Economy Saudi Arabia’s FDI inflows fall 21%, putting 2024 target in doubt Foreign direct investment into Saudi Arabia has fallen 21 percent year on year, according to the country’s statistics agency. In the third quarter of 2024, Saudi Arabia recorded SAR18 billion ($4.8 billion) of FDI inflows, compared to SAR22.6 billion in the third quarter of 2023, the General Authority for Statistics said. FDI inflows were also […] December 31, 2024
Business of Sport World Cup contractors may have to register in Saudi Foreign companies hoping to capitalise on Saudi Arabia’s SAR100 billion ($26.6 billion) World Cup preparations must be registered in the kingdom, according to the chief executive of a leading Saudi-based investment company. “Don’t waste time offering services from abroad,” said Mohammed AlQahtani, CEO at Saudi Arabia Holding Company, a private equity firm in Riyadh, in […] December 31, 2024
Health UAE’s Burjeel buys Saudi physiotherapy centre Burjeel Holdings has bolstered its presence in Saudi Arabia by acquiring a physiotherapy centre in Makkah. The Specialist Physiotherapy Center was purchased for SAR6.5 million ($1.7 million) by Burjeel KSA, a subsidiary, broadening the Abu Dhabi-listed hospital operator’s footprint in the kingdom. The centre provides hotel physiotherapy solutions designed to support the needs of Umrah and […] December 31, 2024
Economy Non-oil sectors account for 75% of UAE GDP Non-oil sectors contributed 75 percent to the UAE’s GDP in the first half of 2024, according to the country’s minister of economy. The value of the UAE’s real GDP (at constant prices) reached AED981 billion in the opening six months of the year, recording an increase of 3.6 percent. Trade activities contributed 16.5 percent to […] December 30, 2024
Logistics Suez Canal revenue drops $7bn amid Red Sea instability Suez Canal revenue fell 60 percent, or $7 billion, year on year in 2024 as ongoing instability in the Red Sea disrupted global shipping traffic, according to a news report. Despite the significant earnings drop, the Egyptian government is pressing ahead with modernisation projects to enhance the canal’s capacity and maintain its pivotal role in […] December 30, 2024
Real Estate Abu Dhabi & Qatar to help fund Indonesian housing Abu Dhabi and Qatar have committed to support Indonesia’s plan to build 15 million houses, according to the head of the housing task force Hashim Djojohadikusumo. Djojohadikusumo said the Qatari government will finance the construction of five million houses, while an unnamed philanthropist from Qatar will contribute towards a further one million houses. He added […] December 27, 2024
Trade Saudi Arabian non-oil exports increase by 13% Non-oil exports from Saudi Arabia increased by almost 13 percent to SAR25.38 billion ($6.76 billion) in October compared to the same month last year, according to the latest government trade report. Chemical products made up 26.8 percent of non-oil exports over the month, followed by plastics and rubber products at 23.7 percent, the General Authority […] December 27, 2024
Analysis Markets Gulf jewellery sales suffer from gold’s rich streak High gold prices amid widespread geopolitical uncertainty have dented jewellery sales in the Middle East this year. The trend is expected to continue in 2025. India’s sharp reduction of gold import duties in July, from 15 percent to 6 percent, boosted domestic sales but hit Middle Eastern merchants, according to industry insiders. “After a weak […] December 26, 2024
Analysis Oil & Gas UAE to shake up old world order as oil trading centre For years, Geneva, London, Amsterdam and Singapore have been the preferred homes of middlemen helping to move crude oil and its derivatives around the world. But recent geopolitical and economic shifts have paved the way for the UAE to emerge as a trading powerhouse, attracting international talent and rivalling the old world order. The UAE […] December 20, 2024
Tax More taxes could shield GCC from protectionism, says IMF GCC countries should consider new taxation options to shore up their public finances and shield their economies from rising global protectionism, according to the International Monetary Fund. That means regional governments need to continue diversifying away from fossil fuels and boost the role of the private sector, all the while identifying new tax revenues and […] December 20, 2024
Logistics DP World starts work on $1.2bn port in Senegal Dubai-based DP World has commenced work on the $1.2 billion Port of Ndayane, with the aim of transforming Senegal into a major centre for global trade. The Willem Van Rubroeck vessel is set to dredge a five km-long shipping channel to build a high-capacity port. The project’s first phase also includes an 840m quay to […] December 19, 2024
