Logistics UAE tops list for ship abandonment The UAE ranked at the top of a global list last year of sea vessels abandoned by their owners as a result of there being limited regulations, according to a seaman’s union. Of 312 vessels abandoned in 2024, 42 – or 13 percent – were in the UAE, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) said. […] February 23, 2025
Logistics Massive investment in cold storage needed in UAE The UAE is racing to meet a substantial shortfall in cold storage space that will be essential if the country’s food security goals are to be met, real estate analysts say. At least 125,000 square metres of additional space are needed to bring the country up to the required capacity, according to Harish Rajagopalan, director […] February 21, 2025
Aviation Riyadh Air start may be further delayed The start of Saudi Arabia’s new government-owned airline Riyadh Air could be delayed yet again. Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas told a Saudi investment conference in Miami that the airline would start operations “by the end of the year”. But he was not more specific. Last month, the carrier pushed back its launch date by […] February 21, 2025
Logistics Turkey says talks with Abu Dhabi fail on port deal The Turkish government has confirmed that talks with Abu Dhabi Ports Group (AD Ports) over operating rights at the Alsancak freight and passenger port in Western Turkey have failed. “The aim there was to get a partner for the Alsancak port and adding capital to expand it,” Turkish transport minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu told Bloomberg. No […] February 21, 2025
Aviation SalamAir to expand fleet as budget travel demand rises SalamAir, Oman’s first low-cost airline, plans to expand its fleet with 10 new aircraft over the next three years amid a rising surge in budget travel, the company said in a statement. The airline has formally requested 10 Airbus A320 aircraft with multiple leasing companies to support its growth strategy over the coming five years, […] February 21, 2025
Transport Dubai Taxi plans $77m dividend payout after share price rise Dubai Taxi Company is to issue a total dividend payout of AED282 million ($77 million) for 2024, helping its share price increase by nearly half since it listed 14 months ago. Its 2024 revenue was up 12 percent year on year to AED2.2 billion, the company said in a statement on Thursday. The taxi operator’s […] February 20, 2025
Video length: 05:22 VIDEO Aviation Fares rise to fund airlines’ switch to greener fuels Passengers will bear the brunt as airlines undertake the multi-trillion-dollar transition to greener fuels, aviation experts have said. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) allows airlines to reduce their carbon emissions by up to 80 percent without modifying engines – but it is three to five times more expensive than traditional jet fuel. These extra costs “will […] February 19, 2025
Aviation Etihad Airways’ profit more than triples to almost $500m Etihad Airways’ net profit more than tripled last year to $476 million, the company said on Wednesday as the carrier pushes ahead with plans for an initial public offering. The earnings were boosted by $5.7 billion in passenger revenue and $1.1 billion in cargo revenue, the company said, also citing “significant operational efficiency improvements”. “Looking […] February 19, 2025
Aviation Passenger traffic rises 13% in Jordan’s largest airport Passenger volumes at Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA), Jordan’s largest airport, recovered in January, the Jordan Times reported. Data from the airport’s operator Airport International Group (AIG) showed that QAIA received 784,992 passengers last month, a 13 percent year-on-year increase. Aircraft movements grew 5 percent year on year to 6,061 flights, but air freight traffic […] February 19, 2025
Logistics Oman seeks $330m in shipping company IPO Asyad, Oman’s state-run shipping company, is selling shares to the public this month in an effort to raise more than $330 million to fund expansion of its container and storage facilities at the country’s ports, and grow its fleet of vessels by more than a third. Oman is also selling off state assets to reduce […] February 19, 2025
Aviation Australia likely to approve Qatar Airways-Virgin deal The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is leaning towards approving a five-year deal between Qatar Airways and Virgin Australia, allowing them to sell long-haul return flights starting in June, the watchdog said. The approval, if granted, will allow the two airlines to commence 28 new weekly return flights between Doha and Perth, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. […] February 18, 2025
