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Zambia’s Debt Deal Stalled by Dispute Over Development Bank Write-downs

Lusaka remains locked in negotiations over whether the African Export-Import Bank and the Trade and Development Bank must take losses in Zambia’s debt restructuring, a matter posing a serious barrier to the country exiting default. Zambia struck a writedown agreement with its major private creditors last June after more than three years of negotiations, but failure to settle the issue with these regional lenders means the process […]

Presight Deepens AI Ties with Azerbaijan Strategy and Education Pacts

Abu Dhabi and Baku have sealed two Memoranda of Understanding between Presight and Azerbaijan’s government aimed at fuelling the country’s Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2025–2028, with strong emphasis also placed on education. The agreements were formalised with top-level signatories during the state visit of the UAE President to Azerbaijan. Under the deal with the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, Presight will act as a strategic advisory and […]

XRG’s Grand Energy Deals Unravel Under Regulatory and Commercial Strain

Abu Dhabi’s XRG, the ambitious investment arm of ADNOC, has abandoned its US$18.7–19 billion bid to acquire Australia’s Santos Ltd after failing to agree on key commercial terms, while its takeover attempt of German chemicals firm Covestro AG faces serious threats from an EU competition and subsidy probe. The Santos takeover fell apart largely over valuation disagreements and tax liabilities, according to people familiar with the negotiations. […]

Emaar Rules Out Stake Sale, Eyes Joint Venture in India

Emaar Properties has confirmed that it will not sell a stake in its Indian subsidiary, instead shifting its strategy to explore joint ventures with major real estate players, including the Adani Group. The clarification was issued through a statement to the Dubai Financial Market, where Emaar is listed.

Earlier this year, Emaar acknowledged talks with Indian groups such as Adani over a possible stake sale of Emaar India. Those negotiations had garnered attention amid reports that Adani Realty was close to acquiring a majority share for around $1.4 billion.

Emaar’s latest statement emphasised that no sale is under consideration. Instead, the company is evaluating joint venture opportunities with several large real estate firms in India. Adani Group is named among those potential partners.

The real estate firm’s move comes after the earlier sale discussions faltered due to disagreements over valuation. Adani Realty and Emaar were unable to reach a consensus, leading to a stall in the effort to finalise transaction terms.

Financially, Emaar India posted net losses after tax for the fiscal year ending 31 March 2024, amounting to about ₹1,340.8 million. That compares with total revenues of approximately ₹29,137 million for the same year; in the previous year revenues had stood at roughly ₹18,319 million.

Meanwhile, Emaar Properties globally has reported strong operational performance. For 2024, it achieved property sales of nearly Dh70 billion, a rise of some 72 per cent over 2023. Revenue backlogs—sales booked but not yet recognised as revenue—exceeded Dh110 billion, providing a cushion for future earnings. Net profit before tax grew by about 25 per cent to Dh18.9 billion.

Docker-CNCF Alliance Set to Elevate Cloud Native Open Source Ecosystem

CNCF has formalised a partnership with Docker that grants all projects hosted under its umbrella full access to Docker’s Sponsored Open Source programme. The move promises enhanced registry features, advanced security tools and engagement insights for developers and maintainers alike. Under this agreement, CNCF-hosted projects will receive unlimited image pulls from Docker Hub, alleviating past constraints experienced under strict pull policies. They will also earn a Sponsored […]

Trump-Xi Dialogue Set to Seal TikTok Deal Amid Trade and Tech Friction

Leaders Donald Trump and Xi Jinping are scheduled to hold a phone call on Friday that may finalise a framework deal governing TikTok’s operations in the United States, even as tensions over tariffs and semiconductors sharpen. Senior U. S. and Chinese officials have indicated agreement on a deal which would transfer ownership or control of TikTok’s U. S. assets to American entities, meeting U. S. national security […]

AD Ports Group Unveils Global Roll-Out of LEO Satellite Connectivity

Policy Address by Hong Kong SAR’s Chief Executive John Lee: Building an international hub for business, investment and new industries

