Author: admin

S&P Global affirmed on Tuesday Kuwait’s long-term credit rating at “A+” with a stable outlook, forecasting the country’s economy to grow 2% in 2025-2026. In its latest report, the US-based agency said that due low oil prices and large expenditure, Kuwait is forecast to run a high fiscal deficit in the upcoming two to three years. “Amid less favorable economic conditions due to global trade tensions and weaker oil prices, Kuwait’s large stock of external public-sector assets should provide a buffer for a policy maneuver, if needed,” said S&P Global. The report further noted that Kuwait’s fiscal deficits will remain…

European companies are cutting costs and scaling back investment plans in China as its economy slows and fierce competition drives down prices, according to an annual survey released Wednesday. Their challenges reflect broader ones faced by a Chinese economy hobbled by a prolonged real estate crisis that has hurt consumer spending. Beijing also faces growing pushback from Europe and the United States over surging exports. “The picture has deteriorated across many key metrics,” the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China said in the introduction to its Business Confidence Survey 2025. The same forces that are driving up Chinese exports…

Real estate continues to thrive 200m shares change hands Other REITs have struggled Dubai Residential REIT surged on its bourse debut on Wednesday as investors who missed out on its $584 million initial public offering (IPO) bought the stock.  The success is being seen as an indication of enduring confidence in the emirate’s buoyant property sector. A real estate investment trust (REIT) owns or finances income-generating property, enabling investors to indirectly own property without having to buy real estate outright. Publicly traded REITs are popular in the United States and Japan, for example, but two earlier listings in Dubai –…

Oman has posted a fiscal deficit for the first three months of this year and it is resorting to borrowing to maintain a balanced budget in 2025. The sultanate posted a deficit of OR136 million ($352 million) for the first three months of 2025, which is 16 percent lower than the deficit of the same quarter last year.  Revenue for this year’s quarter dropped 7 percent year on year to $6.8 billion.  “This decline is primarily attributed to a reduction in hydrocarbon revenues,” the Ministry of Finance said in its quarterly fiscal report. Oil and gas exports fell to $9.6…

Southern Saudi Arabia’s Aseer region is fast emerging as a new economic powerhouse, fueled by multi-billion-riyal investments across diverse sectors. This transformation is part of a broader government push to unlock the region’s economic potential and establish it as a key private sector enabler. The second edition of the Aseer Investment Forum, which opened Tuesday, is expected to draw over SAR 4 billion ($1.06 billion) in new investments. This comes on top of more than SAR 5 billion ($1.33 billion) already secured since the launch of the region’s development strategy. Additionally, SAR 25 billion ($6.6 billion) have been committed to…

Aramco’s bond sale successful Investors confident in company Lower oil prices impacting Saudi Aramco’s $5 billion bond sale on Tuesday saw spreads tighten, suggesting a strong market appetite for the company’s debt despite falling oil prices. The state-owned oil company sold bonds in three tranches. A 5-year issue, which was priced at 80bps over US treasury bonds, tightened from its original 115bps guidance. The spread of a 10-year issue tightened from 130bps to 95bps, while a 30-year issue came down from 185bps to 155bps. For comparison, a tranche of 10-year bonds and 30-year bonds sold last year were priced at…

Multi-Billion-Riyal Investments Position Aseer as a Rising Economic Power in Saudi Arabia Southern Saudi Arabia’s Aseer region is fast emerging as a new economic powerhouse, fueled by multi-billion-riyal investments across diverse sectors. This transformation is part of a broader government push to unlock the region’s economic potential and establish it as a key private sector enabler. The second edition of the Aseer Investment Forum, which opened Tuesday, is expected to draw over SAR 4 billion ($1.06 billion) in new investments. This comes on top of more than SAR 5 billion ($1.33 billion) already secured since the launch of the region’s…

Ruder Finn, a global leader in integrated marketing and communications, has officially announced the launch of its fully combined office and regional headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This move follows the successful acquisition of Atteline and its transition into Ruder Finn Atteline, marking a major step forward for the agency in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. With nearly a decade of experience in the region, Ruder Finn Atteline is building on its strong foundation by investing in local talent, new technology, and deeper market presence. The newly operational office in Riyadh will become a space for clients looking for next-level communications…

Aseer Region Governor and ARDARA Chairman Prince Turki bin Talal bin Abdulaziz officially announced on Tuesday the launch of the first modern lifestyle community at AlWadi. The announcement was made at the second Aseer Investment Forum in Abha. The new community is a key milestone in ARDARA’s mission to develop integrated residential and tourism destinations that boosts the Aseer Region’s prominence on the national development landscape. The project underscores the dedication of ARDARA, which is wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), to sustainable urban development and delivering a superior quality of life. The current project phase includes a…

Egypt will need to widen its tax base and streamline tax exemptions, despite making good progress in expanding its economy, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in a statement. The fund completed its fifth review under the extended fund facility (EFF) earlier this month. While there is macroeconomic stabilisation, Egypt needs to accelerate and deepen reform efforts to reduce the state’s footprint, level the playing field and improve the business environment. Discussions will continue to finalise an agreement on the remaining policies and reforms that could support the completion of the fifth review, IMF mission chief for Egypt, Vladkova Hollar, said…