Gulf banks are preparing to lean more heavily on private placements and syndicated loans as the Iran conflict continues to unsettle public debt markets and reshape funding plans across the region. Fitch Ratings said lenders in the Gulf Cooperation Council are likely to use quieter, negotiated channels if market volatility keeps public bond windows narrow. Private placements by Gulf banks have already exceeded $4.3 billion this year, […]
Standard Chartered Capital Saudi Arabia has secured regulatory clearance to manage investments and operate funds in the kingdom, giving the London-listed banking group a wider platform in one of the Gulf’s fastest-expanding capital markets. The approval from the Capital Market Authority allows the company to run discretionary portfolios and establish investment funds under Saudi securities rules. The clearance follows completion of commencement-of-business requirements tied to an approval […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Tehran has offered to restore wider commercial access through the Strait of Hormuz if Washington ends its naval blockade of Iran’s ports, releases frozen funds and eases long-standing sanctions, marking a conditional diplomatic opening after weeks of war that have disrupted energy flows and shipping across the Gulf. Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, said Tehran was prepared to reopen the waterway but […]
Jeep’s Rubicon badge has crossed one million global sales, strengthening the off-road marque’s standing in the Middle East as demand for high-capability SUVs continues to be shaped by desert driving, enthusiast communities and the enduring appeal of the Wrangler and Gladiator nameplates. The milestone covers Rubicon versions of the Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Gladiator, two models positioned at the most capable end of the brand’s factory-built 4×4 […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Nisus Finance Services Co Limited has announced a strategic push into the UAE construction market through New Consolidated Construction Company Limited, positioning the newly acquired contractor as a regional platform for infrastructure, real estate and specialised asset delivery across the Gulf. The move brings NCCCL into one of the region’s busiest project markets, where construction, transport, utilities, housing and technology-led infrastructure continue to […]
Dubai in 2008 was a different place to do business. The city was mid-boom, construction cranes were everywhere, and the interior design industry was running to keep pace with a market that wanted everything built fast. Standards existed, but they were applied loosely. Clients were moving quickly. So was everyone else. Then the correction came. The market contracted hard, and a lot of firms that had been […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Saudi Arabia’s Knowledge Economic City narrowed its first-quarter net loss as higher revenue and stronger gross profit helped offset continuing finance and development costs at its flagship Madinah project. The Tadawul-listed developer reported a net loss attributable to shareholders of SAR15.43 million for the three months ended March 31, compared with SAR17.26 million a year earlier, a reduction of 10.6 per cent. The […]
Etihad Rail has moved into the final stage of preparations for the launch of passenger services later this year, marking a decisive shift in the UAE’s long-running plan to build a national rail system linking major cities, ports, industrial centres and residential hubs. Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Etihad Rail, reviewed progress on the company’s freight and passenger operations during a meeting […]
Abu Dhabi has unveiled a AED55 billion public-private partnership pipeline, setting out 24 projects across transport, core infrastructure and social facilities that are expected to enter the market through 2026 and 2027. The programme, launched by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office and the Abu Dhabi Projects and Infrastructure Centre, marks one of the emirate’s largest structured openings to private capital in public infrastructure. It is designed to […]
Saudi Arabia’s biodiversity record has expanded with Taibah University documenting a previously undescribed burrowing scorpion species from Harrat Uwayrid in AlUla Governorate, marking a notable addition to the Kingdom’s growing catalogue of desert wildlife. The species, formally named Scorpio furvus, was identified through a research effort led by Dr Abdulhadi Aloufi, Associate Professor of Ecology and Taxonomy at Taibah University, with collaborators from Jordan. The findings were […]
The revised plan would involve the sale of a 2.5 per cent stake through new shares, with the proceeds flowing to Jio Platforms rather than to shareholders seeking exits. The change marks a significant adjustment in what is expected to be one of the largest public offerings in the country’s capital markets, and places long-term growth funding ahead of partial monetisation by early backers.