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 September 2025 – Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, John Lee, in his 2025 Policy Address announced yesterday (September 17) set out a range of measures to diversify Hong Kong’s economy and reinforce the city’s status as an international hub for business, investment and new industrialisation. “Backed by strong national support and a high degree of global connectivity, Hong Kong […]

VinFast announces strategic partnership with the Arabian automobile association to elevate aftersales service quality in the Middle East

DUBAI, UAE – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 September 2025 – VinFast has officially announced a strategic partnership with the Arabian Automobile Association (AAA), a leading provider of vehicle support services in the Middle East, to launch comprehensive roadside assistance for VinFast customers across six countries: the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in VinFast’s ongoing […]

AD Ports Group Orders Two 780-TEU Vessels from Baku Yard

Abu Dhabi-based AD Ports Group has struck a deal with Azerbaijan Transport and Communication Holding to build two shallow-draft container ships of 780 TEUs each at Baku Shipyard. The vessels, intended for operation across the Caspian Sea, are scheduled for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2027. The contract marks the first time an international company has placed a cargo-ship order with Baku Shipyard. The agreement was […]

UAE Joins 14-Nation Coalition for Open Trade Push

Abu Dhabi has become the newest member of a 14-country initiative called the Future of Investment and Trade Partnership, a coalition committed to defending “open and free” trade in response to rising global protectionism. The partnership, unveiled with a joint declaration, seeks to tackle barriers that impede cross-border commerce, amplify foreign direct investment, and ensure that trade rules are inclusive and transparent. Its launch reflects growing concern […]

Hainan FTP promotion conference held in Hong Kong

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 September 2025 – On the occasion of the 100-day countdown to the island-wide special customs operations of the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP), the Hainan FTP Promotion and Policy Interpretation Conference was organized at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center on Sept. 9th. On Sept. 9th, enterprises from Hainan and Hong Kong signed agreements at the Hong […]

ADNOC-led Bid for Santos Collapses over Unresolved Commercial Terms

Shares in Santos plunged by up to 13.6% as the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company-backed XRG consortium formally withdrew its A$36.4 billion takeover offer, stating it could not reach agreement with Santos on critical commercial terms.

The consortium, which includes ADQ and Carlyle alongside XRG, had proposed A$8.89 per share in June, equivalent to US$5.76 at the time. Santos had adjusted that for a dividend and told XRG on Monday that it was prepared to accept US$5.626 per share.

This marks the third unsuccessful major offer for Santos over seven years, including a rejected bid from Harbour Energy in 2018 and abandoned merger talks with Woodside Energy. Analysts warn that repeated deal failures erode investor confidence in the company’s ability to seal a large-scale acquisition.

Investor concern was immediately reflected in the market. Santos shares dropped to A$6.61 in early trading, their lowest level since June 10, as the premium embedded in the bid evaporated. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was marginally down.

Analysts and banks responded by downgrading the stock. Jarden cut its rating from “overweight” to “underweight”, lowering its 12-month target from A$8.40 to A$7.05 per share. turn0news10turn0search1turn0search2

Santos leadership emphasised its strong project pipeline, pointing to the Barossa gas project in northern Australia and the Pikka oil venture in Alaska as key future growth drivers. Company chair Keith Spence reiterated that Santos has a clear strategy to generate cash, reward shareholders, reinvest in infrastructure and grow production while maintaining safety and reliability.

XRG stated that a “combination of factors, when considered collectively, have impacted the Consortium’s assessment of its indicative offer”, including inability to agree on terms under the Scheme Implementation Agreement. Among sticking points was the demand that the consortium assume certain regulatory and tax-risk obligations, which XRG considered unacceptable.

