NEW IRAN LEADERS 'REASONABLE'

Brent crude price tops $115 despite Trump's hopes for breakthrough

Mon, 30 Mar 2026

Oil prices continued their upward climb on Monday, as markets focused on escalating geopolitical risks in the Middle East despite renewed assertions by US President Donald Trump that talks with Iran remain under way and could still lead to a diplomatic breakthrough.

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PENTAGON MULLS MILITARY OPERATIONS

Houthis enter Iran war with attacks on Israel; US Marines arrive in region

Sun, 29 Mar 2026

The risk of an expanded Iran war ​grew as Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis on Saturday launched their first attacks on Israel since the start of the conflict, as additional US forces reached the Middle East. The first of two contingents of Marines arrived on an amphibious assault ship.

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TROOPS ON GROUND UNLIKELY

Iran war to last 'weeks not months,' Rubio tells G7 leaders

Fri, 27 Mar 2026

The US expects its operation against Iran to conclude within weeks, not months, and Washington can meet all its objectives without using ground troops, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said after meeting his G7 counterparts in France.

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MONEY MATTERS

1970s-style stagflation could hit global economy, warns deVere CEO

Wed, 25 Mar 2026

Households, businesses and investors should prepare for 1970’s-style global stagflation, warned Nigel Green, the CEO of the deVere Group, one of the world’s largest independent financial advisory organisations, after private sector output in the euro zone sank to a 10-month low in March.

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ANALYSIS

Gulf economies respond decisively as Mideast tensions test market confidence

Tue, 24 Mar 2026

As heightened tensions continue to inject uncertainty into global markets, businesses across the Gulf are balancing caution with determination. The GCC governments are responding swiftly to preserve stability, support liquidity, and sustain momentum, said an industry expert.

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Top This Week

Patel Family Office, AHQ launch $1bn Saudi hospitality platform

Fri, 27 Mar 2026

Patel Family Office, a US investment enterprise, and Abdel Hadi A Al-Qahtani & Sons (AHQ), a Saudi industrial conglomerate, have signed a $1 billion deal to establish AYARA, a vertically integrated hospitality platform that will develop a network of 50 international brand-name business hotels across Saudi Arabia by 2029.

Emaar Properties announces $2.4bn cash dividends for FY 2025

Thu, 26 Mar 2026

Dubai master-developer Emaar Properties has announced plans to distribute cash dividends worth AED8.8 billion ($2.4 billion), representing 100% of the share capital, for the FY 2025. The Dubai developer had recorded its highest property sales of AED80.4 billion ($21.9 billion), up 16% over the previous year.

Dubai's Airport Show postponed to October

Thu, 26 Mar 2026

Leading events organiser RX has confirmed that the 2026 edition of Airport Show co-located with Global Airport Leaders’ Forum and Women In Aviation Middle East Conference, originally scheduled to take place from May 12 to 14 at Dubai World Trade Centre, will now take place from October 12-14, with the venue remaining unchanged.

Webuild says NEOM terminates its contract for Trojena dams

Thu, 26 Mar 2026

Italian construction giant Webuild will exit a major contract on Saudi Arabia’s ambitious NEOM development after the client opted to terminate works on part of the Trojena mountain resort, highlighting ongoing adjustments within one of the world’s most closely watched infrastructure programmes.

Mubadala to sell CoolIT stake in KKR-led $4.75bn transaction

Thu, 26 Mar 2026

Mubadala Investment Company, an Abu Dhabi-based global investor, has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its minority stake in CoolIT Systems, a global leader in liquid data centre cooling, to Ecolab as part of a transaction valued at $4.75 billion led by KKR.

NEOM terminates contract with Eversendai for steel works at Trojena Ski Village

Thu, 26 Mar 2026

Malaysia-based Eversendai Corporation said it has received a termination notice for its structural steel contract at the Trojena Ski Village project in Saudi Arabia, citing geopolitical developments in the Middle East.

Weaponising Strait of Hormuz is economic terrorism, says ADNOC chief

Thu, 26 Mar 2026

Weaponising the Strait of Hormuz is an act of economic terrorism with global impact far beyond energy markets, said Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, ADNOC Managing Director and Group CEO, Chairman of Masdar and Executive Chairman of XRG.

Kuwait busts plot against state leaders

Thu, 26 Mar 2026

The Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior announced on Wednesday that the Kuwait State Security Service has thwarted a terrorist plot and dismantled a network that planned to carry out assassinations of state leaders and undermine the country's supreme interests.

Middle East has urgent need to import food says Maersk chief

Thu, 26 Mar 2026

The Middle East faces a “pressing need for the import of food” as conflict in the Gulf disrupts shipping routes, the chair of A.P. Moller-Maersk said on Wednesday.

