Growth in the non-oil private sectors of GCC economies accelerated in August, with output and new orders increasing at a faster pace and supplier delivery times improving, despite continued geopolitical uncertainty, according to top ratings agency S&P Global.
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The Middle East conflict has dealt a major blow to tourism in the region and begun to weigh on travel demand far beyond its borders, with international tourist arrivals in the Middle East plunging 22% in the first half of 2026 as global tourism managed only modest growth of 0.4%.
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Central banks in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain raised their key interest rates by 25 basis points on Wednesday, following the US Federal Reserve's decision to increase its benchmark rate for the first time since 2023 amid renewed inflationary pressures.
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Oil prices pulled back sharply from four-month highs on Thursday, easing from above $108 a barrel as Saudi Arabia moved to restore disrupted crude flows, while a US interest-rate increase added pressure to the market.
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Artificial intelligence (AI) offers emerging markets significant opportunities, but also poses serious risks, said a report, highlighting the need to seize opportunities across three fronts - building digital infrastructure, data ecosystems and investing in skills - to avoid relegation to the margins of the future AI-enabled economy.
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Saudi Real Estate Company (Al Akaria), has awarded SAR479 million ($126 million) contracts to Mounes Mohamed Alshayeb and Partners for Civil Construction (MOBCO) and Saudi Arabian Parsons to carry out the structural and project management work for the first package of its Porta Jeddah mixed-use development.
Bahrain will host the first race of the 2027 FIA Formula One World Championship calendar, which will feature 24 Grands Prix across 22 countries and 10 Sprint events.
Red Sea Global (RSG) has announced the opening of its premier development - Jayasom Wellness Resort Amaala - thus bringing a distinctive holistic health offering to the destination. Designed by Heah & Co., with interiors by Studio Carter, the resort comprises 153 keys alongside 24 residences.
Global energy leaders, ministers and technology leaders will be in Abu Dhabi this November for ADIPEC 2026, a mega energy conference and exhibition, to assess how to meet rising demand amid geopolitical uncertainty and infrastructure constraints. The event will mobilise investment in resilient and intelligent energy systems.
OpenAI has recently held discussions with large investors about a fresh capital raise that would increase the ChatGPT maker's valuation to about $1.2 trillion before it goes public, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.
Oil prices held around $108 a barrel on Wednesday, near a four-month high, as markets grappled with mounting concerns over global energy supplies following the shutdown of Saudi Arabia's East-West oil pipeline and continuing attacks on key oil and shipping routes in the Middle East.
Saudi Arabia said its air defences intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Makkah before it could enter the prohibited airspace over the holy city, as the Kingdom faced a widening campaign of attacks by the Iran-aligned Yemeni group.
Saudi Arabia is ramping up investment in artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure, led by its wealth fund PIF as the country seeks to attract technology capital and build domestic AI capabilities. The kingdom ranked first globally in digital governance and cybersecurity indicators, and third in AI models.
The International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) has launched a major new report at its Global Infrastructure Conference (GIC26) in New Delhi, setting out the evidence base for qualifications-based selection as the preferred procurement method for engineering and architectural consultancy services worldwide.
Metito Utilities has announced that it has been awarded the operation and maintenance (O&M) contract for the Dubai South Sewage Treatment Plant by Dubai World Central Corporation, thus strengthening its role in operating critical wastewater infrastructure in the UAE.
Lamprell, a leading provider of contracting services to the energy sector, has announced that it has been signed up as part of a consortium with Indian construction and engineering conglomerate Larsen & Toubro (L&T) for a major offshore engineering, procurement, construction and installation project in UAE.
The Middle East conflict has dealt a major blow to tourism in the region and begun to weigh on travel demand far beyond its borders, with international tourist arrivals in the Middle East plunging 22% in the first half of 2026 as global tourism managed only modest growth of 0.4%.
Lamprell, a leading provider of contracting services to the energy sector, has announced that it has been signed up as part of a consortium with Indian construction and engineering conglomerate Larsen & Toubro (L&T) for a major offshore engineering, procurement, construction and installation project in UAE.
Saudi Arabia’s innovation agenda is entering a new phase, with the focus shifting beyond technology manufacturing and adoption towards greater investment in R&D, the development of homegrown innovations and technologies, stronger control over intellectual property creation, says Ahmad Saleh, Partner and Head of Innovation, Patents & Industrial Property at Al Tamimi & Company.
Club Hawaii @ Bahrain Surf Park, a first-of-its-kind surf and leisure destination at Bilaj Al Jazayer development in Bahrain has achieved a major construction milestone with the completion of lagoon filling ahead of its opening this year. Once operational, the surf park will generate up to 1,000 waves per hour.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that there are encouraging signs of declining Ebola transmission in some of the worst-affected areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with more than 1,700 patients having recovered.
Leading global defence and aerospace contractor Lockheed Martin has completed a summer internship programme in Riyadh aimed at developing technical skills among Saudi university students in areas including artificial intelligence, robotics and advanced manufacturing.
Alshaya Group, one of the world's leading brand franchise operators, has announced the opening of its first company-owned distribution centre in Kuwait, located in West Abdullah. Spanning 51,000 sq m, the facility offers 140,000 cu m of storage capacity.
Qatar's Estithmar Holding has announced that it has completed the transfer of a 48.68% stake in Syria's Shahba Bank to its wholly owned subsidiary Masaref Holding. The stake was transferred from Banque Bemo Saudi Fransi and Ahli Trust Bank after regulatory approvals.
Leading Saudi telecom services provider stc said one of its key units - specialised by stc - has been awarded Infrastructure Deal of the Year at the prestigious GBM Saudi Arabia Awards 2026, in recognition of its landmark SAR5.5 billion ($1.45 billion) telecom infrastructure financing.
The Saudi Industry Forum 2026 has discussed opportunities to develop the automotive industry and build integrated local supply chains
Club Hawaii @ Bahrain Surf Park, a first-of-its-kind surf and leisure destination at Bilaj Al Jazayer development in Bahrain has achieved a major construction milestone with the completion of lagoon filling ahead of its opening this year. Once operational, the surf park will generate up to 1,000 waves per hour.
Saudi Arabia said its air defences intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Makkah before it could enter the prohibited airspace over the holy city, as the Kingdom faced a widening campaign of attacks by the Iran-aligned Yemeni group.
