| Higher inflation, tighter credit markets if Iran war persists, experts warn
Saudi Arabia: As the US-backed conflict between Israel and Iran entered its fourth day, economists warned the fallout could spread well beyond the region, threatening higher inflation, tighter credit markets and slower growth in energy-importing economies if hostilities persist. |
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| Eviq in deal to set up EV charging infrastructure within New Murabba
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia's New Murabba Development Company has signed a strategic agreement with Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Company (Eviq) for deployment of EV charging infrastructure across key assets within its giga-project - New Murabba, thus supporting the kingdom’s transition toward sustainable mobility. |
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| Supply chains reel as carriers halt Gulf routes and impose war risk surcharges in response to Iran-US conflict
Saudi Arabia: Global supply chains were disrupted on March 2 as the US-Iran conflict forced shipping lines and airlines to suspend routes, reroute traffic, and impose emergency surcharges across the Middle East. |
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| Oil, gas markets surge amid Strait of Hormuz disruptions; drones intercepted at Ras Tanura
Saudi Arabia: Global supply chains were disrupted on March 2 as the US-Iran conflict forced shipping lines and airlines to suspend routes, reroute traffic, and impose emergency surcharges across the Middle East. |
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| Global markets slide as US-Israel strikes on Iran rattle investors
Saudi Arabia: Global markets plunged on March 2 after US and Israeli strikes on Iran triggered Gulf-wide retaliation, disrupting energy and financial hubs and rattling investors worldwide. |
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| Saudi Exchange shows resilience on Aramco shares, defying regional trend
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index showed signs of resilience on March 2, buoyed by gains in Saudi Aramco, even as the Middle East region continues to grapple with escalating tensions. |
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| Airlines across Middle East, Asia extend flight suspensions for 3rd straight day
Saudi Arabia: Airlines and airport operators across the Middle East extended flight suspensions for a third consecutive day after US and Israeli strikes on Iran triggered widespread airspace closures, disrupting global travel routes. |
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| Amazon’s AWS reports outage after UAE data center struck by ‘objects
United Arab Emirates: Amazon cloud-computing unit’s facilities in the Middle East were facing power and connectivity issues on Monday, the company said, after its UAE data center was struck by “objects,” triggering a fire. |
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| Saudi utility major Acwa names new CEO
Oman: Acwa, the world’s largest private water desalination company, a leader in energy transition, and a first mover into green hydrogen, has appointed Dr Samir J. Serhan as its new Chief Executive Officer. |
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| OQ launches Feed tender for Natural Gas Liquids Extraction plant
Oman: OQ Group has launched a Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) tender for the Saih Nihayda Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) extraction plant. Once operational, the project will have a processing capacity of up to 48 million cu m per day, reported the Oman News Agency. |
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| Hassan Allam seals Oman water transmission network dea
Oman: Hassan Allam Holding, a leading engineering and construction company in Egypt, has announced that one of its key subsidiaries, Hassan Allam Construction, has secured a water transmission network contract from Oman Water & Wastewater Services Company in the sultanate. |
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| Marine insurance companies are considering canceling, repricing policies in the Middle East
Marine insurance companies are considering canceling, repricing policies in the Middle East |
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| Saudi retail spending holds near $4bn during early Ramadan, as postal outlays rise
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia’s point-of-sale spending remained close to $4 billion in the week ending Feb. 21, even as overall transaction volumes declined during the early days of Ramadan, central bank data showed. |
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| Global energy leaders head to Riyadh for major industry event
Saudi Arabia: The Saudi capital will host an unprecedented concentration of global energy dialogue this April as Energy Week in Riyadh convenes ministers, policymakers, industry leaders, investors and technical experts for a coordinated series of high-level meetings and strategic forums. |
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| Al Futtaim, Siemens in deal to boost digital transformation in real estate
United Arab Emirates: Al Futtaim Real Estate, a unit of leading UAE business conglomerate Al Futtaim, has announced a landmark strategic partnership with global technology powerhouse Siemens, in a major move aimed at accelerating the digital transformation and sustainability in the property sector. |
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| Saudi Aramco achieves significant progress in its gas production plan
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Aramco has announced the achievement of significant progress in its plan to expand gas production, with the start of production at the Jafurah field, the largest unconventional gas field in the Middle East, and the commencement of operational activities at the Tanajib Gas Plant, one of the largest gas plants in the world. |
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| Saudi Electricity Company rebrands as Saudi Energy
