Sheikh Mohammed approves Dubai budget 2023-2025

Sheikh Mohammed approves Dhs205bn Dubai budget for 2023-25

The government’s total expenditures for the 2023 fiscal year are estimated at Dhs67.5bn

UAE’s foreign non-oil trade to grow to Dhs2.2tn by end of 2022

Non-oil foreign trade crossed Dhs583bn during the third quarter of the year

Saudi and Chinese companies sign 34 investment agreements

The agreements covered sectors like green energy, green hydrogen, photovoltaic energy, information technology, cloud services, transportation, logistics, medical industries, housing and construction factories

Saudi Arabia's non-oil exports rise 4% to $6.6bln in October

Saudi Arabia sees 2023 budget surplus bump

Revenues are now set to reach SAR1.13tn, slightly more than projected earlier

UAE, Ukraine announce intent to negotiate comprehensive economic partnership agreement

UAE, Ukraine to begin negotiations towards comprehensive economic partnership agreement

In 2021, non-oil trade between the UAE and Ukraine reached $904.4m, increasing 28.4 per cent over the previous year

Gold

Gold climbs to four-month high as reopening bets weaken dollar

Gold tends to have a negative correlation with the dollar and rates as it does not bear interest and is priced in the US currency

UAE, Japan to sign MoU on establishing joint business council

The formation of the council is aimed at developing joint projects and exchange expertise

Qatar executives bullish on growth

Qatar executives optimistic about future economic growth, reveals EY report

Qatar’s tourism, hospitality, and real estate sectors show the most promise to drive growth

Qatar

Qatar wealth fund hires ex-JPMorgan exec Niall Byrne as CFO

Byrne, who has nearly 30 years’ experience in the finance industry, joined QIA this month

Dubai Chambers unveils plans to expand role of business councils

Dubai Chambers unveils plans to expand role of business councils

The plan would create new channels of economic cooperation between business communities in Dubai and worldwide markets

Manama Bahrain

S&P turns more positive on Bahrain as oil prices surge

Among the policies welcomed by the agency were expenditure cuts and a doubling of value-added taxes in January

Israel

Calev’s Newsroom: Role of diamond trade between Israel and UAE

Israel exported $188m in rough diamonds to the UAE in 2021, and that number is set to grow after the nations signed a free trade deal in June

Mideast KFC operator Americana raises $1.8bn from IPO

Mideast KFC operator Americana raises $1.8bn from IPO

Americana will be the first company to have its shares traded in both Riyadh and Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi’s GDP grows 11.2% in the first half of 2022

Abu Dhabi’s non-oil GDP grew to Dhs273bn, contributing more than 50 per cent to the emirate’s real GDP

Anwar Ibrahim becomes Malaysia PM after decades of waiting

Anwar’s swearing in will be at 5pm local time

UAE’s GDP to grow more than 6% in 2022, says IMF

The fund expects the country’s non-hydrocarbon growth to be around 4 per cent in 2023

Kuwait

Kuwait posts smaller deficit for last fiscal year on higher oil

The OPEC member recorded the highest non-oil revenue in seven years, up 38.5 per cent to KD2.4bn

Saudi Arabia GDP growth rises 8.6% in Q3 2022 Riyadh-800x533-1

Saudi Arabia’s real GDP grows by 8.6% in Q3 2022

Domestically, real non-oil GDP growth expanded by 5.9 per cent, following six consecutive quarters of growth

Dubai retains FDI top spot

Dubai retains position as world’s top FDI destination in H1 2022

Dubai witnessed FDI inflows of Dhs13.72bn in H1 2022, reflecting a growth of 14.6 per cent compared to the same period last year

Saudi Arabia announces 5 mining exploration opportunities

Saudi Arabia announces five new mining exploration opportunities

The kingdom is looking to leverage an estimated $1.3tn worth of vastly underexplored metals and minerals to support its sustainable development goals and the clean energy transition

Saudi Arabia signs 6 MoUs courtesy Saudi Press Agency

Saudi Arabia signs six MoUs on opening day of 6th Future Investment Initiative

The agreements will support the efforts and objectives of the Ministry of Investment to attract investments, enable sectors to grow and facilitate access to investment opportunities

gold

Gold treads water as traders cautiously await US inflation data

Spot gold was little changed at $1,674.62 an ounce as of 7.48am in Singapore

UAE Cabinet approves federal budget 2023-26 courtesy WAM

UAE Cabinet approves 2023-2026 federal budget, with total expenditure of Dhs252.3bn

Social development and benefits represent the largest proportion of the country’s federal budget 2023 at 39.3 per cent

Gold is heading East as a falling price lures Asian buyers

Since peaking in March, gold prices have tumbled 18 per cent as the Federal Reserve’s rate hikes caused mass liquidation by financial investors

Gold set for largest weekly gain since March amid mixed US data

The precious metal crossed the $1,700 mark this week

Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah reappointed as Kuwait’s Prime Minister

The premier has been assigned to nominate members of the new cabinet

New board formed for Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council

New board formed for Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council

The new board will have a mandate to help female entrepreneurs refine their skills, introduce them to laws and policies and help them leverage initiatives

CEPA agreement

UAE, Georgia begin talks on comprehensive economic partnership agreement

The agreement aims to drive economic growth in the two countries

Saudi Crown Prince

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman named Prime Minister

The directive comes as part of a cabinet reshuffle

Dubai Chambers appoints new president and CEO

Mohammad Ali bin Rashed Lootah will lead Dubai Chambers in overseeing the implementation of its initiatives and strategic plans