Logistics DP World raises 2025 capex to develop global assets Dubai-headquartered DP World intends to increase its capital expenditure this year to upgrade its global assets despite geopolitical challenges. DP World’s Capex reached $2.2 billion in 2024 compared with $2.1 billion in 2023, the state-backed ports operator said in a statement published on Nasdaq Dubai. Capex for 2025 is set at $2.5 billion, primarily targeting […] March 13, 2025
Transport E-hailing boosts Dubai’s luxury transport sector Trips in Dubai’s upmarket transport sector, mainly limousines, rose by nearly half last year, driven by increasing app usage, the state-run Wam news agency reported, citing the emirate’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). The number of trips reached more than 43 million last year, up from 30 million in 2023, driven by so-called e-hailing, or […] March 12, 2025
Logistics ADQ takes majority stake in Dubai-listed Aramex ADQ, the third-largest of Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth funds, has become a majority shareholder in Dubai-listed logistics company Aramex. The fund now owns 58 percent in Aramex following a voluntary tender offer, which includes 23 percent owned by its subsidiary, AD Ports Group, and 35 percent bought from previous shareholders, ADQ said in a statement on Tuesday. […] March 11, 2025
Opinion Aviation Schedule shift signals a busy summer for Middle East airlines As airlines prepare to switch timetables, the Gulf looks set for growth, new routes and cautious optimism March 10, 2025
Aviation AirAsia raises $226m but stays quiet on PIF The parent company of Malaysian budget airline AirAsia has raised 1 billion ringgit ($226 million) to complete its reorganisation plan, according to a news report. “We have a 1 billion (ringgit) placement,” Capital A group CEO Tony Fernandes said at a press conference. “Don’t ask me questions on PIF’s placement order book – we are not […] March 10, 2025
Aviation Qatar Airways strives to avoid Etihad’s mistakes Like Etihad before it, Qatar Airways is expanding by buying stakes in other airlines. The Abu Dhabi carrier’s acquisition strategy ended badly, however. Three airlines in which it invested went bust and it lost $1.87 billion in one year alone in 2016. Qatar Airways may have better luck, analysts say. The state-owned carrier, which started […] March 10, 2025
Aviation PIF plans major investment in Malaysia’s AirAsia Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, is to invest $100 million in Malaysia’s Capital A-owned budget airline AirAsia, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. The Middle East investment forms the majority of AirAsia’s approximately one billion ringgit ($225 million) fundraising target, with the company also in discussions […] March 7, 2025
EXCLUSIVE Aviation US startup Doroni to bring recreational flying cars to Gulf Doroni Aerospace, a US developer of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, last week secured an additional $150 million from a Saudi investor. The investment came only days after the company announced an initial $30 million deal with Kingdom Aero Industries (KAI). Florida-based Doroni was launched in 2017 and is working to manufacture US […] March 6, 2025
Aviation Emirates to spend $5bn on refitting 220 aircraft UAE flag carrier Emirates will spend around $5 billion on refitting 220 of its aircraft in order to sustain its network, president Tim Clark said on Wednesday, as the industry struggles with delivery delays for newer jets. “We have no choice,” Clark told reporters. “This one is the only way we could sustain the network, grow the network.” […] March 6, 2025
Opinion Logistics GCC is ‘beacon of resilience’ but more challenges are coming Economic plans have remained intact through all the geopolitical disruptions of the past year March 5, 2025
Aviation Airbus weighs production of military aircraft parts in UAE European planemaker Airbus is exploring the possibility of manufacturing components and setting up a maintenance facility for the A400M, a military transport aircraft, in the UAE. The plan includes integrating local entities – including EPI, part of defence company Edge Group, and Strata, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi investment vehicle Mubadala – into the A400M’s global aerospace […] March 5, 2025
Transport Asyad Shipping raises $333m from Muscat listing Asyad Shipping, an Omani state-run company, has raised OMR128 million ($333 million) in an initial public offering of a fifth of its shares on the Muscat stock exchange, the company said in a statement. Based on the final offer price of 123 baisas per share, the company’s market capitalisation on listing will be OMR641 million […] March 5, 2025
Aviation Qatar Airways to order large wide-body aircraft soon Qatar Airways will soon place a sizeable order for wide-body jets to underpin its longer-term growth plans, the airline’s chief commercial officer told Reuters late on Monday. “To secure the growth of tomorrow by continuing to have a very strong and the best fleet in the industry, our CEO is working on the RFP (request […] March 5, 2025
Aviation Etihad Airways delays $1bn IPO launch to next month Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways will push back its planned $1 billion initial public offering (IPO) until at least next month, after the Eid Al Fitr holiday, two people with knowledge of the matter said. Etihad had not officially announced a date for its IPO, but sources had told Reuters that the airline would make an announcement […] March 5, 2025
Manufacturing China’s BYD makes mark on UAE supercar market BYD Group, China’s largest electric vehicle maker, is taking on luxury rivals in the UAE with its premium and supercar brands, marking a sharp shift from its mass market, budget-friendly origins. Other Chinese automakers are also making inroads into the UAE’s high-end segment, long dominated by European brands and typically priced above AED200,000 ($55,000) Their […] March 4, 2025
Aviation Falcon to invest $100m in Dubai aviation repair facility The Dubai-based aviation company Falcon will invest $100 million to upgrade its aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul facility in Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub, a free zone in Dubai South. The investment will be spread over the next five years, which includes building a new private jet terminal. In 2024, the company received approval from […] March 4, 2025
Aviation SalamAir adds planes and routes in Oman tourism drive Oman’s only low-cost airline, SalamAir, plans to double its fleet size and almost treble passenger numbers over the next three years, its CEO has told AGBI. Adrian Hamilton-Manns said SalamAir’s fleet would increase from 13 Airbus planes today to 25 aircraft in 2028. It is aiming for annual passenger numbers of 8.5 million in three […] March 4, 2025
Retail Chinese car makers target UAE’s Ramadan bargain hunters Chinese car makers look set to win big over traditional manufacturers from the US, Japan and Europe among Ramadan bargain hunters in the UAE this year. For years, Japanese, American, and European carmakers have relied on Ramadan promotions, offering free insurance, extended warranties and zero percent financing, to increase sales. But buyers, squeezed by inflation, […] February 28, 2025
Analysis Aviation Etihad IPO likely to attract ‘significant’ investor interest Abu Dhabi-owned Etihad Airways is likely to attract “significant” investor interest if and when it sells shares in an initial public offering expected in March in the first Gulf Arab airline IPO in almost 20 years, analysts have said. Owned by Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund ADQ, the airline may raise as much as $1 […] February 28, 2025
Opinion Aviation Egypt’s aviation sector must strive to reach its potential Improved connectivity and new infrastructure will help the country regain market share February 28, 2025
Transport Parkin proposes $77m dividend for second half 2024 Parkin, the Dubai government’s parking management company, plans to pay a final dividend of AED281 million ($77 million) for the second half of 2024, the company said in a statement. The dividend payout is subject to shareholders’ approval at the annual general meeting planned by March-end. An interim dividend of AED199 million was paid by […] February 28, 2025
Aviation Flynas secures $132m to acquire 3 A320neo aircraft Saudi low-cost carrier Flynas has secured a sharia-compliant loan of SAR495 million ($132 million) to acquire three Airbus A320neo aircraft, the airline said in a statement. The funding has been provided by Bank AlJazira, which trades on the Saudi stock exchange, the statement said. The new aircraft are expected to support Flynas’s network coverage, improve operational […] February 28, 2025
