Analysis Giga-projects End of ‘blank cheque’ culture for Saudi consultancy Saudi Arabia remains a boom town for the global consultancy industry, but experts have warned it is no longer the land of milk and honey for international operators and there is now a tighter hold being placed on budgets. The Saudi consultancy market, the largest in the GCC, expanded by 18.2 percent in 2023 with […] December 23, 2024
Analysis Markets Talabat and Lulu post-listing slump dims allure of UAE IPOs Talabat and Lulu Retail Holdings were the UAE’s biggest initial public offerings (IPOs) in 2024, raising $3.75 billion amid huge investor demand. But the stock price of both companies have slid since listing on the Dubai and Abu Dhabi bourses respectively, threatening investor confidence in future UAE flotations involving privately run companies. It has also […] December 23, 2024
Trade Trump tariffs: Middle East braces for pain after gain Middle East exporters to the US are likely to see a short-term increase in business ahead of the much talked about trade tariffs which are expected to be announced when Donald Trump returns to the White House next month. The US president-elect campaigned on a protectionist America-first agenda, promising to introduce sweeping tariffs globally. Trump […] December 23, 2024
OpinionBANKING & FINANCEThe Gulf has posted record IPO volumes and is a bright spot in the global equity landscapeAndy Cairns, Head of MEA capital markets
OpinionfinanceIf my journalistic triumphs don’t earn me a Pulitzer nomination, I don’t know what willFrank Kane, Editor-at-Large, AGBI
OpinionretailMarketers have noticed that advent calendars can be triggers to deliver daily excitementAkshata Kamath, Business and finance journalist
Analysis Oil & Gas How Adnoc’s XRG will achieve its bold investment ambitions When XRG, the newly formed investment arm of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), launched last month it said that it wanted to double its $80 billion in assets under management by 2035. For comparison, Abu Dhabi’s ADQ, the world’s 10th largest sovereign wealth fund and the younger sibling of Adia and Mubadala, had […]
Analysis Artificial Intelligence ChatGPT’s search expansion raises concerns for businesses OpenAI’s decision to roll out its ChatGPT search to all users could indicate a shift in how people access information online and pose challenges for Gulf businesses when it comes to issues such as online advertising, data privacy and revenue models. The feature, introduced to premium subscribers two months ago, allows users to receive real-time […]
Health Thriving women’s fitness market offers ‘significant potential’ Exercise rates among women in the Middle East are higher than the global average, creating opportunities for companies to tap into this underdeveloped market segment. Participation in intense physical activities among women in the Middle East has grown from 20 percent of the population in 2019 to 31 percent in 2024. That’s a much larger […]
Analysis Transport Ineos and Porsche diverge on Middle East’s EV potential Ineos Automotive, the UK carmaker backed by billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, is considering launching its Fusilier electric vehicle in the Middle East after encountering difficulties with governments across Europe. However other industry players such as Porsche remain cautious about the rollout of EVs in the region, with infrastructure remaining a central problem. London-based Ineos spent […]
Analysis Tax UAE’s corporate tax rules pose a complex challenge Companies operating in multiple countries with differing tax regulations face a complex challenge to comply with the UAE’s higher corporate earnings bracket announced this month. The UAE has said it will increase corporate tax on multinationals to 15 percent of profit from January 1, 2025. The higher rate will apply to companies operating in more […]
Tax UAE indirect taxes generate up to $3bn per year Indirect taxes in the UAE generate between AED10 and AED11 billion ($2.72 billion-2.99 billion) annually, contributing substantially to the Gulf state’s AED65 billion federal budget, a senior government official has said. These tax revenues bolster economic growth and fortify the federal government’s financial position, the UAE state-run Wam news agency reported, quoting Younis Haji Al Khoori, […] December 23, 2024
Finance AD Ports boosts liquidity with upsized credit facility The UAE’s AD Ports Group has refinanced and upsized its existing revolving credit facility, more than doubling its size to enhance its liquidity position. The credit facility was increased from $1 billion to $2.13 billion, incorporating tranches in both AED and USD to optimise financing costs by improving interest margins, the UAE state-run Wam news […] December 23, 2024