Jio Platforms, controlled by Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries, owns Reliance Jio Infocomm and houses a broad portfolio of digital services spanning telecom, broadband, cloud, media, payments and consumer technology platforms. Its shareholder base includes Meta, Google, Vista Equity Partners, KKR, Mubadala, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, many of which entered the company during the 2020 fundraising cycle.
Earlier discussions had explored an offer-for-sale structure under which foreign investors could have sold about 8 per cent of their individual holdings, amounting to roughly 2.5 per cent of Jio Platforms. That approach has now been set aside, with investors opting to remain exposed to the business rather than reduce stakes at the listing stage.
The decision strengthens Reliance’s control over the IPO narrative. A fresh issue allows the company to present the listing as a growth-financing event instead of an exit window for private investors. It also limits the risk that the market interprets selling by marquee shareholders as a signal of valuation caution, particularly at a time when global technology listings are being judged closely on profitability, cash generation and regulatory exposure.
Jio Platforms is widely seen as the centrepiece of Reliance Industries’ transition from an energy-heavy conglomerate to a broader consumer, digital and technology group. The telecom arm has become one of the world’s largest mobile operators by users, while its digital ecosystem has helped Reliance build links across retail, entertainment, finance and enterprise services.
The company’s operating performance has supported expectations of a high-profile listing. Jio Platforms reported strong profit growth for the quarter ended March 2026, helped by tariff-led gains, subscriber additions, higher data consumption and expansion in home broadband. Average revenue per user rose to ₹214, reflecting improved monetisation after tariff increases and a better customer mix.
The proposed IPO has been closely watched since Ambani told shareholders that Jio Platforms was being readied for a market debut in the first half of 2026. Preparations gathered pace after listing rules were adjusted to make it easier for very large companies to float a smaller portion of equity while still meeting public-shareholding requirements over time.
A 2.5 per cent offering would keep public float modest at the start, but even that limited stake could translate into a multibillion-dollar transaction if the company commands a valuation close to estimates that have placed Jio Platforms around $180 billion. At that level, the IPO could rank among the largest listings ever seen on domestic exchanges.
The timing remains sensitive. Equity markets have been volatile as investors weigh interest-rate expectations, geopolitical risks, technology valuations and capital flows into emerging markets. Several large companies have adjusted listing timetables as issuers and bankers test demand from institutional and retail investors.
Reliance has assembled a large banking syndicate for the transaction, underlining the scale and complexity of the planned sale. The deal will require careful pricing to balance investor appetite, Reliance’s valuation expectations and the interests of existing shareholders who invested at a premium during the digital fundraising boom.
For Meta and Google, continued ownership preserves access to one of the world’s largest digital consumer markets through partnerships linked to messaging, cloud services, devices and online commerce. For sovereign wealth funds and private equity investors, remaining invested offers exposure to a mature telecom platform with rising cash flows and expanding digital adjacencies.
The IPO will also have implications for Reliance Industries’ own market valuation. Investors have long debated whether separate listings of Jio Platforms and Reliance Retail could unlock value trapped inside the conglomerate structure. A successful Jio debut may narrow the holding-company discount, while a weak listing would raise questions over the pace and pricing of Reliance’s broader demerger and monetisation strategy.