AESG launches new structural design and engineering unit

Mon, 30 Mar 2026

Leading global engineering and advisory firm AESG has set up a structural design and engineering unit, further strengthening its multi-disciplinary consultancy platform across the Middle East region. It has appointed industry veterans Matthew Cross and Dr Gavin Lume to spearhead the new division.

Energy sector boosts autonomous investment by 2030: study

Mon, 30 Mar 2026

Schneider Electric research shows energy and chemicals executives increasingly prioritize autonomous operations, with 31.5–44 per cent seeing it as critical. Adoption faces cost, legacy, and regulatory barriers, while delays risk higher costs, talent gaps, and competitiveness loss.

Egypt records 76.67pc increase in medical tourism revenues in 2025

Mon, 30 Mar 2026

Egypt’s medical tourism is booming, fuelled by improved healthcare services and quality care. In 2025, revenues surged 76.67% from 2024, reaching approximately $3.7 million, marking a significant breakthrough in the sector

Bahrain bans maritime movement for seafarers during night

Mon, 30 Mar 2026

Bahrain's Interior Ministry has announced a ban on maritime movement for seafarers using fishing and leisure vessels in the interest of safeguarding seafarers amid the blatant Iranian aggression against Bahrain, using missiles and drones, and the serious risks this poses to the safety of citizens and residents.

1970s-style stagflation could hit global economy, warns deVere CEO

Wed, 25 Mar 2026

Households, businesses and investors should prepare for 1970’s-style global stagflation, warned Nigel Green, the CEO of the deVere Group, one of the world’s largest independent financial advisory organisations, after private sector output in the euro zone sank to a 10-month low in March.

Damac's Safa One 'jewel tower' work 56pc completed

Mon, 30 Mar 2026

Dubai master developer Damac has announced that work is in full swing on its Safa One development which continues to take shape, rising steadily on the Dubai skyline. The overall construction stands at 56% completion, with core wall levels advancing to Level 46 in Tower A and Level 49 in Tower B.

Egypt records 76.67pc increase in medical tourism revenues in 2025

Mon, 30 Mar 2026

Egypt’s medical tourism is booming, fuelled by improved healthcare services and quality care. In 2025, revenues surged 76.67% from 2024, reaching approximately $3.7 million, marking a significant breakthrough in the sector

Volvo CE launches Iron Women programme to boost global skills engine

Sun, 29 Mar 2026

Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has formalised Iron Women as a unified global platform to solve a severe shortage of skilled operators, technicians, and service professionals. The initiative is positioned not as a symbolic gesture but as essential business infrastructure.

Trolley General Trading celebrates landmark Boursa Kuwait listing

Sat, 28 Mar 2026

Trolley General Trading, a leading convenience-led grocery retailer based in Kuwait City has begun trading on Boursa Kuwait’s Premier Market, raising gross proceeds of KD59.5 million ($195 million). Based on the final offer price, its market capitalisation now stands at KD170 million ($552.6 million).

SICO approves 7.5pc cash dividend at 2026 virtual AGM

Sun, 29 Mar 2026

SICO held its 2026 virtual AGM, approving a 7.5% cash dividend, endorsing 2025 financial statements, and reporting BD5.5 million ($14.6 million) net profit, with participation from regulators, shareholders, board members, and external auditors.

Cisco names new VP, General Manager for MEA region

Sun, 29 Mar 2026

Cisco, the worldwide leader in networking and security, has appointed Shane Heraty as the new Vice President and General Manager for Cisco Middle East, Africa, Türkiye, Romania and CIS effective May 1. In this role, he will oversee Cisco's strategy and commercial operations in the region.

Mazad launches three-digit licence plate auction in Bahrain

Tue, 24 Mar 2026

Mazad, a leading digital auctions and marketplace platform in Bahrain, and a Mumtalakat portfolio company, has announced the launch of a special auction for a unique three‑digit vehicle license plate number, 994, in response to the growing demand for distinctive triple‑digit plates.

Houthis enter Iran war with attacks on Israel; US Marines arrive in region

Sun, 29 Mar 2026

The risk of an expanded Iran war ​grew as Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis on Saturday launched their first attacks on Israel since the start of the conflict, as additional US forces reached the Middle East. The first of two contingents of Marines arrived on an amphibious assault ship.

Kuwait water plant damaged in Iran attack, one worker killed

Mon, 30 Mar 2026

Kuwait's Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy announced on Sunday that a service building at one of the power and water distillation plants was damaged in an Iranian attack, resulting in the death of an Indian worker.

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