Aviation Emirates in talks with Musk’s SpaceX for in-flight WiFi Emirates airline is reportedly in talks with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to offer in-flight WiFi services. The Dubai carrier aims to offer Starlink service on its widebody fleet, Bloomberg reported, citing unnamed sources. Starlink is a low-orbit satellite network offering high-speed broadband services, particularly in areas with limited internet connectivity. Emirates has 250 aircraft and has placed orders […] May 16, 2025
Analysis Aviation Flynas to test appetite for airline IPOs as Gulf rivals look on Low-cost carrier Flynas is preparing to go public on the Saudi Exchange this month in a deal that is being watched not only by investors but also by Gulf rivals considering their own listings, analysts have told AGBI. Among them is Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways, whose long-anticipated initial public offering could be shaped by Flynas’ […] May 14, 2025
Aviation Rebuilt Mosul airport expects first passengers next month Iraqi prime minister Mohammed Al-Sudani will be among the passengers who will fly into the Northern Mosul airport in June for the first time since the facility was devastated by Daesh militants more than 10 years ago. The airport is scheduled to be put back in operation next month nearly three years after a project […] May 14, 2025
Aviation Air Arabia turnover rises despite challenges UAE low-cost airline Air Arabia said turnover registered a double-digit growth in the first quarter of 2025 despite fuel price volatility, currency fluctuations and supply chain challenges. Revenue rose 14 percent year on year to AED1.8 billion ($490 million), as passenger volume increased 11 percent annually to nearly 5 million, the Sharjah-headquartered airline said in a […] May 14, 2025
Aviation Trump dismisses concerns over Qatari plane gift US president Donald Trump has dismissed ethical concerns about his decision to accept a Boeing 747-8 jet as a gift from the Qatari royal family. Trump said it would be “stupid” to turn down the generous offer. The $400 million luxury plane, which would be outfitted to serve as Air Force One, would be one of […] May 13, 2025
Logistics Suez Canal considers transit fees discount to revive traffic Egypt’s Suez Canal Authority chief, Osama Rabie, said the authority is considering offering discounts ranging from 12 to 15 percent on transit fees to help restore traffic in the strategic waterway reeling from attacks by Yemen’s Houthis on Red Sea shipping. Rabie told privately owned Sada Al-Balad television channel in a phone interview that the […] May 13, 2025
Aviation Prince Alwaleed’s Flynas seeks $1.1bn in Saudi IPO Saudi budget airline Flynas is looking to raise as much as SAR4.1 billion ($1.1 billion) in an initial public offering (IPO) that started this week to finance expansion. The IPO price range was set at between SAR76 and SAR80 per share, implying a market capitalisation of as much as $3.65 billion. The airline, which is […] May 12, 2025
Trade Oman invests $200m in port to bolster re-export business Oman is expanding one of its smallest ports located in the northern town of Shinas, in an attempt to bolster the sultanate’s re-export business and container connectivity. The project, which is expected to start in the third quarter of this year, will increase its area by 40 percent to 1.8 million square metres, according to […] May 12, 2025
Logistics Lower shipping rates hit Adnoc L&S earnings Adnoc Logistics and Services (Adnoc L&S) said earnings were reduced due to lower commercial shipping rates, despite revenues rising by nearly half in the first quarter of 2025. Net profit fell 5 percent year on year to $185 million (AED678 million) for the three months ending March 31, 2025, the company said in a statement […] May 12, 2025
Aviation Trump plans to use Qatari 747 as Air Force One US President Donald Trump’s administration intends to accept a Boeing 747-8 plane as a gift from the Qatari royal family that would be outfitted to serve as Air Force One, according to a source briefed on the matter. The luxury plane, which would be one of the most valuable gifts ever received by the US government, […] May 12, 2025
Aviation Algeria’s new domestic airline set to take off Algeria is pushing ahead with plans to start a domestic airline to tap into a growing market for local air travel, the North African country’s transport minister said. In comments reported by the local media, Said Sayoud told Algeria’s parliament this week that the national carrier Air Algerie – which will own the domestic airline […] May 9, 2025
