Abu Dhabi launches first-of-its-kind Family Business Index

Abu Dhabi launches first-of-its-kind Family Business Index

The index will provide a deeper understanding of the role and impact of family businesses on the economy and society

GCC’s non-oil sector sees robust growth despite production cuts

GCC’s non-oil sector sees robust growth despite production cuts, ICAEW says

The overall GCC budget position is projected to remain somewhat in surplus this year, driven by robust financial standings and favourable credit ratings

Egypt

World Bank announces $700m in financing for Egypt

The World Bank projects that the support programme will create jobs, strengthen the economy, and enhance Egypt’s resilience to environmental and economic challenges

Bahrain attracts recordbreaking FDI flows in 2023 Getty-Images-1471641887

Bahrain attracted record FDI inflows of $6.8bn in 2023

The top countries contributing to Bahrain’s FDI stocks as part of a diverse portfolio include Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE

UAE - Millionaire

Wealth Migration Report 2024: The UAE remains a millionaire’s favourite country

The report shows a significant increase in HNWI migrations, highlighting a growing trend of millionaires seeking stability and opportunity in favourable jurisdictions

UAE DUBAI cost of living

Mercer’s 2024 Cost of Living City Ranking: How expensive is Dubai?

The ranking highlights how cities around the world fare in terms of living expenses for expatriates

G7 ITALY

What’s on the G7 agenda?

The summit is due to kick off on June 13 with a discussion about Africa, climate change, and development

interest rate

CBUAE holds interest rate at 5.40%, mirroring US Fed’s decision

The US Fed’s decision to pause rate adjustments comes as inflation levels, although declining, has not required drastic changes in the economic landscape

Saudi Arabia’s Q1 GDP contracts by 1.7%

Saudi Arabia’s Q1 GDP shrinks estimated 1.7% YoY

Oil activities were down 11.2 per cent in the first quarter versus the previous year, while non-oil GDP grew 3.4 per cent year on year

Egypt sees progress on loan program

Egypt will have access to about $820m subject to IMF Board approval, fund says

The IMF said its Executive Board would consider the staff agreement and disbursement in the coming weeks

Emiratisation UAE

UAE government records revenues of $18.03bn in 2023

The figures were part of the consolidated financial statement published by the UAE’s Ministry of Finance

midday break - mohre

UAE announces midday break from June 15 to September 15: What you need to know

Daily working hours, in the morning and evening shifts, shall not exceed eight hours during the months of the midday break

Bahrain

Bahrain’s credit rating ‘stable’ at B+/B amid economic challenges: S&P

S&P’s affirmation of Bahrain’s credit ratings and stable outlook highlights the country’s ongoing fiscal reforms and support from GCC allies

Egypt’s central bank keeps key interest rates unchanged

Egypt’s central bank keeps key interest rates unchanged

The monetary policy committee left the lending rate unchanged at 28.25 per cent and the deposit rate at 27.25 per cent

UAE

UAE economy grew 4.3% in fourth quarter of 2023

Financial and insurance activities, transportation and storage, real estate and construction sectors were among the top growth sectors

IMF sees UAE’s GDP expanding by 4% in 2024

UAE economy to grow by 4% in 2024, says IMF

The fund had projected in April that the country’s economy would grow by 3.5 per cent this year

Egypt-ras al-hekma-UN-HABITAT

Egypt receives second payment of $14bn from UAE

The deal with Abu Dhabi sovereign fund ADQ to develop the peninsula 200 km west of Alexandria includes a total of $35bn in investments

CEO and board of directors

In the dark hours: 5 challenges haunting Middle East CEOs

A recent survey of over a hundred CEOs and board members in the Middle East highlights concerns about leadership attraction, development, and planning

Türkiye hikes year-end inflation forecast to 38%

Türkiye’s central bank raises year-end inflation forecast to 38%

The bank has aggressively raised rates by 4,150 basis points since last June but it kept the policy rate unchanged at 50 per cent in April

Indonesia, UAE sign agreement to use of local currencies for trade

Indonesia, UAE sign agreement to use local currencies for trade

Dirham-rupiah trade is expected to reduce transactional costs for businesses while strengthening financial cooperation

Turkey-Kuwait-X

Kuwait’s Sheikh Meshal tours Turkey in first non-Arab state visit

The visit underscored the importance of diplomatic ties between Turkey and Kuwait and laid the groundwork for enhanced cooperation in various fields

Egypt

Egypt: Foreign debt up $3.5bn in Q4 2023; inflation slows to 32.5% in April

Egypt promised the IMF in the March agreement it would resume tightening if necessary to prevent further weakening of its economy

Saudi Arabia posts SAR12.4bn deficit Q1 2024

Saudi Arabia posts budget deficit of SAR12.4bn in Q1 2024

Oil revenues reached SAR181.9bn, while total revenues were SAR293.4bn as non-oil revenues edged higher, although oil still dominates

Egypt-GettyImages-520265584-e1703142282632

Egypt braces for second summer of power cuts as gas supplies dwindle

Power cuts are hurting Egypt’s small businesses that play a crucial role in an economy where growth has slowed

Egypt

Egypt’s outlook upgraded to positive on reduced external financing risks: Fitch

Fitch said Egypt’s initial steps to contain off-budget spending should help to reduce public debt sustainability risks

Growth in UAE’s non-oil sector accelerates in April

UAE’s non-oil business activity picks up in April, S&P Global says

The seasonally adjusted S&P Global UAE PMI dropped to 55.3 in April, the lowest reading since August 2023, and further eased from 56.9 in March

Qatar

Qatar’s economy grew 1.2% year-on-year in Q3 2023

The Gulf state posted a budget surplus of QAR1.4bn in the final quarter of 2023, which was used to reduce public debt

Saudi Arabia’s Q1 GDP contracts by 1.8%, oil sector weighs

Saudi Arabia’s Q1 GDP contracts by 1.8%, oil sector weighs

The statistics authority estimated that oil activities plunged by 10.6 per cent in the first quarter compared to the same period a year ago

Pakistan

IMF approves $1.1bn funding tranche to help Pakistan’s economy

The $350bn economy faces a chronic balance of payments crisis, with nearly $24bn to repay in debt and interest over the next fiscal year

UAE-UKRAINE-CEPA

UAE, Ukraine finalise terms of CEPA deal

The trade deal aims to aid Ukraine’s recovery and rebuilding of key industries while helping to strengthen supply chains to the MENA region for exports such as grains, machinery and metals