Dubai‐XSOLLA Pact Targets Gaming Growth under Gaming 2033 Plan

Dubai Future Foundation has sealed a Memorandum of Understanding with XSOLLA, a global video-game commerce company, under the framework of the Dubai Program for Gaming 2033. The agreement seeks to reinforce Dubai’s position as a gaming innovation hub, drive thought-leadership in the sector, and deliver economic impact with goals of 30,000 new jobs and an additional US$1 billion in GDP by 2033.

DPG33, launched in November 2023 under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of DFF, aims to place Dubai among the world’s top ten gaming hubs over the next decade. The XSOLLA deal was inked during Dubai’s participation in Gamescom 2025 in Germany, where the DFF-led pavilion showcased local developers and gaming initiatives.

Under the MoU, the partners will co-operate on generating thought leadership initiatives and spotlight key activities in content, monetisation, infrastructure, and talent development. DFF also will use its platform to attract investment and cultivate a supportive ecosystem for game developers.

Local game studios have already been gaining traction. Dubai-headquartered iBLOXX secured US$5 million in funding to further develop its online game Strayshot, and Artisan Studios’ Lost Hellden drew over 15,000 wishlist additions on Steam plus more than 300,000 views of its promotional video across platforms such as IGN, PlayStation and Nintendo of America during the Gamescom showing. These examples illustrate growing visibility for indie development as well as commercial promise in Dubai’s gaming sector.

Abdulaziz AlJaziri, Deputy CEO of DFF, said that the level of local and international interest in Dubai’s gaming sector reveals “a real appetite to explore and partner with one of the industry’s most promising markets.” He emphasised Dubai’s advantages in infrastructure, investment, and competitive advantages under DPG33.

The economic projections tied to these initiatives rely heavily on success in three arenas: scaling game creation and publishing, enhancing monetisation capabilities, and developing skilled talent. The MoU with XSOLLA is expected to assist especially in the monetisation and scaling end, leveraging XSOLLA’s global commerce tools and developer support services. Analysts note that aligning global platforms like XSOLLA with local innovation programmes is a strategy used in other leading gaming hubs, helping to bridge gaps in market access, revenue optimisation, and international distribution.

Regulatory and infrastructure support remain under scrutiny, as talent attraction—both local and international—depends not only on capital and tools, but also on clarity in regulation, availability of education and training, creative incentives, and digital and physical infrastructure. Dubai’s gaming strategy, via DPG33, aims to address many of these pain-points through government partnership, industry collaboration, and ecosystem development.

Air Mauritius privatisation has strategic implications for the Gulf

Matein Khalid Mauritius, an island archipelago state in the Indian ocean, has long maintained extensive economic and cultural ties with the GCC. Thanks to tax treaties with India, Mauritius is a favourite domicile for wealthy Indian expatriate residents of the UAE and Saudi Arabia. GCC citizens and residents are prominent investors in some of Africa’s most expensive luxury beach resorts located in the island nation, where property […]

Al-Futtaim Takes Nearly Half of Cenomi in SAR2.52bn Deal

Al-Futtaim has finalised the acquisition of a 49.95% stake in Cenomi Retail for SAR 2.52 billion, after agreement to purchase shares at SAR 44 per share from major founding shareholders. This marks a significant foreign investment in Saudi Arabia’s retail sector. Under the terms, Al-Futtaim also authorised a SAR 1.35 billion shareholder loan facility to bolster Cenomi’s balance sheet and support planned growth. The loan contains an […]

ADQ and Azerbaijan Investment Holding Forge New Financial Services Alliance

ADQ and Azerbaijan Investment Holding have signed a memorandum of understanding to pursue joint projects in the financial services sector, aiming to improve market connectivity and bolster the investment environment for sustainable economic growth.

The agreement follows their establishment of a joint investment platform in December 2023, under which both organisations committed equal capital to developing sectors such as agriculture, technology, pharmaceuticals and energy infrastructure across Azerbaijan, the UAE, and Central Asia—with possible expansion beyond those regions.

Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of ADQ, said the deal exemplifies the strategy of deploying patient capital and leveraging investment know-how to stimulate economic diversification, foster industrial expansion, and enhance regional connectivity and competitiveness.

