| GCC growth forecast raised to 4.4% amid oil rebound, diversification push: ICAEW
Gulf Cooperation Council economies are expected to grow 4.4 percent in 2025, up from an earlier forecast of 4 percent, as rising oil output and resilient non-oil sector activity offset global trade headwinds. |
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| Riyadh Air orders up to 50 Airbus A350 jets to expand long-haul fleet
Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Air has signed a deal to acquire up to 50 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft as it gears up to launch operations later this year. |
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| PIF’s AviLease to acquire up to 77 Airbus jets in expansion drive
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund-owned AviLease has signed a deal to purchase up to 77 Airbus aircraft, further expanding its next-generation, fuel-efficient fleet to meet rising global demand across passenger and cargo operations. |
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| Saudi Arabia adds 2 new shipping services, expanding reach to 19 destinations
Connectivity across Saudi Arabia’s ports is set to improve with the addition of two new shipping services, expanding the Kingdom’s maritime trade reach to 19 global destinations. |
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| PIF earns perfect score on Global SWF Index
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund earned a perfect score in the 2025 Global SWF Index, ranking it among just nine sovereign wealth funds worldwide for top governance, sustainability, and resilience. |
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| Closing Bell: TASI gains 135 points after positive market breadth
Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index closed higher on Monday, advancing 135.45 points, or 1.26 percent, to end at 10,867.04. |
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| UAE posts 4% GDP growth in 2024 as economic diversification accelerates
The UAE’s gross domestic product reached 1.77 billion dirhams ($481.4 billion) in 2024, recording 4 percent growth, with non-oil sectors contributing 75.5 percent of the total, highlighting diversification progress. |
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| Saudi inflation holds steady at 2.2% in May
Saudi Arabia’s annual consumer inflation edged up to 2.2 percent in May, with rental prices emerging as the principal driver behind the increase. |
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| Oman residential property prices jump 7.3% in Q1 on land demand
Oman’s residential property prices climbed 7.3 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2025, led by a sharp increase in residential land values, official figures showed. |
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| Closing Bell: Saudi main index retreats to 10,731.59
Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index fell on Sunday, declining 109.35 points, or 1.01 percent, to close at 10,731.59. |
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| Gulf markets fall as Israel-Iran conflict escalates
Stock markets across the Gulf fell on Sunday morning after Israel and Iran launched fresh attacks on each other overnight, sparking fears of a widening conflict in the Middle East. |
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| ACWA Power advances $1.8bn capital increase plan to boost global expansion, says CFO
Saudi utility giant ACWA Power is moving forward with its SR7 billion ($1.8 billion) capital increase as part of a broader strategy to expand its footprint in energy transformation, water desalination, and green hydrogen production, according to its chief financial officer. |
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| Saudi Arabia’s Almarai to acquire Pure Beverages Industry Co. in $277m deal
Saudi dairy giant Almarai has signed an agreement to fully acquire Pure Beverages Industry Co. for SR1.04 billion ($277 million), aiming to diversify its offerings and enhance its market position. |
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| Kuwait confirms local market stability amid regional tensions
After the Zionist entity’s attack on Iran on Friday, which prompted swift retaliation and heightened regional tensions, Kuwaiti authorities have moved to reassure the public that local markets remain stable and essential supplies secure. |
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| MENA funding rounds, expansions continue
The Middle East and North Africa witnessed several funding rounds for startups in the past week, with firms across multiple industries eyeing geographical expansion. |
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| Record KD 15 million raised in Kuwait’s third debt relief drive
Kuwait’s Ministry of Social Affairs announced Thursday that the third national campaign to settle the debts of insolvent Kuwaiti citizens (“gharameen”) has so far raised over KD 15 million, exceeding the first two campaigns. |
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| Saudi Arabia reshapes workforce with surge in talent mobility solutions
As Saudi Arabia pushes forward with its Vision 2030 transformation agenda, talent mobility services are emerging as a pivotal force in reshaping the Kingdom’s employment landscape — streamlining transitions, boosting retention, and aligning workforce development with national diversification goals. |
