| M A Hossain |United States has walked- out of the Iran deal that had been touted mainly by Barack Obama. Washington’s argument in this latest development is pretty clear. In their opinion, Iran though had stopped its nuclear development program, still was pursuing the ballistic missile development project. Meaning, Tehran did not abandon its nuclear ambition. Most importantly, Iran is seen as a potential threat to […]
|By Arabian Post Staff| Emirates Group reported a 67 percent jump in net profits to $1.1 (Dh4.1 billion) billion in 2017-18 financial year ending March 31, 2018 compared to the previous year, with revenues reaching $27.9 billion (Dh102.4 billion), crossing the Dh100 billion mark for the first time in the history of the 32 year old airline group that includes Emirates Airline and its ground handling and ticketing arm, […]
By James M. Dorsey The Gulf crisis that pits a United Arab Emirates-Saudi-led alliance against Qatar is escalating in discreet but no less worrisome ways that effect major third-party commercial interests and could increase international pressure for a resolution of the dispute. In a major shift away from Saudi and UAE restraint in attempting to force the international community and multi-nationals from taking sides in the 11-month […]
|By Arabian Post Staff| Emaar Properties recorded revenue for the first three months of 2018 of Dh5.58 billion (US$1.52 billion), 37 per cent higher than the first quarter of 2017 revenue of Dh4.07 billion (US$1.109 billion). This was led by significant progress achieved on projects under construction and the growth in malls and hospitality businesses. Emaar’s net profit grew by 20 per cent to Dh1.66 billion (US$453 […]
By James M. Dorsey Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s investment of $1 billion and option to pump a further $480 million into Richard Branson’s ventures in space, confirmed during the prince’s recent visit to the United States, was more than just another headline-grabbing move. By focusing on space sciences, long a field rejected by ultra-conservative Islamic scholars, some of whom insist that the earth is flat, Prince […]
|By Arabian Post| UAE’s leading satellite operator Yahsat has entered into an agreement to acquire a majority stake in the mobile satellite services operator Thuraya, also based in the UAE, subject to final pre-closing conditions being met. The acquisition of the UAE’s first home grown satellite operator will significantly expand Yahsat’s current satellite solutions portfolio for both commercial and government verticals, as well as its global footprint. […]
By James M. Dorsey When Miguel Torres, scion of an iconic Spanish winemaking dynasty, described the impact of the Catalan quest for independence on his more than a century-old business in a letter to wine writer Andrew Jefford, little did he realize that he had put his finger on one of the current world’s most fundamental battles: nationalism and populism vs. inclusive multi-culturalism. It is a struggle that is tearing […]
By James M. Dorsey In his effort to improve Saudi Arabia’s badly tarnished image and project the kingdom as embracing an unidentified form of moderate Islam, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has hinted that he envisions a conservative rather than an ultra-conservative society, but not one in which citizens are fully free to make personal, let alone political choices of their own. Prince Mohammed’s vision, although […]
|By Arabian Post Staff| The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) announced the signing of two historic agreements awarding Italy’s multinational oil and gas company Eni stakes in two of Abu Dhabi’s offshore concession areas. Eni joins an Indian consortium, led by ONGC Videsh, and Japan’s INPEX as stakeholders in the Lower Zakum concession. The awards mark the first time an Italian energy company has been given concession rights in Abu Dhabi’soil and gas sector. […]
By James M. Dorsey Saudi Arabia, in an indication that it is serious about shaving off the sharp edges of its Sunni Muslim ultra-conservatism, has agreed to surrender control of the Great Mosque in Brussels. The decision follows mounting Belgian criticism of alleged intolerance and supremacism that was being propagated by the mosque’s Saudi administrators as well as social reforms in the kingdom introduced by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, including […]
|By Arabian Post Staff| Fujairah, which hosts the Middle East’s largest commercial storage capacity for refined oil products, has engaged S&P Global Platts in a 3-year agreement to distribute the Emirate’s weekly inventory data as part of its effort to position the Indian Ocean port-city as a global oil trading and storage hub. After a successful one-year publishing agreement, the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone (FOIZ) agreed to extend […]
|By Arabian Post Staff|Emirates Airline has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to acquire up to 36 additional A380 aircraft. The agreement was signed this morning at the airline’s headquarters in Dubai by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group, and John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer Customers, Airbus Commercial Aircraft. The commitment is for 20 A380s and an option for […]
