Education Dubai Holding is a buyer of UK’s Nord Anglia schools Dubai Holding, the personal investment portfolio of the ruler of the emirate, is among a group of companies that bought the UK school operator Nord Anglia Education for $14.5 billion. Other investors include the Swedish investment group EQT and Neuberger Berman from the US. Nord Anglia operates more than 80 schools in 33 countries, educating […] March 21, 2025
editor's insight Oil & Gas Why Russia could ease the Gulf’s oil headache The Opec+ countries have said that they will conduct “a gradual and flexible return” of 2.2 million barrels a day in production through until the end of next year. Saudi Arabia in particular has been gritting its teeth in holding back over 3 million bpd in spare capacity as it has watched while others – […] March 21, 2025
EXCLUSIVE Trade UK pushing for increase in business with UAE Britain is “very keen” to secure business in the aviation, hospitality and financial services sectors and elsewhere in Dubai and the wider UAE, a UK trade commissioner has told AGBI. A free trade agreement between the UK and the Gulf Co-operation Council, which includes the UAE, would support these opportunities for British companies, said Sarah […] March 21, 2025
Opinion Transport How the Porsche 911 became a darling of UAE car nuts How did Porsche draw the biggest two-day single-make car show audience in UAE automotive history? March 20, 2025
Artificial Intelligence Aramco-backed Cognite taps India in AI growth move Saudi Aramco-backed industrial software company Cognite has opened an AI services centre in the southern Indian city of Bengaluru and said it is exploring potential contracts with top conglomerates in the country. The Norwegian company said it had signed up with a large industrial cement company and a major automotive company but declined to provide […] March 20, 2025
Renewable Energy Masdar in talks on $200m solar power deal in Spain Abu Dhabi renewable energy company Masdar is nearing a deal that would see it pay around $200 million for a 49.9 percent stake in a solar portfolio controlled by Spanish power utility Endesa, according to two sources familiar with the deal and a document seen by Reuters. The deal for the roughly 450-megawatt portfolio builds […] March 19, 2025
Oil & Gas Iraq approves Kirkuk oilfield development deal with BP Iraq has officially endorsed an agreement with UK energy major BP for the development of four oilfields in the northern Kurdish Kirkuk region. The cabinet gave its final approval to the multi-billion dollar contract at a meeting this week headed by Prime Minister Mohammed Al-Sudani, the official news agency said. BP expects to invest up […] March 19, 2025
Giga-projects Neom-backed Volocopter bought by Chinese company Chinese automotive and aerospace group Zhejiang Wanfeng Auto Wheel has acquired failed German air taxi developer Volocopter, a partner in Saudi Arabia’s Neom giga-project, for $11 million. The sale follows Volocopter’s collapse into insolvency in December, raising questions over Neom’s urban air mobility ambitions in its futuristic city development on Saudi Arabia’s north-western Red Sea […] March 18, 2025
Banking and Finance Kuwait pension fund’s $1bn lawsuit begins in London Kuwait’s public pension fund has accused asset manager Man Group, Swiss bank EFG and others of laundering bribes paid to its late director as a $1 billion trial begins at London’s High Court. The Public Institution for Social Security, which operates Kuwait’s social security and pension scheme, is also suing the estate of Fahad Al Rajaan, its director from 1984 to […] March 17, 2025
Opinion Oil & Gas Trump sees the ‘Big Three’ as the coming force in global oil markets Could Saudi Arabia, the US and Russia be pursuing shared interests in oil and geopolitical matters? March 17, 2025
Finance Gulf investments grow in Cyprus both onshore and off Sovereign wealth funds are eyeing up real estate while energy companies have set their sights on the sea March 14, 2025
Business of Sport PIF considers new stadium for Newcastle United Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund is considering funding a new stadium development for English Premier League (EPL) side Newcastle United, according to UK media reports. The Public Investment Fund (PIF), which has over $925 billion worth of assets, led a buyout of Newcastle in October 2021, alongside PCP Capital Partners and RB Sports & Media […] March 14, 2025
Oil & Gas IEA’s hard line on oil glut clashes with Opec forecast The International Energy Agency (IEA) has said US tariffs will contribute to a decline in global oil demand growth this year, once again contrasting with Opec’s more optimistic forecast. In a monthly report published on Thursday the IEA forecast that oil demand would grow by 1 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2025, down 70,000 […] March 13, 2025
Opinion Aviation Schedule shift signals a busy summer for Middle East airlines As airlines prepare to switch timetables, the Gulf looks set for growth, new routes and cautious optimism March 10, 2025
Business of Sport Boost for Arab soccer as Red Bull sponsors Al Ahly Egypt’s most successful football club has kicked off what could become a sponsorship rush from European companies into the country’s top league. Al Ahly of Cairo, winners of 44 Egyptian Premier League titles and 12 Confederation of African Football Champions League titles, has agreed a marketing partnership with the Austrian drinks company Red Bull. No […] March 10, 2025
Telecoms Abu Dhabi’s Thuraya enters satellite smartphone market Thuraya Mobile Satellite Communications Company, a unit of Abu Dhabi’s Space42, is moving into the smartphone market, hoping to access a global satellite-capable smartphone business that could be worth as much as $15 billion within a decade. Led by the emirate of Abu Dhabi, the UAE federation is investing in its capabilities in space. Combined, […] March 7, 2025
Economy UK lifts sanctions on Syrian central bank and oil companies The UK unfroze the assets of Syria’s central bank and 23 other entities, including banks and oil companies, on Thursday, reversing sanctions imposed during Bashar al-Assad’s presidency. The West is rethinking its approach to Syria after insurgent forces led by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham ousted Assad as president in December after more than 13 years […] March 7, 2025
Renewable Energy TotalEnergies starts building Iraq’s largest solar plant France’s TotalEnergies has started constructing Iraq’s largest solar power plant as part of a $27 billion energy deal it signed in 2023. The plant, based in the southern oil hub of Basra, has a production capacity of 1,000 megawatt (MW) and includes installing two million solar panels, the official news agency said, citing an Electricity […] March 7, 2025
Business of Sport Saudi-backed Newcastle United narrows losses to $14m Saudi Arabia-backed Newcastle United Football Club has reported an £11 million ($14 million) loss for the last financial year, despite a 30 percent increase in revenues. The deficit at the Public Investment Fund majority owned English Premier League club was reduced by £60 million year on year, attributed largely to the money gained from qualifying […] March 6, 2025
Oil & Gas Aramco explores potential bid for BP’s Castrol unit Saudi Aramco is in the early stages of considering a potential bid for BP’s lubricant business Castrol, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. BP has been exploring all options around its Castrol business, including a possible sale, as part of a strategic review. The business would be expected to be worth around $6 billion to […] March 6, 2025
Trade PIF signs $3bn deal with Italy’s export credit agency Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund said on Wednesday it had signed a memorandum of understanding worth $3 billion with Italy’s export credit agency, SACE. The sovereign wealth fund is working to boost finances to fund the country’s giga-projects. “The MoU focuses on providing financing support for co-operation between Italian companies in the private sector and […] March 5, 2025
Aviation Airbus weighs production of military aircraft parts in UAE European planemaker Airbus is exploring the possibility of manufacturing components and setting up a maintenance facility for the A400M, a military transport aircraft, in the UAE. The plan includes integrating local entities – including EPI, part of defence company Edge Group, and Strata, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi investment vehicle Mubadala – into the A400M’s global aerospace […] March 5, 2025