Analysis Markets Talabat and Lulu post-listing slump dims allure of UAE IPOs Talabat and Lulu Retail Holdings were the UAE’s biggest initial public offerings (IPOs) in 2024, raising $3.75 billion amid huge investor demand. But the stock price of both companies have slid since listing on the Dubai and Abu Dhabi bourses respectively, threatening investor confidence in future UAE flotations involving privately run companies. It has also […] December 23, 2024
Finance Kushner’s Affinity raises new capital from QIA and Lunate US investment firm Affinity Partners, founded by Jared Kushner, has secured an additional $1.5 billion from the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based alternative investment fund. Talks about raising additional capital began in February and concluded before the US election, Bloomberg reported, quoting Kushner on a podcast episode of Invest Like The […] December 22, 2024
EXCLUSIVE Real Estate Damac secures rights to build Trump Tower Abu Dhabi The Dubai luxury developer Damac Properties has secured the rights to build a Trump Tower in Abu Dhabi, sources familiar with the matter have told AGBI, as the Trump Organisation expands its footprint in the Gulf. Damac has an established relationship with the Trump Organisation, the family business of US President-elect Donald Trump, with a […] December 21, 2024
Analysis Giga-projects End of ‘blank cheque’ culture for Saudi consultancy Saudi Arabia remains a boom town for the global consultancy industry, but experts have warned it is no longer the land of milk and honey for international operators and there is now a tighter hold being placed on budgets. The Saudi consultancy market, the largest in the GCC, expanded by 18.2 percent in 2023 with […] December 23, 2024
Markets eXtra to pay ‘exceptional’ dividend of $107m Saudi retailer United Electronics Company (eXtra) will distribute “exceptional” cash dividends for the fourth quarter of 2024 after listing of its shariah-compliant consumer finance business. The company will pay SAR400 million ($106.5 million), or SAR 5 per share, to eligible shareholders who own the stock at the close of trading on December 31, 2024. The […] December 19, 2024
Aviation Gulf-backed Heathrow announces $3bn investment plan Heathrow Airport in London – now partly owned by two Gulf sovereign wealth funds: Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and the Qatar Investment Authority – has announced a £2.3 billion ($2.9 billion) investment plan to upgrade the transport hub over the next two years. The investment will be used to introduce new baggage systems, resurface […] December 18, 2024
Aviation Cairo-Jeddah is world’s second busiest international route The Cairo to Jeddah flight route is the second busiest international route in the world, behind only Hong Kong-Taipei, according to the annual report from aviation data provider OAG. Using total airline capacity, OAG analysed the routes with the largest volume of scheduled seats this year, using round-trip flights rather than one-ways. The two-hour and […] December 18, 2024
Real Estate Seven awards $346m contract for new entertainment venue Saudi Arabian developer Seven is investing SAR1.3 billion ($346 million) to develop a new entertainment destination in the Jazan region. The development has been awarded to Riyadh-based Alfanar Projects. Located adjacent to the North Corniche Park along Jazan’s waterfront, it will span more than 60,000 sq m, with 73,000 sq m of built-up space. Designed […] December 18, 2024
Energy BP and Iraq agree terms on redeveloping Kirkuk oilfield British oil major BP has finalised the technical terms with the Iraqi government for redeveloping the Kirkuk oil and gas fields. In August, it signed an agreement with Iraq to develop and explore the Kirkuk oilfield, including plans to build power plants and solar capacity, Reuters reported. Iraq, the second-largest oil producer in Opec, has a production capacity of almost 5 […] December 20, 2024
Banking & Finance Kuwait’s Burgan Bank to take over United Gulf in 2025 Burgan Bank, a subsidiary of KIPCO Group, is expected to complete the acquisition of Bahrain-based United Gulf Bank in the first quarter of 2025. The bank has received clearance from the Kuwaiti central bank to buy a 100 percent stake in United Gulf Bank, KIPCO Group said in a regulatory filing on Boursa Kuwait on […] December 19, 2024
