Opinion Aviation Flynas saves the best for last at Farnborough Airshow This year the headline-grabbing deals arrived later than expected July 26, 2024
Analysis Real Estate Canary Wharf’s evolution is a nod to QIA change of strategy The futuristic designs for the former HSBC Holdings headquarters in London’s Canary Wharf may provide a glimpse into the strategy in recent years of one of its major shareholders – the Qatar Investment Authority. Reportedly a casualty of the Covid pandemic and subsequent shift to remote working, 8 Canada Square is to be turned into […] July 26, 2024
Real Estate Large deals drive Qatar and Kuwait real estate in Q2 Large one-off transactions masked an otherwise sluggish performance in the Qatari and Kuwaiti real estate markets in the second quarter of this year. The number of mortgage transactions in Qatar from April to June increased by more than 42 percent over the same period last year. Some 376 deals were signed for a total value […] July 24, 2024
Aviation Qatar Airways expands Boeing 777 order book Qatar Airways ordered 20 new Boeing 777-9 passenger jets at the Farnborough International Airshow this week after announcing record profits in its 27-year history. Additionally, the carrier has committed to 40 new GE9X engines and spare engines, in addition to a long-term services agreement. The total cost of the deal and delivery schedule of the […] July 24, 2024
Opinion Business of Sport Gulf countries vie to add Olympics to the trophy cabinet Qatar and Saudi Arabia are keen to bid despite sky high costs July 22, 2024
Opinion Markets Regional debt issuance boosts Islamic bond take-up Large Muslim countries have skewed global sukuk markets July 19, 2024
Oil & Gas QatarEnergies buys into Suriname oil expansion The state-owned giant QatarEnergy has signed a deal with US oil company Chevron to acquire a 20 percent interest in a production-sharing contract for an offshore concession in the South American country of Suriname. Chevron will keep a 40 percent interest in Surname’s block 5, as will Paradise Oil, an affiliate of Suriname’s national oil […] July 19, 2024
Business of Sport Qatar’s beIN to pay €100m to broadcast French football games Qatar broadcaster beIN has agreed to pay €100 million ($109 million) annually for the rights to broadcast one French Ligue 1 football match per week, according to a news report. The sports channel is paying a premium per game as its package includes the most sought-after fixtures, the Financial Times reported, citing informed sources. DAZN, […] July 16, 2024
Banking & Finance QNB proposes first interim dividend in 60 years Qatar National Bank (QNB), the largest Gulf bank by assets, has proposed to distribute the first-ever interim dividend in six decades after strong retained earnings and sufficient regulatory reserves. The board plans to pay a 33 percent interim dividend, or QR0.33 per share, payable to shareholders on record at the close of trading on July […] July 9, 2024
Video length: 08:13 Analysis Tourism Qatar moves to meet growing tourism demand Qatar is seeking to build up its tourism infrastructure and capitalise on a sharp increase in international visitors by launching a $5.5 billion entertainment-focused development, according to industry experts. The Simaisma Project, by the Diar Real Estate Investment Company, was announced last week by Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar’s prime minister. It will […] July 3, 2024
Aviation Qatar Airways announces record profits Qatar Airways Group has reported the strongest financial results in its 27-year history after announcing profits of more than QR6 billion (almost $2 billion) for the 2023-24 financial year. Revenues at the state-backed company increased by 6 percent year on year to QR81 billion. Passenger revenue was up by 19 percent, with a capacity increase […] July 2, 2024
Economy Saudi PIF is top global investor in first half of 2024 Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund was the highest-spending state-owned investor in the first half of 2024, while three Abu Dhabi institutions were also in the top five. The PIF owns stakes in various domestic companies including Saudi Aramco, Saudi Telecom Co and Saudi National Bank and is spearheading the kingdom’s giga-project development programme. It invested […] July 2, 2024
Analysis Markets Sustained sell-off makes Qatari stocks more attractive Qatari stocks are among the Gulf’s most attractively priced, according to core metrics, after a sustained slump on Doha’s bourse. The decline – the Qatari index is down about 27 percent from its late 2021 peak – comes after a momentous rally that propelled the index to a seven-year high when investors bet on a […] July 1, 2024
Oil & Gas QatarEnergy profits down by 31% Annual profits at QatarEnergy have dropped by almost a third after gas prices fell from the highs caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The state-owned company reported net profits of QAR101.9 billion ($28 billion) in 2023, down 31 percent on the previous year, when the start of the conflict in Eastern Europe caused gas prices to […] June 26, 2024
Artificial Intelligence Qatar’s Ooredoo signs AI deal with chipmaker Nvidia US chipmaker Nvidia has signed a deal with Qatari telecommunications provider Ooredoo Group to bring its artificial intelligence technology to five countries in the Middle East, the companies announced on Sunday. Ooredoo will be the first company in the region to offer direct access to Nvidia’s AI and computer chips to its customers in Qatar, […] June 24, 2024
Oil & Gas QatarEnergy signs second naphtha deal with Japan QatarEnergy has signed a second long-term naphtha supply agreement with a Japanese company. The state-backed gas producer will provide Eneos Corporation, a refining and petrochemical company, with up to 9 million tonnes of naphtha – a partially refined petroleum product commonly used as a solvent – over 10 years starting in July. The agreement is […] June 24, 2024
Analysis Construction Construction is ‘cheaper in Dubai than Riyadh or Doha’ Dubai is only the third most expensive construction market in the Middle East after Riyadh and Doha, research has found. A real estate boom led by the leisure, hospitality and sports sectors, combined with a “distinct shortage of skilled labour”, have driven up construction costs in the Saudi capital to an average of $2,593 per […] June 21, 2024
Analysis Retail Premium Qatar malls thrive despite online competition Large high-end malls in Qatar are winning the favour of consumers who still choose to shop in person amid intensifying competition from the internet. However, other shopping venues are suffering from reduced footfall and growing vacancy rates. The flagship Doha Festival City announced last month that it is fully leased after clinching its 500th retail […] June 19, 2024
Infrastructure Qatar company buys Kazakh mobile network for $1bn Qatar Power International Holding has bought Kazakhstan’s largest mobile phone network. The Qatari company, a private conglomerate based in Lusail, has bought Kazakhtelecom subsidiary Mobile Telecom-Service LLP, Reuters reported, citing a statement from the Kazakh government on Tuesday. Mobile Telecom-Service LLP is a joint venture between Swedish telco Tele2 and Kazakh high speed mobile internet […] June 19, 2024
Aviation Qatar Airways to buy 49% of Rwanda’s flag carrier Qatar Airways is expected to buy a 49 percent stake in Rwanda’s flag carrier RwandAir as early as July as part of the Gulf airline’s strategy to expand in Africa, according to a media report. Qatar Airways’ purchase will boost Rwanda’s aviation sector and allow RwandAir to expand its operations and fleet, Financial Times reported, quoting […] June 17, 2024
Banking & Finance Qatar’s mortgage market buoyed by law reforms Qatar’s mortgage market has been given a lift by a package of regulatory reforms, industry experts told AGBI after transactions rose sharply despite high interest rates. In the first quarter of 2024, the value of Qatari mortgage transactions was nearly 90 percent higher than in the previous three months, according to ValuStrat research. It was […] June 13, 2024
Business of Sport Qatar a step closer to hosting rugby Nations Championship Qatar has been given a two-month period of exclusivity to negotiate a deal to bring rugby’s Nations Championship to the Gulf state, according to reports. Last month Doha’s sport-focused Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy proposed an £800 million ($1 billion) eight-year deal to stage a six-match finals series, involving all 12 tier-one nations, starting […] June 6, 2024
