Manufacturing PIF and Hyundai to roll out first Saudi vehicles in 2026 A joint venture between Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Company will roll out its first vehicles in the fourth quarter of 2026. The partners broke ground on the new manufacturing facility on Wednesday at the recently launched King Salman Automotive Cluster in King Abdullah Economic City, the state-run Saudi Press Agency […] May 15, 2025
Manufacturing Egypt looks to China for cash injection to lift textiles industry A delegation from China’s textile industry visited Egypt this week as part of the Cairo government’s strategy to attract investment to its fabric and garment businesses, local media has reported. The group of 37 Chinese business leaders and representatives from 25 companies met Mohammed El Shimy, Egypt’s minister for public enterprises, to discuss partnerships with […] May 14, 2025
Manufacturing Alba earnings dented by rising raw-material prices Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), which is listed on the Bahrain Bourse, said its earnings were hit in the first quarter of 2025 due to higher raw material (alumina) prices. Net profit fell 26 percent to BD18.1 million ($48 million) in the quarter ended March 31, 2025, compared to BD25 million a year ago, the company said […] May 14, 2025
Manufacturing Fertiglobe buys Australia’s Wengfu fertiliser company Abu Dhabi-listed Fertiglobe, the largest nitrogen fertiliser producer in the Middle East and North Africa, is to acquire Wengfu’s fertiliser distribution business assets in Australia. The final value of the deal will be determined at closing, subject to regulatory approvals, the company said in a statement to the Abu Dhabi bourse on Monday. Wengfu Australia Pty […] May 12, 2025
Manufacturing Chinese carmaker Jetour to build assembly plant in Algeria Chinese car company Jetour is planning to build a car assembly plant in Algeria, taking advantage of incentives offered to industrial projects. Earlier this week Jetour told AGBI that it is planning to start a manufacturing unit in Dubai as a springboard to supplying the UAE and the rest of the Gulf. Jetour will build […] May 8, 2025
Manufacturing China’s Jetour plans carmaking facility in Dubai Chinese carmaker Jetour plans to start a manufacturing unit in Dubai as a springboard to supplying the UAE and the rest of the Gulf, its head of international operations told AGBI. “The GCC is the richest region in the world, and we obviously want to take it by the storm and be the No 1 […] May 7, 2025
Analysis Transport Saudi Arabia’s EV ambitions face ‘chicken and egg’ dilemma Few of the car enthusiasts who attended Tesla’s launch in Riyadh last month arrived in electric vehicles. Hundreds turned out for the much-heralded opening event in Riyadh, an indication that the furore around the Tesla brand and its owner Elon Musk has not crossed the Atlantic. Despite this, public enthusiasm for electric vehicles (EVs) in […] April 28, 2025
Manufacturing Factory activity in Turkey falls to lowest in two years Turkey’s manufacturing sector has posted its fifth monthly decline in activity, reflecting a slowdown in domestic demand and the impact of political and economic instability. The manufacturing capacity utilisation rate – how much a factory’s full potential is being used – fell to 74.3 percent in April, according to a report issued this week by […] April 27, 2025
Video length: 02:01 Opinion Transport Is the DB12 the supercar to lead Aston Martin’s recovery? The model could be a turning point in the fortunes of the iconic brand April 25, 2025
Industry New licences drive strong Saudi industrial growth Saudi Arabia’s industrial sector recorded strong growth in February, with 105 new industrial licences issued, representing a 66.7 percent month-on-month increase. These newly awarded licences represent around SAR1 billion ($272 million) in investments and are expected to create 1,504 jobs, according to a report by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources’ National Industrial and […] April 23, 2025
Manufacturing Volkswagen to export surplus stock from China to Middle East Volkswagen is to start exporting cars from China, aiming to sell in other Asian markets, South America and the Middle East, its China chief Ralf Brandstaetter has said. Brandstaetter also said that the carmaker was ready to tackle domestic competition in the country. Carmakers in China, including Volkswagen, are grappling with how to make use […] April 23, 2025
