Analysis Mena region has record year for startup investment The geographic location of the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) provides access to large markets in Europe, Africa and Asia, and is home to a large, young population. In a context of geopolitical instability and high unemployment, many of these young people are increasingly seeking new opportunities and looking to improve the world via […] June 16, 2022
Analysis Economy UK targets Gulf for growth post-Brexit and Covid Rocked by the double whammy of Brexit and the global pandemic, UK businesses have endured a tumultuous two years. As European trade battles sharp retrenchment – UK-EU exports dropped by 12 percent last year, a loss of £20 billion – British companies are pursuing new growth avenues and the Gulf is proving to be a […] June 16, 2022
IPO expected for Dubai road toll operator Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on Wednesday issued a new law establishing road toll operator Salik as a public joint stock company (PJSC), paving the way for a potential initial public offering (IPO). According to the law, Salik Company PJSC will have a term of 99 years, starting from the date of […] June 15, 2022
Opinion Banking & Finance Bahrain – and the world – needs a centrally-owned digital currency The Bahraini government aims to foster a digitalisation culture and set a framework for the e-economy June 15, 2022
Banking & Finance Egypt in ‘race against time’ with privatisation drive Egypt’s economy is facing a perfect storm of economic headwinds. While its currency is plummeting, its budget deficit is rising along with its borrowing costs. In an effort to counter rapidly growing external imbalances, Egypt’s government devalued its currency, the Egyptian pound, by 10 percent in March and subsequently requested a support package from the […] June 15, 2022
Analysis Banking & Finance Foreign government workers to benefit from new saving scheme A new savings scheme for foreign employees working in Dubai Government, which aims to enhance the end-of-service benefits system, is set to come into effect on July 1. Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the entity responsible for supervising the implementation of the Savings Scheme for Foreign Employees in the Government of Dubai, has held several […] June 15, 2022
Banking & Finance Digital banking platform Revolut launches in Oman Digital banking platform Revolut said it was launching a streamlined version of its app in Sri Lanka, Chile, Ecuador, Azerbaijan and Oman, allowing customers to transfer money to over 50 countries using more than 30 currencies. The London-based company said there would be no fee for customers transferring to other Revolut customers, while transfers to […] June 15, 2022
Banking & Finance The Prince and the PIF: The way ahead for Saudi’s top investor The prince who’s the international face of Saudi business may no longer be able to call all the shots. For years, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, Saudi Arabia’s self-styled Warren Buffett, has made hundreds of millions of dollars by investing in companies from Citigroup to Uber to Twitter with almost complete autonomy. Now, his Kingdom Holding […] June 15, 2022
Markets Abu Dhabi stock market ends nine-day losing streak Abu Dhabi’s stock market rebounded on Tuesday, ending a nine-day losing streak, while the Saudi index extended losses for a second session as the uncertainty remained among investors ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s policy meeting on Wednesday. In Abu Dhabi, the index gained 0.9 percent, led by a 4.2 percent jump in telecoms firm […] June 15, 2022
Tourism EU official concerned about Russia flying Western-made planes European’s top aviation safety regulator said on Tuesday that he is “very worried” about the safety of Western-made aircraft continuing to fly in Russia without access to spare parts and proper maintenance. The European Union and the United States have moved to restrict Russia’s access to spare parts following its invasion of Ukraine. “This is […] June 15, 2022
Manufacturing China’s factories perk up, amid signs of economic recovery China’s economy showed signs of recovery in May after slumping in the prior month as industrial production rose unexpectedly, but consumption was still weak and underlined the challenge for policymakers amid the persistent drag from strict COVID curbs. The data, however, provides a path to revitalise growth in the world’s second-biggest economy after businesses and […] June 15, 2022
UAE government offers spending boost to budget The UAE’s federal government aims to increase spending by AED1.23 billion ($334.9 million) in the 2022 budget, the Federal National Council said on Twitter today. The UAE estimates revenues will be AED374.98 million higher. The increased spending will come from the federal government’s general reserves, the council added. The UAE in October approved a 2022 […] June 14, 2022
Markets UAE stock markets target London in foreign investment push Stock markets in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are targeting London as they aim to strengthen their status as key destinations for international investors. Both the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) and the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) have completed investor roadshows in the British capital, holding hundreds of meetings with some of the world’s largest asset […] June 14, 2022
Opinion Banking & Finance What I learned from five years at the top The outgoing chairman of the British Business Group Dubai discusses the importance of loyalty, advocacy and resilience for companies and individuals June 14, 2022
Banking & Finance Mauritius Bank to open Nigeria office in Africa growth plan Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB), the Indian Ocean island nation’s largest bank, will open a representative office in Nigeria in months as it seeks to expand beyond oil and gas deals to cover renewables and mining, a senior executive said. MCB, which has $850 million in exposure in Nigeria, already has representative offices in Nairobi and […] June 14, 2022
Analysis Banking & Finance Arbitrageurs: the funds making tons from messy markets ‘Arb trading’ is not for everyone but can be profitable The crypto market’s a hot mess, leaving many investors struggling to turn a buck. Enter the arbitrageurs. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have either been shackled to ranges or in decline since January, leaving your regular buy-and-hold investor with little option but to sell or to […] June 14, 2022
Banking & Finance First Abu Dhabi Bank to launch new brand in Egypt First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) has completed the legal merger of assets between its Egyptian unit and Bank Audi Egypt, resulting in the creation of Egypt’s newest banking brand, FABMISR. FAB said the new brand launches later this year having obtained final approval from the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) and the General Authority for […] June 14, 2022
Markets Emaar Properties shares down 4.9% as Gulf markets drop Stock markets in the Gulf ended lower on Monday, in line with global equities as red-hot U.S. inflation reignited worries about even more aggressive Federal Reserve policy tightening, and a Covid-19 warning from Beijing added to concerns about global growth. Dubai’s main share index retreated 2.7 percent, its biggest one-day fall in a month, dragged […] June 14, 2022
Israel and India set to restart free trade talks Israel and India are preparing to resume talks on a free trade agreement, Israel’s economy ministry said on Monday, adding that an Indian delegation had arrived in Jerusalem to discuss framework rules and coordinate expectations for negotiations. Last October, India and Israel agreed to resume free trade talks with an aim of signing a deal […] June 13, 2022
Markets India rupee at record low, bonds rise to three-year high India’s rupee hit a record low in opening trade on Monday while bond yields spiked to their highest levels in more than three years as a sharper jump in US inflation raised concern over the Federal Reserve resorting to steeper rate increases. Soaring food and energy prices drove the largest year-on-year gain in US consumer […] June 13, 2022
