Finance Global investor looking to Middle East healthcare sector The global asset management group Janus Henderson Investors is targeting the Middle East’s trillion-dollar medical sector to deliver healthy returns. The group has $308 billion in assets under management and 24 offices globally, including one in Dubai International Financial Centre since 2012. The healthcare team’s strategy has a pot of more than $10 billion, while […] November 3, 2023
Analysis Finance UAE and UK sign agreement to boost fintech The UK and the UAE have signed an agreement to strengthen ties on financial services that its backers hope will provide a boost to fintech. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed in Dubai late last week by Andrew Griffith, UK City minister, and Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE minister of economy, seeks to promote […] November 3, 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
Economy UAE non-oil business surges to four-year high Non-oil business activity in the UAE grew at the fastest pace in four years in October, spurred by a surge in new orders, according to a new survey published on Friday. The latest S&P Global UAE Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) increased to 57.7 last month, from 56.7 in September, its highest level since June 2019. […] November 3, 2023
Employment Zurich Middle East plots growth on needs of expats Zurich International Life, the Middle East division of Switzerland’s Zurich Insurance Group, is expanding its core business in response to rising demand from expatriates. With expats staying in the region for longer, there is a growing need for products and services such as life insurance, workplace savings plans and critical illness cover. There is also […] November 3, 2023
Economy Turkey ups inflation forecasts on high food, energy prices Turkey’s central bank has increased the inflation forecast for 2023 to 65 percent from its previous estimate of 58 percent and persisted in gradually tightening its monetary policies. Inflation has accelerated due to high food and energy import prices, said governor Hafize Gaye Erkan, adding that the forecast for 2024 was raised to 36 percent […] November 3, 2023
Economy Egypt keeps rates steady to tackle ‘future’ inflation Egypt’s central bank, as widely expected, left its overnight interest rates unchanged on Thursday, saying it was focused on future rather than present inflation and that economic growth appeared to have been stable in the July-September quarter. The central bank’s monetary policy committee (MPC) left the lending rate at 20.25 percent and the deposit rate […] November 3, 2023
Trade World’s biggest law firm sets up in Saudi Arabia Law firm Kirkland & Ellis is to open its first Middle East office in Riyadh ahead of new legislation which aims to make it easier for businesses operating in the kingdom. The office will serve as its regional headquarters. Kirkland & Ellis is the world’s largest international law firm by revenue and completed nearly 800 […] November 3, 2023
Oil & Gas Sabic slumps to loss as petrochem prices slide Petrochemicals producer Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) swung to a net loss in the third quarter, hit by a slump in product prices, a loss from offloading a subsidiary and a hefty impairment on its European operations. Sabic, 70 percent owned by Saudi Aramco, made a net loss of SAR 2.88 billion in the three […] November 2, 2023
Finance UAE and Jordan to explore $2bn opportunities The UAE’s Ministry of Investment has signed a deal with the government of Jordan to explore potential opportunities worth more than $2 billion. The memorandum of understanding will look to boost bilateral investments in sectors including renewable energy, industrial projects, manufacturing, transport, pharmaceuticals and food processing, the UAE state-run news agency Wam said. The UAE’s […] November 2, 2023
Opinion Sustainability Green supply chain finance is the sector’s next step Lenders need to become sufficiently familiar with the operation of their client supply chains November 2, 2023
Analysis Trade Dubai-Dutch office digs into UAE and Netherlands trade Dubai International Chamber has inaugurated its fourth European representative office, in Amsterdam. The UAE is seeking to build on bilateral non-oil trade of AED11.2 billion ($3.1 billion) with the Netherlands in the first half of 2023. Officials said the new office, which opened last month, will play a key role in enabling Dubai-based companies to […] November 2, 2023
Finance Saudi budget deficit hits $11.7bn as oil output cut bites Saudi Arabia’s budget deficit reached SAR 44 billion ($11.73 billion) in the first nine months of 2023 as oil revenue dropped sharply on lower prices and extended voluntarily cuts, the finance ministry said. Revenue stood at SAR854.3 billion in the first nine months of 2023, down 14 percent year on year. Oil revenue hit SAR505.4 […] November 2, 2023
Analysis Finance Middle East varies tactics amid US treasury volatility As expected, the US Federal Reserve kept interest rates on hold at its meeting this week. Always keenly watched in the Middle East because of its hefty reliance on the dollar, US interest rates are also important due to their influence on US state debt, known as treasuries. Yields on US medium-dated government debt have […] November 2, 2023
Analysis Finance Middle East bonds drop despite issuance surge Middle East bond indexes endured a tough October, extending the losses for 2023 despite a bumper year for regional debt issuance. The slump in the benchmarks mirrors a sustained surge in US treasury yields. Bond yields and prices are inversely correlated, while Gulf bonds are priced based on a spread over US treasury yields. As […] November 1, 2023
Economy Bahrain economy grows 2% despite GCC trade slump Bahrain’s economy grew by 2 percent year on year in the second quarter of 2023, despite a drop in trade with neighbouring GCC countries. The kingdom saw its non-oil sector increase by 2 percent, while the oil sector was up 2.2 percent. Bahrain’s fiscal and current account break-even oil prices are among the highest in […] November 1, 2023
Banking and Finance Dubai launches $136 million venture capital fund Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority has launched a venture capital fund, backed by a AED500 million ($136 million) pot, to support tech startups. Oraseya Capital was announced at the Dubai Business Forum on Wednesday by Dr Mohammed Alzarooni, executive chairman of DIEZ Authority. He said Oraseya Capital’s key aim is to “foster innovation and drive […] November 1, 2023
Analysis Banking and Finance Stronger GCC relations a boon to Turkey’s Islamic banks Improving relations between Turkey and the GCC could lead to more investment in the country’s Islamic banking system, which the government is keen to expand. The Turkish authorities have set a target for Islamic banks to reach 15 percent of total sector assets by 2025, up from 8.5 percent this year. Top-down support has been […] November 1, 2023
Banking and Finance Fund managers hedge bets between Dubai and Abu Dhabi A growing number of hedge funds are choosing to register in both the UAE’s financial hubs, according to the CEO of a consultancy that advises businesses on setting up in the Emirates. Clare Curtis, CEO of Effecta Compliance, told an investment conference on Monday that there was strong interest in the Dubai International Financial Centre […] November 1, 2023
Trade UAE-Turkey trade set for 50% rise to $15bn in 2023 Bilateral trade between the UAE and Turkey is set to jump by 50 percent to hit $15 billion by the end of the year following the signing of a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement (Cepa) in September. “We have exceeded $14 billion in the first nine months of this year,” Daily Sabah newspaper reported, citing trade […] November 1, 2023
EXCLUSIVE Economy RAK free zone chief predicts influx of tech and hotel suppliers Technology and hospitality companies are set to flock to Ras Al Khaimah to work on Wynn Al Marjan Island, a $3.9 billion resort now under construction, the chief executive of RAK’s largest business free zone has told AGBI. Ramy Jallad, chief executive of Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (Rakez), said the Wynn development had “a […] November 1, 2023
