Trade Oman says US tariffs will have limited effect on trade New import tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump’s administration will have a minimum effect on Oman’s economy, a senior official said. “The US tariffs apply only for our non-energy products and not to our crude oil, gas and refined oil, so there will be limited impact on our finances,” Dr Nasser Al Maawali, the Undersecretary […] April 7, 2025
Trade Turkey favours trade boost with US despite tariffs Turkey aims to increase bilateral trade with the US to $100 billion, despite facing a 10 percent traffic from the Trump administration, according to a news report. Ankara is working towards removing the new tariffs imposed by Washington, Hurriet Daily News an English daily, reported citing trade minister Ömer Bolat. The country is ramping up trade […] April 7, 2025
Opinion Trade The Gulf won’t escape the fallout of Trump’s shock tariffs US tariffs affect regional economies through inflationary pressures, lower oil prices and volatility April 4, 2025
Analysis Trade The golden question: where next for the UAE-India Cepa? Earlier this week it emerged that Abu Dhabi conglomerate International Holding Company (IHC) and a US institutional investor had between them acquired a minority stake of 6 percent in Haldiram’s, an Indian snack maker, valuing the company at $10 billion. The IHC investment contributes to the UAE’s ranking as the seventh-largest foreign direct investor in […] 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
Trade UAE enters the major league of Turkish export markets Turkey’s exports to the GCC bloc rose sharply in February, driven by a strong increase in shipments to the United Arab Emirates. The UAE figures offset falls in sales to some other GCC member states. The numbers were released before the detention two weeks ago of Istanbul mayor and leading opposition figure Ekrem İmamoğlu, which […] April 3, 2025
Trade Middle East fails to escape Trump’s tariffs US President Donald Trump unveiled far-reaching new tariffs on Wednesday, including on the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and other countries in the Middle East. Speaking from the Rose Garden of the White House, the president outlined a minimum 10 percent universal tariff on all imports into the United States, regardless of origin. This will […] April 3, 2025
Trade Iraq’s trade balance surplus with US at $6bn Iraq has a trade balance surplus of nearly $6 billion with the US, a senior government official has said. This comes from oil exports to the US more than doubling in two years, state-run Iraq News Agency reported, quoting prime minister’s financial advisor Mazhar Mohammed Salih. The trade volume between the two countries has more […] April 2, 2025
Trade China’s investors seek shelter from Trump in Saudi Arabia President Trump’s trade war is strengthening economic ties between Saudi Arabia and China and encouraging Chinese investors to increase their holdings in the kingdom, analysts say. As China and its near neighbours face the imposition of economic tariffs – “the most beautiful word in the world”, according to the 47th president – Saudi Arabia has […] April 2, 2025
Analysis Trade The Gulf must brace for indirect hits from Trump’s tariffs Gulf states may stave off new tariffs US president Donald Trump is expected to announce but the measures’ indirect impact on the global economy and oil prices loom large. The region’s focus, industry watchers say, should be on diversifying trade relationships while embracing the UAE and Saudi Arabia playbook of investing in the United States […] April 2, 2025
Trade Gold hits record high over trade war fears Gold prices scaled a record peak on Friday as concerns over US President Donald Trump’s fresh tariff plans ignited fears of a global trade war, driving a rush towards the safe-haven allure of the precious metal. Spot gold climbed 0.6 percent to $3,073.79 an ounce, as of 02:30 GMT, after hitting an all-time high of $3,077.44 earlier in […] March 28, 2025
Analysis Trade EU customs union makes Turkey a US tariff target Turkey’s customs entanglement with the European Union (EU) makes it vulnerable to retaliatory tariffs from the United States in the months ahead. The White House has collated a “dirty 15” list of countries which it alleges maintain unfair levies on goods and substantial trade surpluses over the US. They are expected to be the first […] March 27, 2025
Finance UAE’s $1.4trn US pledge is political positioning, experts say The UAE’s pledge to invest $1.4 trillion in the US over the next 10 years is about political positioning rather than exact numbers, according to experts. The country committed to a 10-year $1.4 trillion investment in AI infrastructure, semiconductors, energy and American manufacturing during a meeting in Washington last week, according to a White House announcement. […] March 27, 2025
Opinion Trade UAE sharpens focus on China for business growth The relationship between the two countries is China's most robust in the Middle East March 26, 2025
Trade Oman’s exports rise after Duqm refinery comes online Oman’s exports grew last year as a result of a sharp increase in oil refining production after the Duqm Refinery became operational, official figures show. Export of refined products almost trebled last year after the start-up of the $9 billion Duqm Refinery, a joint venture between the Omani government-owned OQ and Kuwait Petroleum International, a […] March 26, 2025
Opinion Trade Why Gulf investors are betting big on Trump’s America Now 'their man' is back in the White House, Gulf states are backing him with their huge capital reserves March 24, 2025
Finance UAE commits to $1.4trn investment framework in US The United Arab Emirates has committed to a 10-year, $1.4 trillion investment framework in the United States after top UAE officials met President Donald Trump this week, a White House official said on Friday. The new framework will “substantially increase the UAE’s existing investments in the US economy” in AI infrastructure, semiconductors, energy and American manufacturing, the […] March 21, 2025
Trade Gold exports to UAE surge on Trump tariff war Imports of physical gold from Switzerland to the UAE almost doubled month on month in February as investors turned to so-called safe haven assets against the backdrop of US President Donald Trump’s tariff war and diverging global interest rate policies. According to Swiss customs data 3,465kg of the precious metal was imported to the UAE […] March 21, 2025
EXCLUSIVE Trade UK pushing for increase in business with UAE Britain is “very keen” to secure business in the aviation, hospitality and financial services sectors and elsewhere in Dubai and the wider UAE, a UK trade commissioner has told AGBI. A free trade agreement between the UK and the Gulf Co-operation Council, which includes the UAE, would support these opportunities for British companies, said Sarah […] March 21, 2025
Trade Trade agreement talks start between UAE and Tunisia The UAE has started negotiations with Tunisia on a bilateral trade and investment agreement. In a virtual meeting between the two nations’ ministers of trade, officials expressed their commitment to expanding and deepening bilateral relations, the official UAE news agency WAM said. The UAE and Tunisia will proceed to negotiate specific chapters and provisions covered […] March 20, 2025
Finance Fences come down for businesses in Dubai free zones Businesses operating in Dubai’s free trade zones will be able to expand their activities into the emirate’s mainland areas after a government ruling. The new legislation will allow the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism to issue licences or permits granting expansion into the wider city. Dubai has more than 30 free trade zones covering […] March 18, 2025
SPECIAL REPORT Trade Bolstering Egypt’s trade with Africa Egypt's portfolio of multilateral trade deals includes the largest continental free trade agreement in the world. We look at how it can do more business in Africa – a market of 1.5 billion people March 18, 2025 In association with
