Category: Talking Point

  Saudi Arabia’s non-oil private sector slipped into contraction in March, with business conditions deteriorating for the first time since August 2020 as conflict across the Middle East disrupted supply chains, delayed exports and hit customer demand. The Riyad Bank Saudi Arabia Purchasing Managers’ Index fell to 48.8 in March from 56.1 in February, dropping below the 50-point threshold that separates growth from contraction. Data for the survey were collected between March 5 and March 23. The downturn marks a sharp change

Wall Street’s rush to treat hyperscalers as the safest way to profit from artificial intelligence is running into a harder question: whether all that spending will generate returns fast enough to justify the cost. Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet and Meta are pushing capital expenditure to extraordinary levels as they race to build data centres, secure chips and expand cloud capacity, but investors are facing a business model that demands relentless outlay long before the payoff is fully visible. That strain is

Oil prices jumped sharply on Thursday after US President Donald Trump said the United States would step up attacks on Iran over the coming weeks, stoking fears that disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz could last longer and tighten supplies of crude and refined fuels across global markets. West Texas Intermediate settled at $111.54 a barrel after surging more than 11%, while Brent closed near $109.03, extending a rally driven by war risk and the continued blockage of one of

Real estate developers across the UAE are sticking to original construction and launch schedules despite a regional war that has lifted energy and materials costs, with industry participants signalling that any easing in prices and transaction volumes is more likely to be temporary than structural while the conflict runs on. Market activity has slowed in parts of the sector, but there has been no broad retreat from project delivery or fresh launches. The conflict involving the United States, Israel and

President Donald Trump said the United States could end its military campaign against Iran within two to three weeks, offering the clearest indication yet that Washington is looking for an exit from a war that has shaken Gulf security, driven up energy costs and unsettled allies. Speaking at the White House on Tuesday, Trump said the US had gone far enough militarily and suggested responsibility for the Strait of Hormuz should now fall more heavily on other countries that depend

Tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz have moved to the centre of calculations in the confrontation involving Donald Trump and Iran’s leadership, as competing narratives over diplomacy and deterrence shape global energy and security outlooks. Statements from Washington suggesting Tehran is seeking terms to end hostilities contrast sharply with signals from Iranian officials, who continue to project defiance while recalibrating their strategic posture in the Gulf. The narrow waterway linking the Persian Gulf to global markets carries roughly a fifth of

Liquidity conditions in Gulf Cooperation Council dollar-denominated debt markets have deteriorated sharply as geopolitical tensions tied to the US-Israel and Iran conflict weigh on investor sentiment and trading activity, according to new assessments by Fitch Ratings. The agency reported that the average liquidity assessment score for GCC US dollar sukuk dropped to 45 on March 23, 2026, from 56 at the end of 2025. Conventional US dollar bonds in the region also saw a decline, with average liquidity scores falling to

Escalating conflict involving Iran is beginning to cast a shadow over the global artificial intelligence race, raising concerns that geopolitical instability could fracture funding networks, disrupt supply chains and alter the trajectory of one of the world’s fastest-growing industries. Capital flows from Gulf sovereign wealth funds have become a critical pillar supporting the expansion of advanced computing infrastructure in the United States and allied economies. These funds, backed by energy revenues, have channelled tens of billions of dollars into data centres,

Securing maritime access through the Strait of Hormuz has emerged as the most attainable strategic objective for Washington and Tel Aviv, as policymakers recalibrate expectations in a prolonged confrontation with Tehran that has defied earlier ambitions of regime change or a complete halt to nuclear activity. Officials on both sides have signalled a growing consensus that ensuring uninterrupted passage through the narrow waterway — a chokepoint for roughly a fifth of global oil shipments — offers a clearer, more achievable outcome

Global energy markets are confronting a prolonged disruption after Qatar’s Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas complex, the largest of its kind, was forced offline following a series of strikes that analysts say could reshape supply dynamics for years. The shutdown, triggered by a drone attack attributed to Iran earlier this month and compounded by subsequent retaliatory exchanges linked to an Israeli strike on the South Pars gas field, has halted output from a facility central to global LNG flows. Industry estimates

Oil prices surged sharply as attacks on key energy facilities across the Middle East intensified fears of supply disruption, pushing markets to price in a broader geopolitical risk premium tied to an escalating conflict now stretching into its third week. Brent crude climbed by as much as 5.1 per cent to approach $113 a barrel during trading, while the most-active West Texas Intermediate contract traded near $96. Natural gas prices in the United States also rose, gaining up to 6.5 per

S&P Global has indicated that four major Gulf real estate developers under its coverage are unlikely to face liquidity strain despite heightened geopolitical tensions linked to the US-Israel confrontation and instability involving Iraq, underscoring continued financial resilience across the sector. The rating agency assessed Dubai-listed Emaar Properties alongside PNC Investments, Omniyat Holdings and Damac Real Estate Development, concluding that their funding profiles, access to capital markets and strong sales pipelines provide sufficient buffers against external shocks. The assessment comes at a

