and kicking Just as online shopping drove internet penetration, the metaverse’s immersive interaction between physical and digital worlds will power its adoption January 16, 2023
Analysis Energy GCC poised for starring role in global hydrogen market The GCC is set to play a key role in the global hydrogen market, with the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman looking to become leaders in the export of clean fuel. As industry experts come together in Abu Dhabi this week for the World Future Energy Summit, a report from Frost & Sullivan paints a […] January 16, 2023
Opinion Banking and Finance To report is to trust: How to navigate the crypto winter Transparency drives trust, and it's time that crypto exchanges report and comply just like other investible asset classes January 12, 2023
Opinion Economy Maharashtra looks to Mena for investment and partnerships The Indian state is pledging to become a $1 trillion economy – and strengthening relationships with the Middle East is at the forefront of these plans January 12, 2023
Analysis Retail Strong Gulf consumer spending defies global concerns Consumer confidence among the Gulf’s shoppers remains strong, despite concerns about the impact of a global slowdown and rising prices. A survey by management consulting firm Kearney found that 88 percent of respondents in the UAE and 79 percent of those questioned in Saudi Arabia were concerned about global market volatility and rising inflation. At […] January 12, 2023
Analysis Economy Why the Middle East is now a ‘must’ for top UK companies The Middle East’s contribution to revenues of major UK-listed companies is predicted to rise to record levels in 2023 on the back of an acceleration in green energy, industrials and infrastructure sectors. Lumina Capital Advisers report that money generated from the region this year will deliver an additional £1.6 billion ($1.9 billion) to UK Plc […] January 11, 2023
Analysis Indian exports to GCC boom ahead of free trade talks Indian exports to the GCC are booming, with nearly $30 billion of business in the first seven months of the fiscal year – and analysts are predicting more growth as talks resume on a free trade deal. The GCC is already India’s largest trading partner bloc, with bilateral trade valued at over $154 billion in […] January 11, 2023
Analysis Sustainability Gulf’s sustainability consulting market set to hit $1.3bn by 2025 Middle Eastern companies are calling in expert advisers to help them improve their environmental performance and analyse carbon-tracking and other sustainability indicators. As national carbon reduction policies roll out across the Gulf, the region’s market for sustainability consulting is forecast to grow by 10 percent each year between now and 2025, according to a report […] January 11, 2023
Opinion The Gulf’s battle to tackle the spread of ‘dirty’ money The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime is partnering with the authorities of GCC countries to support their anti-money laundering efforts and combat crime and corruption January 10, 2023
Banking and Finance Mena to host first IPO summit with listings in high demand The Middle East’s first IPO-focused summit will take place in Dubai later this month after recent listings in the emirate proved a huge draw for international investors. Dubai Financial Market and the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) have partnered to host the Mena IPO Summit – Dubai, which aims to unite the entire IPO value […] January 9, 2023
Analysis Banking and Finance Rising demand for green bonds, despite ‘bleaching’ Global issuance of green bonds has increased by an average of 70 percent each year between 2016 and 2021. The market for environmental, social and corporate (ESG) governance finance in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region remains small compared to elsewhere, but it is growing quickly. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund issued $3 […] January 6, 2023
Healthtech provider targets early cancer detection across Mena Abdul Latif Jameel Health is planning to expand throughout the Middle East and Africa, its CEO Akram Bouchenaki has told AGBI. The multinational company – the healthcare business of Saudi family conglomerate Abdul Latif Jameel – is looking at new locations and tech innovations as part of its ambition to accelerate the region’s access to […] January 6, 2023
Analysis Economy Chinese investors target Middle East for growth More than three-quarters of Chinese businesses are looking to expand their presence in Middle East markets or enter them. The UAE and Saudi Arabia were named as the top two destinations for Chinese investment over the next three to five years. According to a new survey – part of the Report on Chinese Investors’ Confidence […] January 4, 2023
Analysis Gulf healthtech investment is just what the doctor ordered Technological innovation and broader changes in society are shifting the balance of power in healthcare across the Middle East region, increasing investment from entrepreneurs looking to capitalise on the sector’s digital revolution. “The same wave of personalisation and consumerisation that ushered in analytics-based recommendation engines for entertainment has programmed people to want healthcare that is […] January 4, 2023
Analysis Banking and Finance Gulf wealth funds look to snap up ‘cheap’ assets in West Sovereign wealth funds across the Middle East are forecast to take advantage of “limited competition” from global peers this year to pursue “cheap” assets in Europe, the US and other western markets. A sharp drop in stock and bond markets over the past year has resulted in the combined value of the world’s sovereign wealth […] January 3, 2023
Opinion Tourism Gulf travel sector will adapt to create opportunity The Gulf's hospitality businesses found a solution to Covid-19 and will do so again as global financial insecurity begins to bite January 3, 2023
Banking and Finance Mena professionals vow to build up their savings in 2023 Saving money is the top new year’s resolution for Mena professionals, a survey has found. In the poll by jobs site Bayt.com, almost two-thirds (63 percent) of the 2,988 respondents said building a nest egg was their No 1 priority for 2023. Keren Bobker, a Dubai-based independent financial adviser and senior partner at Holborn Assets, […] January 2, 2023