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| Bahrain’s Islamic finance industry projected to surpass $100bn in 3 to 5 years
Bahrain’s Islamic finance industry is likely to surpass $100 billion within the next three to five years, according to global credit rating agency Fitch Ratings. |
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| Borouge and Adnoc L&S ink $531 million partnership to boost UAE petrochemical exports
Borouge and Adnoc Logistics & Services Plc have entered a 15-year strategic partnership that will support a significant increase in the production and export of petrochemicals from the UAE. |
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| Closing Bell: Saudi Arabia’s main index declines to close at 10,840
Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index closed lower on Thursday, falling 164.08 points, or 1.49 percent, to end the session at 10,840.94. |
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| State-led startup momentum poised for sustainable growth under Vision 2030
Amid a record-breaking surge in venture funding and a wave of regulatory reforms, Saudi Arabia is drawing global attention for its ambitious push to build a vibrant startup economy. |
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| Saudi-UK ties deepen as 400+ leaders boost investment partnerships in London
Saudi-UK business ties are set to grow as more than 400 leaders from various sectors gathered in London to explore cross-border investment opportunities and strengthen economic partnerships. |
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| Saudi e-commerce sales via Mada cards jump 57% in April to reach $6.2bn
Saudi Arabia’s e-commerce sales using Mada cards increased by 57 percent in April compared to the same month last year, hitting SR23.27 billion ($6.2 billion). |
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| Abu Dhabi expects more rapid growth for its financial center
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. |
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| Closing Bell: Saudi main index holds steady at 11,005
Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index gained 0.49 points on Wednesday, closing at 11,005.02. |
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| Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power plans $5bn investment deal with Uzbekistan
Saudi utility giant ACWA Power is planning to invest $5 billion in Uzbekistan, affirming its status as the leading foreign investor in the Central Asian nation’s energy sector, according to a top official. |
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| Saudi Arabia adds MEDEX service to Jeddah Port, linking 12 global hubs
Saudi Arabia has expanded its maritime connectivity with the addition of the MEDEX shipping service at Jeddah Islamic Port, linking the Kingdom to 12 regional and international ports. |
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| Kuwait non-oil sector maintains expansion, Egypt closer to recovery, Qatar holds steady: S&P
Business conditions in Kuwait’s non-oil private sector continued to expand in May, while Egypt experienced a slower pace of contraction, offering tentative signs of stabilization. |
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| UAE shares end higher as outcome of US-China trade talks awaited
Stock markets in the UAE ended higher on Monday, in step with Asian peers, as investors awaited the outcome of US-China trade talks in London in the hope that a deal could boost the global economic outlook. |
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| Saudi commercial bank profits jump 16% in April, topping $2bn before zakat, tax
Saudi Arabia’s banking sector extended its winning streak in April, posting SR7.77 billion ($2.07 billion) in pre-zakat and tax profits, a 16 percent increase compared to the same month last year. |
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| Saudi insurance market mergers to accelerate amid regulatory push: Fitch
Saudi Arabia’s insurance sector is headed for a wave of consolidation as tougher capital rules and fierce price competition squeeze smaller players, Fitch Ratings said in a new report. |
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| Qatar’s Islamic finance sector grows to $187bn, report shows
Qatar’s Islamic finance sector continued its upward trajectory in 2024, with total assets rising 4.1 percent year on year to 683 billion Qatari riyals ($187.5 billion), a new analysis showed. |
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| Saudi carrier flynas to expand operations across 4 hubs, official says
Saudi Arabia’s low-cost carrier flynas is set to expand operations across its four main hubs — Riyadh, Jeddah, Madinah, and Dammam — as part of an ambitious growth plan, according to a top official. |
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| Manufacturing, mining sectors drive Saudi industrial growth to 3.1%: GASTAT
Saudi Arabia’s Industrial Production Index expanded by 3.1 percent year on year in April, driven by strong growth in the manufacturing, mining, and quarrying industries, official data showed. |
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| Saudi airline flynas’ IPO oversubscribed by nearly 350%
