Economy Slump in orders and exports cools Turkish PMI sentiment Turkish manufacturers are finding their operational environment increasingly difficult, a new survey has revealed. Tighter economic conditions led expectations to fall in May, although some relief came from the slight easing of inflationary pressures. The monthly Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) survey, conducted by the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce and S&P Global, fell further into negative […] June 3, 2024
Analysis Economy Egypt’s rising bread price sparks austerity fears Egypt’s plan to hike the price of subsidised bread for the first time in 30 years has increased talk of an austerity budget for the coming fiscal year, amid rumours of price increases for medicine and electricity and the phasing out of fuel subsidies. The International Monetary Fund, which is currently preparing a third review […] June 3, 2024
Finance UAE and Qatar in deal to avoid double taxation The UAE and Qatar have signed an agreement to prevent double taxation and curb fiscal evasion of income taxes. The agreement will enhance financial, economic, and investment partnerships between the two nations, UAE minister of state for financial affairs Mohamed Al Hussaini said. The move will bolster coordination and cooperation in tax matters, open up […] May 31, 2024
Giga-projects Saudi review says 87% of Vision 2030 projects ‘on right track’ Saudi Arabia’s top economic body discussed the progress of the kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan this week, citing a recent government report that 87 percent of its projects are “on the right track”. The Council of Economic and Development Affairs, which is headed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, convened on May 28 in a meeting […] May 30, 2024
Economy AfDB launches $13bn plan to support Moroccan economy The African Development Bank (AfDB) has launched its €12 billion ($13 billion) five-year strategic roadmap to support Morocco’s economic growth. The new strategy aligns with the country’s new development model until 2035 and will strengthen Morocco’s economic competitiveness and resilience, sustainable growth, and consolidating economic and social inclusion dynamics, the bank said. “This new strategy […] May 28, 2024
Economy Oman to use budget surplus to repay nearly $3bn debt Oman is expected to repay nearly $3 billion in external debt in the first half of 2024, driven by the budget surplus from high oil prices, Fitch Ratings said in a new report. The resulting 10 percent decline in external debt from the end of 2023 is faster than forecast last September. The rating agency affirmed the Gulf state’s […] May 27, 2024
Analysis Markets Bahrain tops dividend yields in mixed quarter for bourses First-quarter company earnings in the UAE, Bahrain and Oman were mixed across major economic sectors, with the four bourses trading at markedly varied valuations. As of March 31, Dubai and Bahrain had price-to-earnings ratios of 8.3 and 7.9 respectively, while Abu Dhabi’s was 19.9 and Oman’s 12.9, according to Kuwait’s Kamco Invest. Bahrain (7.7 percent) […] May 27, 2024
Economy Egypt holds interest rate hike despite slowdown The Central Bank of Egypt has kept its key interest rates unchanged despite a slowdown in economic growth. The monetary policy committee (MPC) left the lending rate unchanged at 28.25 percent and the deposit rate at 27.25 percent. Inflation has eased since the annual headline and core inflation peaked at 38 percent in September 2023 […] May 24, 2024
Economy UAE commits to invest $10bn in Pakistan’s economy The UAE intends to invest $10 billion in various economic sectors in Pakistan. “UAE president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan assured the Emirates’ support in all circumstances and made a commitment of investing $10 billion in multiple sectors,” Pakistan’s prime minister’s office said in a statement. The statement was released after the UAE president […] May 24, 2024
Economy Turkey tightens monetary policy but holds rate steady Turkey will continue to maintain a tight monetary stance until a “significant and sustained” decline in monthly inflation is seen, the country’s central bank said. The bank’s monetary policy committee kept the key policy rate steady at 50 percent, adding it remains “highly attentive to inflation risks”. The central bank raised interest rates by 500 […] May 24, 2024
Economy Egyptian agricultural exports hit record levels Egypt exported a record 7.5 million tonnes of agricultural produce last year, compared with 6.4 million tonnes in 2022 and 5.6 million in 2021. The total value of agricultural exports in 2023 was $8.8 billion, according to minister of agriculture and land reclamation Al Sayed Al Quseir. Egypt’s total number of export partners has increased […] May 22, 2024
