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US President Donald Trump touted ties with China as “excellent” on Wednesday, saying the superpowers reached a deal after two days of talks aimed at preserving a truce in their damaging trade war.   Trump said on his Truth Social platform that China would supply rare earth minerals and magnets — vital elements for American industries — while Washington would allow Chinese students to remain in US universities.   His post came after top United States and Chinese negotiators announced a “framework” agreement late Tuesday following two days of marathon talks in London.  “Our deal with China is done,” Trump wrote, adding…

Egypt is reportedly planning to issue the first tranche of the EGP25 billion ($504 million) local sovereign sukuk issuance in the third quarter of 2025. The Ijarah sukuk will be issued to test the market and gauge investor appetite, followed by remaining tranches, Ashraq News, an Arabic financial portal, reported quoting three unnamed government officials. Ijarah sukuk involves leasing assets to sukuk holders in exchange for rental income derived from those assets. The government issued its first Ijarah sukuk in March 2023 by transferring government assets to a special purpose vehicle and leasing back the assets to the state in…

Dubai economy confidence Emaar stock jumps Robust financials cited Shares of Emaar Properties, Dubai’s largest listed real estate developer, rose on Wednesday afternoon after two global rating agencies upgraded its credit ratings. The stock was trading 1.5 percent higher at AED13.45 at close of trading on the Dubai Financial Market. More than 14.3 million shares had been traded. The stock has jumped nearly 5 percent year to date and 79 percent over the last 12 months. S&P Global Ratings raised its long-term issuer credit rating to “BBB+” from “BBB”, while Moody’s upgraded its long-term issuer rating to “Baa1” from “Baa2”.…

Gulf stocks outperform UK, US Fintechs tapping investor appetite More expats and foreign investors trading Growing demand from international investors trading in stocks on Gulf exchanges is creating opportunities for established and newer financial technology (fintech) companies alike to grow their Middle East business.  “We have seen the interest in trading on Gulf exchanges increase steadily over time, but demand has skyrocketed in the past year,” Damian Hitchen, regional head at tech-driven wealth management platform Saxo Bank tells AGBI. In response, Saxo Bank plans to launch in-app trading on Gulf exchanges this year. International investor net traded value – the…

Becton Dickinson (BD) in Saudi Arabia today announced its reinforced commitment to the Kingdom’s ambitious healthcare transformation under the leadership of its newly appointed Country General Manager, Omar Malabarey. With a distinguished career spanning public and private healthcare sectors, Malabarey brings a wealth of experience and a clear vision to drive BD’s impact on the local healthcare ecosystem.Malabarey’s appointment marks a pivotal moment for BD Saudi Arabia, as he aims to leverage BD’s global legacy of innovation in medical technology to foster value-based healthcare solutions, cultivate strategic partnerships, and champion local talent development, all in strong alignment with Saudi…

US President Donald Trump touted ties with China as “excellent” on Wednesday, saying the superpowers reached a deal after two days of talks aimed at preserving a truce in their damaging trade war.   Trump said on his Truth Social platform that China would supply rare earth minerals and magnets — vital elements for American industries — while Washington would allow Chinese students to remain in US universities.   His post came after top United States and Chinese negotiators announced a “framework” agreement late Tuesday following two days of marathon talks in London.  “Our deal with China is done,” Trump wrote, adding…

One of the most disheartening sights in aviation is watching a once-promising market unravel due to political and civil turmoil, erasing years of economic progress and disrupting countless lives. Syria is a clear example. Yet following more than ten years of decline, a new government and the recent easing of US sanctions offer tentative hopes that confidence may return and international carriers may once again take to the country’s skies. The historical data makes for grim reading. While Syria was never on track to rival Dubai or Qatar, its aviation market had been growing steadily since the early 2000s, with…

Saudi Arabia’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are experiencing unprecedented growth, positioning themselves as a vital pillar in the Kingdom’s efforts to diversify its economy and increase private sector participation, which are core goals of Vision 2030. According to the Q1 2025 report by the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises (Monsha’at), commercial registrations surged 48% year-on-year, reaching 154,640 new registrations in the first quarter alone. Active registrations climbed to 1.68 million, reflecting a 6% annual increase. As part of the Kingdom’s accelerating digital transformation, over 41,000 active businesses now operate in e-commerce. Notably, 45% of active commercial registrations…

The rush of financial firms setting up in Abu Dhabi to tap the emirate’s wealth funds and Middle East markets will continue at pace, the official in charge of expanding its financial hub has predicted. Abu Dhabi, which holds 90 percent of the UAE’s oil reserves, has accelerated efforts to diversify its economy, leaning on its vast sovereign funds that together manage almost $2 trillion of capital. Abu Dhabi Global Markets still lags Dubai, but the number of firms registered in the centre rose by 32% last year, and the amount of assets managed by firms there grew 245 percent, as the likes…

Italy hopes to begin constructing the world’s largest suspension bridge connecting Sicily to the Italian mainland this summer amid widespread skepticism that it will ever be built. The 13.5-billion-euro ($15.3-billion) project would carry trains and six lanes of traffic, allowing cars to cross the Strait of Messina in 15 minutes, AFP reported. Giorgia Meloni’s hard-right government hopes to boost the economy of the impoverished region, although critics say there are better ways to do this — and many believe that after decades of false starts, the bridge will never actually happen. The choppy waters between the eastern tip of Sicily…