Aviation Airbus expects Middle East aircraft fleet to double by 2043 Aircraft manufacturer Airbus expects fleet size in the Middle East to more than double in the 18-year period to 2043, the world’s third-fastest rate after China and the Asia-Pacific region. In its latest Global Market and Services Forecast, Airbus said Middle East demand, led by airlines in the Gulf, is estimated at 3,740 new aircraft […] February 11, 2025
Opinion Telecoms Gulf telcos should ignore Europe’s fading allure For all their foreign forays – current and historic – it is their domestic businesses that matter most February 10, 2025
Tourism Gallipoli takes centre stage in Turkey’s battlefield tourism plans Visitors from as far afield as Canada and Australia wishing to pay respects at Gallipoli are proving to be another string to Turkey's tourism bow February 7, 2025
Manufacturing Ceer strikes $145m deal with Sabelt for EV sports seats Ceer, Saudi Arabia’s first electric vehicle (EV) brand, has struck a SAR543 million ($145 million) deal with Italy’s Sabelt to develop sports seats for its upcoming flagship E sedan and SUV models. The drivers will get the same seats as those in high-performance sports cars. Sabelt will create high-performance seats for Ceer, ensuring maximum protection, […] February 7, 2025
Artificial Intelligence UAE and France to invest up to $50bn in AI data centre France and the United Arab Emirates agreed on Thursday to a framework accord for a 1 gigawatt data centre dedicated to artificial intelligence (AI) that represents investments of between $30 billion-$50 billion, the French presidency said. President Emmanuel Macron hosted his Emirati counterpart Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan on Thursday evening ahead of a summit […] February 7, 2025
Renewable Energy Abu Dhabi’s NMDC Energy to invest in wind power Abu Dhabi’s NMDC Energy, an engineering, procurement and construction contractor for energy projects, is hoping to expand its renewable energy business in South East Asia and Europe. Ahmed Al Dhaheri, NMDC Energy’s CEO, told AGBI that wind will account for as much as 20 percent of the company’s revenues in the next few years, with […] February 5, 2025
Oil & Gas BP to invest up to $25bn to redevelop Iraqi oilfields BP may invest up to $25 billion to redevelop four Kirkuk oil and gas fields in Iraq, according to a media report. The British oil major is likely to commit between $20 billion and $25 billion in a profit-sharing pact that will last more than 25 years, Reuters reported, quoting an unnamed senior Iraqi oil official. […] February 5, 2025
Oil & Gas UK’s Sound Energy helps Morocco enter LNG market Led by the UK company Sound Energy, Morocco is due to enter the liquefied natural gas market by the end of this year, as it finalises the development of its first LNG processing facility. Sound Energy owns a 20 percent stake in the project. The Moroccan mining company Managem owns 55 percent, while the remaining […] February 5, 2025
Leisure & Hospitality Abu Dhabi’s Modon plans to buy UK events company Modon Holding has announced plans to acquire a global events company. Modon, an investment company that is backed by state-owned Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company (ADQ), announced on Monday that it plans to complete the acquisition of Theta Bidco, a limited company registered in London that owns 100 percent of Arena Events Group (AEG). The […] February 4, 2025
Media & Advertising UK’s ITV in sights of Abu Dhabi-backed RedBird IMI RedBird IMI, the Abu Dhabi-backed US investment management company thwarted in its attempt to take control of the UK’s Telegraph newspaper group, has turned its attention to a deal involving the British broadcaster ITV. Discussions have taken place, according to reports, with a view to merging the business of ITV Studios with All3Media, which was […] February 3, 2025
Renewable Energy Acwa Power signs green hydrogen supply deal with Germany Acwa Power, the Saudi power supplier, has signed an agreement with German energy trading company Securing Energy for Europe (Sefe) to supply 200,000 tonnes of green hydrogen a year by 2030. Under the memorandum of understanding signed on Monday, Acwa Power will act as the lead developer, investor and operator of green hydrogen and green […] February 3, 2025
Mining UK mining company unearths copper deposits in Oman Major copper deposits in the Al Batinah region of Oman have been uncovered by a UK mining company, Power Metal Resources. The discovery was made in Block 8, about 130km from Muscat. Power Metal Resources acquired the exploration rights for the area from the government of Oman two years ago and started work on it […] February 3, 2025
