Finance Aramco chairman re-elected onto India’s Reliance board Saudi Aramco chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan has been reappointed as an independent director on the board of India’s Reliance Industries Limited. Nearly 84 percent of shareholders voted in favour while 16 percent voted against his reappointment for the five-year term, the company said in a filing with the Bombay stock exchange. Al-Rumayyan was first appointed to […] June 24, 2024
Opinion Economy Modi’s coalition era: a new chapter for Gulf ties? The BJP must now share power, potentially complicating relationships with crucial partners like the UAE June 17, 2024
Logistics Dispute forum vital for trade corridor to work, says law officer A robust forum for resolving disputes will be vital to the success of the planned India-Middle East-Europe Corridor, a senior official from the Indian Supreme Court told delegates at an event in Abu Dhabi. Seven countries signed an agreement during the 2023 G20 Summit in New Delhi to establish an economic corridor connecting the Middle […] June 7, 2024
Aviation India’s Akasa Air to start Jeddah and Riyadh flights Saudi Arabia has licensed Indian low-cost airline Akasa Air to begin flights this week as the Hajj pilgrimage begins, giving a further boost to the kingdom’s tourism plans. The flights into Jeddah include two from Ahmedabad and 12 from Mumbai per week starting from 8 June, and seven into Riyadh from Mumbai per week starting […] June 5, 2024
Trade What Modi must do for India-UAE relationship to thrive While Narendra Modi claims a rare third term as India’s prime minister, a raft of issues must be addressed for economic relations with the UAE to thrive. Despite the strong foundations laid, experts highlight ongoing concerns such as bureaucratic red tape, protectionism, sluggish investment and trade growth. The Modi-led Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party won […] June 5, 2024
Analysis Economy 642 million votes counted … now India can get back to business Narendra Modi has claimed victory in India’s election – and many in the Gulf will be delighted at the prospect of a third Modi term. The prime minister’s pro-business credentials and economically liberalising tendencies remain credible, if battered, after 10 years in office. His Bharatiya Janata Party did not perform as well as expected, however, […] June 5, 2024
Manufacturing Indian manufacturers urged to set up shop in UAE The future of the UAE’s economic partnership with India hinges on more manufacturing taking place in the Gulf state, a senior executive from a royal family office has said. Zulfiquar Ghadiyali, managing director of Royal Arab Holdings, the business arm of the private office of Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, said Indian businesses were […] June 4, 2024
Construction UAE official keen to address government payment delays A senior UAE official is advocating for policymakers to reassess government payment schedules, citing the strain late payments places on the private sector. Omar Saif Ghobash, adviser to the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ambassador to the Holy See, told a panel at the India-UAE Business Forum in Dubai last week that the systemic […] June 4, 2024
Trade India must cut red tape for investors, says Mubadala executive Reducing red tape is critical to making India more attractive to global investors, an executive at Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund Mubadala has said. Sridhar Iyengar, chief financial officer of Mubadala’s Aerospace, Renewables and Information Communications Technology business, said the New Delhi government must enhance its bureaucratic efficiency to improve the pace at which projects […] May 31, 2024
Video length: 06:12 Analysis Real Estate Dubai fractional ownership is promising, but untested Fractional ownership of property in Dubai promises to widen access to real estate investment in the emirate’s surging market. But the lack of a proven secondary market raises questions about just how much liquidity this asset class can count on in a potential crisis, experts say. Buying even small portions of one or more units […] May 29, 2024
Manufacturing India’s UltraTech offers to boost stake in RAK Cement India’s UltraTech Cement has offered to acquire a 31.6 percent stake in Abu Dhabi-listed RAK Cement Co for White Cement and Construction Materials (RAKWCT). The Indian cement producer’s wholly owned subsidiary in the UAE, UltraTech Cement Middle East Investments, bought a 29.4 percent stake in RAKWCT in April 2022 for $101 million. The UAE subsidiary […] May 28, 2024
