Aviation Airbus reinstates Qatar Airways’ order for 73 A350 aircraft European planemaker Airbus has reinstated orders for 73 aircraft from Qatar Airways after revoking them during a dispute over damage to the surface of grounded A350s. Airbus and Qatar Airways settled the dispute at the end of January, averting a rare and potentially damaging UK court trial in the jet sector. Speaking in Berlin, Qatar […] March 8, 2023
Tourism Qatar Airways eyes rapid growth as travel demand rebounds Qatar Airways has announced plans for rapid growth, as the travel industry recovers from the pandemic. Announcing objectives at the ITB tourism fair in Berlin, the Gulf carrier said it would add seven destinations, restore 11 others and boost the frequency of flights to 35 markets – marking a 21 percent rise in flights by […] March 8, 2023
Logistics DP World opens Somaliland hub as it seeks trade boost in Africa DP World has set up an economic zone in Somaliland as part of its plan to build a major trade hub in the Horn of Africa. The Berbera Economic Zone was inaugurated on Friday by the Dubai-based port operator and the government of Somaliland, a self-declared republic in east Africa. The project is also supported […] March 6, 2023
Opinion Aviation Regional airline rivalry is set to drive down fares The Middle East flight hubs are about to feel the squeeze March 6, 2023
Logistics AD Ports enters Uzbekistan’s logistics market with new venture Abu Dhabi-listed AD Ports Group and SEG Enera Group, a multisectoral holding company, have created a new joint venture, ADL-Ulanish, to provide end-to-end global logistics services across Uzbekistan. The joint venture will serve industry sectors such as industrial project logistics, oil and gas, e-commerce, healthcare and pharmaceuticals. ADL-Ulanish will offer services, including freight forwarding (air […] March 6, 2023
Infrastructure Oman to spend $2.6bn to build road infrastructure The estimated cost of road projects in Oman stands at OR1 billion ($2.6 billion) for 2023, its minister of transport, communications and information technology Said bin Hamoud Al Maawali has said. The ministry will focus on completing and constructing strategic road projects, boosting road efficiency and rehabilitation. Khamis bin Mohammed Al Shamakhi, under-secretary for transport, […] March 6, 2023
Aviation Emirates and Philippine Airlines’ interline pact to boost connectivity Dubai-based Emirates and Philippine Airlines (PAL) have signed an interline agreement to boost connectivity for passengers of both air carriers, using a single ticket and one baggage policy. The reciprocal interline partnership, which is now operational, provides Emirates’ passengers access to 19 Philippine domestic destinations operated by Philippine Airlines, including Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod, […] March 5, 2023
Logistics DP World to invest $35m to boost container capacity in Brazil Dubai global ports operator DP World is planning to invest $35 million in 2023 to expand and modernise its facilities located on the left bank of Brazil’s Port of Santos. The port is one of the largest and most modern private multi-purpose port terminals in the country. With the investment, the company plans to increase […] March 5, 2023
Transport Qatar vetoes Uber’s $3.1bn Careem deal Qatar’s competition authority has vetoed Uber’s $3.1 billion acquisition of Middle East rival Careem, four years after it was announced. Careem confirmed this week it had ceased operations in the Gulf state from February 28, despite the company expanding its fleet of branded cars to help transport fans to and from football matches during last […] March 2, 2023
Logistics Brazilian cargo drone maker expands operations to Dubai Tupan, a Brazilian cargo and military drone manufacturer, is setting up operations in Dubai, in a bid to help speed up e-commerce deliveries and boost cross-border trade, the company’s CEO told AGBI. The UAE’s civil aviation authority in December published what it said were the world’s first regulations for vertiports to govern the use of […] March 2, 2023
Aviation Flydubai in huge recruitment drive amid record profits The biggest recruitment drive in the history of Flydubai is continuing as the low-cost airline looks to build on record profit growth in 2022. A total of 1,300 employees joined Flydubai last year, 80 percent of whom are cabin crew, engineers or pilots, aided by the “desire of top talent to relocate to Dubai and […] March 1, 2023