Iran has handed Washington its formal response to a US peace proposal, but the exchange has deepened uncertainty over whether a 10-week war can be halted before the Strait of Hormuz crisis inflicts wider damage on energy markets and regional security. The response was delivered through Pakistan, which has emerged as a key mediator between Tehran and Washington. Iran’s position centres on an immediate cessation of hostilities […]
Saudi Aramco delivered a sharp first-quarter profit rebound, beating market expectations as higher crude prices, stronger sales volumes and improved downstream margins lifted the world’s largest oil company. Net income attributable to shareholders rose to SAR 120.13 billion, or $32.04 billion, for the three months ended March 31, 2026, up 25.6 per cent from a year earlier. Adjusted net income increased to SAR 125.97 billion, or […]
Global oil markets are consuming their emergency cushion at a record pace as the Iran war keeps Persian Gulf flows constrained, turning inventories into the main defence against a supply shock that has already reshaped prices, refining and fuel security across major importing economies. Visible stockpiles fell by about 4.8 million barrels a day between 1 March and 25 April, far above earlier quarterly drawdown peaks, while […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Washington’s plan to escort commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz has run into an early diplomatic test, after Saudi Arabia and Kuwait were reported to have withheld full operational access before later easing restrictions on U. S. use of bases and airspace. The pause in “Project Freedom,” a U. S.-led effort to restore commercial navigation through one of the world’s most […]
Adnoc Distribution will roll out an artificial intelligence-powered self-checkout system across 50 Oasis by Adnoc convenience stores from the second quarter of 2026, marking a new phase in the company’s push to turn its fuel-station retail network into a digitally enabled mobility and convenience platform. The agreement with UAE-based DTEK. ai will introduce SWIFT, a computer-vision and machine-learning checkout system designed to recognise products instantly and allow […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Arada has entered the UAE healthcare market by acquiring a majority stake of more than 80 per cent in Reem Hospital, marking a decisive shift by the master developer from residential communities and branded wellness projects into clinical care. The transaction gives Arada control of one of Abu Dhabi’s specialist private healthcare assets and comes with an AED2 billion investment commitment to […]
France have been tipped to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup by defeating Spain in the final, with Bank of America analysts placing Kylian Mbappé at the centre of their forecast for the expanded tournament in North America. The projection, based on a survey of 65 respondents across the bank’s Global Research department, gives France its third World Cup title after triumphs in 1998 and 2018. Mbappé […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Almarai has signed a one-year agreement in Riyadh to provide essential medication for children living with rheumatism, widening private-sector support for families facing long-term treatment costs and limited access to specialised care. The agreement with the Charitable Association for Rheumatism Patients is aimed at children whose health can deteriorate when diagnosis, medication and follow-up care are delayed or interrupted. The initiative is […]
Edelman Smithfield has announced a series of senior promotions and appointments across its Middle East business, reflecting its focus on building talent and leadership in the region. These moves underscore the firm’s commitment to developing senior expertise and strengthening its capabilities across key client accounts. Dhanya Issac has been promoted to Managing Director, Edelman Smithfield Middle East. In this expanded regional role, she will continue to lead […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai ADNOC Drilling is targeting an equal revenue split between its core drilling business and manufacturing-linked oilfield services within five years, signalling a deeper push into local industrial capacity as Abu Dhabi’s energy sector widens its role beyond upstream operations. Youssef Salem, Chief Financial Officer of ADNOC Drilling, said the company aims to generate about 50 per cent of revenue from drilling and 50 […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai AD Ports Group has signed a memorandum of understanding with CMA Terminals Khalifa Port and CMA CGM Group to extend container logistics beyond Khalifa Port into inland markets across the UAE and the wider region, sharpening Abu Dhabi’s bid to become a more integrated trade and distribution hub. The agreement, signed on Tuesday, brings together AD Ports Group’s consolidated inland intermodal network with […]
Matein Khalid It is significant that Abu Dhabi joined Opec from the moment the emirate exported its first barrel of oil in 1967, four years before the birth of the UAE itself. For 59 years the UAE was a member of Opec enduring an era of multiple shocks, wars, revolutions, recessions, banking crises, oil price wars, supply shocks, embargoes and the pandemic. Saudi Arabia has been the ultimate power […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai International is moving to rebuild flight momentum after weeks of regional airspace disruption forced airlines to redraw schedules, trim frequencies and manage passenger flows through one of the world’s most important long-haul transit corridors. Dubai Airports said UAE airspace has now been fully restored, allowing DXB to increase daily flight movements in step with available regional routing capacity. The airport operator is […]
