Construction Dar Al Arkan profit nearly doubles as lease revenue rises Profits almost doubled for the third quarter at Saudi Arabia’s largest developer, Dar Al Arkan, driven by a fall in operating expenses and an increase in lease revenue. For the quarter ended September 30 2023, profits rose 91.27 percent to SAR151.91 million ($40.49 million), from SAR79.42 million a year earlier, the company said in a filing to […] November 6, 2023
Construction Egypt seeks to privatise airports says Madbouly Egypt is planning to privatise the management and operation of airports and mass transit lines, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said. During a meeting with executives of more than 20 of the biggest companies in transport, logistics and maritime navigation from the UAE, China and the US, among others, Madbouly underscored the government’s commitment to collaborate […] November 6, 2023
Economy China injects $956m into Egypt’s central bank The China Development Bank (CDB) has injected ¥7 billion ($956 million) into Egypt’s central bank to help finance projects agreed upon during the third Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) summit last month. The funds are part of a loan agreement signed during the summit in Beijing, as well as the nine programmes outlined in 2021’s […] November 3, 2023
Video length: 04:10 Finance King Abdullah Financial District helps grow FDI Global consultancy business JLL recently announced the establishment of its regional headquarters in King Abdullah Financial District, joining other multinationals such as Pfizer, Bupa and Arthur D Little that are already set up there. Launched in 2006 and located in northern Riyadh, KAFD plays an important role in Saudi’s push towards attracting foreign investments and […] November 3, 2023
Construction RAK Properties profit nearly triples on robust demand RAK Properties reported a 282 percent increase in net profit in the third quarter of 2023, as new project launches propelled a 137 percent growth in revenue. The developer’s net profit reached AED105.17 million ($28.63 million) in the three months ended September 30, 2023, compared to AED27.55 million a year earlier. Revenue hit AED685.56 million […] November 3, 2023
Tourism UK singer Robbie Williams reveals Dubai hotel plan UK pop singer Robbie Williams has revealed plans to build a hotel resort in Dubai. The 49-year-old former member of Take That, who performed in Abu Dhabi last month, told Wondery’s Brydon & podcast that he is building a 700-room hotel in Dubai. He explained to host Rob Brydon that the development was spurred by […] November 2, 2023
Construction Appeal court green lights Drake & Scull restructure Dubai’s court of appeal has approved a plan to restructure the troubled Dubai construction contractor Drake & Scull International (DSI). In what has been a lengthy battle through the courts, a previous verdict had called for the company to be placed into liquidation. This has now been overruled, and the court has given DSI one […] November 2, 2023
Construction Dubai’s Union Properties reports $5m profit for Q3 The Dubai developer Union Properties (UP) has reported a net profit of AED20 million ($5.45 million) for the third quarter of the year, backed by continued strong demand in the emirate’s real estate sector. UP, best known for its Motor City development in Dubai, transformed a AED966 million net loss in 2021 to a AED30 […] November 2, 2023
Construction Aldar nets $844m in sales from Dubai project sell-out Aldar Properties sold 786 villas and townhouses at its first residential development in Dubai, generating over AED3.1 billion ($844 million) in sales in one day. The developer launched 468 units in the first phase of Haven and another 318 units due to high demand, the Abu Dhabi-headquartered developer said in a statement. Overseas and expatriate […] November 2, 2023
Construction Tecom to expand logistics facilities as profit rises 34% Tecom Group plans to develop new Grade A storage and logistics facilities as demand for high-quality commercial space surges across Dubai. The Dubai-based business park operator will add 200,000 sq ft of total gross leasing area for logistics and storage in Dubai Science Park. The expansion comes as the company posted a 34 percent year on […] November 1, 2023
Oil & Gas Saudi GDP shrinks following oil output cuts Real GDP growth in Saudi Arabia contracted by 4.5 percent in the third quarter, as ongoing Opec+ oil output cuts affect the broader economy. Government data released this week showed oil activities decreased by 17.3 percent in the third quarter from a year earlier. However the General Authority for Statistics said there was an expansion […] October 31, 2023
