Energy Israeli startup hopes to take nuclear fusion mainstream This week US scientists announced they had achieved net energy gain in a fusion reaction for the second time since December. The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California deemed the successful experiment “a major scientific breakthrough decades in the making that will pave the way for advancements in national defence and the future of clean […] August 11, 2023
Construction Jamal Omar loses petition against zakat claim of $95m Jamal Omar Development, the company which has led construction in the holy city of Mecca, must pay Islamic alms (zakat) of SAR357 million ($95 million) for the years 2012-2018, after losing a complaint against the Saudi government tax authority. The building firm, which is listed on the Saudi stock exchange, made the petition after it […] August 10, 2023
Retail Cenomi Centers doubles profit as mall visitors rise Cenomi Centers, the largest owner, operator and developer of shopping malls in Saudi Arabia, more than doubled net profit in the first half of 2023 as bosses predict a record post-pandemic year for footfall. The company reported revenue over SAR1 billion, a 5.5 percent year-on-year increase, while net profit increased 103 percent to SAR725 million […] August 9, 2023
Retail Store closures help Cenomi Retail return to profit Saudi franchise group Cenomi Retail posted net profit of SAR113 million ($30.1 million) during the first six months of 2023, compared with a small loss in the year-earlier period as the company closed dozens of stores. While 11 percent of its stores closed during the first half of the year, revenue only dipped by 1.9 […] August 8, 2023
Infrastructure GCC needs 1,127 new schools by 2027 as enrolment rises The Gulf will need over a thousand new schools by 2027, according to a new report published on Wednesday. The prediction is based on the total number of students in the GCC growing by 1.6 percent annually to reach 14.2 million by 2027. Growth in student enrolment numbers at K-12 (kindergarten to 12th grade, or […] August 2, 2023
Banking & Finance HSBC Oman’s final day on Muscat bourse draws near Shares in HSBC Oman will cease trading on the Muscat Stock Exchange on Thursday ahead of its acquisition by Sohar International Bank. Sohar, which is minority owned by Omani government institutions, has agreed a cash and share-swap deal to buy the HSBC unit. HSBC expects the merger to be completed on August 17, after which […] August 1, 2023
Banking & Finance Saudi insurers plan merger as consolidation grows The board of Al Sagr Insurance Company has backed a proposed merger with rival Gulf Union Ahlia Insurance Company as increased claims and rising regulatory costs spur consolidation among insurers in Saudi Arabia. A circular sent to shareholders of Al Sagr shareholders, seen by AGBI, concluded the offer from Gulf Union is “fair and reasonable” […] August 1, 2023
Real Estate Aldar targets China as sales to overseas buyers balloon Aldar Properties is working to attract more Chinese customers as it reports a fourfold increase in sales to overseas and expat buyers for the first half of the year. “One interesting demographic we are starting to see is the Chinese,” said Faisal Falaknaz, group chief financial and sustainability officer at the Abu Dhabi developer. “It […] August 1, 2023
Banking & Finance Bank of America ousts Goldman as top Mena M&A adviser Bank of America was the top M&A financial adviser in the Middle East and Africa during the first half of 2023, according to research from GlobalData. The US bank advised on two deals worth a combined $9.86 billion in H1. This was more than double the sum recorded by JP Morgan, which took second place […] July 31, 2023
Manufacturing Saudi pharma firm to buy manufacturing site in Algeria Jamjoom Pharmaceuticals Factory Company has increased capital in its joint venture in Algeria to help finance the acquisition of a manufacturing facility. In a filing to the Saudi Stock Exchange, the company, which raised $336 million in an initial public offering in May, announced the additional funding in Jamjoom Algeria Lil Dawa, in which it […] July 31, 2023
Construction Aldar Education expands into Bahrain and Dubai Aldar Properties has increased investment in its education business, with over AED350 million ($95 million) added to the initial AED1 billion commitment announced last year, it said on Monday. A filing to the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange notes that the company is expanding into Dubai and Bahrain, as well as adding a new acquisition in […] July 31, 2023
