Energy UK-Morocco renewables project ‘on track for 2030’ The $20 billion Xlinks Morocco-UK renewables project is “on track for completion in 2030”, the company’s CEO Simon Morrish has told AGBI, with approval now granted to build the facility that will manufacture the subsea cables critical to its development. The cable operations will be overseen by XLCC which was set up by Xlinks in […] July 19, 2023
Trade Turkey and UK plan talks to build on $31bn trade ties Turkey and the UK are to begin talks on a revised free trade agreement, building on a relationship that was worth £23.5 billion ($30.7 billion) in 2022. The deal would replace the existing UK-Turkey agreement, which was put in place after Brexit and does not cover services or digital industries. The UK is the second […] July 18, 2023
Analysis Energy TotalEnergies’ $27bn bet on Iraq boosts ailing oil industry TotalEnergies’ signing of a long-stalled $27 billion deal to develop several energy-related projects in Iraq is a significant vote of confidence in the country’s fraught oil and gas industry, according to analysts. The agreement represents the biggest single foreign investment in Iraq in modern times and suggests the government of newly-installed prime minister Mohammed Shia […] July 12, 2023
Energy Russian petrol exports to Asia and Africa increase Russia’s petrol exports rose in January to June despite the introduction of the European Union’s (EU) embargo, thanks to healthy supplies of the fuel to Africa and Asia, data from market sources showed and traders said. Petrol production at Russian refineries rose by about 4 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2023 to about […] July 12, 2023
Oil & Gas Iraq signs $27bn deal with TotalEnergies Iraq has signed a $27 billion deal with French major TotalEnergies to increase oil production and build renewable energy facilities. The long-delayed agreement represents the biggest single foreign investment in Iraq, Opec’s second largest crude producer. “I hope that this will be a strong signal to other investors to come to Iraq,” said TotalEnergies chairman […] July 10, 2023
Banking and Finance UK to steer pensions into high-growth sectors British finance minister Jeremy Hunt will spell out on Monday long-awaited plans to encourage pension funds and other asset managers to invest in high-growth sectors, the treasury said on Sunday. In Monday’s speech at the City of London’s Mansion House, Hunt will explain how the reforms could increase returns for pensioners and unlock capital for […] July 9, 2023
Business of Sport Oman Air signs sponsorship with Chelsea FC Oman Air has signed a three-year sponsorship deal to become the global airline partner of English Premier League football club Chelsea. The sultanate’s flag carrier is looking to capitalise on Chelsea’s international following. The partnership will include co-branded livery, joint promotional content and corporate social responsibility campaigns. Financial details around the deal were not disclosed. […] July 6, 2023
Exclusive Infrastructure UK must court Gulf investors despite Thames Water crisis The UK’s investment minister has said that the country must continue to incentivise foreign investment in its utilities sector, despite ongoing concerns that Thames Water, which is part owned by Abu Dhabi, could be on the verge of collapse. In an interview with AGBI this week, Lord Dominic Johnson, a minister of state in the […] July 6, 2023
Tech Saudi Arabia makes move on Estonia’s tech industry Saudi Arabia has signed multiple deals with companies in Estonia as it tries to tap into the European country’s tech industry. Five memoranda of understanding and cooperation agreements across trade, technology and entrepreneurship have been negotiated by Saudi’s Ministry of Investment. A Saudi-Estonian business council is also planned under an agreement between the Federation of […] July 5, 2023
Economy Bahrain to invest $1.3bn into UK Bahrain’s private sector plans investment of more than £1 billion ($1.26 billion) into the UK, with the aim of driving greater cooperation in clean technology, business services and manufacturing. Investments will be through the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat, along with Investcorp, GFH Financial Group and Osool Asset Management. The Strategic Investment and Collaboration Partnership […] July 4, 2023
Manufacturing Shisha tobacco company has IPO in the pipeline for 2024 The Middle East’s biggest shisha tobacco company has invited banks to pitch for roles in its planned initial public offering next year. Dubai’s Advanced Inhalation Rituals (Air) is planning a flotation in the first half of 2024, sources told Reuters. Air is one of the world’s biggest producers of shisha molasses. Its majority owner Kingsway […] July 4, 2023