Supply chains across the Gulf are under mounting strain as escalating conflict in the Middle East disrupts shipping lanes and drives a sharp rise in insurance premiums, with business leaders warning of wider economic fallout and higher consumer prices. The Federation of GCC Chambers said companies across member states were facing severe logistical bottlenecks after maritime risks intensified in key transit routes, including the Strait of Hormuz and nearby shipping corridors. The group’s chairman, Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al-Thani,

Gulf Cooperation Council countries are reinforcing their role as a pivotal force in the global energy system, with new data showing that the region’s strategic mix of natural resources, advanced infrastructure and expanding energy investments continues to shape international markets. Figures compiled by the GCC Statistical Centre point to sustained energy output across the six-member bloc — Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman — underscoring their central place in oil and gas supply while signalling a

Artificial intelligence has moved from experimentation to operational priority across industries, yet many organisations struggle to turn promising pilots into large-scale value. Executives and technology leaders increasingly argue that the barrier is no longer access to powerful models or computing infrastructure but a lack of organisational capability to use them effectively. Analysts and industry researchers say AI literacy — the ability of employees and leaders to understand, manage and apply AI responsibly — is emerging as a critical corporate competency. Global

  Motorists navigating through Dubai have reported unusual glitches in digital navigation systems, with some drivers briefly appearing to travel across open water or far from their actual locations on popular mapping applications. The phenomenon, noticed by commuters across parts of the emirate, has drawn attention to the growing vulnerability of satellite-based navigation systems to interference and technical anomalies. Drivers using applications such as Google Maps and Waze described instances in which their vehicles suddenly appeared to be positioned in the Arabian

Government officials indicated that New Delhi has no plans to join an International Energy Agency-coordinated effort to release emergency oil reserves, even as global crude prices surge and major economies debate measures to calm volatile energy markets. The decision comes amid mounting concerns about supply disruptions linked to the escalating conflict involving Iran, which has pushed oil prices above the $100-per-barrel mark and heightened fears of wider economic fallout. Officials familiar with the matter said the country considers its domestic fuel

Business operations across major companies in the United Arab Emirates remain steady despite heightened geopolitical tensions across parts of the Middle East, with executives from several sectors emphasising strong balance sheets, diversified portfolios and resilient domestic demand as buffers against potential disruption. Statements issued by leading firms in aviation, energy, banking, logistics and real estate underline a common message: operations continue normally while financial fundamentals remain intact. Corporate leaders acknowledged that regional developments could introduce short-term volatility in markets or logistics

Wikipedia confronts AI

Escalating conflict across the Middle East could force Gulf producers to halt oil and gas exports within weeks, Qatar’s energy minister has warned, raising the prospect of a severe global energy shock and sharply higher fuel prices. Saad Sherida al-Kaabi, who heads the state-run energy group QatarEnergy and oversees the country’s energy policy, said a prolonged war involving Iran could disrupt shipping and production across the Gulf, leaving exporters with little choice but to suspend deliveries. He cautioned that if the

Credit spreads across Gulf bond markets have stabilised after widening briefly during the opening phase of the Middle East conflict, with investor demand returning to regional debt and supporting prices across several sectors. Trading activity in the days following the escalation showed spreads narrowing from earlier volatility, particularly in high-yield real estate bonds issued by companies across the Gulf Cooperation Council. Market participants say the shift reflects a rebound in investor confidence and the continued appeal of regional credit even amid

Escalating military strikes across West Asia have disrupted regional airspace and raised fresh concerns across the global aviation industry, with airlines, airports and tourism operators bracing for prolonged uncertainty as missile and drone exchanges threaten major flight corridors. Air travel across parts of the Middle East has been thrown into turbulence following attacks launched by Israel and the United States on Iranian targets on February 28, followed by retaliatory strikes by Iran against locations across the region. The unfolding confrontation has

Unidentified airborne objects struck an Amazon Web Services facility in the United Arab Emirates this week, igniting a fire that disrupted cloud services across parts of the Middle East and sharpened concerns over the vulnerability of digital infrastructure during periods of geopolitical strain. Amazon Web Services, the cloud division of Amazon, confirmed that an incident affected operations at one of its availability zones in the UAE, leading to intermittent outages for customers relying on the region’s data centres. The company said

Two drones struck close to the United States Embassy compound in Riyadh, according to Saudi authorities and US officials, in an incident that heightens tensions across West Asia and draws Saudi Arabia more directly into a confrontation involving Tehran, Washington and Tel Aviv. No casualties were reported at the diplomatic mission, but the blasts prompted heightened security measures around foreign embassies in the Saudi capital and a warning from President Donald Trump that the United States would respond. Speaking to NewsNation,