Finance Wealth company Azura to leave Monaco for Abu Dhabi Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based alternative asset manager, has acquired a stake in Azura Partners, a wealth management firm in Monaco. Azura, started by former Julius Baer executive Ali Jamal, manages assets of around $5 billion and serves high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients. As part of the deal, Azura will relocate its headquarters from Monaco to Abu […] May 2, 2025
Markets Mubadala trims stake in Portuguese telco Mubadala Investment Company, Abu Dhabi’s $300 billion sovereign wealth fund, has trimmed its holding in Portuguese telecoms operator NOS SGPS. ATIC Second International Investment, a Mubadala subsidiary, reduced its stake from 5 percent to 3.2 percent, according to a regulatory filing by NOS to the Portuguese Securities Market Commission. No reason was given for the […] May 2, 2025
Finance Abu Dhabi’s MGX to use Trump stablecoin for Binance deal A stablecoin linked with President Donald Trump will be used by Abu Dhabi’s MGX as part of the technology company’s $2 billion investment in Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, it was announced on Thursday. MGX announced a minority investment in Binance in March. Zach Witkoff, co-founder of World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency holding company […] May 1, 2025
Real Estate Dubai scores football-themed homes in Chelsea Residences Chelsea fans finally have something to celebrate: Dubai’s first football-themed development will wear the blue of the famous west London club. As part of a new partnership between Chelsea FC and Damac Properties, the Dubai-based property developer will build a Chelsea-themed real estate project in the emirate. Chelsea Residences “will be built with Chelsea Football […] May 1, 2025
Food & Drink Bahrain’s Calo acquires UK meal delivery brands Calo, a Bahraini foodtech startup, is making its first foray outside of the Gulf by expanding into the UK. The company, which was founded in Bahrain but now has its headquarters in Saudi Arabia, is acquiring UK-based meal delivery brands Fresh Fitness Food and Detox Kitchen in the expansion. Caspar Rose, the former head of […] May 1, 2025
Logistics European slump hits Middle East air cargo demand Demand for air cargo in the Middle East declined year on year in March, bucking a global growth trend, with the region’s European trade route the hardest hit. New monthly data from industry trade body the International Air Transport Association (IATA), showed that total global demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTK), rose 4.4 percent year […] May 1, 2025
Real Estate Kuwait wealth fund sues over London tower project Kuwait Investment Authority, the world’s fifth-biggest sovereign wealth fund, is suing global investment company Axa Investment Managers in connection with a planned tower in London’s financial district that risks blocking light to a KIA building. St Martins Property, the investment authority’s property development unit, is suing Hygie, a special purpose vehicle controlled by Axa Investment […] April 29, 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
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
Economy UK lifts sanctions on Syria Britain said on Thursday it would support efforts to rebuild Syria’s financial system by removing sanctions to encourage investments in financial services, energy production and other sectors. London also lifted asset freezes on Syria’s Defence and Interior Ministries and a range of intelligence agencies, reversing penalties imposed during Bashar al-Assad’s presidency. The West is rethinking […] April 25, 2025
Aviation Saudia signs Airbus deal for up to 20 wide-body aircraft Saudia, Saudi Arabia’s national airline, has finalised a new agreement with European manufacturer Airbus to buy up to 20 new wide-body A330neo aircraft. Of these, 10 are firm orders for Flyadeal, the group’s budget airline, the carrier said in a statement. The delivery of these aircraft is set to start in 2027, with the last […] April 24, 2025
Aviation Dubai jet leaser wins $282m settlement in Russian case Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE), the Middle East’s largest aviation leasing company, has received a $282 million cash settlement from unnamed insurers for aircraft leased to Russian Federation carriers. This latest payment brings DAE’s total insurance recovery to $601 million. With this settlement DAE and its partners have resolved all claims against the involved insurance and […] April 24, 2025
Leisure & Hospitality Saudi ticketing app webook plans European expansion Riyadh-based Webook, which describes itself as Saudi Arabia’s largest booking platform for events and experiences, says it is expanding beyond the Middle East into Europe to tap a growing market for ticketing. Set up in 2016 under the name Hala Yalla, Webook initially focussed as a service to book football pitches, before expanding to include […] April 24, 2025
Energy Gulf share of India oil market slides on Russia gains India’s pivot toward discounted Russian crude oil has accelerated, eroding the dominance of traditional Middle Eastern suppliers in one of the world’s fastest-growing oil markets. In the Indian fiscal year ending March 31, Russia retained its position as India’s top oil supplier for a third year in row, Reuters reported, based on ship tracking data […] 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
Industry PIF-backed elevator company explores US IPO A German elevator company backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is exploring selling shares to the public in the US, Reuters has reported, without citing sources. Düsseldorf-based TK Elevator is expected to be valued at more than €20 billion ($22.7 billion), according to earnings calculations by the news agency. TK Elevator is the […] April 18, 2025
Oil & Gas IEA slashes oil demand outlook as trade tensions bite The International Energy Agency (IEA) slashed its 2025 oil demand growth forecast on Tuesday, citing rising trade tensions and a weakening global economy. The forecast widens the gap with Opec’s more upbeat outlook. The Paris-based watchdog now expects demand to grow by just 730,000 barrels per day in 2025, down from 1 million bpd previously […] April 15, 2025
Food & Drink UK company enters Dubai’s crowded rapid-delivery market Despite the congestion – in the market and on the streets of the UAE’s most populous city – yet another competitor, UK company Zapp, is entering Dubai’s rapid-delivery market. This is evidence there is still room for growth, analysts say. Zapp focuses on rapid grocery deliveries from its own so-called dark stores. A dark store is […] April 15, 2025
Trade EU and UAE to start talks on comprehensive trade deal The UAE and the European Union are to start negotiations towards a wide-ranging free trade agreement, officials for both sides said. “The UAE shares strong and longstanding ties with the European Union and its member states,” Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s president, said on X. Through a comprehensive economic partnership agreement, or […] April 11, 2025
Business of Sport Former Saudi owner of English soccer club returns to pitch The former Saudi royal owner of the English Championship side Sheffield United, Prince Abdullah bin Mosaad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, is returning to the football market with a sports investment fund worth as much as SAR1 billion ($266 million). Prince Abdullah told the Sports Investment Forum in Riyadh this week that his group intends to […] April 10, 2025
Opinion Tourism Moscow’s metro rolls out Arabic welcome for Gulf tourists Arabic speakers visiting Russia often struggle to find locals who speak their language. Yet Moscow is eager to welcome them April 9, 2025
Real Estate Middle East buyers’ share of UK property demand grows Prospective buyers from the Arabian Gulf and the wider Middle East are taking up a larger share of total international interest in UK real estate, the property broker Hamptons has found. However, total overseas demand for property in the British Isles appears to be falling, Hamptons said. International applicants as a share of the total […] April 9, 2025