Economy

Unlocking MENA’s thriving investment opportunities at the EFG Hermes 10th Annual London Investor Conference

Leaders will convene from September 9 to 12 to discuss innovations in capital markets and regulatory developments

India-UAE Business Forum in Mumbai to explore trade, investment and partnership opportunities

Bilateral non-oil trade between the UAE and India reached $28.2 billion in the first six months of 2024, up 9.8 percent annually

Microsoft and partners to generate $24 billion in Saudi Arabia over next four years, says IDC study

Microsoft’s partner ecosystem will earn roughly $8 for every $1 of revenue generated by Microsoft’s cloud services

Oman’s Salalah Free Zone draws $11.95 billion in investment by June 2024

In H1 2024, the Salalah Free Zone added 13 projects in frankincense, packaging, air conditioning, and textiles

Central Bank of Egypt forecasts easing inflation amid continued maintenance of interest rates

The MPC noted that domestic real GDP growth had moderated to 2.2 percent in the first quarter of 2024

Saudi private sector employment surges to over 11.5 million workers in August 2024

The number of residents employed in the private sector stood at 9,202,580, with 8,812,758 men and 389,822 women

UAE, Egypt strengthen economic ties in key sectors at Arab Economic and Social Council meeting

The UAE is the top Arab investor in Egypt and the third largest globally

Saudi Arabia to cut export and import customs fees starting October 6

Changes introduced to streamline trade processes and support business operations

UAE’s non-oil GDP grows 4 percent in Q1 2024

Real GDP grows 3.4 percent during the period, touching AED430 billion

UAE targets $27.2 billion in tourism investments by 2031, increasing GDP contribution to $122.5 billion 

In 2023, tourism accounted for 11.7 percent of the UAE’s GDP, amounting to $59.9 billion

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled meets Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

The two leaders will hold discussions on all aspects of their comprehensive strategic partnership

Dubai Metro marks 15 years of success: Over 2.4 billion passengers and 4.3 million trips with 99.7 percent punctuality

Currently, the metro serves around 730,000 passengers daily, making it the preferred transportation choice for many

Oil prices surge as hurricane threatens U.S. Gulf coast amid market recovery from disappointing jobs data

Brent crude futures rose by 99 cents, or 1.39 percent, to $72.05 per barrel

Dubai Chambers supports expansion of Chinese investors into Dubai with new agreement

Agreement enhances the ability of companies operating in Dubai to enter the Chinese market and build promising business partnerships in Tianjin

Sheikh Hamdan appoints new CEOs for Dubai government entities

As many as seven CEOs have been appointed by the Crown Prince

Rising bank credit demand in the UAE amid positive economic outlook, says Central Bank

In Q2, demand for trade credit remained strong, with a greater appetite for lending 

Saudi Arabia cancels hotel licensing fees to boost tourism investment 

This change, effective September 4, aims to position the Kingdom as a global tourism leader

Pressure on inequality rises as labor income share stagnates, SDG targets not on track: ILO

Nearly 40 percent of the reduction in the labor income share occurred during the pandemic years of 2020-2022

Qatar introduces flexible remote work for government sector effective September 9, 2024

This initiative helps employees balance work and family, supporting vulnerable groups like working mothers and those with disabilities

GCC markets’ net foreign inflows cross $50 billion for first time in August: Report

In August, GCC equity markets saw strong net foreign inflows of $892 million

GCC banks well positioned to continue strong run in 2024: Report

The report stated that high interest rates kept profit margins at 2.7 percent, with strong bank profitability in H1