Gulf investment to turn inward to rebuild postwar infrastructure: QNB Charles-Emmanuel de Beauregard, Qatar National Bank’s head of corporate and institutional banking, said that the Gulf countries will need to rebuild their logistics capabilities after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Qatar
Saudi Aramco's VC arm sees boom in emerging technologies, retail Anas Alqahtani, CEO of Wa'ed Ventures, expects strong growth in Saudi Arabia’s emerging technology and retail sectors over the coming years. Saudi Arabia
Analysis As Trump admin drops Halkbank case, S-400 last big hurdle in US-Turkey ties The move eases a key source of friction with Turkey ahead of a NATO summit in Ankara. By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Bessent says Iran's frozen assets will pay for Gulf damage, Hormuz tolls US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that any damage Iran inflicts on Gulf allies will be paid for with funds extracted from Iranian accounts. Iran
Who is Bill Pulte, Trump loyalist tapped as intelligence director? By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
Analysis Ports and infrastructure: UAE embraces new economic order in Syria By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Egypt’s privatization plans stall despite growing buzz Only a fraction of the targeted sales to Gulf investors have materialized over the last year, largely due to a general lack of agreement and volatility of the Egyptian economy Egypt
China’s CICC plans UAE, Saudi expansion as Xi builds Middle East ties CICC has about five to six people in its Middle East offices serving the entire region with a mix of Chinese and regional staff. Legacy: Gulf
Bahrain launches 'Golden License' to attract major investment, jobs Only companies with major investment and project portfolios will be eligible for the license, with either a $50 million value or a plan to create 500 jobs in the country, according to the Bahrain Economic Development Board. Legacy: Gulf
Bank of Israel raises interest rate again, warns about judicial fallout The OECD is predicting GDP growth rate to slow in Israel this year, while the Bank of Israel has worked out different scenarios based on fallout from the judicial reform controversy. Israel
UAE Central Bank revokes license of Russia's MTS Bank as sanctions tighten The Central Bank of the UAE plans to close the Russian bank’s operations within six months from the date of the decision. Legacy: Gulf
UAE, Qatar lead Middle East in 2023 global foreign investment ranking The United Arab Emirates sat in the top position among MENA markets and ranked 4th globally. Legacy: Gulf
UAE’s ‘Second Salary’ savings plan offers its expat majority passive income The savings plan is the first step in establishing a long-term retirement plan structure by the savings and investment company, amid low rates of retirement savings in the region. Legacy: Gulf
Saudi National Bank chairman resigns after Credit Suisse loss Current CEO Saeed Mohammed Al Ghamdi will take over as the new chairman on March 27, with deputy CEO Talal Ahmed Al Khereiji filling his place. Legacy: Gulf
Israeli shekel, stocks rally as Netanyahu pauses judicial reform The right-wing Israeli government’s controversial judicial reform plans have divided Israeli society and led to concerns among the Israeli tech sector and global financial institutions. Israel
UAE, India to boost cooperation via digital currency The Emirati Central Bank has begun implementing its digital dirham strategy following a financial cooperation agreement with India and the UAE's cryptocurrency push. Legacy: Gulf
Saudi Arabia inks 14 deals at Jeddah Grand Prix in boost to sports industry The agreements were part of a comprehensive sponsorship program hosted by Invest Saudi, the kingdom’s investment promotion entity. The value of the deals was not disclosed. Legacy: Gulf
Analysis Jordan economic rating shows upswing, but problems remain Jordanians in the private sector are praising their government's ambitious economic strategies, but still see systemic inefficiencies as a barrier to making them a reality. By Salim A. Essaid
