Development Donors pledge $6bn in aid to Syria Donors at a European Union-led conference in Brussels on Monday pledged €5.8 billion ($6.3 billion) to help Syria’s new authorities as they struggle with humanitarian and security problems after the fall of Bashar al-Assad. The pledges at the Brussels gathering were less than last year’s €7.5 billion in grants and loans, as EU officials pointed to […] March 18, 2025
Logistics Turkey’s Ciner Shipping packs up and moves to Athens One of Turkey’s largest shipping companies is moving its headquarters to Athens, the latest in a string of Turkish businesses to take advantage of Greece’s EU membership and what they say is a more investment-friendly environment. Ciner Shipping issued a statement on February 21 saying it was shifting its base from Istanbul. Its Turkish staff […] February 26, 2025
Transport Arab airlines criticise EU over cost of green fuel policy Arab airlines have criticised the European Union for its policy on cleaner aviation fuels, which they say could drive their costs up by more than a quarter over the next eight years. The Arab Air Carriers’ Organisation (AACO) says the EU’s aviation sustainability policies involve inconsistencies that unfairly penalise non-European airlines and drive up costs […] February 11, 2025
Infrastructure Egypt and Spain sign Cairo metro extension study Egypt and Spain have signed a development financing agreement worth over $1 million for a preliminary feasibility study on extending Cairo Metro’s Line 1. The project involves extending the oldest of the city’s three metro lines from New Marg to Shibin El Qanater, north of Cairo. The 19km extension features 14 stations. Spanish company Typsa […] February 6, 2025
Economy EU’s $323m grant to support Turkey’s green transition The European Union (EU) will provide a $322.8 million grant to Turkey to bolster the country’s green and digital transformation drive. The European bloc has provided over €780 million ($810 million) to support Turkey’s green transformation, Jurgis Vilcinskas, deputy head of mission of the EU delegation to Turkey, told the state-run Anadolu Agency. The grant […] February 6, 2025
Economy EU’s $3bn to back Jordan’s economy amid challenges The European Union (EU) will provide a €3 billion ($3.13 billion) financial package to Jordan to support its growth, as it manages the impact of regional geopolitical challenges. The 2025-2027 financial package will include €640 million in grants, €1.4 billion in investments, and €1 billion in macro-financial assistance. “Jordan is a key partner for Europe in the Middle […] January 30, 2025
Tax Income tax ‘not on the table’ says UAE minister The UAE has no plans to introduce income tax, economy minister Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri has said, dismissing speculation the country was in discussions to end its traditional tax-free status. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the minister also criticised the EU for keeping the Gulf nation on its blacklist of countries […] January 22, 2025
Economy Egypt targets €4bn EU funding by June Egypt is aiming to strike a deal with the European Union (EU) to secure €4 billion ($4.2 billion) in financing to back its current reform agenda, according to a media report. Cairo has started negotiations with the EU, with the funds directed towards budget support and not specific projects, Asharq Business reported, quoting minister of […] January 22, 2025
Construction Eagle Hills signs contract for Budapest redevelopment Abu Dhabi-based developer Eagle Hills has signed a real estate purchase agreement with Hungary to start work on transforming a rundown area of Budapest. The project, spanning an area of 100 hectares, will have a development cost of more than €12 billion ($12.3 billion), the developer said in a statement. The project is supported by the […] January 20, 2025
Oil & Gas Qatar threatens LNG halt over EU due diligence law Qatar has threatened to cease liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments to the European Union (EU) if the bloc enforces a corporate sustainability due diligence directive, according to a news report. The directive, set to take effect in 2027, imposes penalties for companies failing to meet stringent standards on environmental protection and forced labour in supply […] December 23, 2024
Trade EU and GCC officials aim to resume FTA negotiations European and Gulf officials are holding “informal” efforts to “revive” and even “upgrade” negotiations over a free trade agreement between the two blocks. Efforts towards such an agreement are three and a half decades in the making, Luigi Di Maio, the EU’s special envoy to the Gulf has said. “I have to say it’s a […] November 29, 2024
Economy Morocco gets $200m loan from EU for quake recovery The European Union (EU) will provide a €190 million ($200 million) loan for reconstructing and rehabilitating earthquake-hit areas in Morocco. The funding will prioritise rebuilding homes, restoring essential public services such as healthcare and education, and reviving local economies, Morocco World News reported. The earthquake, which struck in September 2023, was the strongest in Morocco’s […] November 26, 2024
Opinion Trade Europe needs to revisit Gulf relations or lose out to Asia The recent EU-GCC summit could not have come at a more critical moment October 28, 2024
Trade Inaugural EU summit seeks GCC support to isolate Russia The EU holds its first summit with the Gulf Cooperation Council states on Wednesday, part of a diplomatic push for far-flung friends as it enlists international support to isolate Russia. Since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, the 27-member EU has reached out to other regional blocs, holding its first summit with Asean countries and its first […] October 16, 2024
Oil & Gas European regulator approves Oman’s $1.6bn LNG project The European Commission has approved a $1.6 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Oman’s Sohar Port. The project, which is being jointly developed by Oman energy investment company OQ and France’s TotalEnergies, is unlikely to raise competition concerns due to its limited impact on the European economic area, the Oman Daily Observer reported, quoting […] August 5, 2024
Renewable Energy Tunisia signs green hydrogen deals to step up production Tunisia has signed six agreements with international companies to develop green hydrogen production as it seeks to expand its clean fuel production capacity. The North African country aims to produce 8.3 million tonnes of green hydrogen and its derivatives by 2050 under its green hydrogen strategy, which was released in October 2023. Much of the […] July 31, 2024
ANALYSIS Industry Made in Morocco – industrial giants just keep on investing Rabat's deals with manufacturers from the US, Europe and Asia provide a model of co-operation for the Arab world July 30, 2024
Sustainability Fertiglobe to supply renewable ammonia to Europe Abu Dhabi-listed fertiliser maker Fertiglobe has won the first global bid to supply renewable ammonia to the European Union (EU) as the trade bloc ramps up decarbonisation efforts. The company, a partnership between UAE oil giant Adnoc and Netherlands-based OCI, will supply 19,500 tonnes of renewable ammonia in 2027, with volumes potentially rising to 397,000 tonnes by 2033 […] July 12, 2024
Opinion Economy Macron gambled and lost. Now bond markets will have their say The election result puts France on a collision course with global capital markets and the EU July 9, 2024
Manufacturing Chinese EV maker Byd to open $1bn plant in Turkey Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Byd will construct a $1 billion plant in Turkey, according to a news report. The agreement was signed between the Chinese company and Turkey’s industry and technology ministry on Monday in the presence of Turkey’s president Tayyip Erdogan. Bloomberg reported citing officials that the announcement planned on Monday. The electric […] July 8, 2024
Trade Deals between European and Egyptian companies worth $43bn European companies are signing more than €40 billion ($43 billion) worth of deals with Egyptian companies across a range of sectors, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has said. “We have companies in sectors ranging from hydrogen to water management, from construction to chemicals, from shipping to aviation and to automotive,” she said at […] July 1, 2024
Finance EU woos Emirati investors while keeping UAE on ‘grey list’ The European Union is intensifying efforts to attract investment from the UAE despite keeping the Emirates on its “grey list”, a marker of heightened scrutiny and potential obstacles for investors. An EU delegation visited Abu Dhabi last week to promote the bloc’s Capital Markets Union (CMU) plan. A single market for capital, harmonising exchange regulations […] June 11, 2024
