MENA

Armenia grants GCC nationals, residents visa-free travel starting July 1

New policy will enable travel without a visa for stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period

GCC banks with Turkish subsidiaries set to benefit from enhanced macro conditions: Fitch

Banks report averagely decreased losses as Turkish inflation rates drop significantly in 2025

GCC economic growth to strengthen to 3.2 percent in 2025, 4.5 percent in 2026: World Bank

The UAE's growth is projected at 4.6 percent in 2025, and 4.9 percent in 2026 and 2027

Syria to boost foreign direct investment by resuming SWIFT services soon

Resuming SWIFT operations is expected to reduce informal trade channels in Syria’s economy 

Eid al-Adha 2025 drives 45 percent mobile commerce boom in MENA: Report

Gross merchandise volume orders are projected to grow 15 percent

Syria needs at least $1 trillion to rebuild economy, says minister

Al-Shaar said the World Bank's estimate of $400 billion for rebuilding the economy is insufficient

MENA media market to grow to $20.6 billion by 2028: Report

From 2024 to 2028, all major MENA markets will see consistent growth in gaming revenues

GCC banking sector profits hit record $15.6 billion in Q1 2025 on higher non-interest income

UAE-listed banks showed the biggest absolute growth in net profits with an increase of $639.6 million or 11.8 percent

GCC, Malaysia to strengthen trade relations through new agreement

The signing marks the start of negotiations covering various sectors of mutual interest

Eid al-Adha 2025: Holiday dates announced in UAE, Qatar, Kuwait & Oman

The exact Eid al-Adha 2025 dates will be confirmed in each country according to its respective moon-sighting committee closer to the time

Eid al-Adha 2025: How the festival fuels economic growth across the GCC and globally

Intra-GCC tourism peaks during Eid, enhancing hospitality and entertainment sectors across multiple countries.

GCC retail sector to reach over $390 billion by 2028 amid digital transformation

Saudi Arabia and the UAE continue to lead the region, representing over 75 percent of all retail sales today

Google launches region’s second AI First Accelerator for Startups to bolster AI innovation

Program provides eligible startups with Google Cloud credits to accelerate the development and deployment of their AI solutions

GCC inflation rate hits 1.7 percent by December 2024 on rising housing prices: GCC-Stat

Housing prices increased by 5.9 percent, significantly impacting the overall inflation rate in the region

Landmark Valu IPO to leverage listing for growth

Move will help bolster the fintech’s growth and commitment to innovation, financial inclusion

Shurooq’s $1.96 billion investments fuel 52 projects in 15 years of development in Sharjah

Key initiatives include AED5 billion in real estate and AED850 million in hospitality projects

Talabat posts robust Q1 2025 results with 34 percent revenue and EBITDA growth

Talabat's strong first-quarter performance was driven by solid topline growth and margin expansion across both GCC and non-GCC markets

Trump’s Middle East trip to strengthen economic, strategic bonds with Gulf allies

Secretary Rubio will join the President during his trip to the Middle East to strengthen ties between the U.S.

Saudi Arabia leads MENA IPO market as proceeds reach $2.4 billion with 106 percent YoY growth

Saudi Arabia recorded 12 out of 14 listings in the MENA region during this quarter

Visa and Whish Money partner to elevate digital payment solutions across Lebanon, international markets

The collaboration enables Whish Money to integrate Visa’s advanced payment technologies for improved services

14 MENA IPOs raise $2.4 billion in Q1 2025, proceeds surge 106 percent

Saudi Arabia's Umm Al Qura for Development & Construction led the quarter with the highest proceeds

MENA startup funding grows 300 percent to $228.4 million in April 2025

Saudi Arabia led MENA startup funding during the month, attracting $158.5 million across eight deals

IMF cuts MENA 2025 growth forecast to 2.6 percent as global policy uncertainty looms

GCC economies are expected to grow 3 percent in 2025 and 4.1 percent in 2026

Emirates and American Express Middle East join forces to empower SMEs across MENA

The agreement will explore a range of offerings, and potential incentives for American Express Middle East card holders participating in the Emirates Business Rewards program