Maersk resumes Red Sea passage after two-year halt amid easing Houthi threat A ceasefire reached between Israel and Hamas in October has prompted some shipping companies to consider resuming services, but security concerns persist. Yemen
Egypt lands $572M UAE-backed solar deal, expanding Gulf's clean-energy footprint Gulf companies have been increasing their investments in North African renewable energy. Egypt
Newsletter: Business & Tech World Cup spending boosts Morocco stocks This week, Morocco’s stock market surged on 2030 World Cup hype, Egypt secured its first Qatari industrial investment in sustainable aviation fuel, Yemen’s oil-rich south saw renewed conflict, and AI-driven robots are helping the UAE meet construction demands. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Morocco’s markets rise as World Cup spending fuels largest IPO in decades Shares in SGTM jumped by 10% on Dec. 16 after the construction firm raised roughly $550 million from its IPO, underscoring demand in a market that has featured few new listings in recent years. Morocco
Analysis Yemen’s oil heartland fuels new conflict as STC seeks new political power By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
UAE-Brazil ties strengthen with EDGE's acquisition of Brazilian weapons firm Relations between the UAE and Brazil are improving militarily and economically following the UAE being offered membership in BRICS. Legacy: Gulf
Pakistan, Gulf Cooperation Council sign 'preliminary' free trade agreement When the final trade deal comes into effect, it will likely be the GCC's first since 2009. Legacy: Gulf
Saudi Aramco makes first global LNG investment with US MidOcean stake MidOcean Energy is in the midst of buying interests in four LNG projects in Australia as part of its growth strategy. Saudi Arabia
UAE’s Masdar to triple Southeast Asia’s largest floating solar plant The new agreement between Masdar and Indonesian power utility PLN Nusantara Power will launch Phase II of the Cirata floating solar plant in the Indonesian province of West Java. United Arab Emirates
Jim Ratcliffe revises Manchester United bid as Qatar's offer is considered Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, a Qatari banker and the son of a former Qatari prime minister, is the only other party to have publicly stated that they are trying to buy the British soccer club. Qatar
QatarEnergy, BP, others snap up Egyptian oil and gas concessions Four blocks have been awarded one day into international bidding for the exploration of Egypt's 23 open oil and gas blocks. Egypt
Saudi domestic capital to shoulder lion’s share of funding for Vision 2030 Halfway through Vision 2030, the kingdom has started to tap into domestic capital and debt financing to get some of its most futuristic projects off the ground. Sebastian Castelier In Dubai, reporting on regional business
Oman's oil and gas sector drives 30% GDP growth in 2022 Oman’s hydrocarbon sector growth rate was 61.6% from 2021 to 2022, compared to non-hydrocarbon sector growth at 16.9% during the same period, according to the Central Bank of Oman (CBO) 2022 Annual Report. Oman
Saudi Arabia inches closer to nuclear power with wider IAEA access The kingdom's energy minister said that the country plans tougher checks by the International Atomic Energy Agency on its nuclear activities. Saudi Arabia
UAE, other Gulf states shift from talk to action on carbon capture tech The idea of capturing and storing carbon emissions instead of letting them enter the atmosphere is gaining momentum in some parts of the Gulf region. It is also the necessary tool to rebrand hydrogen produced from fossil fuels from "gray" to "blue." Legacy: Gulf
Gulf airlines flex might as Riyadh Air fuels new competition The Gulf’s Big Three carriers are flying high as profits and passengers return. Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
China’s Bomesc to build $220M Qatar offshore oil, gas facility for Italy’s Saipem The Tianjin-based engineering, procurement and construction company will build the compression facility for an oil and gas field off the coast of northern Qatar for industrial machine manufacturer Servizi Energia Italia. Qatar