| Abu Dhabi leads decarbonisation with EAD carbon monitoring programme
United Arab Emirates: Abu Dhabi has marked the completion of the first year of its Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) programme, reinforcing the emirate’s position as a regional leader in climate-focused economic competitiveness and investment readiness. |
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| Dubai International Chamber draws 64 MNCs in 2025
United Arab Emirates: Dubai International Chamber, one of the three chambers operating under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers, attracted 373 companies to Dubai in 2025, including multinational corporations (MNCs) and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). |
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| Al Habtoor Group to exit Lebanon, after announcing legal action over $1.7bn in losses
Saudi Arabia: Al Habtoor Group will permanently close all operations in Lebanon, it has announced, citing prolonged instability, hostile campaigns, and failed negotiations with the Lebanese government. |
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| Saudi Arabia employs more than 500k Sudanese workers: minister
Saudi Arabia: The number of Sudanese workers in Saudi Arabia has exceeded 500,000, employed across key sectors, notably agriculture and animal husbandry, Sudan’s Minister of Human Resources and Social Welfare Mutassim Ahmed Saleh told Al-Eqtisadiah. |
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| Sepco3 starts work on 1.5GW Abu Dhabi solar project
United Arab Emirates: Shandong Electric Power Construction Corporation No. 3 (Sepco3) has announced that work has begun on the 1.5GW Khazna Solar PV Project in Abu Dhabi. |
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| DCT Abu Dhabi to highlight emirate as top culture-led travel destination at ITB Berlin
United Arab Emirates: The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) will exhibit at ITB Berlin 2026 from March 3 to 5, reinforcing Abu Dhabi as a leading global destination for culture-led travel. |
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| OQ Group signs $598m agreements to develop Oman downstream industries
Oman: Oman’s OQ Group has signed strategic agreements worth over RO230 million ($598 million) with two global companies - Germany-based MAK and Indian group Deepak - for the development of advanced downstream manufacturing projects in the cities of Sohar and Salalah in the sultanate. |
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| Private sector dynamism driving labor market growth in Saudi Arabia — landmark report
Saudi Arabia: A “structural shift” in the Saudi economy has led to the share of citizens employed in the private sector reaching 52.8 percent, surpassing the 51.4 percent target, according to a landmark report. |
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| FDI in Saudi Arabia up 10%, hits $280bn: SAMA
Saudi Arabia: Foreign direct investments in Saudi Arabia reached SR1.05 trillion ($280 billion) by the end of the third quarter of 2025 in what was a 10 percent annual increase, official data showed. |
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| Dentistry subject to 55% Saudization target
Saudi Arabia: The Kingdom will apply a 55 percent Saudization requirement for dental professions in the private sector from Jan. 27, as the program’s second phase comes into effect. |
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| ShaikhTech launches new real estate investment platform for global investors
Saudi Arabia: ShaikhTech, a Middle East based technology company involved in proptech, has announced the beta launch of AmanaVest, its global investment access platform, designed to enable individuals and institutional investors from around the world to explore curated real estate and other investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia. |
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| Dubai Ruler launches $27.2bn expansion of DIFC
United Arab Emirates: DIFC Zabeel District, a landmark expansion of Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), was launched on Tuesday by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. |
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| Bahrain balances sustainability with economic growth: Minister
Bahrain: Bahrain continues to adopt a balanced approach that integrates environmental sustainability with economic development, said Dr Mohamed bin Mubarak Bin Daina, Minister of Oil and Environment and Special Envoy for Climate Affairs. |
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| More than 45 agreements signed at Global Labor Market Conference
Saudi Arabia: Thousands of training and employment opportunities have been generated by more than 45 agreements signed on the opening day of the third Global Labor Market Conference in Saudi Arabia. |
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| Saudi Arabia surpasses $400bn in investment volume, minister announces
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia’s total investment volume surpassed SR1.5 trillion ($400 billion) for the first time in 2025, the Kingdom’s minister of investment has announced. |
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| Saudi Arabia’s debt capital market to hit $600bn by end-2026, up 15% — Fitch
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia’s debt capital market is expected to reach $600 billion in outstanding issuance by the end of 2026, cementing its position as the largest US dollar debt and sukuk issuer among emerging markets. |
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| Kuwait awards $3.3bn construction contract for key sewage plant
Kuwait: Kuwait has awarded a major contract worth KD999.8 million ($3.3 billion) to state-owned China State Construction Engineering Corporation for the construction of North Kabd sewage plant, the largest such facility in the country, reported Reuters. |
