Health Waha Capital to expand UAE health business Abu Dhabi’s Waha Capital, a listed company with $3.2 billion of assets under management, plans to expand its healthcare business in the UAE, and could make acquisitions to do so. The company aims to tap demand from the emirates’ expanding population and visitors from India, its chief financial officer said. Waha is part-owned by Abu […] February 19, 2025
Aviation Etihad Airways’ profit more than triples to almost $500m Etihad Airways’ net profit more than tripled last year to $476 million, the company said on Wednesday as the carrier pushes ahead with plans for an initial public offering. The earnings were boosted by $5.7 billion in passenger revenue and $1.1 billion in cargo revenue, the company said, also citing “significant operational efficiency improvements”. “Looking […] February 19, 2025
Analysis Banking and Finance Share price rally tipped to keep rolling for UAE banks A year-long rally in share prices for major UAE banks still has some steam in it, underpinned by loans growth and attractive dividend yields, analysts have said. In the 12 months to February 11, the share price of Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) surged by almost 40 percent. Shares in Emirates NBD, Mashreq and Dubai […] February 19, 2025
Gaming Second casino in UAE not on cards, says Wynn’s CEO A second casino in the UAE is unlikely for quite some time, according to the man whose company is building the first gaming outlet in the Gulf. Wynn Resorts of Las Vegas last year won a licence to build and operate a casino in the UAE emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. Wynn CEO Craig Billings, […] February 18, 2025
Opinion Banking and Finance If you’re looking for bad news, DIFC is not the place It was another record year for the company, including a mind-boggling 68 percent leap in net profits February 18, 2025
Banking and Finance Number of hedge funds doubles at DIFC The number of hedge funds registered at Dubai International Financial Centre doubled in the last year as the district brushed off the challenge of neighbouring Abu Dhabi and Riyadh. Overall 1,823 new companies registered within the financial district, up 25 percent year on year. It is now home to 6,920 active companies, including 75 hedge […] February 18, 2025
Trade UAE-Ukraine trade deal to increase GDP by $1bn The UAE and Ukraine have signed a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (Cepa) that is expected to increase GDP in the two countries by $1 billion over the next six years. The Cepa allows 99 percent of Ukrainian imports of UAE goods and 97 percent of Ukrainian exports to the UAE to be exempt from customs […] February 18, 2025
Retail India’s Tata Group in talks to acquire stake in Damas Titan Company, the watches and jewellery arm of Indian conglomerate Tata Group, is in talks with Qatar-based Mannai Corporation to acquire a significant stake in Damas Jewellery, a news report said. The discussions, which began a year earlier, revolve around Damas’s valuation, estimated at Rs 45 billion ($518 million), the Economic Times, an Indian financial […] February 18, 2025
Leisure & Hospitality Chinese tourists visiting Dubai up by a third The number of Chinese tourists visiting Dubai surged by nearly a third year on year in 2024, according to a news report. The emirate welcomed 824,000 Chinese tourists last year, an increase of 31 percent, the Chinese state-run Xinhua news agency reported, citing data from the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). Dubai focused on […] February 18, 2025
Analysis Construction Ambitious plans accelerate Gulf construction costs Construction costs in Saudi Arabia and the UAE are in danger of accelerating over the next few years as both countries pour billions into infrastructure, energy and housing projects, observers have warned. Rises in the prices of steel, cement, glass, aluminium and components for air conditioning systems are driving the growth of building materials costs, […] February 18, 2025
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Banking and Finance Mubadala puts $436m into BlackRock’s bitcoin ETF Mubadala has invested $436 million in BlackRock’s bitcoin exchange-traded fund. The Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund acquired 8.2 million shares in the iShares bitcoin ETF during the fourth quarter of 2024, according to Mubadala’s latest filing to the US Securities and Exchange Commission. iShares, managed by BlackRock, is one of the world’s largest providers of […] February 17, 2025
Analysis Trade Gulf-South America trade surges as economies grow When Dubai’s Emirates airline started flying from Dubai to Bogotá in Colombia last summer, it not only provided a vital link between the two cities but also highlighted growing trade and investment links between the Gulf and South America. UAE-Argentina non-oil trade surged more than 70 percent last year to $537 million, according to the […] February 17, 2025
Banking and Finance Mubadala buys stake in Germany’s Apleona Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company will acquire a minority stake in Apleona, a German facility management services company. Mubadala’s investment was made through a consortium led by Bain Capital’s private equity team and will support Apleona’s growth and development across Europe. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals. No financial details were given. Apleona provides […] February 17, 2025
Logistics UAE’s AD Ports profit up to $1bn Abu Dhabi state ports business AD Ports Group reported around $1 billion in net profit in 2024, a 24 percent year-on-year increase, as revenue rose by nearly half to AED17 billion ($4.6 billion). Total assets grew by 15 percent year on year to AED64 billion last year. Group CEO Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi said the […] February 17, 2025
Retail Adia-backed Lenskart to raise $1bn from Indian IPO Lenskart, a high profile optical retailer which is backed by the UAE’s sovereign fund Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (Adia), is planning to file for a $1 billion initial public offering (IPO). The company’s potential valuation has doubled to $10 billion from $5 billion last year after it raised $200 million from a secondary round, the Economic […] February 17, 2025
Real Estate Emaar to up investments in Egypt by another $7bn Emaar Properties, Dubai’s largest listed developer by market capitalisation, intends to increase its investments in Egypt to $25 billion over the next three years, up from the existing $18 billion, the company’s founder Mohamed Alabbar has said. The increase reflects growing confidence in Egypt’s real estate market, Al Arabiya, an Arabic-language news channel, reported citing […] February 17, 2025
Oil & Gas Adnoc Drilling plans further acquisitions in US and Europe Adnoc Drilling is looking at more investment opportunities in the US, as President Donald Trump’s “Drill, baby, drill” mantra acts as a catalyst for increased shale oil and gas activity in the world’s biggest energy producer, a top executive told AGBI. The Abu Dhabi-listed company is planning to invest $1 billion this year, with around […] February 16, 2025
Analysis Food & Drink Dubai restaurants risk out-pricing customers on alcohol costs The cost of eating out in Dubai’s restaurants is rising, especially if you’re washing your meal down with an alcoholic drink. Last year, Dubai was named the third-most expensive city in the world for a half-litre of draught beer at an average of $10.89, according to price comparison website Numbeo. Qatar was number one, followed […] February 16, 2025
Opinion Food & Drink In sober spring, what better than ‘Wisewell on the rocks’ When you forsake the demon drink, perhaps purified, plastic-free water is the ideal replacement February 14, 2025
