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The UAE and Saudi Arabia are key growth markets where there is rising demand for premium cinematic experiences Imax

Imax seeks investors in its vision of growth in the Gulf

Imax Corporation, the US cinema technology giant, is in discussions with Gulf investors including sovereign wealth funds as it seeks to deepen its presence in one of its fastest-growing markets. The UAE and Saudi Arabia rank among Imax’s top 20 global markets, its popularity driven by rising demand for premium cinematic experiences. “We’re meeting various […]

Parliament Street in Dublin. The Irish capital is now the world’s largest listing venue for hard currency global sukuk

GCC sukuk’s best-kept secret: Dublin

For many people, the city of Guinness and James Joyce may not be the first place that comes to mind when thinking about Islamic bonds. Yet, according to a report last month from Fitch Ratings, the Dublin stock exchange – Euronext Dublin – is now the world’s largest listing venue for hard currency global sukuk. […]

A Talabat courier in Cairo. The Delivery Hero subsidiary also operates in Jordan, Iraq and all six GCC states

Mena delivery app Talabat outperforms its German parent

When Talabat makes its debut on Dubai Financial Market next week, the food delivery app will be worth nearly as much as its parent company despite providing only about a quarter of Delivery Hero’s revenue. This might suggest Talabat’s initial public offering (IPO) was overpriced but a closer look at both companies’ earnings shows otherwise […]

Muhammad Al Jasser of the Islamic Development Bank, second from left, at the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Riyadh

Arab funds pledge $10bn to fight desertification

The Arab Coordination Group, an alliance of 10 development funds, is to provide $10 billion by 2030 to combat land degradation, desertification and drought, it was announced on the second day of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification event in Riyadh.  The commitment brings the total pledged to these interrelated causes at the two-week […]

Tunisia tourism numbers

Record tourism numbers expected in Tunisia

Tunisia expects to break its all-time record for tourism numbers in 2024, with more than 10 million visitors. The number of incoming tourists so far this year is approximately 9.9 million, with the National Tourism Office expecting that the figure will pass 10 million by December 31.  That would mark a record high in tourism […]

Massad Boulos seen with Donald Trump during an election campaign visit to Dearborn, Michigan. Boulos is father-in-law to Trump's daughter Tiffany

What Massad Boulos can do for US-Middle East trade

White House role for Trump in-law Adviser on Arab and ME affairs Lebanese tycoon has Africa links The rise of a Lebanese tycoon and Trump in-law to the White House suggests business links and personal ties between the US and the Middle ... Register now: It’s easy and free This content is available for registered […]

Cargo is loaded onto an aeroplane. The Middle East-Europe route accounts for 5% of global traffic

Middle East-Europe is ‘fastest-growing route for air cargo’

The Middle East-Europe route for air cargo was the fastest growing in the world in October, according to International Air Transport Association figures.  Annual growth in cargo tonne-kilometres stood at 15.3 percent in October, IATA said. The global average is 9.8 percent and the Middle East average is 4.5 percent. The Middle East-Europe route has […]

PMI november Saudi man in textile factory

Non-oil activity in Saudi Arabia at 16-month high

Activity in Saudi Arabia’s non-oil economy has hit a 16-month high, as the country’s diversification efforts continue to show results. The S&P Saudi Arabia Purchasing Managers’ Index – a composite measure of non-oil private sector performance – rose from 56.9 in October to 59 in November, the fourth successive month in which the headline index […]

A woman sorts plastic bottles in Quezon City, Philippines. 170 nations took part in the latest round of UN talks

Latest talks on global plastics treaty end in stalemate

Negotiations over creating a legally binding global treaty to combat plastic pollution adjourned on Monday with the 170 participating nations failing again to reach agreement. Some oil-producing countries, including Saudi Arabia and Russia, objected to proposals supported by more than 100 other nations to limit plastic production, Reuters reported. Plastics are made from hydrocarbons – […]

EU GCC FTA, EU Gulf trade

EU and GCC officials aim to resume FTA negotiations

European and Gulf officials are holding “informal” efforts to “revive” and even “upgrade” negotiations over a free trade agreement between the two blocks. Efforts towards such an agreement are three and a half decades in the making, Luigi Di Maio, the EU’s special envoy to the Gulf has said. “I have to say it’s a […]

Workers on an oil rig in New Mexico, US. The incoming Trump administration is giving Opec+ plenty to think about

Opec+ likely to adopt a wait-and-see strategy for 2025

Opec+ leaders have much to consider ahead of their meeting next week – little of it positive for flagging oil prices.  First, there is the prospect of a second presidential term for Donald Trump as leader of the world’s largest oil producer and exporter; second, an economic downturn in China that shows no sign of […]

The striking Riyadh Metro station in Kiing Abdullah Financial District - will it draw Saudis from their cars?

Riyadh Metro could get Saudis to quit their cars

OK. So it did not go entirely as advertised. The first phase of the Riyadh Metro was due to open on Wednesday; instead the system has been inaugurated and operation of three of the six lines – Blue, Yellow and Violet – officially starts on December ...

Workers are seen at the Borouge petrochemical facility at ADNOC's Ruwais Industrial Complex in Ruwais, United Arab Emirates May 14, 2018.

Adnoc’s Abu Dhabi CO2 storage site gets go-ahead

The UAE has certified the feasibility of Abu Dhabi National Oil Corporation’s (Adnoc) West Aquifier CO2 storage site in Ruwais industrial site. The issuance of the Certificate of Feasibility for the West Aquifer project was issued by Det Norske Veritas (DNV), a global accredited registrar and classification organisation. The DNV said it is the first […]