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| XRG to acquire additional 7.6pc in Rio Grande LNG project
United Arab Emirates: XRG, an energy investment company, has announced that it will increase its stake in Rio Grande LNG, deepening its exposure to one of the world’s largest LNG export facilities, located in the Port of Brownsville, Texas. |
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| Al Habtoor Group to take legal measures against Lebanon over $1.7bn investment losses
Saudi Arabia: Al Habtoor Group said it will move forward with legal action against Lebanon after years of unresolved investment disputes and mounting losses of $1.7 billon linked to banking restrictions and state inaction, according to an official statement. |
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| Savvy Games, Neom team up to boost Saudi gaming startups
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia's Savvy Games Group and Neom have signed a memorandum of understanding to support the Kingdom's gaming startups throughout their journey from incubation to acceleration. |
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| Dubai Harbour bridge project work 65pc complete
United Arab Emirates: Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced that it has completed 65% of the construction works on a 1,500-m bridge project featuring two lanes in each direction, providing direct access to and from Sheikh Zayed Road to Dubai Harbour. |
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| DAE announces long term lease of 2 Boeing 737-8 to Somon Air
United Arab Emirates: Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) has reached an agreement with Somon Air for the lease of 2 new Boeing 737-8 aircraft. |
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| Oman money supply rises 6.4% to $68.6bn in November
Oman: Oman’s money supply climbed 6.4 percent to 26.4 billion Omani rials ($68.6 billion) in November, signaling solid liquidity conditions and continued growth in bank deposits, official data showed. |
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| Urban planning, data centres boost UAE future cities portfolio
United Arab Emirates: The UAE continues to consolidate its advanced model for building smart cities, underpinned by wide-ranging strategic investments, most notably in data centres, which form the operational backbone of smart urban systems and the knowledge- and innovation-based digital economy. |
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| AlMeer Saudi lands KJO offshore general services contract
Saudi Arabia: AlMeer Saudi Technical Services Company has announced that it has secured a long-term offshore general services contract from Al Khafji Joint Operations (KJO), a joint venture between Kuwait Gulf Oil Company and Aramco Gulf Operations Company (AGOC) |
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| Dana Gas, Crescent Petroleum secure Chemchemal gas sales deal
United Arab Emirates: Dana Gas, the Middle East’s publicly listed regional natural gas company, and Crescent Petroleum, a private oil & gas company in the Middle East, together with their partners in the Pearl Petroleum Consortium have announced a series of long-term Gas Sales Agreements (GSAs) |
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| flyadeal sees 33pc rise in 2025 passengers
Saudi Arabia: flyadeal, Saudi Arabia’s low-cost airline, wrapped up 2025 with record-breaking achievements that marked 12 months of continuous growth. |
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| Sharjah's industrial real estate market reaches Dhs9.24 billion in 2025
United Arab Emirates: Sharjah Real Estate Registration Department revealed that Sharjah industrial real estate market has achieved unprecedented growth, with transaction values rising from approximately Dhs4.9 billion in 2024 to over Dhs9.24 billion in 2025 |
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| Etihad Water and Electricity plays key role in $2.6bn Oman CCGT projects
United Arab Emirates: UAE utility Etihad Water and Electricity has announced that it is part of two consortiums - Misfah and Duqm - that have been awarded the contracts to develop gas-fired power plants in Oman with a total 2.6GW capacity. |
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| Saudi Arabia becoming ‘a connector economy’ as world trade evolves
Saudi Arabia: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia stands to benefit from the ongoing shifts in global supply chains - from fair trade to a managed and rule-driven trade model - as it can play a vital role as a connector economy linking Africa with Europe and Asia, said Majid A. Alkassabi, the Minister of Commerce. |
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| UAE's hotel revenues surge 8.8pc to $12bn in 2025
United Arab Emirates: UAE's hotel revenues for the 11-month period from January to November 2025 rose to AED44.4 billion ($12 billion), up 8.8% over the previous year, mainly driven by an increase in the average daily rate, reported Wam. |
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| Screen Check in deal to boost GCC residential smart security marke
United Arab Emirates: Screen Check, a subsidiary of Centena Group and a key player offering end-to-end identification and security solutions in the Middle East, has signed a strategic partnership agreement with global security technologies company. |
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| UAE hospitality sector marks Dhs44.4 billion revenue surge
United Arab Emirates: Abdullah Bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, and Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council, participated in the International Tourism Fair - FITUR Madrid 2026, held from 21st to 25th January at IFEMA in Spain. |
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| Urban planning, data centres cement UAE leadership in future cities