Logistics UAE’s AD Ports profit up to $1bn Abu Dhabi state ports business AD Ports Group reported around $1 billion in net profit in 2024, a 24 percent year-on-year increase, as revenue rose by nearly half to AED17 billion ($4.6 billion). Total assets grew by 15 percent year on year to AED64 billion last year. Group CEO Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi said the […] February 17, 2025
Aviation UAE begins mapping corridors for air taxis and cargo drones The UAE has started mapping air corridors and preparing the regulatory framework to allow piloted and autonomous air taxis and cargo drones to take to the skies. The General Civil Aviation Authority and two entities from the Advanced Technology Research Council – Technology Innovation Institute and Aspire – will map out the routes and rules […] February 14, 2025
Aviation Regional tensions fail to dampen Air Arabia’s ascent Fourth-quarter profit of Air Arabia, which trades on the Dubai Financial Market, rose 56 percent despite regional tensions and effective cost control, the company said. The low-cost airline, in which the government of Sharjah also has a stake, reported a net profit of AED351 million ($95.6 million) in the last quarter of 2024, compared to […] February 14, 2025
Logistics Saudi Arabia welcomes private funds for $64bn logistics projects Saudi Arabia has more than SAR240 billion ($64 billion) of logistics projects underway and planned, most of which are open to private sector investment, a government minister has said. This includes airport management, highway construction and seaport projects, transport minister Saleh Al-Jasser told a government-backed investment conference in Riyadh this week. Private sector investment and […] February 13, 2025
Transport Saudi homegrown Ceer to produce first EVs in 2026 Ceer, Saudi Arabia’s first electric vehicle manufacturer, plans to roll the first vehicle off its production line in late 2026, the company’s CEO Jim DeLuca said. It signed 11 deals worth SAR5.5 billion ($1.4 billion) at the Public Investment Fund (PIF) Public Sector Forum in Riyadh, 80 percent of which involved Saudi businesses. This is […] February 13, 2025
Aviation Abu Dhabi-backed Archer to develop hybrid defence aircraft Archer Aviation, the California-based air taxi operator, has raised $300 million in a new funding round that involved institutional investors including funds and accounts managed by BlackRock. Archer, which describes itself as an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) developer, said the capital raise will accelerate the development of its aircraft and a new defence […] February 13, 2025
Logistics AD Ports to operate customs centre in Jordan Abu Dhabi’s AD Ports Group has won a contract to manage and operate a new customs centre in Amman, Jordan, the company said in a statement. The company aims to increase cross-border trade, reduce clearance times, and enhance supply chain efficiency at the 1.3 million sq m Al Madouneh Customs Centre, which opened last June. […] February 13, 2025
Transport Dubai signs deal for Tesla underground ‘Loop’ Dubai has signed a deal with Tesla, Elon Musk’s electric vehicle maker, to build an underground road system in the emirate. Under a partnership agreement with Dubai authorities, a network of tunnels will be constructed under the city. Known as the Dubai Loop, the road system is intended to alleviate to some extent the increasing […] February 13, 2025
Aviation Three vertiport locations identified in Abu Dhabi Al Bateen, Yas Island and Khalifa Port have been identified as locations for developing vertiports in Abu Dhabi after 14 potential sites were accessed. A detailed feasibility study has been submitted to the Abu Dhabi government following discussions with more than 34 government entities, according to a joint statement from LODD, an Abu Dhabi-based AI-powered drone […] February 12, 2025
Logistics DP World nears opening of $80m logistics hub in Egypt Global ports operator and logistics company DP World has completed nearly two-thirds of the work on the first phase of a $80 million logistics hub in Egypt’s Suez Canal Economic Zone. The 300,000 sq m complex is due for completion in June. It aims to reduce logistics costs and strengthen connections between Egypt, the Middle East […] February 12, 2025
Transport Arab airlines criticise EU over cost of green fuel policy Arab airlines have criticised the European Union for its policy on cleaner aviation fuels, which they say could drive their costs up by more than a quarter over the next eight years. The Arab Air Carriers’ Organisation (AACO) says the EU’s aviation sustainability policies involve inconsistencies that unfairly penalise non-European airlines and drive up costs […] February 11, 2025
