Infrastructure Adia part of fund aiming to raise $4bn for India upgrade The National Investment & Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) in India, which is backed by Abu Dhabi, is aiming to raise $4 billion, according to reports. The fund, which counts the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (Adia), the Indian government, AustralianSuper and Singapore’s Temasek Holdings among its investors, is raising the money in the early part of next […] September 5, 2024
Video length: 07:05 Trade GCC-India trade tumbles as New Delhi snaps up Russian oil India’s trade with the GCC countries fell 12 percent to $162 billion in 2023-24, according to its Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The drop from $184 billion in 2022-23 comes as energy-hungry New Delhi snaps up discounted Russian crude and slashes imports of Gulf oil. Ajay Srivastava, founder of the Global Trade Research Initiative think […] September 4, 2024
Telecoms Myanmar venture proves a big loss for Qatar’s Ooredoo Qatar’s Ooredoo sold its Myanmar mobile network for even less than it originally agreed, new figures reveal, as one expert suggested its multi-billion-dollar losses may also be higher than previously estimated. The new figures in the telecom operator’s latest financial statement shed further light on a market that was once touted as the last major […] September 1, 2024
Banking & Finance Japan’s Nomura expands Middle East base in Dubai Nomura Holdings is planning to expand its wealth management team in Dubai, according to a media report. The Japanese bank may add three or four relationship managers in Dubai by year-end, Reuters reported, citing head of international wealth management Ravi Raju. Currently, Nomura’s Dubai office has 10 employees. “The whole region (Middle East) has seen […] September 1, 2024
Trade UAE-Philippines trade talks to enter third round The next round of trade negotiations between the UAE and the Philippines will take place next month, with a final deal expected to be signed in October. Beyond lower tariffs and reduced barriers to trade, the UAE-Philippines comprehensive economic partnership agreement (Cepa) is expected to drive capital flows by opening avenues for new investments and […] August 30, 2024
Leisure & Hospitality Dubai’s Sunset Hospitality expands global portfolio Sunset Hospitality Group (SHG) has acquired a majority stake in Maximal Concepts Holding, a Hong Kong hospitality company, as part of its strategic expansion plan. The acquisition will diversify Dubai-based SHG’s portfolio and facilitate its expansion into key markets such as the US, Canada, Hong Kong, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam, the company said. SHG, […] August 30, 2024
Analysis Oil & Gas India’s Russian oil imports dent Gulf’s market share Energy-hungry India has overtaken China as the world’s top importer of Russian oil as New Delhi takes advantage of sizeable discounts and shuns Gulf exporters to satisfy growing demand. India’s oil intake from Russia rocketed to record levels of more than 2 million barrels per day in July, from just 88,000 bpd in 2021-22, according […] August 29, 2024
Mining Saudi Arabia targets stake in Pakistan’s $6.5bn mining project Saudi Arabia plans to acquire a 15 percent stake in the Reko Diq mining project in Pakistan, according to a media report. The stake will be purchased through Manara Minerals, a joint venture between Saudi Arabian Mining Co (Maaden) and the sovereign Public Investment Fund (PIF), The Express Tribune, a Karachi-based news outlet, reported. The […] August 28, 2024
Banking & Finance Pakistan targets $4bn from Middle East lenders Pakistan aims to raise up to $4 billion from commercial lenders in the Middle East by fiscal year 2025, the State Bank of Pakistan governor Jameel Ahmad has said. The country’s gross financing needs would be met over the next fiscal year and in the medium term, he told Reuters. Saudi Arabia, the UAE and […] August 28, 2024
Opinion Aviation Emirates’ first Asian store is a sign of its wider ambition Airlines have been veering away from bricks-and-mortar but Emirates has bucked the trend August 26, 2024
Banking & Finance Bank of Singapore says Middle East vital to growth One of Asia’s biggest private banks, the Bank of Singapore, aims to expand its business in the Middle East. Ranjit Khanna, the bank’s head of private banking for Europe and the Middle East, said the region could contribute up to 20% of its overall revenue and private banking assets over the next three to five […] August 23, 2024
Manufacturing Nissan to invest $56m in Egyptian car market Nissan plans to invest $56 million into the Egyptian car market over the next two years and increase exports of locally assembled vehicles, as government officials seek to enhance the homegrown manufacturing sector. A statement released by the government said that Nissan has exported 15,000 locally assembled Sunny models since August 2022. Mohamed Abdel Samad, […] August 19, 2024
Infrastructure UAE company involved in $1bn project in Uzbekistan A consortium, which includes an Abu Dhabi state-owned company, is set to develop a $1 billion wastewater treatment plant in Uzbekistan. The group, comprising Abu Dhabi Sustainable Water Solutions Company, Japan’s Marubeni Corporation and France’s Suez, signed a development agreement with Uzbekistan’s investment, industry and trade ministry and state-run Uzsuvtaminot JSC. The project, located in […] August 15, 2024
Renewable Energy Acwa Power signs deal on Indonesian solar project Saudi Arabia’s Acwa Power has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Indonesia’s state-owned electricity utility PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (Persero) for the 60 megawatt (MW) Saguling floating solar PV project. The Saudi-listed renewable major has a 49 percent stake in the project, with the rest being held by Indonesia Power, a subsidiary of PT […] August 15, 2024
Oil & Gas Sipchem to build new $189m Saudi petchem facility Saudi International Petrochemical Company (Sipchem) has awarded a $189 million contract to a South Korean contractor to build a new petrochemicals facility in Saudi Arabia. The project was won by SGC Engineering & Construction, an engineering, procurement and construction contractor, The Korean Economic Daily, a financial news outlet, reported. The deal involves the construction of […] August 12, 2024
Oil & Gas Petro Rabigh’s turnaround hinges on Aramco’s support Saudi Aramco and Japanese company Sumitomo Chemical will inject new funds into Rabigh Refining and Petrochemical Company (Petro Rabigh), as well as waive loans, in a bid to support the Saudi refinery’s turnaround strategy. As part of its plan to strengthen Petro Rabigh’s financial position, Aramco will acquire a 22.5 percent stake in the company from […] August 7, 2024
Finance Saudi and UAE commit to debt rollover for Pakistan Saudi Arabia, the UAE and China have confirmed their debt rollover for one year to support Pakistan’s $7 billion bailout package with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a media report said. The rollover amount will be the same as last year, Bloomberg reported, quoting Pakistan’s finance minister Muhammad Aurangzeb. Islamabad has $12 billion in bilateral […] August 7, 2024
Industry Emirates Steel Arkan asks UAE to curb cheap Chinese imports Emirates Steel Arkan is liaising with the UAE government to explore ways to reduce the impact of China exporting its excess steel at knockdown prices. A slowdown in China’s property sector has led to a sharp decline in domestic demand for steel, forcing Chinese producers to sell surplus stock cheaply to international markets. US president […] August 4, 2024
Oil & Gas Saudi Arabia cools down by raising imports of Russian oil An unusually hot summer is forcing Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest crude oil exporter, to increase fuel imports from Russia and Kuwait to meet peak domestic demand for electricity. The Gulf state is importing thousands of tonnes of discounted Russian oil, while imports from Kuwait also made a strong comeback in July after a two-year […] August 1, 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
Markets UAE capital markets partner with Hong Kong exchange The Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKSE) has added the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) and the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) to its roster of recognised marketplaces. The move opens the door for UAE-based companies to pursue secondary listings on one of Asia’s premier financial markets. It also follows the inclusion of the Saudi Exchange (Tadawul) […] July 26, 2024