United Arab Emirates: The UAE continues to consolidate its advanced model for building smart cities, underpinned by wide-ranging strategic investments, most notably in data centres, which form the operational backbone of smart urban systems and the knowledge- and innovation-based digital economy. |
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| Saudi non-oil exports jump 21% as trade balance improves: GASTAT
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports, including re-exports, rose 20.7 percent year on year in November to SR32.69 billion ($8.72 billion), official data showed. |
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| Middle East CEOs among the most confident globally, driven by investment momentum
Saudi Arabia: CEOs in the Middle East remain among the most confident globally, with 88 percent expecting economic growth in their territories to strengthen, compared with a global average of 55 percent, according to a survey by PwC. |
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| Saudi construction costs steady as growth holds at 1.1%: GASTAT
Saudi Arabia: Stable prices for materials and equipment rentals helped construction costs in Saudi Arabia maintain a steady annual rise of 1.1 percent for the second consecutive month in December. |
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| Phase I work on Dewa's solar green data facility to kick off in Q2
United Arab Emirates: Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) has announced that work is set to start on the Phase I of its solar-powered Green Data Centre being set up by its key subsidiary Data Hub Integrated Solutions (Moro Hub) in Warsan later this year. |
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| Saudi exchange leads GCC in foreign net buying in 2025, hits $5.5bn: Kamco Invest
Saudi Arabia: Foreign investors poured $5.5 billion into the Saudi exchange in 2025, the highest net buying in the Gulf Cooperation Council, an analysis showed. |
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| EU investments in Saudi Arabia to prosper over next 5 years, says ambassador
Saudi Arabia: European investments in Saudi Arabia are set to see notable growth over the next five years, encompassing green energy, metals, critical raw materials, advanced industry, and the digital sector. |
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| Takmeel breaks ground on 291-unit residential project in Dubai
United Arab Emirates: UAE-based Takmeel Developments has announced the groundbreaking of its premium residential project - Divine Al Barari - being set up at an investment of AED400 million ($109 million) in Dubai. |
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| WSP secures detailed master plan contract for Jebel Ali Racecourse project
United Arab Emirates: WSP, a global engineering and professional services consulting firm, has been signed up by UAE-based ARM Holding to lead the detailed master plan (DMP) for a major development surrounding its historic Jebel Ali Racecourse mixed-use project. |
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| Saudi POS spending holds above $3bn as hotel outlays rise: SAMA
Saudi Arabia: Spending on hotel bookings in Saudi Arabia increased by 14 percent in the week ending Jan. 17, keeping total weekly outlays above $3 billion. |
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| Saudi minister at Davos urges collaboration on minerals
Saudi Arabia: Countries need to collaborate on mining and resources to help avoid geopolitical tensions, Saudi Arabia’s minister of industry and mineral resources told the World Economic Forum on Tuesday. |
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| GCC debt markets poised for major growth in 2026, led by record sukuk issuance: Fitch
Saudi Arabia: The Gulf Cooperation Council's debt capital market is set to exceed $1.25 trillion in 2026 as project funding and government initiatives fuel a 13.6 percent expansion, according to Fitch Ratings. |
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| Volvo CE announces key changes in executive management team
Saudi Arabia: Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE), a global leader in construction solutions, has made some changes to its Executive Management Team as part of its efforts to strengthen focus on business and cultural transformation and further accelerate overall company performance |
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| TECOM Group acquires university campus in Dubai International Academic City
United Arab Emirates: TECOM Group, the creator of specialised business districts and vibrant communities, has acquired an integrated university campus comprising multiple buildings and spanning more than 300,000 sq ft in Dubai International Academic City, recognising strong demand for the higher education sector. |
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| Qatar says watered-down EU rules open door to more gas deals
Qatar: Qatar said the European Union’s (EU) push to ease some regulatory burdens is opening the door to further gas deals with companies in the region. |
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| Masdar, EUDC collaborate on Uzbekistan gigascale renewable project
United Arab Emirates: Masdar has signed a collaboration agreement with Emirates Utilities Development Company (EUDC) and Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Energy relating to the development of a gigascale round-the-clock clean energy project in the Central Asian nation. |
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| Acwa Power unveils Innovation Days 2026 platform
Saudi Arabia: Acwa Power, a leader in energy transition, has announced the fourth edition of Innovation Days, to be held from January 26–28, 2026 at The Garage in Riyadh, under the patronage of the Ministry of Energy of Saudi Arabia. |