Manufacturing Borouge profit down 50% as merger talks continue Petrochemicals company Borouge saw its net profit slide 53 percent year on year to $231 million in the second quarter, attributed to a decline in average sales prices for its products. The business said in a filing to Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, where its shares are traded, that total revenues fell by 25 percent to […] July 28, 2023
Banking & Finance Saudi National Bank’s Q2 2023 profit up 9% to $1.3bn The net profit of Saudi National Bank (SNB) grew 9.3 percent year on year to SAR5 billion ($1.33 billion) in the second quarter of 2023 on rising operating income and a decline in bad loan provisions. Provisions for credit losses dropped 87 percent year on year in the second quarter to SAR76 million, as total […] July 26, 2023
Analysis Banking & Finance Gulf loses out as world’s richest invest closer to home Wealthy family offices are focusing more on their home markets rather than the Middle East this year. Investments in the region are therefore set to decrease sharply in the short-term, a senior executive at Swiss global wealth manager UBS told AGBI. Maximilian Kunkel, chief investment officer for the global family and institutional wealth team at […] July 21, 2023
Real Estate Foreign investment up 363% in Abu Dhabi real estate Abu Dhabi real estate encountered a record 363 percent rise in purchases by foreign buyers in the first half of 2023, according to new data. Foreign purchasers spent AED834.6 million ($227.2 million), Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) reported. The DMT figures showed that the most popular location among overseas investors was Saadiyat […] July 20, 2023
Banking & Finance Adnoc raises bid for Covestro to $12.4bn Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) has increased its takeover bid for German chemical producer Covestro AG to €11 billion ($12.4 billion), Bloomberg reported, citing informed sources. The Abu Dhabi energy firm’s latest proposal values Covestro at €57 per share, up from its first informal bid of €55 apiece. Reuters last month reported that the […] July 19, 2023
Exclusive Development Dubai arbitration centre aims high as caseloads surge Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC) aims to become the top global destination for settling corporate disputes after the revamped institution reported a six-fold rise in the value of cases filed there last year. Before the creation of DIAC in 2004, arbitration in the emirate was conducted mostly through a division of Dubai Chamber of Commerce […] July 18, 2023
Manufacturing Adnoc confirms talks on potential chemicals giant State-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) has confirmed formal negotiations with Austria’s OMV AG (OMV) on the potential creation of a new combined petrochemicals holding entity. The new entity will be created through the proposed merger of the two companies’ existing shareholdings in Borouge plc and Borealis AG. Borouge is listed on the Abu […] July 16, 2023
Aviation Pay and perks set to soar for in-demand pilots Pilots are in high demand across the Middle East as the region’s airlines ramp up recruitment, according to an aviation expert. Riyadh Air, the new Saudi carrier that aims to start flights in 2025, is seeking to take on 700 pilots. Linus Bauer, managing director of Dubai’s Bauer Aviation Advisory, said it will have to […] July 12, 2023
Video length: 05:43 Aviation Abu Dhabi’s Royal Jet expands into Asia Abu Dhabi’s Royal Jet is expanding into Asia with plans to acquire a share of a private aviation business located close to Kuala Lumpur. It is buying the Malaysian aviation business operated by Sapura Resources Berhad at Subang International Airport. “We are keen to expand our business in Asia,” Mohammed Husain Ahmed, CEO of Royal […] July 10, 2023
Banking & Finance SNB plan to take 40% Credit Suisse stake halted by regulator Saudi National Bank (SNB) wanted to increase its stake in Credit Suisse, Switzerland’s second-largest bank, to 40 percent from 9.88 percent, Zürich-based Blick daily reported. However, Swiss regulator Finma stopped the bank from making the move. Finma must approve a foreign investor taking a stake of more than 10 percent in a major Swiss bank, […] July 10, 2023
Video length: 05:43 video Aviation Mergers tipped to take off in Gulf’s private jet business The private aviation business is set for widespread consolidation in the Gulf, according to a senior executive at a charter jet firm. Youssef Mouallem, executive vice president of Vista Global based in Dubai, told AGBI the sector was historically fragmented, but he was expecting to see more mergers and acquisitions. “Businesses will consolidate and we […] July 10, 2023
