Oil & Gas Oil holds near one-month high amid supply woes Oil prices held near one-month highs on Friday and were poised for a third weekly gain on a tightening global supply outlook after the US imposed tariffs against countries buying oil and gas from Venezuela and placed restrictions on Iranian oil trade. Brent crude futures dipped 8 cents, or 0.1 percent, at $73.95 a barrel as […] March 28, 2025
Trade Gold hits record high over trade war fears Gold prices scaled a record peak on Friday as concerns over US President Donald Trump’s fresh tariff plans ignited fears of a global trade war, driving a rush towards the safe-haven allure of the precious metal. Spot gold climbed 0.6 percent to $3,073.79 an ounce, as of 02:30 GMT, after hitting an all-time high of $3,077.44 earlier in […] March 28, 2025
Analysis Media & Advertising Warner-OSN tipped to inspire more deals for Mena streamers The tie-up between US giant Warner Bros Discovery and Dubai’s OSN Streaming could be a sign of things to come for the Middle East’s entertainment industry, media insiders have told AGBI. Warner Bros said on Monday it would pay $57 million for a one-third stake in the streaming business, a subsidiary of Orbit Showtime Network […] March 27, 2025
Oil & Gas Opec+ on track for May production rise Opec+ will probably stick to its plan to raise oil output for a second consecutive month in May, four sources told Reuters, amid steady oil prices and plans to force some members to reduce pumping to compensate for past overproduction. Opec+, a group that includes Opec and allied producers led by Russia, and which pumps over 40 […] March 25, 2025
Aviation Narrow-body aircraft to push growth of Middle East fleets Gulf Arab airlines and other Middle East carriers will expand their fleets at almost double the rate of the global average over the next ten years, industry experts say. They will also increase the share of narrow-body planes over twin-aisle aircraft. Globally, fleet size is expected grow by 2.8 percent per year over the next […] March 23, 2025
editor's insight Oil & Gas Why Russia could ease the Gulf’s oil headache The Opec+ countries have said that they will conduct “a gradual and flexible return” of 2.2 million barrels a day in production through until the end of next year. Saudi Arabia in particular has been gritting its teeth in holding back over 3 million... Register now: It’s easy and free This content is available for […] March 21, 2025
Oil & Gas Iran sanctions help push oil prices to second weekly gain Oil prices rose on Friday and were heading for a second consecutive weekly gain as fresh US sanctions on Iran and the latest output plan from the Opec+ producer group raised expectations of tighter supply. Brent crude futures were up 12 cents, or 0.2 percent, at $72.12 a barrel by 08:50 GMT. US West Texas […] March 21, 2025
Opinion Sustainability The Woodlands, a Texan experiment in sustainability The US idyll is an example of how to organise a comfortable urban life in a hydrocarbon environment March 21, 2025
Opinion Leisure & Hospitality Ramadan transforms hospitality with quiet days and bustling nights The holy month acts as an annual stress test for the industry March 21, 2025
Analysis Renewable Energy Shortage of ‘bankable’ green energy projects stymies investment While the Middle East has seen a surge in sustainable finance initiatives, investors are struggling to find commercially viable energy projects to invest in. This is particularly the case in developing nations, according to industry experts. The financial sector in the UAE has pledged to “mobilise” AED1 trillion ($272 billion) in sustainable finance by 2030. […] March 21, 2025
Oil & Gas Opec+ sets out new oil cut plan to offset excess output Opec+ on Thursday issued a new schedule for seven member nations to make further oil output cuts to compensate for pumping above-agreed levels. This will more than overtake the monthly production hikes the group plans to introduce next month. The plan will represent monthly cuts of between 189,000 barrels per day (bpd) and 435,000 bpd, […] March 21, 2025
Markets Gold climbs to record high as Fed signals rate cuts in 2025 Gold soared to a record high on Thursday, as the US Federal Reserve hinted at a possible easing of interest rates by half a percentage point by the end of the year. The news further fostered bullion’s appeal amid ongoing geopolitical and economic woes. Spot gold rose 0.2 percent to $3,052.92 an ounce as of 00:30 […] March 20, 2025
Opinion Logistics Trust is paramount as Gulf states deepen African investment Legal disputes and infrastructure challenges could test long-term relations March 19, 2025
Finance Gold hits record high on safe-haven demand Gold rose to hit a record high on Wednesday, as Middle East tensions and trade uncertainties lifted the bullion’s appeal, while traders awaited the Federal Reserve’s decision later in the day. Spot gold held its ground at $3,035.12 an ounce, as of 04:15 GMT, after hitting an all-time peak of $3,038.90 earlier in the session. US […] March 19, 2025
SPECIAL REPORT Trade Bolstering Egypt’s trade with Africa Egypt's portfolio of multilateral trade deals includes the largest continental free trade agreement in the world. We look at how it can do more business in Africa – a market of 1.5 billion people March 18, 2025 In association with
Logistics Red Sea insurance rates to stay firm amid attack fears The cost of shipping goods through the Red Sea is expected to remain steady after the US carried out further airstrikes on Yemen on Monday. The US action added to fears of new attacks on ships by the Iran-aligned Houthis targeted by Washington, industry sources said. Responding to the Houthi movement’s threats to international shipping, the […] March 18, 2025
Economy Kuwait gets closer to tapping debt markets to fund infrastructure Kuwait has moved a step closer to selling debt on the international markets again after the cabinet approved a draft decree that should help the country fund multibillion-dollar infrastructure projects. Historically the country has had little need to borrow thanks to its oil revenue and relatively unambitious spending plans. Kuwait last sold dollar-denominated bonds in […] March 17, 2025
Opinion Economy Trade wars and oil woes fuel market uncertainty Two years of unusual stability, post-Covid and Russia’s war on Ukraine are at an end March 14, 2025
Economy Jordan most active gold trader as Mena states adjust holdings Middle Eastern states are upping their trade in gold as price shifts create opportunity. Qatar, Egypt and Jordan have all bought sizeable amounts of gold in recent months, according to data from the World Gold Council and official announcements. Qatar and Egypt increased their holdings by 1.2 and 0.5 tonnes respectively, March data from the […] March 14, 2025
Analysis Employment Barriers remain high for women seeking jobs in the Middle East A “shocking” lack of care facilities for the elderly, few options for childcare, unsafe transport and poor access to credit all combine to make it hard for even highly educated women in the Middle East and North Africa to progress in their careers. That is the belief of Hela Cheikhrouhou, a senior official with the […] March 14, 2025
Opinion Transport The rhythms of Ramadan business travel The data challenges conventional wisdom about travel patterns during the holy month March 13, 2025
Infrastructure Project finance central to funding Gulf infrastructure Financing a project and project finance are not necessarily the same thing. Irrespective, project finance is as important as ever in the Gulf in funding billions of dollars of infrastructure projects, from energy and water schemes to data centres and battery storage facilities, according to experts. Abbas Hussein, global head of infrastructure and development finance […] March 13, 2025