Real Estate Apartment prices rise on news of Dubai Creek Tower revamp The price of Dubai apartments with a view of what is intended to be the world’s tallest building have risen by nearly 10 percent since the project’s redesign was announced in August. Property developer Emaar hopes to start work on the revamped $1 billion Dubai Creek Tower next year. Sidharth Kumar, a real estate agent […] October 31, 2023
Analysis Giga-projects Saudi construction under pressure to deliver on its promise The Saudi construction sector is growing as the state showers money on giga-projects while oil prices are high, but the industry is under increasing government pressure to deliver, industry players say. A market that was previously dominated by favoured government contractors such as Binladin Group and the now defunct Saudi Oger has been liberalised. This […] October 30, 2023
Real Estate Aldar plans European moves after unveiling record sales Aldar Properties is planning to expand into Europe after posting record sales for the year so far, its chairman said on Monday. Sales at the Abu Dhabi-based real estate developer reached nearly AED8 billion ($2.2 billion) in the third quarter, driving a 48 percent increase in net profit. For the year to September 30, sales […] October 30, 2023
Construction Durar launches $191m luxury project on Al Marjan island The Dubai-based developer Durar has launched a new AED700 million ($190.58 million) branded residential tower on Al Marjan Island, Ras Al Khaimah, as the emirate sees heightened development activity in the luxury segment. Work on the residential project, called Masa Residences, will start by January 2024 and is scheduled to be completed by the last […] October 30, 2023
Opinion Infrastructure Riyadh can become a global city – with a little more effort When it comes to business travel, the city remains a trying place to negotiate October 27, 2023
Construction Aldar to break ground on first Dubai project next year Aldar Properties, Abu Dhabi’s largest developer, has launched its first Dubai residential project, Haven, with construction of the first phase starting in the second quarter of 2024. The project will be developed with its joint venture partner Dubai Holding on the land opposite Al Habtoor Polo Resort in Dubailand. Aldar’s Haven will be built in […] October 27, 2023
Analysis Trade UAE-Swiss trade golden age adds technology to luxury The trade relationship between the UAE and Switzerland is enjoying a golden era, with the European nation now the top non-oil destination for Emirati exports. Gold, jewellery and luxury watches traditionally dominated non-oil bilateral trade but innovation is growing in importance, according to Swiss Business Hub Middle East. It said that technology was increasingly important […] October 26, 2023
FII Banking and Finance Neom investment fund backs US futuristic transport firms The newly launched investment arm of Saudi Arabia’s $500 billion futuristic giga-project Neom has made its first commitments, backing two US-based transport companies. The Neom Investment Fund (NIF) announced on Wednesday that it had made a $100 million investment in the global autonomous driving company Pony.ai. A joint venture will be set up between the […] October 25, 2023
Banking and Finance Morocco signs $280m deals with African Development Bank Morocco has signed three agreements with the African Development Bank (AfDB) worth more than MAD2.9 billion ($280 million). The deals will improve access to healthcare, support increased social security coverage and provide emergency help in the wake of September’s devastating earthquake in Al Haouz, according to an announcement by the government. The first agreement, worth […] October 25, 2023
FII Tourism Red Sea Global links up with Kingdom for $530m resort Red Sea Global and Kingdom Holding Company have agreed a SAR2 billion ($530 million) joint venture to develop and own a Four Seasons resort at the Red Sea giga-project. The luxury development, scheduled to open in early 2025, will be built on Shura Island, the main hub of the 22-island giga-project. The Four Seasons resort […] October 24, 2023
FII Logistics Neom and Denmark’s DSV in $10bn logistics partnership Saudi Arabia’s Neom and Danish freight forwarder DSV have entered into a $10 billion logistics joint venture (JV) that will serve the $500 billion giga-project in the kingdom’s northwest. The JV will provide supply chain management including delivering goods and materials to Neom, the companies said in a joint statement. Neom, owned by Saudi Arabia’s […] October 24, 2023