Aviation Kuwait air traffic up 35% since 2014 The number of people using Kuwait International Airport increased by a third between 2014 and 2023, new data from Kuwait’s General Administration of Statistics shows. In 2023 15.5 million passengers came through the airport, up from 10.1 million nine years ago. Arriving and departing planes rose to almost 118,000, from 83,400 in 2014. Dubai International […] December 18, 2024
Oil & Gas Opec+ wary of rise in US oil output under Trump Opec+ members are contemplating a renewed rise in US oil output when Donald Trump returns to the White House, delegates from the group said. More US oil would further erode Opec+ market share and hamper the producer group’s efforts to support prices. Opec+ pumps about half of the world’s oil and earlier this month delayed […] December 18, 2024
Oil & Gas UAE and Qatari energy giants strike LNG deals State-owned energy companies in the UAE and Qatar have struck long-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) deals with international companies. The UAE’s Adnoc has signed its third agreement to supply LNG from its Ruwais plant. The 15-year deal is with Germany’s energy infrastructure company, EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG (EnBW), and will deliver 0.6 million tonnes per […] December 17, 2024
Finance Brics currency branded ‘fantasy’ as Trump threatens tariffs Suggestions that the UAE would drop its dollar peg in favour of a Brics currency have been described as “fantasy” by the head economist at Standard Chartered bank. The UAE, along with Iran, Egypt and Ethiopia, joined the non-Western-aligned Brics group – named for its earliest members Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – […] December 16, 2024
Renewable Energy Oman and TotalEnergies target renewable projects OQ Alternative Energy (OQAE), Oman’s state-backed renewable energy company, has signed joint-venture agreements with France’s TotalEnergies to develop 300 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy projects nationwide. The power generated will be supplied through long-term power purchase agreements (PPA) to Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), an exploration and production company. TotalEnergies and OQAE will own 49 percent […] December 16, 2024
Oil & Gas QatarEnergy acquires stake in offshore Namibia block State-backed QatarEnergy has agreed to acquire a 27.5 percent interest in Block 2813B offshore Namibia from Harmattan Energy Limited (HEL), an indirect subsidiary of US company Chevron Corporation. HEL is the operator of the block and will retain a 52.5 percent interest. Trago Energy Limited and the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia are the other partners, […] December 16, 2024
Oil & Gas US gives Turkey sanctions waiver for gas payments to Russia The US has given Turkey an exemption from sanctions on Gazprombank for its gas payments to Russia, the Turkish energy minister Alparslan Bayraktar said on Friday. New sanctions on Russia’s Gazprombank were imposed by the US in November, creating an obstacle for buyers of Russian gas, who had been using the bank to make payments. […] December 20, 2024
Aviation Turkey’s Pegasus places firm order for 100 Boeing jets Turkish low-cost carrier Pegasus Airlines has placed a firm order for 100 Boeing 737 Max-10 aircraft with the option for an additional 100 jets. The Max-10, the largest model in the 737 Max family, can accommodate up to 230 passengers and has a range of 3,566 miles (5,740 kilometres). The aircraft offers a 20 percent reduction […] December 20, 2024
Tech Turkey space race gains pace with Somalia launch facility Turkey is building a rocket-launching facility in Somalia, boosting its ambition to join the global space race. The project is expected to generate jobs and revenue, Bloomberg reported, citing Somalia president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. “I personally believe that the importance of Somalia hosting a launchpad for Turkish satellites is even more significant than the billions […] December 19, 2024
Banking & Finance Banks strike debt deal to take stake in Istanbul’s cruise port Five banks will take a 49 percent stake in Istanbul’s luxury cruise terminal after striking a debt restructuring deal worth €1.02 billion ($1.1 billion) with Dogus Group, owned by Turkish billionaire Ferit Şahenk. Under the agreement, Yapi Kredi Bankasi AS will acquire up to a 13 percent stake in Galataport Istanbul Liman İşletmeciliği ve Yatırımları […] December 18, 2024