Opinion Oil & Gas Opec+ – if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it The rejigged meeting is likely to maintain the status quo in global crude markets May 27, 2024
Trade Indian investment in GCC falls despite increased trade Investment from India into Gulf countries has dropped considerably despite growth in bilateral trade due to the country adopting a more protectionist approach. Trade between India and the group of six GCC countries – Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the UAE – reached almost 16 percent of the country’s total in the last […] May 27, 2024
Banking & Finance Mashreq explores presence in India’s new economic zone UAE lender Mashreq is exploring setting up an office in India’s special economic zone, according to a media report. The bank is exploring opportunities beyond its current footprint, Tarek El Nahas, group head of international banking at Mashreq told Moneycontrol, an Indian financial news portal. The prospect of setting up a presence in the Gujarat […] May 23, 2024
Food & Drink ADIA consortium bids for stake in India’s largest snack maker A consortium including Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) has submitted a bid to acquire a controlling stake in the snacks business of India’s Haldiram, according to a media report. The consortium, which also include US-based alternative asset manager Blackstone and GIC of Singapore, aims to secure 75 percent of the Indian company’s snacks unit, valuing it […] May 14, 2024
Real Estate Overseas buyers dominate in Sharjah’s reformed real estate Overseas buyers in Arada’s two mega-developments in Sharjah have vastly outnumbered locals in the year-and-a-half since the emirate expanded full real estate ownership rights to non-GCC nationals. From when Aljada, Sharjah’s biggest mixed-use project, launched in 2017 until the land reform of late October 2022, Emirati nationals bought more than 63 percent of the value […] May 13, 2024
INTERVIEW Banking & Finance Wealth manager seeks Gulf growth despite setbacks in UK St James’s Place, the UK’s largest wealth manager, plans to target local customers to expand its one-year-old Gulf operation as it seeks to brush off reputational setbacks in its home market. In February SJP disclosed that it had set aside more than $500 million for potential client refunds after an increase in complaints about its […] May 7, 2024
Logistics Abu Dhabi’s ADIA invests in Indian warehouses The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) and the US-based private equity firm KKR have invested INR 12,000 crore ($1.5 billion) in India’s Reliance Retail Ventures’ warehousing assets. Both companies have invested equal amounts in Reliance Logistics and Warehouse Holdings (RLWH), The Economic Times, an Indian financial daily, reported, citing informed sources. RLWH was established in […] May 3, 2024
Tech Investcorp buys Indian tech company for $120m Bahrain’s alternative asset manager, Investcorp, is to acquire the digital technology business of India’s National Stock Exchange (NSE) for $120 million. NSEIT provides advanced digital transformation and cybersecurity services to global customers in capital markets, insurance and banking in India, North America and the Middle East. The services include digital engineering, data and analytics, artificial intelligence, cloud services […] April 30, 2024
Trade UAE and India on track to hit $100bn non-oil trade The UAE and India will surpass the $100 billion non-oil trade target by 2030, with increasing aviation links between the two countries seen as a potential catalyst. Bilateral trade increased by 15 percent since the comprehensive economic partnership agreement (Cepa) was implemented in May 2022, the Indian government-owned Press Trust of India reported, quoting Cepa council director […] April 29, 2024
Aviation London and India dominate airport traffic in Abu Dhabi London and Indian cities dominated traffic at Abu Dhabi’s airports during the first quarter with year-on-year visitor numbers up by more than a third. Close to 7 million passengers passed through the emirate’s five airports in the first three months of the year. Zayed International airport, formerly known as Abu Dhabi International airport, welcomed 6.8 […] April 26, 2024
Trade India’s silver imports from UAE on the rise Supplies of silver to India from the UAE have increased this year, as the Emirates’ exporters benefit from an agreement signed between the countries two years ago. The India-UAE comprehensive economic partnership agreement signed in 2022 has significantly boosted imports, according to a report by Indian English-language business newspaper The Financial Express. The UAE route […] April 23, 2024