Manufacturing Egypt looks to China for cash injection to lift textiles industry A delegation from China’s textile industry visited Egypt this week as part of the Cairo government’s strategy to attract investment to its fabric and garment businesses, local media has reported. The group of 37 Chinese business leaders and representatives from 25 companies met Mohammed El Shimy, Egypt’s minister for public enterprises, to discuss partnerships with […] May 14, 2025
Trade Saudi Arabia and China sign deals worth $3.7bn to boost agriculture Saudi Arabia and China have signed 57 agreements worth SAR14 billion ($3.7 billion) to strengthen their trade relations, focusing mainly on the agriculture sector. The two nations signed 31 agreements in the field of greenhouses, livestock, poultry and fisheries during the Saudi-Chinese Business Forum, the ministry of environment, water and agriculture said in a post […] May 14, 2025
Oil & Gas Aramco CEO Amin Nasser expects oil demand to hold ‘steady’ Saudi Aramco expects demand for oil to be higher this year than in 2024 and to hold “steady”, its CEO has said. Banks and international agencies have downgraded their forecasts for oil demand and prices in response to heightened trade tensions since April 2. But Aramco’s Amin Nasser said on an earnings call on Monday: […] May 13, 2025
Renewable Energy China to build large solar power plant in Kuwait China has won a contract to build a large solar power park at the Shagaya renewable energy complex in the heart of the Kuwaiti desert. The facility will allow the Gulf state to increase renewables’ share of its energy mix to more than a quarter, a Kuwaiti minister said. The unnamed Chinese government company has […] May 12, 2025
Markets Dubai lays out welcome mat for Chinese finance The Dubai International Financial Centre is stepping up efforts to attract Chinese securities firms and corporates hoping to raise funds through initial public offerings, positioning itself as an alternative jurisdiction to Hong Kong and New York. Set up in 2004, the DIFC provides a platform for financial institutions with a legal and regulatory framework that […] May 12, 2025
Analysis Mining Turkey keen to cash in on rare earth potential Turkey plans to become one of the world’s leading suppliers of rare earths, seeking to parlay its extensive reserves into a position of international strength by investing in extraction and processing while also looking to develop downstream industries. In 2022 Ankara identified a massive mineral deposit in the central Turkish province of Eskişehir containing 10 […] May 9, 2025
Real Estate China’s Shandong wins contract to build Baghdad housing China’s Shandong Construction Company has won a contract to build the first phase of a 60,000-home project in the Iraqi capital Baghdad. The development will be in an area formerly known as Saddam City after late leader Saddam Hussein, the state Iraq news agency reported, but which was renamed Al-Sadr City. Shandong will build 11,000 […] May 8, 2025
Manufacturing China’s Jetour plans carmaking facility in Dubai Chinese carmaker Jetour plans to start a manufacturing unit in Dubai as a springboard to supplying the UAE and the rest of the Gulf, its head of international operations told AGBI. “The GCC is the richest region in the world, and we obviously want to take it by the storm and be the No 1 […] May 7, 2025
Oil & Gas Adnoc awards rig contract to expand Zakum operations State-backed Adnoc is expanding operations at the offshore Zakum development project after one of its subsidiaries awarded a contract for three island oil rigs. Adnoc Drilling won the $806 million contract from Adnoc Offshore and its CEO Abdulrahman Abdulla Al Seiari said this award will deliver high-quality returns well into 2038 and beyond. The three […] May 6, 2025
Analysis Trade Oman’s tile law could set pattern for the GCC Oman plans to implement anti-dumping measures on ceramic tile imports from China and India, saying the materials that are widely used in the building industry are being sold at below-cost prices. This comes amid a global debate around the impact of increased US import tariffs on China, the world’s biggest manufacturer, and whether the tax […] May 2, 2025
Exclusive Tourism H World International plans Saudi hotels development H World International, a major hotel developer, will open multiple new properties in Saudi Arabia, including a branch of its 95-year-old Steigenberger brand. “We are about to announce much more development in Saudi Arabia, specifically around Riyadh,” said Siegfried Nierhaus, the hotelier’s Dubai-based vice president and head of development for the Middle East, India and […] May 2, 2025
Renewable Energy Chinese company to build solar plant in Oman freezone Oman has signed a deal with a Chinese company to develop a sizeable solar power plant in the north of the country. It is the latest in a series of green energy initiatives as the sultanate aims to diversify from fossil fuels and power green hydrogen ambitions. The $564 million solar farm will be wholly […] April 30, 2025
Renewable Energy Equipment and workforce key for Saudi renewables Nacelles and blades, battery energy storage systems (BESS) and high voltage direct current (HVDC) cables, solar modules and wafers. A surge in large-scale renewable projects – such as the 2GW Al Shuaibah 2 solar project and 1.5GW Dawadmi wind farm – means the kingdom needs to secure equipment and expertise if it is to come […] April 29, 2025
Aviation Riyadh Air willing to buy Boeing planes cancelled by China Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas has said that the Saudi startup carrier would be ready to buy Boeing aircraft destined for Chinese airlines if they are not delivered due to the escalating trade war between the United States and China. Boeing is looking to resell potentially dozens of planes locked out of China by tariffs […] April 28, 2025
Opinion Markets Trumponomics, tariffs and the global flight from the US GCC and Asian economies are moving to de-risk from American dominance April 28, 2025
Analysis Transport Saudi Arabia’s EV ambitions face ‘chicken and egg’ dilemma Few of the car enthusiasts who attended Tesla’s launch in Riyadh last month arrived in electric vehicles. Hundreds turned out for the much-heralded opening event in Riyadh, an indication that the furore around the Tesla brand and its owner Elon Musk has not crossed the Atlantic. Despite this, public enthusiasm for electric vehicles (EVs) in […] April 28, 2025
Video length: 02:01 Opinion Transport Is the DB12 the supercar to lead Aston Martin’s recovery? The model could be a turning point in the fortunes of the iconic brand April 25, 2025
Aviation China’s Boeing boycott opens doors for Gulf carriers China’s escalating trade standoff with the US is reverberating through the global aviation industry, offering opportunities for Gulf airlines, as Chinese carriers refuse to accept US-built Boeing aircraft. Speaking on a first quarter earnings call on Wednesday, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg confirmed that several Chinese customers have declined to accept new aircraft due to retaliatory […] April 25, 2025
Opinion Aviation Opportunity knocks for Middle East airlines during tariff turmoil American and Chinese uncertainty could open earlier aircraft delivery slots elsewhere April 24, 2025
Economy Turkey worried that cheap Asian goods will hurt economy Turkey is concerned that an enduring trade war between the US and China and other Asian countries may encourage manufacturers to flood Turkey’s market with cut-price goods to make up for US losses, the finance minister has said. That could damage Turkey’s own manufacturing base, already struggling with high and rising borrowing costs and domestic […] April 23, 2025
Manufacturing Volkswagen to export surplus stock from China to Middle East Volkswagen is to start exporting cars from China, aiming to sell in other Asian markets, South America and the Middle East, its China chief Ralf Brandstaetter has said. Brandstaetter also said that the carmaker was ready to tackle domestic competition in the country. Carmakers in China, including Volkswagen, are grappling with how to make use […] April 23, 2025
Opinion Oil & Gas Despite Trump, China still has a big thirst for Gulf oil Gulf suppliers are taking immediate advantage of Washington’s hardline trade posture April 22, 2025