Transport Parkin signs deal to develop vertiports for Dubai air taxis Parkin, the Dubai government’s parking management company, has signed an agreement to develop the support network for flying taxis in the emirate. Under the agreement Parkin and Skyports, a UK-based vertiport infrastructure developer, will collaborate on the provision of parking facilities at “vertiport” sites in Dubai, as well as developing new locations across Parkin’s network […] October 3, 2024
Opinion Logistics Conflict will severely disrupt Middle East logistics Air cargo is particularly hard hit by escalating conflict in the Middle East October 3, 2024
Opinion Aviation Regional airlines will remain fluid in the Israel-Iran conflict Current events are unlikely to cause significant disruption in countries with large domestic markets October 2, 2024
Aviation Airlines suspend flights to Middle East Airlines in the Middle East have cancelled some flights and rerouted others after Iran fired more than 180 ballistic missiles at Israel. Shares in some European airlines and travel companies fell on Wednesday by up to 2.7 percent after Israel’s neighbours closed airspace and airline crews skirted the conflict zone. Many airlines have suspended operations […] October 2, 2024
Infrastructure Railways ‘at centre’ of Algeria’s evolution, says UK ambassador Algeria is putting its railways at the centre of national infrastructure plans in part because roads are expensive and difficult to maintain, according to the country’s ambassador to the UK. A significant expansion of the country’s railway network is scheduled to start this year, with the construction of 2,773km of railway lines – the equivalent […] October 2, 2024
Aviation Qatar Airways to buy 25% stake in Virgin Australia Qatar Airways is to acquire a minority 25 percent stake in Virgin Australia from US private equity firm Bain Capital to gain access to the wider Australian market. The deal closure is subject to the approval of Australia’s foreign investment review board. No financial details were disclosed. Last year, the airline’s former CEO Akbar Al-Baker […] October 1, 2024
Economy Suez Canal revenues fall by $6bn as unrest continues Suez Canal revenues have fallen by $6 billion this year amid regional geopolitical issues, president Abdel Fattah El Sisi has said. The income from the waterway, connecting the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, declined by between 50 percent and 60 percent in the first eight months of 2024, local media reported, citing the president’s speech at […] September 30, 2024
Opinion Transport Coming soon to a Dubai venue near you – traffic jams Just a few weeks into the return from summer and the omens are gloomy September 27, 2024
Analysis Transport What the rise of robotaxi means for your car insurance As the Middle East continues to test autonomous vehicles, the big issue is the potential increase in multi-million-dollar lawsuits as a result of AV accidents, and the debate over who is liable for such payouts. Cruise, which is owned by General Motors and has been designated as the exclusive robotaxi service provider in Dubai until […] September 26, 2024
Aviation Etihad Airways to invest billions as it prepares for IPO Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, is planning to invest $7 billion over the next five years and to double the size of its fleet by 2030 as it prepares to go public, its chief executive said. Antonoaldo Neves told a conference in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday that the investment is part of […] September 26, 2024
Infrastructure Riyadh signs off billions to improve road safety Riyadh municipality has signed five contracts worth SAR6 billion ($1.6 billion) to improve roads in the Saudi capital, where traffic accidents are above the global average. The contracts entail rehabilitating and asphalting 83 million square metres of road network over five years, in time for Riyadh’s hosting of the 2030 World Expo, which will bring […] September 25, 2024
Analysis Aviation Dnata is 65, but its globetrotting is just getting started Dnata began life 65 years ago as a small travel agency in Dubai. Today it is the airport services arm of Emirates Group, operating in over 30 countries and planning to expand to even more. This month, it signed ground handling contracts with Royal Jordanian Airlines at John F Kennedy airport in New York and […] September 24, 2024
Opinion Business of Sport Qatar scores Champions League deal in battle for Gulf skies Qatar Airways has added a new trophy to its prestigious sponsorship collection September 23, 2024
Logistics DP World among bidders for $84m Indian port upgrade DP World is among the bidders to develop and upgrade a port in India’s eastern state of West Bengal, according to a media report. Indian conglomerate Adani is also in the running, The Telegraph, an Indian newspaper, reported The private-public-partnership project involves reconstructing one berth and mechanising two berths at Netaji Subhas Dock, Kolkatta, for […] September 19, 2024
Tourism Halo Space to manufacture capsules in Saudi Arabia Spanish company Halo Space plans to localise most manufacturing of its high-altitude balloon capsule to Saudi Arabia, it said this week before its first test launch in the kingdom. The Madrid-based startup is due to stage an unmanned test flight from the Al-Aflaj oasis 330km south of Riyadh within the next two weeks, depending on […] September 18, 2024
Aviation Dubai to launch air taxi service in 2026 Dubai is planning to launch an air taxi service in 2026, using Joby Aviation’s fully electric vehicles. In February, Joby Aviation, listed on the New York Stock Exchange, announced plans to soft-launch air taxi services in Dubai by early 2025. The air taxis are designed to carry a pilot and four passengers at 320km per […] September 18, 2024
Aviation Wizz Air expects Abu Dhabi to beat global traffic growth Abu Dhabi will likely beat global passenger volume growth of 15-20 percent next year, driven by new low-cost routes to the Middle East, Wizz Air CEO Jozsef Varadi has said. “I think Abu Dhabi is going to grow beyond this,” he said. Based in Hungary, the airline established its operations in Abu Dhabi in 2019 through […] September 17, 2024
Aviation AI could help with pilot shortage, says Emirates COO Artificial intelligence could allow for planes to fly with just one pilot, an Emirates airline executive has said. This would also help ease the Middle East’s pilot shortage and change how the aviation industry operates. Adel Ahmed Al Redha, chief operating officer of Emirates airline, told AGBI that aircraft operations “might go to maybe one […] September 12, 2024
Aviation Etihad Airways potential IPO unlikely this year The possible initial public offering (IPO) of Etihad Airways is unlikely to happen this year, a media report has said. Regional geopolitical instability and a plan to show investors a strong financial performance in 2024 are key factors delaying the IPO launch, Reuters reported, citing informed sources. An Etihad spokesperson said it does not comment […] September 12, 2024
Trade New shipping route links Jeddah to major Indian ports Saudi Arabia has launched a new shipping route between Jeddah Islamic Port and Mundra and Nhava Sheva, two of India’s largest ports. The 10-day service, operated by Folk Maritime Services, a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, started this month. The new route aims to increase the movement of goods such as petrochemicals, aligning with […] September 10, 2024
Aviation Saudi fund loans $55m to expand Bahamas airport Saudi Arabia will provide $55 million financing for the development of an airport project in The Bahamas that will more than double its capacity. The project aims to expand North Eleuthera International Airport’s operational capacity from 300,000 to 700,000 visitors annually, the state-run Saudi Press Agency reported. The expansion will generate more than 300 direct […] September 10, 2024
Infrastructure ADQ takes control of Abu Dhabi’s toll and parking systems The Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund ADQ has taken over the management, operation and development of the emirate’s toll and parking systems. The move intends to provide high-quality services to customers and generate sustainable financial returns, the Abu Dhabi Media Office said in a statement. The Darb and Mawaqif – the toll and parking systems, respectively […] September 9, 2024