Tourism Winter resorts add to Turkey’s tourist hotspots Sun, sand, sea … and ski. Turkey is ramping up efforts to extend its tourism season to a year-round offering by trying to raise the profile of the country’s winter resorts. This way it hopes to attract a new cohort of visitors, seeking the thrill of skiing on snow rather than water. Turkey currently has […] December 18, 2024
Economy Europe to loan $1bn to Egypt to meet part funding needs The European Commission has agreed to disburse €1 billion ($1.04 billion) in loans to Egypt to cover part of its financing needs for 2024/2025. The loan will be released after Cairo fulfils the policy conditions agreed with the European Union (EU) under the ongoing macro-financial assistance. The funding will also support macroeconomic stability and support […] December 23, 2024
Markets Masdar-backed Infinity Power considers Abu Dhabi IPO Infinity Power, a joint venture between Egypt’s Infinity and the UAE’s Masdar, is considering listing on the Abu Dhabi stock exchange within the next three years, according to its chairman. “If we’re going to list today, our preference would be Abu Dhabi,” Mansour said. “Maybe that changes in a year or two. It depends on […] December 18, 2024
Aviation Cairo-Jeddah is world’s second busiest international route The Cairo to Jeddah flight route is the second busiest international route in the world, behind only Hong Kong-Taipei, according to the annual report from aviation data provider OAG. Using total airline capacity, OAG analysed the routes with the largest volume of scheduled seats this year, using round-trip flights rather than one-ways. The two-hour and […] December 18, 2024
Energy BP and Adnoc launch joint gas platform Arcius Energy BP and XRG, the new lower carbon energy and chemicals investment company set up by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), have completed the formation of a joint venture named Arcius Energy. The new venture, 51 percent owned by BP and the remaining 49 percent by XRG, will focus on international gas operations. It will […] December 16, 2024
Industry Egypt to localise 23 industrial sectors Egypt aims to localise 23 high-priority sectors to spur industrial development and reduce reliance on imports, according to a local media report. These industries are critical to the country’s economic growth and leverage locally available raw materials, Egypt Daily reported, citing deputy prime minister for industrial development and minister of industry and transport Kamel El-Wazir […] December 16, 2024
Analysis Health Gulf’s growth in retirees drives demand for senior services Changing demographics globally are paving the way for a new seniors industry in the Gulf. UAE-headquartered Aster DM Healthcare and Bahrain’s GFH Financial Investment Group are Gulf household names that have entered this fledgling but promising business with targeted medical and property services. The baby boomer generation now ranges between 60 and nearly 80 years […]
People & Lifestyle Global inspirations for Dubai’s ‘walkability’ mission From Singapore to Bologna, Dubai should cast its net wide for examples in its ambitions to transform into a pedestrian-friendly city
People & Lifestyle Abu Dhabi thinks big to attract super-wealthy From exclusive schools and members’ clubs to private banking and wealth management institutions, Abu Dhabi is ramping up efforts to attract family offices and ultra-high-net-worth individuals to the emirate. US private equity investor Leon Black, who has a net worth of about $14 billion, in September opened a branch of his family office in Abu […]
Analysis Finance Cultural factors reduce risk for Gulf BNPL providers Buy-now-pay-later companies in the US and Europe have endured prolonged losses due to high operating costs and rising customer defaults, but BNPL operators in the Gulf may be faring better thanks to differing market dynamics, according to analysts. BNPL has soared in popularity in many regions as an easy and cheap form of consumer debt, […]
Analysis People & Lifestyle Egypt’s historic rent controls are a problem to be solved Ahmed lives in a four-bedroom apartment in a concrete tenement with his ailing mother. The flat has been in the family since his father, who died several years ago, began renting it when he graduated from university in the 1960s. It is in Manial, a bustling, lower-middle-class area of Cairo, the kind of place where […]
Economy Billionaires in UAE rise as Saudi numbers drop The number of billionaires in the UAE increased in the last year as the amount of super-wealthy residents in neighbouring Saudi Arabia dropped. Forty-eight billionaires lived in the UAE in 2023, with a combined wealth of $205 billion, a year-on-year increase of 7 percent. Dubai made up 39 of that total and welcomed one extra […]