Opinion Oil & Gas Saudi and Russian oil cuts add to palace intrigue at Opec Delegates in Vienna will be eager to debate the impact of the latest moves by Riyadh and Moscow July 3, 2023
Emirati battles for control of Croatian conglomerate A Dubai businessman has vowed to prolong his battle to be recognised as the biggest shareholder in a top Croatian company. This is despite an adverse court ruling, hostility from the firm’s management and suspicions over ties to Russia. In November, Saif Alketbi, a former member of the board of Noor Bank, bought a 43 […] July 3, 2023
Energy Total secures funds for $100m solar project in Saudi Arabia TotalEnergies has reached financial closure to manage a $100 million solar photovoltaic power plant close to Riyadh. The consortium comprises France’s TotalEnergies, Japan’s Toyota Tsusho and Saudi Arabia’s Altaaqa Renewable Energy (Zahid Group). The deal was finalised with Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation and Riyadh Bank, TotalEnergies said in a statement. The French oil major won […] June 30, 2023
Banking and Finance Abu Dhabi-backed Swiss skincare group raises $1bn A Swiss skincare group backed by the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority has raised $1 billion from newly issued shares. Galderma aims to use the funds to boost its balance sheet ahead of a planned stock market listing. The company, founded in 1981, was bought in 2019 by a consortium led by the Abu Dhabi sovereign […] June 27, 2023
Lifestyle ‘Paris Intervention’ as Saudi designers hit the catwalks The Saudi fashion industry has made its debut at Paris Fashion Week, showcasing the work of 60 designers from the kingdom. Saudi 100 Brands, a programme that helps Saudi designers expand both local and international markets, took a curated selection of emerging Saudi designers to the event, where it hosted the Emerge catwalk show and […] June 23, 2023
Business of Sport Saudi football is no threat, say major Euro leagues Two of Europe’s top leagues have shrugged off the challenges posed by Saudi Arabia’s billion-dollar emergence onto the global football scene. Italy’s Serie A and Spain’s LaLiga told AGBI the kingdom’s quest to sign up some of the best talent in the sport will have no bearing on plans to increase their own market share […] June 22, 2023
Trade Saudi and France to ‘unleash potential’ after $2.9bn deals Saudi Arabia and France will work together to “unleash the full potential” of their trade relationship as they look beyond traditional sectors such as energy. That was the message from Saudi investment minister Khalid Al-Falih at the conclusion of the French-Saudi Investment Forum. Last year, French-Saudi trade volumes increased by more than 80 percent to […] June 21, 2023
Analysis Trade Deals surge as trade between Spain and UAE increases Barcelona outdoor furniture brand Kettal will enter the UAE luxury living market next year in an agreement with family office Vivium Holding, as UAE-Spain trade rose sharply in early 2023. Vivium Holding will exclusively distribute Kettal’s premium collections, with plans to open a flagship store in the UAE in 2024. Elie Khouri, founder and CEO […] June 21, 2023
Aviation Paris air show takes off with historic plane order Airbus announced a record 500-plane deal with Indian airline IndiGo on day one of the Paris Airshow, as strong demand for jets and air defences vied for attention with the industry’s supply chain problems. The multibillion-dollar deal for single-aisle planes – the largest ever by number of aircraft – confirmed a Reuters report earlier this […] June 20, 2023
Transport Airbus to build helicopters in Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia has signed a $6.7 billion deal with European aviation giant Airbus to manufacture civilian and military helicopters in the kingdom. In its latest step to develop a homegrown defence industry, state-owned military contractor Scopa and Airbus will build a Saudi factory to make the aircraft, Reuters and Bloomberg reported, citing a television interview […] June 19, 2023
Trade Dubai Chambers London hub opens to grow trade Dubai Chambers has opened an office in London aimed at boosting bilateral trade with the UK, as the number of British companies setting up in the emirate grew by a quarter in the last year. “We are opening this office for three main reasons,” Khalid al Shamsi, vice president of operations at Dubai Chambers, told […] June 19, 2023