Finance Mega-projects aid in upgrade of Ras Al Khaimah’s rating Fitch has upgraded Ras Al Khaimah’s credit rating from A to A+ thanks to the launch of a number of large investment projects. The emirate’s mega tourism projects, including hotels, beach resorts and high-end leisure facilities, offer promising opportunities for investors and are a catalyst to attract new investment, the rating agency added. Fitch forecasts […] May 22, 2024
Economy Red Sea crisis could drop Suez Canal revenue by 60% Suez Canal revenues may decrease by up to 60 percent due to elevated tensions in the Red Sea, according to assessments cited by Egyptian finance minister Mohamed Maait. Speaking at a ministerial event at Cairo University on Monday, Maait said the revenue fall would further exacerbate the state’s budget deficit which has grown to EGP120 […] May 22, 2024
Analysis Real Estate From buyers to sellers: Russians cool on Dubai real estate Russian property owners in Dubai are cashing in and moving to alternative foreign enclaves, pushed out by currency issues and the rising cost of living in the emirate. Emigrants from Russia flocked to Dubai in 2022 at the start of the country’s war with Ukraine. The UAE, although condemning the invasion, proved a safe haven […] May 21, 2024
Economy Qatar to use $549m budget surplus to reduce debt Qatar recorded a budget surplus of QAR2 billion ($549 million) in the first quarter of 2024, its finance ministry has announced. The ministry said the surplus would be used to reduce public debt, according to the state-run Qatar News Agency. Total revenue was QAR53.4 billion ($14.7 billion) in Q1, down 22 percent year on year. […] May 20, 2024
Opinion Economy Kuwait’s political crisis adds to economic uncertainty The country's latest standoff is deeply concerning for both the near and long term May 20, 2024
Economy Private sector to propel Sharjah’s economic growth Global ratings agency S&P has affirmed Sharjah’s rating at “BBB-/A-3” and maintained a stable outlook, citing strong private-sector activity as a key driver of economic growth. The emirate, one of seven that makes up the UAE, is expected to average 2.8 percent growth between 2024 and 2027, supported by manufacturing, construction, transport, and trade sectors. […] May 20, 2024
Trade Oman’s trade surplus rises 21% on higher crude exports Oman’s trade surplus rose 21 percent year on year to OMR1.7 billion ($4.4 billion) by the end of February 2024, according to government data. The total value of merchandise exports reached OMR4.4 billion during the period, a 20 percent increase, compared to OMR3.7 billion a year ago, state-run Oman News Agency reported, citing statistics from the […] May 20, 2024
Economy Soaring olive oil exports help Tunisia balance books Tunisia’s soaring olive oil exports have almost doubled to close to $1 billion in just five months, helping it claw back its current account deficit. However the increased revenues merely “paint over the cracks” and the country is still probably heading towards a sovereign default, according to an economic expert. Tunisia’s current account deficit narrowed […] May 17, 2024
Economy Falling oil prices deepen Iraq’s fiscal imbalances, says IMF Iraq’s fiscal imbalances have worsened due to significant fiscal expansion and lower oil prices, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). “The ongoing fiscal expansion is expected to boost growth in 2024 at the expense of a further deterioration of fiscal and external accounts and Iraq’s vulnerability to oil price fluctuations,” the Washington-based fund said in […] May 17, 2024
Finance Dubai tops ‘greenfield’ FDI ranking for third year Dubai is the world’s top location for “greenfield” foreign direct investment for the third consecutive year, according to fDi Markets. A total of 1,070 greenfield FDI projects, where a company sets up in a foreign country, building its facilities from the ground up, were reported in Dubai in 2023. This was more than double the […] May 15, 2024
Economy EBRD lowers Turkey’s 2024 growth rate The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has lowered Turkey’s economic growth forecast to 2.7 percent from 3 percent for 2024, due to rising inflation. However, a recovery is anticipated next year, with growth projected at 3 percent, driven by potential monetary and fiscal policy tightening aimed at curbing high inflation. Turkish economic policy has tightened, […] May 15, 2024