Infrastructure Tenders launched for $35bn Al Maktoum International Dubai plans to award major infrastructure contracts at Al Maktoum International Airport this year as construction accelerates on what will become the world’s largest airport, a senior government official said. Tenders for an automated people mover system and baggage handling infrastructure have already been floated and are expected to be awarded before the end of […] May 9, 2025
Logistics AD Ports reports revenue gains from Red Sea crisis Abu Dhabi-listed AD Ports Group said first-quarter 2025 revenue jumped as Red Sea disruptions positively impacted its container shipping business. The top line was up 18 percent year on year to AED4.6 billion ($1.3 billion), supported by revenues from ports, economic cities and free zones, as well as maritime and shipping clusters, the company said […] May 9, 2025
Industry Lucid CEO admits to ‘hiccups’ in SUV rollout Lucid Motors, the Saudi-controlled US electric vehicle maker, has admitted to “hiccups” in the rollout of its sports utility vehicle, Gravity. “It is true that we had some technical issues that we had to overcome around software,” interim CEO Marc Winterhoff said on an earnings call this week. “There have been some hiccups, to be […] May 9, 2025
Logistics Maersk expects Red Sea disruption throughout 2025 Danish shipping major Maersk expects the disruption in the Red Sea to continue throughout the rest of 2025. This week President Donald Trump said that the US will halt bombing the Houthis in Yemen after it agreed to stop attacking shipping lanes in the Middle East. Under the agreement, neither the US nor the Houthis […] May 9, 2025
Opinion Logistics Truce in Yemen offers reprieve but exposes shipping volatility It remains unclear whether shipping lines will deem the situation stable enough to resume May 9, 2025
Transport Tourism and fleet expansion drive up Dubai Taxi revenue Dubai Taxi Company, 75 percent-owned by state-backed Dubai Investment Fund, said revenues rose in the first quarter of 2025, supported by fleet expansion and tourism growth. The top line increased by 5 percent year on year to AED588 million ($160 million) in the first quarter. The taxi segment revenue increased 7 percent annually to AED515 […] May 8, 2025
Aviation Emirates Group delivers record annual profit Emirates Group, Dubai’s flagship aviation conglomerate, has posted record annual earnings on the back of a surge in international travel, rising cargo volumes and declining fuel costs. The state-owned group, which includes long-haul carrier Emirates airline and global airport services provider Dnata, reported a profit of AED20.5 billion ($5.6 billion) for the financial year ending […] May 8, 2025
Renewable Energy DP World trials hydrogen cranes to reduce emissions DP World, the world’s biggest container port operator, is testing out a hydrogen powered crane to reduce its reliance on diesel and cut carbon dioxide emissions. The Dubai logistics giant, which handles 70 million containers each year, operates 1,500 cranes in over 60 ports around the world. While it is considering converting half of those from […] May 8, 2025
Aviation Qatar Airways lines up Boeing order for Trump visit Qatar Airways is reportedly preparing to order about 100 wide-body aircraft from US manufacturer Boeing during President Donald Trump‘s visit to the Gulf. The state-backed airline is looking to include an option for an additional 100 planes in the deal, Bloomberg reported, without identifying its sources. Corporate deals announced during the visit on May 13-16 […] May 7, 2025
Analysis Aviation Kuwait’s aviation industry loses altitude as foreign airlines exit Kuwait’s ambitions for its aviation industry are faltering as a growing number of international carriers quit the market and airport upgrades are delayed. British Airways ceased its daily service from London in March, ending more than 60 years of operations. This follows withdrawals from Kuwait International Airport (KWI) by at least 14 other airlines since 2019, […] May 6, 2025
Aviation Profitable Flynas to launch IPO this month Low-cost carrier Flynas will launch a share sale on the local stock exchange this month in the latest in a series of initial public offerings (IPOs) by Saudi companies. The subscription will run from May 28 to June 1, 2025, according to the company’s prospectus. The airline, part owned by billionaire Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal, is selling […] May 6, 2025
