Analysis Banking & Finance Funding increase to support Palestinian startups Funding levels are being ramped up to support Palestinian startups in the war-torn territory and across the wider Middle East and North Africa. Just $8.8 million has been invested in Palestinian startups – marked as Ramallah, West Bank or Gaza-based – in 18 deals on record from 2022 to the present day, according to Racha […] November 14, 2024
Opinion Tourism Wars have skewed effects on Middle East tourism The most immediate impact on tourism has been caused by a reduction or elimination of flight connections November 14, 2024
Oil & Gas Adnoc signs 15-year supply deal for Ruwais LNG Adnoc, the Abu Dhabi state oil company, has signed its first long-term sales and purchase agreement for the lower-carbon Ruwais liquefied natural gas (LNG) project. The 15-year, 1 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) agreement was signed with Sefe Marketing and Trading Singapore, a subsidiary of Germany’s Sefe – Securing Energy For Europe – at the […] November 8, 2024
Aviation Saudia to receive flying taxis despite Lilium’s insolvency Saudi national carrier Saudia still plans to receive some of its 50-plane order of pilotless electric flying vehicles from Lilium despite the German company’s intention to file for insolvency. “We are in close coordination with the Lilium leadership team. We are expecting to receive the first jets in the second half of 2026, as per […] November 7, 2024
Opinion Tax Labour’s painful budget could fuel wealth exodus to Gulf The UAE could attract more UHNWIs seeking to shield their wealth from UK taxes November 7, 2024
Leisure & Hospitality Sotheby’s pins hopes on Saudi auction launch Sotheby’s is to open an office and stage its first auction in Saudi Arabia next year. The new branch will be located in the Faisaliah Tower in the capital Riyadh. The auction will take place on February 8, 2025 in the Unesco World Heritage site of Diriyah. Prior to the auction, an exhibition featuring the […] November 7, 2024
Analysis Trade Macron’s Morocco trip the catalyst for $11bn in deals France and Morocco have announced a series of deals, from railways to phosphates to renewables, worth up to $11 billion during a state visit last week by Emmanuel Macron, his first to the north African kingdom since becoming president in 2017. The 22 deals followed French recognition of Morocco’s claims to the disputed Western Sahara […] November 6, 2024
Sustainability US and EU leaders to skip Cop29 climate summit World leaders from major economies including the United States, the European Union and Brazil are planning to miss this year’s United Nations climate change summit (Cop29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will not attend the Cop29 climate summit because of political developments in Brussels, a commission spokesperson told Reuters on […] November 6, 2024
Infrastructure Muscat maps out its future development plans Muscat is set to approve a plan that will create a central 55km spine where much of the future development of the Omani capital city will take place. The city is predicted to double in size by 2040. The Greater Muscat Structure Plan, awaiting approval at cabinet level, provides a map of where future growth […] November 6, 2024
Analysis Markets Volkswagen’s troubles sour Qatari investment Volkswagen’s shares have tumbled by more than two-thirds from a 2021 peak, slashing the value of Qatar’s stake in the German conglomerate, as shrinking margins, weakening sales and production overcapacity weigh on the troubled automaker’s bottom line. Even with several billion dollars accrued in dividends since Qatar Holding invested in 2009, Volkswagen’s problems suggest the […] November 5, 2024
Oil & Gas Adnoc has expressed interest in Cyprus gas, minister says United Arab Emirates energy major Abu Dhabi National Oil Co (Adnoc) has expressed interest in Cyprus’ emerging natural gas sector, the country’s energy minister told Reuters on Monday. Major gas discoveries and developments off Egypt and Israel have attracted companies to offshore developments in the eastern Mediterranean in recent years, while state-owned Adnoc sees gas […] November 5, 2024
Oil & Gas Italy’s Eni will restart gas drilling in Egypt and Libya Italian energy company Eni is reviving its exploration operations on Zohr, Egypt’s largest natural gas field, by the end of the year, its CEO confirmed on Monday. “After some time, we were not really working on Zohr, we will restart drilling by the end of the year, and we are going to drill another well […] November 5, 2024
Industry Bahrain’s Alba looking to Europe after Ma’aden deal Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) will keep exploring mergers and acquisitions, with a particular eye on Europe, once it completes its multi-billion dollar deal with Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden). The deal is expected to be signed off in the first half of next year. The two companies penned a non-binding agreement in September and are in […] November 5, 2024
Opinion Economy Six reasons why UK gilt yields rose after Labour’s budget The market has reacted decisively and Downing Street should take note November 4, 2024
Opinion Tech Gulf bets on a quantum computing leap Subatomic technology could be a boon for finance, healthcare and national security November 1, 2024
Opinion Economy Labour’s first Budget is a political and financial winner The verdict of the financial markets is unquestionably positive October 31, 2024
Video length: 03:06 VIDEO Renewable Energy Time to shift the balance of power in renewable energy Imbalances in capital investment in clean energy, plentiful sun and a doubling in global demand for electricity over the next 20 years mean that the renewable energy sector in the Middle East is a “fantastic investment opportunity”. AGBI spoke to Torbjorn Caesar, chairman of Actis, a global investment company with a focus on sustainable infrastructure, […] October 31, 2024
Real Estate Adnec adds Business Design Centre to London portfolio Adnec Group has expanded its UK portfolio with the acquisition of the Business Design Centre in London. The historic building, which dates back to 1862 when it was the Royal Agricultural Hall, is a 4.5-acre Grade II listed venue that hosts events, awards and product launches. The North London venue is the location for long-standing […] October 30, 2024
Video length: 02:32 VIDEO Finance UK is ‘actively seeking’ Gulf investors, says trade minister “Britain is back and Britain is open for business,” UK trade minister Douglas Alexander has told AGBI. In an interview at the Future Investment Initiative summit taking place this week in Riyadh, Alexander said the Labour government’s budget on Wednesday would seek to “raise the level of investment in the UK economy”. “The kind of […] October 29, 2024
Construction Aldar Properties reports ‘strong pickup’ for London projects Aldar Properties remains bullish about London’s property market despite high interest rates and fears that tax rises will be announced in the UK budget on Wednesday. The government-owned Abu Dhabi company bought British developer London Square in a deal worth AED1.07 billion ($291 million) last year – its first acquisition outside the Middle East and […] October 29, 2024
Opinion Trade Europe needs to revisit Gulf relations or lose out to Asia The recent EU-GCC summit could not have come at a more critical moment October 28, 2024
Analysis Sustainability EU carbon tariff opens door to green GCC manufacturers Europe’s decision to place a tariff on a selected group of carbon-intensive imports may offer a competitive advantage to Gulf manufacturers who are investing in carbon-reducing technologies, industry observers believe. By decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors, GCC countries can become the European Union’s privileged trade partners, because producers with lower carbon emissions will get better access to […] October 28, 2024