|By Arabian Post Staff| Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) and seven leading global Central Securities Depository (CSD) companies to collaborate on Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) implementation in post trade operations, as well as capital market transactions. Today, securities processing, particularly in areas requiring multi-party contact and involving extremely cumbersome manual processes carry […]
By Manish Rai Last year in June Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt imposed a land, sea, and air blockade on Qatar for its alleged support to terror outfits and being too close to Iran. The Arab neighbours thought that by imposing this blockade they can pressurise Qatar to set aside its own ambitious foreign policy and toe the line of its bigger neighbours. But during […]
|By Arabian Post Staff| Following objections raised by its national airline, India has rejected Dubai’s request for more landing rights to fly directly to under-served airports in the country, such as those in India’s North East. “We have decided against allowing any such access to Dubai. The request has been rejected,” Indian media reported quoting a senior aviation ministry official. Dubai’s DGCA has been seeking an increase […]
The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Arab Bank have signed a financing agreement of €300 million to support small and medium-sized enterprises in Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco and the Palestinian territories. The operation comes under the EIB’s Economic Resilience Initiative (ERI), aimed at enhancing the prospects for more resilient and inclusive growth in the region, as well as creating sustainable employment opportunities. It also represents the first […]
|By Arabian Post Staff| Boeing and flydubai signed a landmark agreement for 225 737 MAX airplanes with a list price value of $27 billion. The deal represents the largest-ever single-aisle jet order – by number of airplanes and total value – from a Middle East carrier. Signed at the 2017 Dubai Airshow in flydubai’s hometown, the agreement includes a commitment for 175 MAX airplanes, and purchase rights […]
|By Arabian Post Staff|Saudi Arabia has indicated it is ready to back extension of an oil production cut agreement led by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in order to balance global crude oil supply and demand. This was indicated by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in a statement. He said the high demand for oil has absorbed the increase in shale oil production. He said the demand […]
|By Arabian Post Staff|Destination management company Alpha Destination Management has signed an exclusive agreement with Expedia, the world’s largest online travel company, to operate the Expedia Local Expert® program in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Dubai and Abu Dhabi will thus become the first destinations in the world outside North America to offer this program. Expedia is an internationally trusted brand and Expedia Local Expert allows the company […]
|By Arabian Post Staff| DP World Limited announced it has entered into agreements to acquire Maritime World LLC, owners of Dubai Maritime City, and Drydocks World LLC for a total cash consideration of $405 million. Of this, the Dubai Maritime City owners are to be acquired for $180 million while the Drydocks World for a cash consideration of $ 225 million. DMC is a world class maritime […]
|By Arabian Post Staff| With so many companies facing debt write-offs and bankruptcy, a provision in the UAE VAT tax law is likely to become a key focus in the days to come. And this provision relates to relief that will be available for debts written off by VAT registered businesses in certain circumstances. To what extent this will help companies in trouble or whether it will […]
|By Arabian Post Staff| Dubai’s DIFC Courts witnessed sustained growth in the first six months of 2017, with the English-language, common law judiciary continuing to help global businesses resolve their largest and most complex disputes while becoming the increasingly preferred forum for settling the smaller claims of corporations, SMEs and individuals. The workload of the main Court of First Instance (CFI), including arbitration-related cases and counter claims, […]
|By Arabian Post Staff| UAE-based conglomerate Al Ghurair announced a partnership with AccorHotels to launch the upper-upscale Swissôtel and Swissôtel Living in the Al Ghurair Centre. With over 4,000 hotels, resorts and residences, as well as over 2,500 of private homes around the globe under the AccorHotels banner, this reflag marks Swissôtel’s first entry into the UAE market. Known for the famous Swiss hospitality, Swissôtel upholds industry-leading […]
|By Arabian Post Staff| SHUAA Capital, the UAE’s premier integrated financial services firm, announced it has entered into an agreement with Integrated Financial Group (IFG), towards the acquisition of Integrated Capital and Integrated Securities. The signing of the agreement follows the completion of the due-diligence process initiated in March. The strategic acquisition, which remains subject to regulatory approvals, of two of the UAE’s most active and successful financial […]
