Banking & Finance Saudi extends deposit for Yemen and pays $2bn instalment Saudi Arabia has extended a deposit it gave the central bank of Yemen’s internationally recognised government in 2018, and agreed to pay the final instalment of the $2 billion support package it promised. The Saudi finance ministry said the 2018 deposit would be extended to support Yemen’s currency and economic situation. The Yemeni central bank […] May 17, 2022
Agriculture Egypt can still buy Indian wheat despite export ban Any agreements by Egypt’s government to purchase Indian wheat will not be affected by an export ban announced by New Delhi, Egypt’s supply minister said yesterday. “For India, we are talking with them on the basis of a government agreement. The ban exempts governments including the government of Egypt,” minister Ali Moselhy said. Egypt, the world’s largest wheat […] May 16, 2022
Banking & Finance Mexico suspends duties on food staples to tackle inflation Mexico will waive import duties for one year on a range of household staples, most of them foodstuffs, in a bid to curb inflation, the government said in its official gazette today. The products on the government list included corn oil, rice, tuna, pork, chicken, beef, onions, jalapeño peppers, beans, corn flour, wheat flour, eggs, […] May 16, 2022
Manufacturing Renault sells Russian carmaker Avtovaz for one rouble Renault is to sell its majority stake in carmaker Avtovaz to a Russian science institute for just one rouble with a six-year option to buy it back, leaving the door open for the French carmaker’s return. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said to preserve thousands of jobs Renault’s plant in the city would be used to […] May 16, 2022
People & Lifestyle Biden sends all-star team to UAE to repair frayed ties President Joe Biden is sending an all-star US delegation to the United Arab Emirates on Monday to offer condolences after the death of its ruler, in an apparent bid to step up efforts to repair frayed ties with Gulf Arab allies. Washington’s desire to improve ties with Gulf monarchies has gained renewed urgency following Russia’s […] May 16, 2022
Analysis MbZ: the man, the leader and the economic vision The new president of the UAE is set to continue to build on the progress he has made as de facto leader in recent years The UAE is expected to “unswervingly continue” to implement its vision to build a sustainable knowledge-based economy for generations to come under the leadership of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed […] May 16, 2022
World leaders visit UAE to greet new ruler, mourn Sheikh Khalifa World leaders arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday to offer condolences on the death of President Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, who has been succeeded by his half-brother Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed. Sheikh Mohamed, now ruler of Abu Dhabi, had been de facto leader of the Western-allied Gulf state, an OPEC oil producer and […] May 16, 2022
Sheikh Khalifa Remembered In pictures: Sheikh Khalifa laid to rest in Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed was laid to rest Friday evening following his passing, aged 73. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, who was elected president of Abu Dhabi by a federal supreme council yesterday, led senior leaders in prayer. The funeral took place at Al Bateen cemetery. Sheikh Khalifa’s body was carried to its final resting […] May 15, 2022
Health Egypt’s net foreign assets retreat further into the red Egypt’s net foreign assets (NFAs) dropped by 169.7 billion Egyptian pounds ($9.17 billion) in March, the sharpest decline since the coronavirus crisis broke out in February 2020, central bank data showed on Sunday. NFAs fell to a negative 221.3 billion pounds at the end of March from a negative 51.69 billion pounds a month earlier. […] May 15, 2022
Sheikh Mohamed named new President of the UAE The UAE’s de facto leader Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan was elected president of the Gulf Arab state by a federal supreme council on Saturday. The council, which groups the rulers of the seven emirates of the UAE federation, elected Sheikh Mohamed, known as MbZ, a day after the death of his half-brother, President Sheikh […] May 14, 2022
People & Lifestyle Messages of sympathy pour in from around the globe Leaders from the Gulf, the wider Middle East and around the world have offered their heartfelt condolences after the death of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Abu Dhabi. Here are some of the messages of sympathy The UN offices in the UAE said: “In this […] May 13, 2022
A modernising leader who moved UAE closer to US Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, who died today, was a pro-Western moderniser whose low-key approach helped steer the United Arab Emirates through a tense era in regional politics by aligning the Gulf oil producer with Washington and its allies, including Israel. Khalifa, who was born in 1948, had been ruler of the richest emirate, Abu […] May 13, 2022
People & Lifestyle 1948-2022: Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s timeline September 7 1948: Sheikh Khalifa was born in the inland oasis-city of Al Ain. 1966: He was appointed Ruler’s Representative in the Eastern Region of Abu Dhabi and Head of the Courts Department in Al Ain. 1969: Sheikh Khalifa was nominated Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and appointed Head of the Abu Dhabi Department of […] May 13, 2022
Sheikh Khalifa Remembered Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed has passed away Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the second President of the United Arab Emirates and 16th ruler of Abu Dhabi, died today aged 73. In a statement published by Wam, The Ministry of Presidential Affairs expressed its deepest condolences to the people of the UAE, Arab and Islamic nations and the world. The Ministry of Presidential […] May 13, 2022
Tourism Emirates aims to start repaying Dubai $4.1bn in Covid aid Dubai’s Emirates hopes that it will soon start paying back the 15 billion dirhams ($4.1 billion) in state assistance it receive from the government during the pandemic, its chairman said on Monday. The Dubai government injected billions of dollars into its flagship airline via equity injections over the course of the pandemic that had at […] May 12, 2022
Mubadala posts record $33bn income in 2021 Abu Dhabi state investor Mubadala posted a record income of 122 billion dirhams ($33 billion) in 2021, citing strong investment returns, the monetisation of some assets and new partnerships. “2021 was Mubadala’s strongest financial year in its 20-year history,” Group CEO Khaldoon Khalifa al-Mubarak said in a statement. The 2021 result for so-called total comprehensive […] May 12, 2022
Business of Sport Qatar looks to Iran for World Cup support Qatar’s emir is planning to use his visit to Tehran tomorrow to discuss ways Iran can help with the staging of the FIFA World Cup, including increasing flights between the two countries. “Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani will travel to Iran tomorrow to follow up on recent agreements and expand bilateral ties, notably cooperation […] May 11, 2022
Omani leader meets with Russian Foreign Minister in Muscat Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Muscat today, as the Russian politician toured the Sultanate. During the meeting, Lavrov conveyed the greetings of President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation to Sultan Haitham and wished the Omani people continued progress and prosperity, praising the country’s wisdom in dealing […] May 11, 2022
Lifestyle Who is Lord Udny-Lister? Edward Julian Udny-Lister is a special adviser to the UK government, a political strategist and former politician. One of Boris Johnson’s closest aides, Udny-Lister served as Downing Street chief of staff from 2019 to 2021, primarily advising on strategy. He was the deputy mayor of London for policy and planning between 2011 and 2016 – […] May 10, 2022
Exclusive Interviews UK-Gulf deal will be ‘tough nut to crack,’ says top Johnson ally The co-chairman of the UAE-UK Business Council and former chief strategic adviser to Prime Minister Boris Johnson says the upcoming UK-Gulf trade agreements could be delayed but bilateral opportunities remain immense Lord Udny-Lister, co-chairman of the UAE-UK Business Council and one of Boris Johnson’s closest political allies, cuts a distinguished figure amid the sumptuous surroundings […] May 10, 2022
UAE to offer unemployment insurance in bid to retain workers "The intention is to strengthen labour market competitiveness, provide a social umbrella for workers and establish a stable working environment for all," said Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum. May 9, 2022
Insight The UK-Saudi strategic trade partnership just got closer The UK’s withdrawal from the European Union and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan are stimulating more and more investment deals May 9, 2022