Aviation Middle East airspace shut after Israel strikes Iran Airlines steered clear of much of the Middle East on Friday after Israeli attacks on Iranian sites forced carriers to cancel or divert thousands of flights in the latest upheaval to travel in the region. Proliferating conflict zones around the world are becoming an increasing burden on airline operations and profitability and more of a safety concern. Detours add to […] June 13, 2025
Transport Tesla enters Morocco ahead of 2030 World Cup US multinational automotive company Tesla has reportedly officially entered the Moroccan market, in a bid to take advantage of surging business demand ahead of its co-hosting of the Fifa 2030 World Cup. The new company, named Tesla Morocco, was established on May 27 by two Dutch business entities, one called Tesla International (which serves as a […] June 13, 2025
Aviation Etihad passengers up 17% as fleet and route networks grow Passenger numbers on Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways rose 17 percent year on year in the first five months of 2025 as the Emirati carrier increased its fleet and route network. The total number of Etihad passengers carried from January to May reached 8.4 million, according to a statement. The average passenger load factor increased to […] June 13, 2025
Transport Passengers face delays as Etihad Rail tender extended Passengers awaiting the UAE’s high-speed rail link between Abu Dhabi and Dubai may face delays after the submission deadline for key construction tenders was pushed back. Etihad Rail, the state-owned developer behind the project, originally set an early May deadline for bids covering civil works and station design for the passenger line. That date has […] June 12, 2025
Opinion Aviation Syria’s fragile flightpath: Can aviation rebuild after a lost decade? If confidence continues to build, daily services to European cities are entirely possible June 11, 2025
Logistics DHL to invest $500m in the Middle East US logistics company DHL is planning to increase its presence in the Middle East, targeting the rapidly growing markets of the UAE and Saudi Arabia. It intends to invest more than €500 million ($572 million) in the region as part of its 2030 strategy plan. The expansion spans all four of DHL’s divisions – Express, […] June 11, 2025
Aviation Trump’s Gulf deals help Boeing deliver a blockbuster May Boeing heads into the Paris Air Show after a blockbuster May that included booking 303 new orders and rolling out 38 new 737 MAX jets, a production rate it has been working to reach for more than a year. The company also delivered 45 aircraft last month, it said Tuesday. It was the sixth-highest monthly order tally […] June 11, 2025
Logistics Agility gets $500m loan to support expansion Logistics company Agility Global has secured a $500 million loan to support its ongoing operations and expansion plans. The three-year facility, with specific extension options, was secured from a regional bank, the company said in a statement to the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange. The name of the lender was not disclosed. In March, Agility said […] June 10, 2025
Transport Dubai breaks ground on Blue Line metro project The Dubai government has broken ground on the expansion of its driverless metro line, aimed at reducing traffic, cutting emissions and contributing to economic growth. The foundation stone of the project was laid in the presence of Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE state-run Wam news agency reported. He also approved […] June 10, 2025
Aviation Etihad rules out investments in Indian airlines Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways has no plans to invest in Indian airlines, CEO Antonoaldo Neves confirmed in an interview this week. “The answer is a clear no,” he told Economic Times, an Indian financial daily. Under its former CEO James Hogan, Etihad acquired stakes in several global airlines. In 2023 it purchased a 24 percent stake in […] June 10, 2025
Transport Omani startup a step closer to launching flying cars Omani startup AeroVecto has signed an agreement with a Romanian vertiport developer to develop services for the launch of flying cars in the sultanate. AeroVecto is developing a vehicle called the Shuttle, an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, for mass public transportation, with variants planned for cargo delivery, emergency response and premium travel, […] June 9, 2025