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Electricity Company has launched its new corporate identity and announced its official rebranding as Saudi Energy (SE), in a move that reflects the company’s expanding role within the Kingdom’s energy ecosystem and aligns with the structural transformation underway in Saudi Arabia's energy sector. |
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| Saudi retail spending holds near $4bn during early Ramadan, as postal outlays rise
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia’s point-of-sale spending remained close to $4 billion in the week ending Feb. 21, even as overall transaction volumes declined during the early days of Ramadan, central bank data showed. |
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| Saudi Electricity Co. launches new corporate identity — Saudi Energy
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Electricity Co. has announced the launch of its new identity and its official transformation to Saudi Energy. |
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| Sovereign sukuk issuance set to moderate in 2026 after near-record highs: Moody’s
Saudi Arabia: Global long-term sovereign and supranational sukuk issuance volumes are poised to moderate in 2026 from the near-record highs witnessed the previous year, according to Moody’s Ratings. |
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| PIF-backed AviLease achieves revenue of $664m and 19% growth in 2025
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund-backed AviLease achieved exceptional performance and sustainable business growth during 2025, supported by the strategic expansion of its global platform. |
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| Saudi Aramco achieves significant progress in its gas production plan
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Aramco has announced the achievement of significant progress in its plan to expand gas production, with the start of production at the Jafurah field, the largest unconventional gas field in the Middle East, and the commencement of operational activities at the Tanajib Gas Plant, one of the largest gas plants in the world. |
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| Arab region on recovery path with 3.7% growth in 2026, but geopolitical risks persist: ESCWA
Saudi Arabia: The Arab region is on a path of gradual economic recovery this year, according to a UN report that forecast growth reaching 3.7 percent and a gradual decline in inflation. |
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| ONEIC lands Sultan Haitham City grid station contract
Oman: Oman National Engineering & Investment Company (ONEIC) has announced that it has secured a RO32 million ( ) contract from Oman Electricity Transmission Company for the construction of a 132/33kV grid station within the mega Sultan Haitham City development in capital Muscat. |
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| Saudi Arabia non-oil exports hit record high, driven by machinery and electrical parts
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports have surged to their highest quarterly level since 2017, reaching SR97.5 billion ($25.9 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to official data. |
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| SAMI CEO: Advancing toward integrated, sovereign Saudi defense industry
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabian Military Industries is accelerating its push to deliver its 2030 strategy, aiming to anchor a sustainable national defense base built on deeper localization, advanced technology transfer and development, and an integrated industrial ecosystem spanning Saudi Arabia’s defense and security sectors. |
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| Empower awards design contract for Business Bay district cooling plant
United Arab Emirates: Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower) has announced that it has awarded the design contract for the fifth district cooling plant in Business Bay, Dubai. Once operational, the plant will have a production capacity of up to 44,000 refrigeration tons (RT). |
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| Saudi Arabia, UAE, Malaysia lead Islamic fintech as market eyes $341bn: report
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and the UAE are leading global Islamic fintech development as transaction volumes are projected to reach $341 billion by 2029, according to a new industry report. |
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| Saudi Arabia’s budget deficit widens to $25.3bn in Q4 2025 as spending rises
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia’s capital spending rose 18 percent year on year in the fourth quarter of 2025, while higher overall expenditure widened the Kingdom’s budget deficit to SR94.85 billion ($25.28 billion), official data showed. |
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| AD Ports, Nimex break ground on new LPG storage terminal at Kezad
United Arab Emirates: AD Ports Group, a leading global enabler of trade, industry, and logistics solutions; and UAE-based Nimex Terminals, today (February 24) marked the groundbreaking of the UAE’s first private-sector Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) terminal hub at Khalifa Port |
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| IsDB announces $2.41bn in new financing for development sectors
Saudi Arabia: The Islamic Development Bank has approved $2.41 billion in new financing for a series of transformative projects during its 364th Executive Board meeting, chaired by IsDB President Mohammed Al-Jasser. |
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| Work completed on pontoons, floating facilities at Dilmunia Marina
Bahrain: Bahrain-based Ithmaar Development Company (IDC) has announced the completion of the pontoons and floating facility works at Dilmunia Marina in co-operation with United Marine Trading (UMT) - a prominent specialist in marina design, construction, and maintenance of marinas. |
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| LOBO brings modular work-at-height systems to the Saudi industrial sector