Analysis Gulf airlines flying high again, but facing fresh headwinds As global air travel continues to rebound from the coronavirus pandemic, the biggest airlines in the Arabian Gulf – Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad – are soaring back into clear skies. But can they maintain their rate of climb? Beyond economic and geopolitical pressures, there’s increasing competition from low-cost airlines, resurgent long-haul competitors and globally ambitious […] March 1, 2023
Transport Free Metro rides would boost net zero goal, says World Bank Making the Riyadh Metro free for passengers when it launches this year would be a great way to encourage Gulf residents to be more sustainable, while also helping to achieve ambitious net zero targets, according to a senior World Bank official. Issam Abousleiman, director of GCC countries, the Middle East and North Africa at The […] February 28, 2023
Transport Careem to cease ride-hailing operations in Qatar Uber’s Middle Eastern business Careem will cease operations in Qatar on Tuesday, the company announced in a message sent to customers in the Gulf Arab state on Monday. The surprise announcement comes two months after the World Cup in Qatar, when Careem-branded vehicles were part of the tournament’s official plans to transport visiting fans, alongside […] February 28, 2023
Logistics Egypt’s Suez Canal revenue surges to $8bn in 2022 Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli has called for an urgent need to work on the new Suez Canal project and increase its revenue generation plan, according to a local media report. Suez Canal’s revenue stood at $5 billion in 2015-2016, but today its revenue has reached $8 billion, Egypt Today reported the prime minister as […] February 27, 2023
Aviation Oman opens airspace and joins Saudi corridor for Israeli carriers Oman has said all airlines can overfly its territory, joining neighbouring Saudi Arabia in providing a corridor for the national carriers of Israel, which neither Gulf state formally recognises. Israeli leaders hailed the announcement mainly as a gain for civil aviation to Asia and Australia – rather than any harbinger of a breakthrough in bilateral […] February 24, 2023
Logistics UAE-Oman rail link to bring cross-border economic boost A $3 billion investment to extend the railway network from the UAE into Oman is expected to bring economic benefits for businesses on both sides of the border. Oman and Etihad Rail Company, the developer and operator of the UAE-Oman Rail Network, has signed a deal with Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company to support the […] February 22, 2023
Aviation Emirates invests $135m as Middle East airline pilot shortage looms Emirates has announced plans to invest $135 million in a new airline pilots training facility in Dubai as experts warn the Middle East’s aviation sector is facing a serious shortage of talent. The UAE airline said it will build an advanced training facility to accommodate six full flight simulator bays for its future Airbus A350 […] February 21, 2023
Economy Saudi Crown Prince unveils strategy for Northern Borders Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has unveiled a plan to drive economic expansion in Saudi’s Northern Borders region. The strategic office for the Northern Borders, announced on Monday, aims to increase development across the region, which is an emerging metals and chemicals hub, and take advantage of its location next to Jordan and Iraq. The […] February 20, 2023
Opinion Aviation Clear skies ahead for private aviation Charter operators are focusing on evolution and innovation February 20, 2023
Aviation Air Arabia’s 2022 net profit soars 70% to $323m UAE-based low-cost carrier Air Arabia reported a net profit of AED1.2 billion ($326.70 million) for 2022, an increase of 70 percent, compared to AED720 million in 2021, driven by the growth in passenger numbers that exceeded pre-pandemic levels. The airline’s turnover reached AED5.2 billion in 2022, an increase of 65 percent, compared to AED3.2 billion […] February 14, 2023
Logistics Partnerships will unlock Africa potential, says DP World CEO More partnerships are required to break down barriers to private sector investment in Africa, according to the CEO and chairman of Dubai trade enabler DP World. Speaking at the second Dakar African Infrastructure Financing Summit in Senegal, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem urged more collaboration to address the challenges slowing the continent’s development. He said that […] February 10, 2023