Logistics China’s Meituan to expand drone delivery service in Dubai Chinese company Meituan is expanding its drone delivery service in Dubai, its first overseas test market. The company will launch up to three new routes for drone deliveries in the second half of the year with the potential to add more, vice president Yinian Mao told Bloomberg News. The service will be offered on the […] June 9, 2025
Analysis Aviation Gulf aviation and politics intersect at 30,000 feet As headlines swirled around Qatar’s reported gifting of a private jet to President Donald Trump, the real political theatre last month unfolded in the skies above the Gulf. Within days of each other, regional carriers Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways revealed a combined 238-jet order from Boeing, the troubled US manufacturer, highlighting how aviation serves […] June 6, 2025
Aviation Disputed region to get new airport for Morocco’s World Cup Morocco has unveiled plans to build a new civilian airport in the disputed Western Sahara as part of a massive infrastructure development programme ahead of the 2030 Fifa World Cup which it co-hosts with Spain and Portugal. Transport Minister Abdul Samad Qayouh disclosed the proposed plan for the airport in Boujdour city during a parliament […] June 5, 2025
Banking and Finance FAB joins banks to lend $750m to India’s Adani unit Adani Airports Holdings, the largest private airport operator in India, has raised $750 million from banks including the UAE’s First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB). The other banks involved are Barclays and Standard Chartered, the Bombay Stock Exchange-listed company said in a statement on Wednesday. Adani Airports Holdings (AAHL) is a subsidiary of India’s Adani Enterprises, […] June 5, 2025
Aviation Qatar Airways agrees first local credit facility in three decades Qatar Airways has secured QR4.5 billion ($1.2 billion) in funding from domestic banks, its first local credit facility in 28 years. The money is fully underwritten and led by Qatar National Bank, the sole and exclusive bookrunner and global coordinator, the Qatar News Agency reported. Other lenders include Ahlibank, Commercial Bank, Doha Bank, Dukhan Bank, […] June 5, 2025
Logistics DP World targets deals in Turkey and Eastern Europe Global ports operator DP World is exploring acquisitions in Turkey and Eastern Europe as part of its growth plan, a media report said. “We are exploring markets,” The National newspaper reported quoting executive vice president of East Europe Kris Adams. The container market in Eastern Europe is fragmented, with consolidation required, Adams said, adding that the […] June 4, 2025
Analysis Finance Oversubscribed Flynas IPO offers hope for other Saudi listings The Saudi budget airline Flynas announced that the retail tranche of its initial public offering (IPO) was oversubscribed four and a half times. The news offers hope for upcoming IPOs in the kingdom following a fall in the share price of United Carton Industries Company (UCIC) after it listed on the main market last week. […] June 3, 2025
Logistics Oman and Kazakhstan set up logistics and mining companies Oman and Kazakhstan have agreed to set up two companies to widen their investment and economic ties. The agreement was signed during the visit of Oman’s Minister of Finance Sultan Al Habsi in Astana. “These two companies in logistics and mining will widen our investments and economic portfolios as we look to establish common ground […] June 3, 2025
Aviation Dubai airlines lead GCC bid to revive Syrian economy Dubai-based airlines are resuming services to Syria after a gap of nearly 13 years as the Gulf states unite to support the war-torn country’s economic recovery. Low-cost carrier Flydubai resumed operations to Syria, with the first flight landing at Damascus International Airport on Saturday, a move aimed at building ties between the UAE and Syria. […] June 3, 2025
Infrastructure Dubai to build Ghana’s first economic zone The government of Ghana has signed a memorandum of understanding with Dubai state-owned entity Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC) to establish an economic zone and digital incubator in Ghana’s capital Accra. The move is intended to attract foreign investment to West Africa and accelerate Ghana’s goal of becoming a regional technology powerhouse, the […] June 3, 2025
Aviation Dubai Aerospace secures $300m loan from Bank of China Aircraft leasing company Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) has secured a $300 million loan from the Bank of China. The money will be used for general corporate purposes and support upcoming financing requirements, the company said in a statement on Monday. The three-year unsecured term loan was issued by the lender’s Dubai, London and Hong Kong branches. […] June 3, 2025