Manufacturing Qatari AI company invests in Scottish hydrogen lorry maker Qatari AI software supplier Excelledia Ventures has invested in a Scottish HGV manufacturer that is developing zero-emission hydrogen-electric trucks. Glasgow-based Hydrogen Vehicle Systems (HVS) has developed an AI emissions reduction technology that optimises diesel, battery and hydrogen-powered trucks to enhance efficiency and reduce emissions. The hydrogen HGV that HVS is developing has a range of […] January 31, 2025
Analysis Real Estate Gulf investors seek property in Spain despite tax threat For a new generation of young, wealthy Gulf investors, London and Paris are out, and property in Marbella and Malaga is in, even if Spain’s leader is doing all he can to deter them. A fresh plan by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to impose a 100 percent tax on acquisitions of domestic real estate […] January 31, 2025
Economy EU’s $3bn to back Jordan’s economy amid challenges The European Union (EU) will provide a €3 billion ($3.13 billion) financial package to Jordan to support its growth, as it manages the impact of regional geopolitical challenges. The 2025-2027 financial package will include €640 million in grants, €1.4 billion in investments, and €1 billion in macro-financial assistance. “Jordan is a key partner for Europe in the Middle […] January 30, 2025
Tech Qatar leads funding for quantum computing company Alice & Bob, a Paris-based quantum computing company, has raised $104 million in a Series B funding round led by an investment joint venture between Qatar Investment Authority and Bpifrance. The funding will accelerate the development of the French company’s quantum computing platform, which utilises its “cat qubit” technology. A qubit (quantum bit) is the […] January 28, 2025
Real Estate London tower project announced by Abu Dhabi’s Modon A joint venture with property developer British Land and the Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC to develop a dual high-rise office-led tower project in central London has been announced by Abu Dhabi’s Modon Holding. The partnership will deliver a 750,000 square feet mixed-use project at an office-led campus in Broadgate in the City of London. It […] January 28, 2025
Energy UAE’s Esyasoft to buy UK provider Good Energy Energy company Esyasoft has agreed to acquire UK renewable electricity provider Good Energy for almost £100 million ($123 million) at 490p per share. The deal, which is subject to shareholders’ approval, represents a premium of 66 percent on Good Energy’s closing price on October 25, the last trading day before the start of the offer period. […] January 28, 2025
Oil & Gas Lunate to buy stake in Adnoc Gas Pipelines Lunate, the alternative investment manager based in Abu Dhabi, is buying a minority stake in Adnoc Gas Pipelines. AGP is a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) and has lease rights to 38 pipelines covering a total of 982km across the UAE. The gas pipeline network links the UAE’s upstream energy-producing assets and […] January 28, 2025
Health Pure Health buys stake in Greece’s Hellenic Healthcare Abu Dhabi-listed Pure Health has agreed to purchase a 60 percent stake in Hellenic Healthcare, an Athens-based private healthcare services provider. The transaction values Hellenic Healthcare at €2.2 billion ($2.31 billion). The sellers – CVC Capital Partners VI and the founder of Hellenic Healthcare – will retain 35 percent and 5 percent stakes in the […] January 28, 2025
Real Estate Eagle Hills signs $5.7bn deal to develop projects in Georgia Abu Dhabi developer Eagle Hills has announced plans to invest more than €5.5 billion ($5.7 billion) in two projects in Georgia. It signed an agreement with the Georgian government to develop waterside projects in Tbilisi and Batumi. The Krtsanisi Park in Tbilisi will be a riverside mixed-used project of residences and retail spaces that will […] January 27, 2025
Giga-projects Italian insurer guarantees $3bn Saudi giga-project loan Sace, an Italian state-owned insurance company, has guaranteed a multi-currency loan of $3 billion provided by nine international banks to support projects in Neom, Saudi Arabia’s $500 billion giga-project. The announcement coincided with an official visit by Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni to Saudi Arabia, where she and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signed an […] January 27, 2025