Analysis Telecoms Analysts opt for small Gulf telcos despite profits at majors The Gulf’s major former telecom monopolies reported steady first-quarter profit growth and have proved a safe haven for equity investors during market volatility this year. However, it is their smaller domestic rivals that analysts prefer. Saudi Telecom Co (STC), the UAE’s e& (formerly and more commonly known as Etisalat), Qatar’s Ooredoo and Kuwait’s Zain are […] June 13, 2025
Construction Qatar starts work on ‘largest’ 3D-printed schools A Qatari company has commenced work on what it says are two of the world’s largest 3D-printed buildings. The 3D-printed schools project is a venture between Qatar-headquartered UCC Holding and the state-backed Public Works Authority (Ashghal). The project involves the construction of 14 public schools, including two built using 3D printing technology. Each of the 3D […] June 12, 2025
Oil & Gas Gulf projects feature in Shell’s LNG capacity plans European energy major Shell, the world’s largest trader of liquefied natural gas (LNG), will add millions of tonnes of additional capacity by 2030 from projects under construction, a top executive has said. There is “up to 12 million tonnes of additional capacity that we’re adding between now and the end of the decade,” Cederic Cremers, […] June 12, 2025
Energy Rolls-Royce nuclear offshoot wins $3bn UK contract A Qatar-backed subsidiary of Rolls-Royce has won a contract to build three small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) in the UK worth £2.5 billion ($2.86 billion). The UK government announced that Rolls-Royce SMR had won the contract on Tuesday, sending Rolls-Royce’s share price to its highest ever level. Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, the Qatar Investment Authority, […] June 11, 2025
Economy Qatar economy The latest economic and demographic indicators for Qatar, including GDP, inflation, oil prices, trade, population, unemployment and more June 6, 2025
Analysis Aviation Gulf aviation and politics intersect at 30,000 feet As headlines swirled around Qatar’s reported gifting of a private jet to President Donald Trump, the real political theatre last month unfolded in the skies above the Gulf. Within days of each other, regional carriers Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways revealed a combined 238-jet order from Boeing, the troubled US manufacturer, highlighting how aviation serves […] June 6, 2025
Analysis Banking and Finance Qatar and UAE banks vulnerable to interest rate cuts Many Gulf banks reported bumper first-quarter profits thanks to increased lending. But Qatari and Emirati lenders are the most vulnerable to expected interest rate cuts. Kuwaiti dinar aside, the five other Gulf currencies are pegged to the dollar, so their countries’ benchmark interest rates mirror those of the United States. The rapid rise in US rates […] June 6, 2025
Aviation Qatar Airways agrees first local credit facility in three decades Qatar Airways has secured QR4.5 billion ($1.2 billion) in funding from domestic banks, its first local credit facility in 28 years. The money is fully underwritten and led by Qatar National Bank, the sole and exclusive bookrunner and global coordinator, the Qatar News Agency reported. Other lenders include Ahlibank, Commercial Bank, Doha Bank, Dukhan Bank, […] June 5, 2025
Economy Qatar records $137m budget deficit on lower oil income Qatar recorded a budget deficit of QR500 million ($137 million) in the first quarter of 2025 as oil revenues declined. Total revenue reached QR49 billion, down 7.5 percent year on year, the state-run Qatar News Agency reported. Oil and gas revenue stood at QR42.5 billion, down 10 percent year on year. However, non-oil revenue reached […] June 4, 2025
Economy Saudi Arabia and Qatar extend financial support to Syria Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud said on Saturday that the kingdom will jointly offer with Qatar financial support to Syria. “The kingdom will provide with Qatar joint financial support to state employees in Syria,” Bin Farhan said during a press conference with his Syrian counterpart Asaad Al-Shibani in Damascus. He did not provide […] June 2, 2025
Energy Syria signs $7bn power deal with Qatari-led consortium Syria has signed a memorandum of understanding with a consortium of international companies led by Qatar’s UCC Holding to develop major power generation projects. The foreign investment is valued at about $7 billion, UCC said in a statement on Thursday. The agreement involves building four combined-cycle gas turbine power plants with a total capacity of […] May 30, 2025
Opinion Business of Sport Gulf states get serious with sports spending The likes of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi are fast becoming more strategic about their commitments May 27, 2025
Tech Qatar-backed Builder.ai collapses with sales in doubt A British technology startup funded by the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) has collapsed after an internal investigation identified potentially bogus sales. In 2023 the QIA sovereign wealth fund led a $250 million late-stage funding round for Builder.ai and, together with Microsoft, was one of its biggest investors. The company raised more than $450 million over its […] May 23, 2025
Banking and Finance QIA approved to buy stake in leading Chinese asset manager Qatar’s $526 billion sovereign wealth fund has received approval to acquire a 10 percent stake in China Asset Management Co. It is a rare Gulf investment into one of the country’s largest mutual fund houses as Doha walks a diplomatic tightrope between Washington and Beijing. The green light from the China Securities Regulatory Commission was […] May 23, 2025
People & Lifestyle Gulf’s art race heats up as Art Basel lands in Doha For months speculation has been swirling as to where Art Basel, the world’s largest organiser of art fairs, would pick as its next new international location for its fairs. After starting in the Swiss border town of Basel of 1970, and then expanding to Miami, Hong Kong and Paris, the oil producing Gulf was seen […] May 23, 2025
Opinion Trade A Gulf perspective on Trump’s ‘palace in the sky’ Congressmen should perhaps ask themselves: is this so unusual, at least by standards in the Arabian Gulf? May 23, 2025
Tourism Qatar opts for PPP to build beachfront tourism project The Qatari government is seeking collaboration with private companies to develop a beachfront tourism project, which will reportedly include a theme park. The QR20 billion ($5.5 billion) Simaisma project will house the Land of Legends theme park, resorts and a golf course, Qatar Tourism chairman Saad Al-Kharji said at the Qatar Economic Forum this week. […] May 23, 2025
Opinion Energy Gulf welcomes Trump’s hands-off approach to energy policy Trillions were pledged in AI and energy, but Opec stayed out of the spotlight May 22, 2025
Opinion Trade Trump in the Gulf: There’s substance behind the hype Was it all just for show? The investment agreements 'signed' during the trip are clearly ludicrous May 22, 2025
Oil & Gas Qatar warns low oil price may hurt AI power needs Crude prices falling below $60 a barrel would have a detrimental effect on global oil sector investment, and on fast-growing, energy intensive industries such as data centres and artificial intelligence, Qatar’s energy minister has said. “If oil prices decline below $60, there is definitely going to be a decline in investments,” Saad Al-Kaabi said at an […] May 22, 2025
