Opinion Environment Saudi Arabia goes on the offensive on climate change There is a chasm between how Saudi Arabia and 'green' Westerners see the world Over the next 10 days in Riyadh, the kingdom will have the chance to demonstrate its commitment Frank Kane, Editor-at-Large, AGBI
Opinion Media & Advertising Who do Middle East marketers think they are talking to? Advertisers in the GCC must think about who they are talking to – we are not all the same The GCC is a melting pot of non-native nationalities from countries with very different mindsets Austyn Allison, Middle East advertising expert
Opinion Transport Now on platform 1 … a stylish ride for Riyadh commuters The Dubai Metro has become a seething mass of people, but the Riyadh Metro is a joy to ride Riyadh Metro's bright and spacious trains will have a huge impact on the city’s productivity Justin Doherty, Chairman, Hemington Consulting
Opinion Infrastructure Libya prepares final phase for giant man-made river Libyan water engineers have amassed substantial expertise in this gigantic undertaking It is hoped that all Libyan villages and cities will gain access to fresh Saharan water Salem Maiar, Consultant in Libyan natural resources and geopolitics
Opinion Leisure & Hospitality Dubai stand-up as cultural symbiosis – that’s a laugh The Gulf is not exactly world-renowned in the comedic arts. Well, so I thought anyway Laughter Factory has evolved into a prime example of the Dubai “salad bowl” Frank Kane, Editor-at-Large, AGBI
Opinion Energy Trump team will make waves in GCC energy and capital markets The US president-elect's worldview is likely to weaken global energy prices New US treasury and energy secretaries will keep interest rates high Matein Khalid, Chief investment officer
Opinion Artificial Intelligence AI must support humans, not replace them Tech doing the heavy lifting and people making the ultimate calls is the path to genuine progress It is essential to uphold the creativity, empathy and insight that only people can bring Jamil El-Imad, Honorary Senior Research Fellow, Imperial College, London
Opinion Markets UAE and Saudi capital market reforms are bearing fruit The UAE's listings are unique as they are mainly initiated by state-owned and family businesses Inbound capital flows were thin on the ground outside traditional sectors Khalil Charles Massoud, Chief Investment Officer, Alpha Dhabi Holding
Opinion Aviation BA drops Kuwait after 60 years… but why? British Airways' withdrawal from Kuwait after 60 years could benefit regional carriers A simple hard-headed business decision is the most likely explanation John Grant, Partner, Midas Aviation
Opinion Media & Advertising Could Riyadh Air’s brand help Saudi Arabia take off? Riyadh Air's branding strategy will highlight Saudi Arabia's emerging identity aspirations National airlines have an outsize role to play in nation-branding Simon Chadwick, Professor of sport, Skema Business School
Opinion Infrastructure Africa’s port assets are irresistible for the UAE Africa desperately needs modernised ports, and Emirati operators are up for the challenge The privatisation of maritime infrastructure is often controversial in Africa Liz Bains, Journalist
Opinion Sustainability Baku’s Cop29 makes the best of a bad hand Despite hostility from the West and unrealistic expectations, Cop29 made the best of a bad hand The 'finance Cop' has delivered the biggest ever financial commitment of any UN climate summit Frank Kane, Editor-at-Large, AGBI
Opinion Sustainability Grass skirts, keffiyehs and the polis – Baku’s Cop29 has it all The oil countries at Cop29 were getting extremely fed up of being misquoted. Poor things The second biggest Cop in history was an efficient and well-organised event Frank Kane, Editor-at-Large, AGBI
Opinion Energy US ‘energy dominance’ will trigger global shifts Trump has promised to bring down energy costs by half within a year. That won't happen Dominance implies subordination. But who will dominate whom? Robin Mills, CEO, Qamar Energy
Opinion Economy Egypt’s economy is bouncing back – for now Should we feel more positive about Egypt's economy? Yes, but the vulnerabilities remain More fundamental changes are needed for long-term growth Andrew Cunningham, Middle East banking consultant
Opinion People & Lifestyle Vegas-style Sphere will light up the skies of Abu Dhabi With the UAE's Sphere, Abu Dhabi has taken its chance on globe-shaped entertainment The UAE event venue aims to elevate entertainment in the region Adeline Pilon, Co-founder, Elyx Foundation & Company
Opinion Development Trump must focus on rebuilding a war-torn Middle East A Trump administration would do well to set up a Middle East development bank It is imperative that the US addresses reconstruction in the region Nasser Saidi, Economist, Nasser Saidi and Associates
Opinion Economy What Trump’s election win means for Omanis With a presidential term already under his belt, unpredictable Trump is a known entity Amid US-led sanctions, many Iranians view Oman as a crucial outlet for trade Saleh Al-Shaibany, CEO, Al-Safa Press & Publishing
Opinion Markets Saudi Arabia and the UAE set pace in GCC equities race Riyadh is in front in the Gulf Equity Sweepstakes, but Abu Dhabi and Dubai are coming up fast The post-Covid recovery strategy has paid off big time for UAE markets Frank Kane, Editor-at-Large, AGBI
Opinion Tech The UAE could be squeezed in a US-China tech tussle The next few years could bring fraught US-UAE diplomatic challenges around technology Emirates would prefer to keep its options open, but Trump might make that impossible Andreas Krieg, Founder, MENA analytica
Opinion Economy King Dollar is not a one-way bullish trade in Trumpworld The King Dollar trend will be anathema to Trump's policy agenda after he is sworn in How markets will react when Trump puts policies into action remains to be seen Matein Khalid, Chief investment officer
Opinion Media & Advertising ‘How are you finding the canapés? Off the record, obviously’ Off-the-record briefings are the Marmite of the PR world – you either love them or hate them On the record, off-the-record press briefings can be hugely frustrating Frank Kane, Editor-at-Large, AGBI
Opinion Tourism Wars have skewed effects on Middle East tourism The Ukraine and Middle East conflicts have had a negligible impact on global tourism so far The most immediate impact on tourism has been caused by a reduction or elimination of flight connections Michael Widmann, CEO, PKF hospitality group
Opinion Logistics What Trump’s second term means for Middle Eastern logistics No one can predict the course the notoriously unpredictable President Trump will take Should he use his influence to ease the Iran-Israel conflict, it could unlock significant economic benefits John Manners-Bell, CEO, Transport Intelligence Ltd
Opinion Sustainability Cop29 seeks an off-ramp from the ‘road to ruin’ Unctad estimates that energy transition will cost $5.8 trillion per year between now and 2030 The new Cop president did not mince his words about the path ahead Frank Kane, Editor-at-Large, AGBI
Opinion Economy Trump’s second term poses challenges for the Gulf Trump may not appreciate the greater unity within the Gulf since his first term Economically, there are likely to be both costs and benefits for the GCC Justin Alexander, Director, Khalij Economics
Opinion Finance Trump Derangement Syndrome, and how to treat it I am deeply apprehensive of what the next four years of Donald Trump will bring I thought Kamala had a chance. What if I was wrong? Unthinkable Frank Kane, Editor-at-Large, AGBI