Health AI in healthcare is not a cure-all solution Large language models such as the AI chatbot ChatGPT are gaining traction in healthcare, and Gulf states are investing heavily in the prospect, but LLMs’ integration into clinical practice presents challenges. A study led by Dr Ethan Goh, published last month in the Journal of the American Medical Association Open Network, tested whether ChatGPT could […]
Analysis Health Golden returns draw investors to fitness markets Investors are showing increasing interest in homegrown fitness companies, tempted by the “golden egg” returns on offer. The fitness market in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) has been growing at an annual rate of 30 percent since 2020, with the UAE sector valued at an estimated $550 million and Saudi Arabia at $1.7 […]
Tourism Salvator Mundi destined for Riyadh giga-park The $450 million Leonardo Da Vinci painting Salvator Mundi is destined for a museum of art inside the King Salman Park giga-project in Riyadh in time for hosting the World Expo in 2030, two separate sources have said. The artwork is a big part of Saudi Arabia’s plans to rebrand itself globally as a socially […]
Analysis Real Estate Building more homes a better strategy for Kuwait, say experts Kuwait has tightened property ownership restrictions on non-GCC nationals in an attempt to make real estate more affordable for locals, but industry watchers say building more homes would be the better strategy. The small, oil-rich emirate has already imposed strict standards on nationals of countries from outside the Gulf who wanted to purchase domestic real […]
Analysis Health Bahrain government rebuffs citizens’ quota in healthcare A unanimous call by the Bahraini parliament for half the jobs in private healthcare to be reserved for citizens has been rejected by the government on the grounds of possible harm to patients and the potential impact on foreign direct investment. Government officials told the National Assembly that the proposed quota would constrain private healthcare’s […]
Analysis Health Healthy progress made in Saudi Arabia’s wellness drive Private health services in Saudi Arabia are rapidly expanding as its growing population and the focus on improving citizens’ wellbeing under the Vision 2030 programme bring in billions of dollars in new domestic and foreign investments. During the Global Health Exhibition, held in Riyadh at the end of October, Saudi officials announced deals worth $13.3 […]
Editor's Insight Transport Trains, planes and more trains (or metros) Is it finally happening? It was conceived back in 2013 and was supposed to take four years to build but the Riyadh metro looks like it is about to open. To the hard-pressed inhabitants of the Saudi capital, that can only be a good thing. Alternatives to the car and bus – Riyadh has a new […]
Trade Exports to India from UAE more than double in November Exports to India from the UAE more than doubled year on year to over $6 billion in November, as demand for gold and energy products soared. Imports from India were up by over 11 percent in the same month, reaching $3 billion, data released by India’s commerce ministry showed. Emirati exports to India from April […]
Oil & Gas Kenya extends oil deals with Saudi Arabia and UAE Kenya has extended oil import agreements with one Saudi and two UAE oil companies to ease pressure on its currency, according to media reports. The deals were initially signed with Saudi Aramco, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and Emirates National Oil Company in March 2023, offering a 180-day credit period, Business Daily newspaper reported. Reuters […]
Markets US fund managers expected to accelerate Gulf investment North American fund managers are underinvested in Gulf equities but that may soon change, according to new research. The region’s low correlation to global and other emerging markets, accelerating economic diversification and improving bourse diversification could make Gulf investments more attractive. Saudi Arabia (4.41 percent), the UAE (1.28 percent), Qatar (0.86 percent) and Kuwait (0.84 […]
Oil & Gas Oil shipments from UAE to Asia to be cut next year The UAE is reducing its oil shipments early next year as Opec+ pushes for compliance with production cuts in order to try to stop prices falling. However it is unclear if this means that the country – Opec’s fifth largest producer – is cutting its output, analysts have told AGBI. Adnoc, the UAE’s state-owned oil […]
