|
QUOTED
“The regional findings reveal strong confidence amongst CEOs in their companies’ revenue growth, with those in the GCC particularly optimistic about revenue growth in 2025 (at 90%). 61% of GCC CEOs also expect to increase headcount this year, compared to just 42% of their global peers, and up from 55% in 2024. However, one third (34%) cited skills shortages as a major concern.” 90% of GCC CEOs confident of revenue growth in 2025: PwC’s 28th Annual CEO Survey [PwC Middle East]
|
|
|
|
TOP STORY
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development announced the introduction of a National Policy for the Elimination of Forced Labor. [more]
|
|
MORE TOP STORYLINES
in alarabiya.net: The top Saudi diplomat on Tuesday played down fears that the incoming Trump administration was looking for war with Iran and called on Tehran to engage with the US to address the issue of its nuclear weapon program. “I don’t see the incoming US administration as contributory to the risk of war. On the contrary, I think President Trump has been quite clear that he does not favor conflict,” Prince Faisal bin Farhan said at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos. Prince Faisal admitted that the Middle East was abundant in risk factors, but it also had huge potential. “I hope that the [Trump administration’s] approach will be met, also on the Iranian side, by addressing the issue of the nuclear program, by being willing to engage with the incoming administration in a way that can help us stay on track with this positive momentum,” he said.
|
in zawya.com: The GCC countries recorded a landmark year for fixed income issuances in 2024, with total bond issuance in the region rising to a record high of $103.4bn. This marks a 71% jump from $60.5bn worth of bond issuances in 2023, according to the GCC Fixed Income Market 2024 report published by Kuwait-based Kamco Investment. Corporate issuances led the way, with companies in the GCC raising a total of $70.1bn, reflecting a remarkable growth of 74% compared to 2023. Meanwhile, government bond issuances in the region also saw a strong year-on-year increase, totalling $33.3bn, a 65% rise from the previous year. At the country level, the UAE saw the most significant increase in issuances, with bonds totalling $49.7bn in 2024, compared to $31.2bn in 2023. Qatar followed closely, posting a rise of $13.4bn. The UAE also emerged as the region’s largest bond issuer, followed by Saudi Arabia with $30.8bn, and Qatar with $16.8bn.
|
Via Matthew Martin in yahoo.com: Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund is selling a technology services firm for 3.4 billion riyals ($907 million), boosting its coffers as it prepares to ramp up local spending. The Public Investment Fund will sell Thiqah Business Services Co. to Elm Co., according to a statement on Wednesday. The deal will consolidate two companies working on providing digital services in the kingdom. Elm said it would fund the transaction through its own resources and facilities. PIF, as the Saudi fund is known, owns a 67% stake in Elm after it sold shares in the company to the public in 2022. Elm’s stock has risen over 800% since then.
|
|
|
|
|
|
MORE ON THE KINGDOM AND BEYOND
|
|
|
|
|
Ongoing transformation in the global screen industry has created an opportunity for GCC countries to establish themselves as prominent players. As the industry grapples with...[By Tarek Matar, Karim Sarkis and Maansi Sagar via strategyand.pwc]
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
The delegation consists of nine technical teams covering various sectors, including goods, services, investment, general provisions, e-commerce, intellectual property, government procurement, rules of origin, and...[via spa.gov]
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
After years of regulatory uncertainty under both Democratic and Republican administrations, Trump has pledged to protect bitcoin ownership and encourage blockchain...[By Carla Sertin via agbi.com]
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
68.1m international tourists visited the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries by the end of 2023, according to data issued by the Statistical...[via arabianbusiness.com]
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Since China is the US’s third-biggest export destination for food and agricultural products after Canada and Mexico, Beijing may retaliate by...[By Martin Keulertz via agbi.com]
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
A recent analysis by Capital Economics highlights the consequences of these tariffs and their broader implications for global trade dynamics. The administration's agenda to...[By Issac John via khaleejtimes.com]
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Saudi Arabia’s non-oil economy started 2025 on a high as business conditions improved substantially. This improvement was largely due to the fastest increase in total...[By Yara Abi Farraj via economymiddleeast.com]
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Some of the Kingdom’s prominent military branches are participating in the drills, including forces from the Presidency of State Security and the Saudi Arabian National...[via arabnews.com]
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Strategic inbound and domestic M&A activity in the region surged 88 per cent year-on-year to reach $36 billion during the first 10 months...[By Tala Michel Issa via arabianbusiness.com]
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
The Saudi Arabia Council of Health Insurance (CHI) has announced penalties against several employers for failing to meet mandatory health insurance...[By Roxanne Libatique via insurancebusinessmag.com]
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh on Monday. The two leaders held an official session...[via arabnews.com]
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
"Ultimately, we're going to see the seasonal dance: Gas prices are going to go up this spring regardless of tariffs or not, they're going to...[By Julie Hyman and Josh Lipton via yahoo.com]
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
The IPO proceeds are to be deployed for funding the infrastructure, land settlements, and development of the MASAR Destination, a major Makkah redevelopment project valued...[via arabianbusiness.com]
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Figures from the General Authority for Statistics released in 2023 show that 63 percent of the Kingdom’s population is under 30 years old, and the government...[By Nadin Hassan via arabnews.com]
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Pakistan has signed an agreement with the Saudi Fund for Development to defer a $1.2 billion payment on the country's oil imports by one year,...[By Alex Kimani via oilprice.com]
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has allocated $78 billion for defense spending in 2025, up from $75.8 billion spent in 2024, Governor of the General...[By Agnes Helou via breakingdefense.com]
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Valued at more than $200 billion globally – larger than the film and music industries combined – the gaming industry has evolved far...[via linkedin.com]
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The politics on both sides are fraught. It’s not clear who can speak for Hamas. Israel killed...[By Jon B. Alterman via csis.org]
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
In neighbourhoods levelled by 15 months of war with Israel, Hamas officials are overseeing the clearance of...[By Nidal Al-Mughrabi via reuters.com]
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
