Trade UAE remains Oman’s primary exporter despite increase from China The UAE maintained its position as the top exporter to nearby Oman last year despite a sharp increase in China’s exports to the sultanate, official figures show. The UAE, the second largest Arab economy and a major centre for re-exports, exported OR4 billion ($10 billion) to Oman in 2024 and accounted for almost a quarter […] April 21, 2025
Trade Turkey courts US companies and investors during visit Turkish finance minister Mehmet Simsek said he will meet with rating agencies, investors and companies planning to shift supply to Turkey during a visit to the US this week. “I will be in America this week for the IMF, World Bank and G20 meetings. We will meet with rating agencies in New York at the […] April 21, 2025
Trade Egypt targets 15% trade growth with Tunisia Egypt has set a target to increase trade with Tunisia by 15 percent as it seeks to develop regional economic ties. Trade between the two countries, both of which are subject to reform programmes overseen by the International Monetary Fund, is expected to reach $485 million in 2025 from $421 million in 2024. The plan […] April 21, 2025
Trade UAE foreign trade surges but surplus falls The UAE’s foreign trade surged by nearly half between 2021 and 2024, but the trade surplus softened last year amid global challenges. Foreign trade rose to AED5.2 trillion ($1.4 trillion) in 2024, up nearly half from 2021, state-run WAM news agency reported, citing a World Trade Organisation paper. The UAE, a major re-exporter, is among […] April 21, 2025
Trade Modi makes trade visit to Saudi Arabia this week Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Saudi Arabia this week to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s de facto ruler, to discuss trade, investment and energy tie-ups. The two leaders will also discuss the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor and defence cooperation during the April 22-23 visit, the Indian Express newspaper reported. Saudi Arabia is […] April 21, 2025
Opinion Trade Gulf logistics reform must be prioritised The GCC could become a leader in cooperation and connectivity through better-harmonised regulations April 18, 2025
Trade Oman in talks with US to review reciprocal tariff Oman is holding talks with the US to review the implications of reciprocal tariffs, according to a news report. “Despite the existing free trade agreement with the US, the new tariffmeasures have included Omani exports,” Oman Daily Observer, a local news outlet, reported, quoting Shaikh Saud Al Nahari, a board member of Oman Chamber of […] April 18, 2025
Economy Algeria creates agency to promote non-oil exports Algeria is to create an export promotion agency to push non-oil international sales as the oil and gas producer faces plunging petroleum prices. Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune revealed the plan during a meeting with national business leaders in the capital Algiers last week. Tebboune said the export promotion agency would be set up next month […] April 15, 2025
Trade China and Turkey imports widen Tunisia’s trade gap Tunisia’s trade gap rose by two thirds in the first quarter as the government prioritised goods from China and Turkey, official figures show. Imports increased by 5 percent to 20 billion Tunisian dinars ($6.8 billion) in the first three months of 2025 from 19 billion dinars in the same period last year, the National Institute […] April 14, 2025
Analysis Trade US-China trade war brings pros and cons for the Gulf The growing trade war between the US and China, the world’s two largest economies, presents the Gulf Arab states with a complex puzzle. International commerce may shift towards new consumer and trans-shipment markets, while a recession-driven collapse in oil prices and higher-for-longer inflation because of tariffs are further risks to the region. Sectors of the […] April 12, 2025
Economy Visiting US energy minister expects more UAE investment The US administration expects “growing” investment from the UAE in the US energy sector, its energy secretary Chris Wright said during a visit to Abu Dhabi this week. On his first overseas trip since taking office, Wright met senior officials from the UAE – the Middle East’s third-largest oil producer – including Abu Dhabi National […] April 11, 2025
Opinion Trade Riyadh and Beijing deepen ties beyond trade China realises that, to become a true global power, it needs to better explain itself to the world April 11, 2025
Trade Turkey looks for positives from tariff fallout Turkey is eyeing a potential upside in its international trade as Donald Trump takes on China and much of the rest of the world in a trade war. As one of the countries initially hit with Trump’s baseline 10 percent tariff, many in Turkey had nonetheless forecast export doors to the US would open for […] April 11, 2025
Trade EU and UAE to start talks on comprehensive trade deal The UAE and the European Union are to start negotiations towards a wide-ranging free trade agreement, officials for both sides said. “The UAE shares strong and longstanding ties with the European Union and its member states,” Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s president, said on X. Through a comprehensive economic partnership agreement, or […] April 11, 2025
Editor's Insight Trade Few good options for US-GCC trade – but options nonetheless It is often said that US trading partners have few good options when it comes to dealing with President Trump’s “liberation day” last week. Few good options, yes, but the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council at least have options. Oil and gas are excluded from the new tariff regime – if one can call a bookie’s […] April 10, 2025
Opinion Trade South Africa courts Gulf in $5.5bn infrastructure push Some of the UAE’s leading international investors are already present in the South African market April 10, 2025
Trade Gulf countries start free trade talks with Turkey The Saudi-led Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Turkey have begun talks towards a free trade agreement, the UAE’s state-run Wam news agency reported. Ankara has already signed free trade agreements with the UAE and Qatar, Wam said, citing Turkish trade minister Ömer Bolat. The UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain are all members of the […] April 9, 2025
Oil & Gas Oil demand growth to halve in wake of Trump tariffs Global growth in demand for oil this year may be as much as 40 percent less than forecast before last week’s announcement by Donald Trump of a near tripling in effective tariff rates on US imports to their highest in a century, S&P and other oil analysts have said. On average, demand for oil was […] April 9, 2025
Energy Gulf partners will have many questions for US energy secretary US energy secretary Chris Wright arrives in the Gulf today at an especially turbulent time in the global economy and as oil prices plunge to more than four-year lows. Wright’s two-week visit to Saudi Arabia – the world’s second-largest oil producer – the UAE and Qatar may be in preparation for Donald Trump’s own trip […] April 9, 2025
Trade Cepa aims to double UAE trade with Republic of the Congo The signing of a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (Cepa) between the UAE and the Republic of the Congo is projected to more than double non-oil trade between the two nations. Non-oil trade will grow to $7.2 billion by 2032 from $3.1 billion in 2024, the UAE state-run Wam news agency reported. The Cepa will eliminate […] April 9, 2025
Opinion Trade Gulf states brace for global trade upheaval US tariffs may dampen GCC growth but could also accelerate regional industrial ambitions April 8, 2025
Analysis Trade US levies render Middle East trade deals worthless, say analysts US president Donald Trump’s global tariff policy has bulldozed through dozens of free-trade agreements, including a handful in the Middle East. The impact on the rules of international commerce could be severe, according to industry watchers. “To take such an abrupt and quick decision from one side, where you have more than 20 years of […] April 8, 2025