Saudi Arabia: UK-based LOBO Systems has completed its first deployment of modular work-at-height platform system in Saudi Arabia, thus marking a significant milestone in the continued international expansion and formal entry into the Middle East industrial market. |
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| Alba launches women-led Ramadan safety campaign
Bahrain: Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), the world's largest aluminium smelter on one site, today (February 24) inaugurated the company’s Ramadan Safety Campaign being held under the theme 'Five Star Safety, One Spirit of Ramadan. |
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| Mexico eyes trade expansion, targets Saudi market with premium rice exports
Saudi Arabia: Mexico is preparing to expand its trade ties with Saudi Arabia by exporting high-quality rice to the Kingdom, sources told Asharq Al-Awsat. |
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| Saudi Arabia’s foreign reserves rise to a 6-year high of $475bn
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia’s foreign reserves climbed 3 percent month on month in January to SR1.78 trillion, up SR58.7 billion ($15.6 billion) from December and marking a six-year high. |
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| World Bank allocates $50m for transportation projects in Syria
Saudi Arabia: The World Bank has allocated $50 million to support vital transportation projects in Syria as the two sides discuss ways to enhance cooperation in the fields of railway and sustainable transport. |
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| Apparel Group expands Saudi presence with 25 new brands
Saudi Arabia: Apparel Group is seeking to strengthen its presence in the Saudi market through digital commerce expansion, adding 25 new brands to its portfolio, and plans to grow its store network by 200 outlets this year to reach a total of 1,000, CEO Neeraj Teckchandani told Al-Eqtisadiah. |
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| Ducab marks regional first successful test of extra high voltage cables
Unitted Arab Emirates: Ducab, a leading UAE-based end-to-end energy solutions provider and manufacturer of high-quality cables and wires, has marked a significant milestone. |
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| US trade policy uncertainty sees muted response from markets
Saudi Arabia: President Donald Trump renewed his condemnation of the US Supreme Court on Monday after it ruled against his sweeping tariff program last week, vowing to turn to other powers and licenses but giving no details. |
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| Oman awards $86m tenders for development projects
Oman: Oman's Tender Board has approved a range of tenders worth a total RO33 million ($86 million) aimed at advancing developmental projects across multiple sectors in the sultanate during its first meeting of 2026, reported the Oman News Agency. |
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| Gulf Air, Bahrain Airport Company seal landmark investment deal
Bahrain: Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) have announced a major milestone in their human capital transformation with the introduction of a market-benchmarked Compensation & Benefits Framework, alongside an enhanced Medical Insurance Program. |
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| Airport Show 2026 to showcase best-in-class ATM technology
United Arab Emirates: A wide range of cutting-edge Air Traffic Management (ATM) and Air Traffic Control (ATC) solutions for the Air Navigation Services Providers (ANSPs) and airport operators will be showcased at the 25th edition of the Airport Show at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from May 12 to 14, 2026. |
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| Dhs 6.625 billion in total value of lease contracts in Ajman in 2025
United Arab Emirates: The Municipality and Planning Department – Ajman announced remarkable growth in rental transactions during 2025, with the total value of lease contracts exceeding Dhs 6.625 billion |
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| Saudi Arabia spearheading regional green building sector growth
Saudi Arabia: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has emerged as a regional leader in Green Building sector, achieving the highest performance score of 76.31 points and registering over 1.03 million sq m of certified areas, reported SPA. |
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| APM Terminals unit to buy 37.5pc stake in Jeddah Port terminal
Saudi Arabia: APM Terminals, an independent subsidiary of Netherlands-based AP Moller-Maersk, has announced that it has sealed a strategic partnership with DP World, a leading provider of smart end-to-end logistics solutions, for the Southern Container Terminal at Jeddah Islamic Port. |
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| Saudi POS stays above $4bn as Ramadan spending lifts outlays on home goods
Saudi Arabia: Saudi point-of-sale transactions remained above $4 billion in the week ending Feb. 14, with spending on furniture and home supplies rising ahead of Ramadan, central bank data showed. |
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| Armah Sports net profit up 62% on strong personal training demand
Saudi Arabia: Strong demand for personal training services and continued expansion in its membership base drove Armah Sports Co.’s net proft to shareholders up 62 percent to SR62 million ($16.53 million) in 2025. |
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| Keolis appoints new CEO for Middle East & Eastern Asia
United Arab Emirates: Keolis Group, a global leader in shared mobility and public transport, has appointed Youenn Dupuis as CEO Middle East & Eastern Asia. |
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| Licences must for petroleum, petchem activities: Saudi Ministry of Energy
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Energy has reiterated that all activities involving petroleum and petrochemical materials must obtain the necessary licences from the ministry. |