Trade Exports to India from UAE more than double in November Exports to India from the UAE more than doubled year on year to over $6 billion in November, as demand for gold and energy products soared. Imports from India were up by over 11 percent in the same month, reaching $3 billion, data released by India’s commerce ministry showed. Emirati exports to India from April […] December 18, 2024
Oil & Gas Kenya extends oil deals with Saudi Arabia and UAE Kenya has extended oil import agreements with one Saudi and two UAE oil companies to ease pressure on its currency, according to media reports. The deals were initially signed with Saudi Aramco, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and Emirates National Oil Company in March 2023, offering a 180-day credit period, Business Daily newspaper reported. Reuters […] December 18, 2024
Trade Dubai companies seek out deals in Uganda Representatives from 29 Dubai-based private sector companies have been in Uganda on a trade mission to seek investment deals across a range of sectors. Dubai International Chamber arranged more than 300 business meetings in Kampala between companies from both cities during the first leg of its visit to Uganda and Tanzania. Companies from sectors ranging […] December 16, 2024
Finance Brics currency branded ‘fantasy’ as Trump threatens tariffs Suggestions that the UAE would drop its dollar peg in favour of a Brics currency have been described as “fantasy” by the head economist at Standard Chartered bank. The UAE, along with Iran, Egypt and Ethiopia, joined the non-Western-aligned Brics group – named for its earliest members Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – […] December 16, 2024
Manufacturing Turkey holds 65% of global drones market Turkey accounts for 65 percent of the global unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) market, a senior executive with drone maker Baykar has said. The company alone commands nearly 60 percent of this market, Daily Sabah reported, citing chairman and chief technology officer Selcuk Bayraktar. Baykar has been the world’s largest drone company for three consecutive years […] December 16, 2024
Trade UAE finalises trade deal with five-nation EAEU bloc The UAE has finalised an economic agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) that will reduce or remove tariffs and eliminate technical barriers to trade with five countries. The economic partnership agreement with the EAEU, made up of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia, will align customs procedures and harmonise digital trade and ecommerce, UAE […] December 12, 2024
Opinion Trade Kaizen meets Vision 2030: Japan’s expanding role in Gulf growth Trade with the GCC is already almost $100 billion in imports and exports December 12, 2024
Trade UAE expected to sign trade deal with Mercosur bloc next year The UAE is expected to sign a comprehensive economic partnership agreement with the Mercosur bloc of South American countries next year, senior officials have said. The UAE and Brazil announced that talks about a Cepa were progressing, following a third round of negotiations last month in Uruguay. The talks started late last year and continued […] December 11, 2024
Trade UK company to open ‘miracle material’ factory in Saudi Arabia The world’s first commercial production facility for graphene-enriched carbon fibre is to be built in Saudi Arabia, its backers have announced. Graphene Innovations Manchester (GIM) – a UK company that is developing the “miracle material” said to be stronger than diamond, more conductive than copper and more flexible than rubber – has signed an agreement […] December 10, 2024
Economy Saudi Arabia extends $3bn loan to Pakistan Saudi Arabia has renewed its $3 billion deposit with Pakistan’s central bank for another year. The deposit renewal with the State Bank of Pakistan will boost Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves and strengthen its economy, the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) said. The initial agreement was signed in 2021 and rolled over in 2022 and […] December 6, 2024
Oil & Gas Adnoc Gas strikes LNG supply deal with Petronas State-backed energy major Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) has signed the second sales and purchase agreement for its Ruwais liquified natural gas (LNG) project at Al Ruwais Industrial City. The 15-year contract was signed with Malaysia’s Petronas to supply one million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG. Deliveries are expected to start in 2028 […] December 6, 2024
