Analysis Retail Majid Al Futtaim IPO could ease succession strains Taking Majid Al Futtaim Holding public could provide a way to resolve the succession challenges facing the Dubai-based family conglomerate, but also risks fracturing the tight-knit structure that has long defined one of the Gulf’s most prominent family businesses. “The best way to solve family disputes is [to] list all the shares,” says Obediah Ayton, […] June 10, 2025
Analysis Real Estate Land prices surge as Dubai’s developers scramble for plots A wave of land acquisitions by Dubai developers has driven up prices by more than a third so far this year. Fierce competition for prime plots and off-plan sales is pushing investors into emerging districts, industry professionals say. The land rush, fuelled by constrained supply in central areas and a growing population, has underpinned the […] June 10, 2025
Finance Dubai takes control of Majid Al Futtaim amid succession dispute The Government of Dubai has stepped in to take control of Majid Al Futtaim (MAF) Holding, a pillar of Dubai’s consumer economy. A new board has been appointed to lead the group in an emirate-backed effort to resolve a long-running family succession battle. Founded in 1992, MAF is one of the largest closely held companies […] June 9, 2025
Trade Trump tariffs squeeze UAE businesses as costs mount UAE businesses are starting to feel the impact of US tariffs, with cost pressures mounting and revenue forecasts dipping, industry studies have found. Around 65 percent of UAE-based companies surveyed by HSBC reported rising operational costs linked to tariffs announced by President Donald Trump in April. Some of the “Liberation Day” levies have since been […] June 9, 2025
Analysis Aviation Gulf aviation and politics intersect at 30,000 feet As headlines swirled around Qatar’s reported gifting of a private jet to President Donald Trump, the real political theatre last month unfolded in the skies above the Gulf. Within days of each other, regional carriers Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways revealed a combined 238-jet order from Boeing, the troubled US manufacturer, highlighting how aviation serves […] June 6, 2025
Manufacturing Gulf exporters may weather US metal tariff hikes A sharp increase in US tariffs on aluminium and steel imports may inadvertently benefit Gulf producers, thanks to their competitive energy advantage and expanding export footprint. President Donald Trump has announced plans to double tariffs on aluminium and steel imports to 50 percent starting on Wednesday, escalating his administration’s protectionist stance amid ongoing global trade […] June 4, 2025
Economy Saudi, Kuwaiti and Qatari bosses report hiring sprees Employment growth has accelerated in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar despite economic uncertainty, but hiring momentum remains uneven in other Mena markets, according to the latest purchasing managers’ index surveys. In Saudi Arabia, job creation was “one of the fastest seen in over a decade” in May, the Riyad Bank PMI report said. The Saudi index’s […] June 4, 2025
Exclusive Energy Masdar to increase bond issuances to fund renewables push Masdar, the UAE’s state-owned clean energy developer, is to increase its presence in international debt markets as it accelerates plans to install 100 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by the end of the decade. Abu Dhabi’s Masdar raised $1 billion in a green bond sale last month, following previous issuances of $750 million in 2023 […] June 3, 2025
Aviation Passenger profit is three times global average at Middle East airlines Middle East airlines are set to generate $27.20 in profit per passenger this year, more than three times the global average, as the region continues to lead the global aviation industry on profitability, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Total net income for Middle Eastern carriers is forecast to exceed $6.2 billion in […] June 2, 2025
Real Estate Dubai property optimism remains despite price correction warnings Real estate professionals in Dubai are maintaining a cautiously optimistic outlook on the market, even as fresh warnings of a potential double-digit correction cast a shadow over the city’s record-breaking property surge. Ratings agency Fitch forecast this week that Dubai’s residential property market is likely to cool through the second half of 2025 and into […] June 2, 2025
Markets Gulf stocks mixed as oil climbs on latest Trump tariff twist Equity markets across the Gulf had a mixed day on Thursday as a rebound in oil prices and a temporary lull in global volatility offered some respite following a US court ruling that struck down former President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff measures. Brent crude rose 1 percent to $63.78 a barrel by 15:00 Gulf Standard […] May 29, 2025
