Mining Diamond weighing 1lb cheers Mubadala-backed financier The discovery in Botswana of a rough diamond weighing more than a pound, the second largest ever found, is likely to prove timely for Apex Group, the global financial services provider, which counts the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala among its key backers. The huge gem’s discovery was announced on Thursday by Lucara Diamond Corp, […] August 23, 2024
Aviation Slice of South Africa’s Airlink bought by Qatar Airways Qatar Airways has acquired a 25 percent stake in the Southern African independent carrier Airlink, expanding its operations further into Africa. The privately-owned, Johannesburg-based Airlink already has a code-sharing partnership with the Doha airline and flies to 45 destinations in 15 African countries. Financial details of the deal were not revealed. Qatar Airways’ group chief […] August 20, 2024
Analysis Sustainability Egypt launches Africa into carbon trading market The first three trades were made on Egypt’s new carbon trading platform on Tuesday, the first of its kind in Africa. Two local food companies, Daltex and ISIS Organic, became the first Egyptian buyers of the instruments, purchasing a combined 2,000 carbon credits. Each credit represents a tonne of carbon reduced or removed from the […] August 16, 2024
Renewable Energy Tunisia signs green hydrogen deals to step up production Tunisia has signed six agreements with international companies to develop green hydrogen production as it seeks to expand its clean fuel production capacity. The North African country aims to produce 8.3 million tonnes of green hydrogen and its derivatives by 2050 under its green hydrogen strategy, which was released in October 2023. Much of the […] July 31, 2024
Logistics DP World hits out at Djibouti after latest court victory DP World has described the government of Djibouti as “bad for business” and said companies should “think twice” about investing in the country, following the latest ruling in their long-running legal dispute. A US court ruled in favour of the Dubai-based global ports operator this week in its battle over the Doraleh container terminal in […] July 31, 2024
Analysis Oil & Gas Turkey expands its energy search into troubled waters Turkey is stepping up its efforts to become a major player in hydrocarbons, preparing to conduct surveys off the coast of Somalia and working on an agreement with Libya to identify deposits in the Mediterranean. Alparslan Bayraktar, the energy minister in Ankara, announced last Friday that the seismic research vessel Oruç Reis would be dispatched […] July 31, 2024
Opinion Business of Sport Hosting the Olympics is set to be a marathon for Gulf bidders If Qatar and Saudia Arabia bid for 2036 they face a race against time to train medal-winning talent July 29, 2024
Analysis Tourism Corporate travel rising as Dubai plays perfect host Dubai has won 175 deals so far this year that will boost the emirate’s corporate and business travel sector over the next four years. The events, representing an increase of almost a quarter year on year, include international conferences, congresses and meetings. They’re expected to bring more than 92,000 delegates to the city, according to […] July 29, 2024
Aviation UAE issues visas for Nigerians after two-year hiatus The UAE government has started issuing visas for Nigerians after a halt of nearly two years. The governments of the UAE and Nigeria reached an agreement to resume travel between the two countries, Nigeria’s information minister said in a post on social messaging platform X. The UAE stopped issuing visas to Nigerians in 2022 after […] July 16, 2024
Energy World is off track to meet Cop28 renewables goal The world is far from reaching its 2030 renewables target, the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) said on Thursday. Countries committed at the Cop28 summit in Dubai last year to treble renewables capacity in order to limit global warming to 1.5C. To stay on course global capacity growth needs to accelerate to a minimum rate […] July 12, 2024
Video length: 03:25 VIDEO Development Dubai Humanitarian and the Mena aid challenge The Mena region requires nearly $14 billion in humanitarian aid, according to the UN. Dubai Humanitarian, formerly known as International Humanitarian City, plays a vital role in bringing together aid organisations and mobilising both funds and relief to countries affected by conflicts and climate emergencies. Dubai Humanitarian sends 1,300 dispatches of aid worth up to […] July 10, 2024
Oil & Gas Iran, Iraq and Libya among worst offenders on gas flaring Environmentally ruinous flaring of gas at upstream oil and gas facilities has risen to its highest level for five years, despite pledges to end the practice, the World Bank has said. Iran, Iraq and Libya were among the biggest contributors in 2023, according to a World Bank report published on June 20. Along with six […] June 25, 2024
Opinion Agriculture Arab states must raise intra-trade to buffer against food shocks Gulf producers are neglecting their own farming potential June 24, 2024
Transport UAE to build a new airport in Uganda The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry will build a new international airport in Uganda. The Kidepo International Airport in Karamoj will be located near Uganda’s border with Kenya, president Yoweri Museveni said in a post on messaging app X. The cost of the airport was not given. “This agreement is a sign of the […] June 24, 2024
Aviation Qatar Airways to buy 49% of Rwanda’s flag carrier Qatar Airways is expected to buy a 49 percent stake in Rwanda’s flag carrier RwandAir as early as July as part of the Gulf airline’s strategy to expand in Africa, according to a media report. Qatar Airways’ purchase will boost Rwanda’s aviation sector and allow RwandAir to expand its operations and fleet, Financial Times reported, quoting […] June 17, 2024
Trade Saudi Arabia to set up logistics centre in Djibouti A delegation of 100 Saudi investors visited Djibouti this week to sign a contract for a logistics centre in the country’s free zone, the latest development in Saudi Arabia’s efforts to extend trade ties with Africa. Saudi Logistics City will cover 120,000 sq m in the first phase on a 92-year lease, and will include […] June 6, 2024
Logistics AD Ports JV buys 95% stake in Tanzania’s port operator A joint venture consisting of the UAE’s AD Ports Group, India’s Adani Ports and China’s East Harbour Terminals has acquired 95 percent of Tanzania International Container Terminal Services in Tanzania. Abu Dhabi-based East Africa Gateway purchased the stake for nearly $40 million from Hutchison Port Holdings, Hutchison Port Investments and Harbours Investment, the Abu Dhabi-listed […] June 3, 2024
Aviation South African Airways denies talks with Qatar Airways South African Airways has denied it is talking to Qatar Airways about an equity injection, as observers suggest RwandAir is the Qatari carrier’s most likely target. Qatar Airways’ CEO Badr Mohammed Al Meer set rumours racing earlier this month when he revealed that the state-owned airline was “at the final stage of an equity investment” […] May 29, 2024
Oil & Gas Adnoc buys 10% in LNG project in Mozambique Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) has acquired a 10 percent stake from Portugal’s Galp Energia in the Rovuma basin concession in Mozambique as part of its global growth strategy. The acquisition will allow the UAE energy major a share of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) production from the concession, which has a combined production capacity […] May 22, 2024
Transport Emirates to resume Nigeria service from October Emirates will restart services to Nigeria from October 1, after suspending flights on the route for almost two years. The Dubai airline will operate a daily service to Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city. “We are excited to resume our services to Nigeria,” said Adnan Kazim, deputy president and chief commercial officer, Emirates. “We thank the Nigerian government for their partnership and support in re-establishing this […] May 17, 2024
Aviation Qatar and Rwanda to open airport in ‘heart of Africa’ by 2028 Qatar Airways and RwandAir will open a major international airport in Rwanda’s capital Kigali by 2028, the airlines said this week. The Qatari flag carrier has also announced plans to take a stake in a southern African airline to cement its expansion plans on the continent. RwandAir and Qatar Airways, which have a code-sharing agreement, […] May 15, 2024
Opinion Mining The Gulf has solid reasons to intervene in BHP’s bid for Anglo Anglo's board has rejected two offers. A 'white knight' could step in – and become a force in mining May 13, 2024