Food & Drink PIF food unit builds Jeddah factory with Brazilian partner Halal Products Development Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, and Brazilian food processor BRF have started constructing a processed-food factory in Jeddah. The factory is being developed by the joint venture BRF Arabia Holding Company at a cost of $160 million, BRF said in a statement. Established in 2023, the venture […] April 22, 2025
EXCLUSIVE Real Estate Dubai Investments plans IPO before year end, says CEO Dubai Investments is preparing to sell shares in four subsidiaries to the public and may list one of them before the year end, its CEO Khalid bin Kalban has told AGBI. The government-backed company manages AED22.1 billion ($6 billion) of assets in the UAE and beyond, in sectors including real estate, construction and building materials […] April 22, 2025
Industry PIF-backed elevator company explores US IPO A German elevator company backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is exploring selling shares to the public in the US, Reuters has reported, without citing sources. Düsseldorf-based TK Elevator is expected to be valued at more than €20 billion ($22.7 billion), according to earnings calculations by the news agency. TK Elevator is the […] April 18, 2025
Exclusive Aviation China ‘unlikely to overthrow Boeing-Airbus duopoly’ China’s state-owned planemaker, Comac (Commercial Aircraft Corp of China), is decades away from breaking up the global dominance of Boeing and Airbus, according to the head of the world’s largest airline trade association. The result will be that Gulf Arab carriers such as Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways have little choice but to stomach […] April 18, 2025
Transport 2026 launch on track for Lucid’s midsize electric SUVs EV maker Lucid is on track to launch its midsize electric SUV in 2026, as it looks to tap an increasingly competitive segment dominated by rival Tesla’s bestselling Model Y crossover. “There are a lot of crazy things going on in the world that can affect that [timeline]. But currently we are on track,” said Lucid […] April 16, 2025
Manufacturing Egypt’s Hassan Allam to build concrete hub for Ras El Hekma Egypt’s Hassan Allam Holding has said one of its subsidiaries has signed a memorandum of understanding with Abu Dhabi-listed Modon Holding to supply construction materials for the Ras El Hekma megaproject on the Mediterranean. 3S Ready Mix, one of the country’s largest ready mix concrete suppliers, will develop a ready mix factory and a concrete products hub […] April 14, 2025
Analysis Manufacturing Jordan’s surging pharma industry may hit US tariff speedbump Growing Gulf spending on health is boosting Jordan’s pharmaceutical industry, but new US tariffs pose a risk to its future, according to analysts. Pharmaceutical exports from Jordan grew by 15 percent last year to $862 million. Another 11 percent growth was projected for this year and further expansion to $1.4 billion in 2029, according to […] April 10, 2025
Manufacturing PIF-owned Lucid raises new funds to repay debt US electric vehicle maker Lucid Motors, majority-owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), has raised $1.1 billion in new funding to repay existing debt. The EV maker has received $1.1 billion through convertible senior notes, debt which can be converted into shares, due in 2030, according to a company statement. Lucid will use $936 […] April 10, 2025
Manufacturing Textile companies in Turkey move to Egypt to compete Producers in Turkey’s once vibrant textiles industry are looking at moving to Egypt and elsewhere to stay afloat in the face of rising costs and fierce international competition. Company closures and job losses mean employment in the textiles sector has dropped below one million for the first time since the height of the Covid pandemic, […] April 4, 2025
Manufacturing Turkey’s auto industry hit hardest by tariffs Turkish exporters expressed mixed feelings on the news of President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs. There was relief that most sectors escaped with just a 10 percent impost, but Turkey’s car and parts producers, one of the country’s leading manufacturing and exporting sectors, were much less happy with the 25 percent tariff on all automotive […] April 3, 2025
Construction Modon to build industrial zone near Egypt’s Ras El Hekma A joint venture between Abu Dhabi-listed Modon Holding and Egypt’s Elsewedy Industrial Development is planning to build a new industrial zone near the $35-billion Ras El Hekma megaproject. The two companies have signed a letter of intent for the project, state-run news agency Wam reported. The 10 million sq m new industrial zone, located south […] March 28, 2025