Opinion Business of Sport Final whistle for Ronaldo in Riyadh: was it worth it? A sporting icon departs Al Nassr after raising the profile of Saudi football May 29, 2025
Renewable Energy Masdar-backed Emerge in talks for $300m renewables push Emerge, a clean energy joint venture between the UAE’s Masdar and France’s EDF Group, is in talks with regional and international lenders to secure financing for a $300 million expansion of its solar and storage portfolio, with a focus on the Gulf. “These are capital-heavy projects,” general manager Michel Abi Saab said on Wednesday in […] May 29, 2025
Analysis Tourism UAE hotels hit by talent crunch as growth outpaces staffing UAE hoteliers are warning of an intensifying shortage of qualified staff as the country’s tourism sector expands. About 809,000 people were employed in hospitality and tourism in the Emirates in 2023 – more than 12 percent of the workforce, according to the latest government data. But relatively high staff turnover and limited investment in training […] May 28, 2025
Analysis Transport Etihad Rail’s super-fast service tracked by investors The UAE’s Etihad Rail is due to start passenger services next year, promising to slash travel time between Dubai and Abu Dhabi by as much as 40 percent. Not only could this reshape the daily commute but it could also shift the investment outlook for a clutch of transport-focused companies listed on local bourses. With […] May 28, 2025
Oil & Gas UAE warns Opec over AI-driven power demand The UAE is preparing for a sharp spike in domestic energy consumption as a wave of data centre construction drives up demand for power. Energy minister Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei has warned Opec and its oil-producing allies of potential pressure on future global supplies. His warning is at odds with other industry bodies, such as […] May 27, 2025
Renewable Energy UAE fund targets US renewables as Trump rolls back incentives A $30 billion UAE climate fund is ready to increase investment in US renewables as Republicans move to unwind parts of Joe Biden’s signature climate legislation. Majid Al Suwaidi, CEO of Altérra, the world’s largest private climate investment platform, said it was prepared to fill the gap wherever US federal incentives for clean energy are […] May 27, 2025
Banking and Finance QIA approved to buy stake in leading Chinese asset manager Qatar’s $526 billion sovereign wealth fund has received approval to acquire a 10 percent stake in China Asset Management Co. It is a rare Gulf investment into one of the country’s largest mutual fund houses as Doha walks a diplomatic tightrope between Washington and Beijing. The green light from the China Securities Regulatory Commission was […] May 23, 2025
Aviation Etihad comfortable with Boeing deliveries as profit rises Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways, which posted record profit in the first quarter, said it expects to take delivery of at least 100 planes from US plane maker Boeing over the next five years, helping to equip its route expansion plans. “We’re getting more than 20 planes a year for the next five years,” Etihad Airways […] May 21, 2025
Economy Owner of Emirates Airline reports climb in profit The Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD) said profit and the value of its assets rose last year, buoyed by performance in its aviation, real estate and banking portfolio. Net income climbed 6 percent to AED53.2 billion ($14.5 billion) and the value of its assets more than 10 percent to AED1.47 trillion, the sovereign wealth fund […] May 21, 2025
Manufacturing UAE’s $11bn manufacturing investment aims to cut oil reliance The UAE plans investment of more than AED40 billion ($11 billion) over the next five years to establish itself as a centre for advanced manufacturing. The strategy aims to expand its industrial base, accelerating efforts to diversify its economy away from oil. Highlighting progress so far, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, federal minister of industry and […] May 20, 2025
Health Mubadala Bio launches to bolster UAE drug security Mubadala Investment Company, Abu Dhabi’s $330 billion sovereign wealth fund, has launched a dedicated life sciences unit as part of a broader strategy to boost domestic pharmaceutical production, improve healthcare resilience and support the UAE’s economic diversification efforts. The new entity, Mubadala Bio, will oversee a portfolio of 10 manufacturing facilities across Asia, Africa, and […] May 20, 2025