Saudi low-cost carrier flynas finalized its initial public offering share allocation at SR80 ($21) per share, the top of its indicated range, following robust demand from institutional and retail investors. |
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| Qatar records $137m budget deficit in Q1, ending 3-year surplus streak
Qatar posted its first budget deficit in more than three years — a 500 million Qatari riyal ($137 million) shortfall in the first quarter of 2025, the Ministry of Finance reported. |
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| Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in red at 10,832
Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index slipped on Tuesday, as it shed 17.66 points, or 0.16 percent, to close at 10,832.43. |
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| Saudi Arabia’s economic growth to outstrip US, UK, France in 2026: OECD
Saudi Arabia’s real gross domestic product is projected to grow by 2.5 percent in 2026, a rate that surpasses forecasts for the US, Germany, the UK, and France, according to an analysis. |
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| Saudi Arabia’s non-oil sector growth continues in May as PMI climbs to 55.8
Saudi Arabia’s non-oil private sector registered an improvement in operating conditions in May, as the Riyad Bank Purchasing Managers’ Index rose to 55.8, signaling continued economic expansion, a new analysis showed. |
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| Saudi banks’ new-home lending jumps 24% to $9bn despite higher rates
Saudi banks extended SR34.1 billion ($9.1 billion) worth of fresh residential mortgages to individuals in the first four months of 2025, up 24.14 percent from the same period last year. |
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| Closing Bell: Tadawul closes higher on Monday as TASI edges up; Nomu surges over 300 points
Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index closed slightly higher on Monday, gaining 24.82 points, or 0.23 percent, to reach 10,850.09. |
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| Kuwait moves to align tax, investment policies with Qatar, Saudi Arabia
The Kuwaiti Ministry of Finance signed two separate agreements on Sunday with its counterparts in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The agreements aim to support regional financial cooperation and enhance economic integration among Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. |
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| Oman’s electrical machinery exports surge 141% in Q1 as industrial policy drives growth
Exports of electrical machinery and equipment from Oman surged by 141 percent in the first quarter of 2025, reaching 128 million Omani rials ($332.8 million) compared to 53 million rials in the same period of 2024, according to official data. |
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| Oman’s banking sector credit rises 9% to $87.3bn
Total outstanding credit extended by Oman’s banking sector, comprising both conventional and Islamic institutions, rose by 9 percent year-on-year to 33.6 billion Omani rials ($87.3 billion) at the end of April, according to new data. |
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| Saudi Arabia opens June round of Sah savings sukuk with 4.76% return
Saudi Arabia has opened the June subscription window for its savings sukuk product “Sah,” offering a return rate of 4.76 percent, as part of its 2025 issuance calendar. |
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| New center positions Saudi Arabia for advanced manufacturing leadership
The global industrial sector is witnessing a radical transformation toward adopting Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, prompting countries to reconsider traditional manufacturing methods and adopt smart solutions that include automation, artificial intelligence, robotics, and data-driven systems to improve production efficiency and reduce operational costs. |
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| Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah Co., Kakao Mobility sign deal to boost smart mobility
Diriyah Co., backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, has signed a memorandum of understanding with South Korea-based Kakao Mobility to enhance smart mobility infrastructure across the historic city of Diriyah. |
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| Madinah leads regional growth with 24% construction employment in Q1
Saudi Arabia’s Madinah region recorded strong first quarter growth in 2025, led by 24 percent workforce participation in construction and 20 percent in trade, signaling diversification momentum. |
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| Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in red at 10,825
Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index dipped on Sunday, losing 165.14 points, or 1.50 percent, to close at 10,825.27. |
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| Saudi GO Telecom signs deal to rebuild Syria’s telecom sector
Saudi Arabia’s GO Telecom has signed an agreement with the Syrian government to help modernize the country’s digital infrastructure, marking one of the first major private sector initiatives following the recent easing of Western sanctions. |