Analysis Logistics Capacity at Middle East ports set to outstrip demand Ever since the success of Jebel Ali Port in the UAE – which was completed in 1979, but did not hit its stride until 1985 – Middle East planners have been faced with the dilemma of whether to add port capacity at scale, in the hope that it will eventually pay off, or to stand […] October 19, 2023
Industry UAE steel maker signs rail transport deal with Oman Oman and Etihad Rail Company, the developer and operator of the Oman and UAE rail network, has signed an agreement with UAE-based Emirates Steel Arkan to boost cross-border supply chains by facilitating the export of raw limestone. The rail company will provide logistics solutions to manage the transportation of raw limestone from Oman to Emirates […] October 17, 2023
Transport Red Sea Global installs Saudi Arabia’s largest EV charging network Saudi developer Red Sea Global has installed what it says is the kingdom’s largest off-grid electric vehicle charging network. The network includes more than 150 charging stations spread across phase one of the Red Sea project. The stations are strategically located to keep Red Sea Global’s initial fleet of 80 electric Lucid and Mercedes vehicles […] October 17, 2023
Transport US developer to build flying taxis in Abu Dhabi The day is drawing closer when a taxi ride between Dubai and Abu Dhabi takes only twenty minutes in an aircraft built in the UAE. A US developer of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft has signed an agreement with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) to set up a manufacturing centre in Abu […] October 16, 2023
Aviation Huge expansion planned for Saudi’s Abha airport Abha International Airport in the south-west of Saudi Arabia is to expand to more than six times its current size. The plans, revealed this week by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, will see the terminal area of the airport increased to 65,000 square metres. It includes the construction of passenger boarding bridges, self-service facilities and […] October 13, 2023
Aviation Dubai leisure airline courts Middle East investors A new luxury leisure airline, which is set to operate routes from Dubai and Riyadh to the Maldives, is looking for potential investors from the Middle East to fund its long-term expansion plans. Headquartered in Dubai, Beond was unveiled this week at the emirate’s Al Maktoum International Airport. Funding for the luxury airline came from […] October 13, 2023
Transport India’s new budget airline to fly to three GCC countries The Indian government has allocated flying rights to budget carrier Akasa Air for Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar based on existing bilaterals to begin international operations this winter, according to a media report. The airline will have to wait to start flights to Dubai as the bilateral with the emirate has been completely exhausted, the […] October 12, 2023
Transport Abu Dhabi plans centre for autonomous vehicle industry Abu Dhabi has unveiled plans to establish a centre for smart and autonomous vehicle industries which aims to add up to AED120 billion ($33 billion) to the UAE economy. Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has endorsed the project, which seeks to generate 50,000 jobs. Sheikh Khaled said it is part […] October 11, 2023
Aviation Air Arabia to bring low fares to lucrative London route UAE low cost carrier Air Arabia will take on the highly competitive but lucrative London market when it takes delivery of Airbus aircraft able to fly longer distances, its CEO has confirmed. Air Arabia announced an order for 120 fuel-efficient aircraft comprising 73 A320neos, 27 A321neos and 20 A321 XLRs at the Dubai Air Show […] October 11, 2023
Manufacturing PIF sets up unit to localise Saudi automotive sector Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has launched the National Automotive and Mobility Investment Company (Tasaru Mobility Investments) to build local manufacturing and supply chain capabilities for the automotive and mobility industry in the kingdom. The new company will be responsible for strategic investments and partnerships with both local and global private sector companies. The […] October 11, 2023
Opinion Sustainability Carbon credit schemes are not a straight road to zero Urgent action is needed to stop carbon credits suffering the same fate as NFTs October 9, 2023
Infrastructure PIF launches company to drive Saudi EV charging The Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) have launched a new company to deliver electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi sovereign fund will own 75 percent of the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Company, while the kingdom’s utility provider will hold the remaining 25 percent stake. The new company plans to establish […] October 9, 2023
Transport Saudi Logistics’ institutional order book hits $49bn The institutional book-building for Saudi Logistics Services Company’s (SAL) initial public offering generated an order book of SAR182.4 billion ($48.63 billion), meaning it was 72 times oversubscribed. The IPO price was finalised top of the range at SAR106 per share, implying a market capitalisation of SAR8.48 billion on listing, the company said in a statement. […] October 6, 2023
Opinion Aviation Middle East-China airline battle means cheap fares Emirates, Saudia, Hainan and Qatar airline services will create a glut in capacity this winter October 5, 2023
Transport Saudia plans first bond issue to fund fleet expansion State-owned Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) is planning its first bond issuance as part of a funding plan to drive its expansion strategy, according to a media report. The airline is evaluating options, Ibrahim Alomar, director general of Saudia, told Bloomberg. He added that the proposed bond size has not been finalised. Saudia aims to increase […] October 5, 2023
Logistics Mena ports among world’s most efficient, says UN Three ports in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region are among the most efficient in the world, according to a widely-watched analysis published by the United Nations last month. It found that in 2022 Salalah in Oman, Khalifa in the UAE, and Tanger Med in Morocco were in the top five positions globally. […] October 4, 2023
Economy Telecoms and transport drive Bahrain’s non-oil growth Bahrain’s non-oil sector grew to 82.9 percent of the kingdom’s GDP in the second quarter of this year, driven by sharp increases in the transport and telecommunications industries. Bahrain’s GDP was up 2 percent in Q2. This included a 2 percent increase in the non-oil sector and a 2.2 percent rise in oil-related activities, according […] October 3, 2023
EXCLUSIVE Logistics Dubai company’s EVs aim to deliver ‘last mile’ in 100 cities Dubai company One Moto, which aims to decarbonise “last mile” deliveries using electric vehicles, has said it plans to serve 100 cities by 2028. After launching the company in the UAE, serial entrepreneur Adam Ridgway has gained a foothold in the UK, Bahrain, Jordan, Sri Lanka, Chile, Iraq, Nepal and Ethiopia. It is in talks […] October 3, 2023
Aviation Emirates secures SAF supply from Shell for DXB Emirates has signed an agreement with Shell Aviation to supply over 300,000 gallons of blended sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for use at Dubai International Airport. The first delivery is expected to commence before the end of the year, the first time SAF is supplied through the DXB airport fuelling system, the airline said in a […] October 2, 2023
Transport Brunei’s GallopAir to launch after taking Chinese aircraft GallopAir, a new Brunei-based airline, is in talks with potential investors and plans to launch operations after taking delivery of its first Chinese aircraft in the second half of next year, its chief executive told Reuters. GallopAir last month announced a $2 billion deal to buy 30 regional and narrow-body jets from Commercial Aircraft Corporation […] October 2, 2023
Transport QatarEnergy awards $3.9bn contract to Korean shipyard State-owned QatarEnergy has signed a QAR14.2 billion ($3.90 billion) contract with South Korean shipyard HD Hyundai Heavy Industries for the construction of 17 liquefied natural gas carriers. The deal marks the start of the second phase of the state-run energy company’s LNG ship acquisition programme, which will support expanding its LNG production capacity from the […] September 28, 2023
Aviation China and Saudi Arabia agree to more direct flights The Saudi Air Connectivity Program (ACP) has signed an agreement with Hainan Airlines to launch two new air routes serving the kingdom and China as the two countries continue to forge closer ties. Flights from Riyadh and Jeddah to Beijing were opened by Saudia in August, providing 165 million people in northern China with direct […] September 26, 2023