Ruslan Alikhanov, Chief Executive Officer of AIH, described the partnership as a key move to unlock new growth opportunities for Azerbaijan, emphasising that combining capital and expertise will support more diversified development and position Azerbaijan as a proactive actor in regional investment networks.

AIH, founded in 2020, manages strategic state-owned enterprises, enhancing governance, boosting operational efficiency and channeling investment into national priorities. ADQ is recognised for investing in critical infrastructure, global supply chains, and strategic sectors that align with broader national and regional economic transformation agendas.

Trade between the UAE and Azerbaijan has been strengthening, with non-oil trade rising 43 per cent year-on-year to reach about USD 2.4 billion in 2024. UAE investments into Azerbaijan have crossed USD 1 billion, reflecting the deepening economic partnership.

Dukhan Solar Plant Deal Set to Double Qatar’s Solar Capacity

Greenlogue/AP QatarEnergy has awarded Samsung C&T’s Engineering & Construction Group the contract to build a mammoth solar power facility in Dukhan, around 80 km west of Doha. The plant will deliver 2,000 MW in two phases by mid-2029. Phase one will supply 1,000 MW to the Kahramaa grid by end-2028. The full plant is designed to support QatarEnergy’s drive to exceed 4,000 MW of renewable generation capacity […]

AlphaMove, a Malaysian Startup Established Partnership with Chinese State Government to Foster Deep Tech Economy and Smart City Innovation

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 September 2025 – AlphaMove, a Malaysian blockchain startup building a public, permissionless ecosystem for Real-World Asset (RWA) tokenization, has signed a Strategic Cooperation Framework Agreement with Guangxi Research Department, under the Nanning Provincial Government of China. The signing took place during the 3rd Forum on China-ASEAN Artificial Intelligence Cooperation, underscoring how Malaysia and China are working together to […]

US and China Strike Deal to Move TikTok under US Control

A framework agreement has been reached between the United States and China that will shift control of TikTok to a US‐based ownership, while aiming to protect both national security and the app’s “Chinese characteristics,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said after trade talks in Madrid. The deal, though lacking full disclosure of commercial details, is to be finalised when President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping speak on […]

US-Qatar poised to seal upgraded defence pact amid Doha strike fallout

Washington and Doha are on the verge of agreeing a substantially upgraded defence cooperation treaty following an Israeli airstrike in Doha targeting Hamas leaders, sources say. The move signals a deepening strategic alignment as tensions in the region intensify. US diplomat Marco Rubio confirmed that both countries are “nearing finalisation” of an agreement that would strengthen joint military planning, basing, intelligence sharing and oversight of operations on […]

India’s Rana Group invests US$10 billion in UAE

Arabian Post Staff India’s Rana Group has launched Erisha Smart Manufacturing Hub that will see the development of 150 large industries with an investment outlay of US$10 billion (Dh3.7 billion) at Al Ghail Industrial Area in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, in the next five years. Rana Group has recently signed an agreement with Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zones (RAKEZ) to acquire the license and the industrial plots […]

Services trade surges as China embraces smart technologies, openness

BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 September 2025 – In Shougang Park, a former ironworks site in western Beijing, new technologies from AI to cloud computing and green innovation are on display amid the rusty blast furnaces and steel relics. The 2025 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), featuring digital innovation and intelligent technologies, is underway in the park, gathering nearly 2,000 enterprises, […]

Ubisoft Under Fire Over Possible Saudi-Funded DLC Deal

Ubisoft employees have challenged company leadership about a possible funding partnership with Saudi Arabia tied to new downloadable content for Assassin’s Creed Mirage. Management insists it retains full creative control, but internal concerns focus on ethical and reputational risks. Workers from Ubisoft’s Social and Economic Committee posed questions after the announcement of a free expansion set in AlUla, historically significant as a UNESCO World Heritage site now […]