By: Ingy ElSafy Mubasher: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought technology-enhanced methods that help authorities implement social distancing to preserve the health of people. Saudi Arabia will provide a digital Hajj (Muslim pilgrimage) this year and …
Mubasher: The majority of GCC consumers, about 85% of respondents to a survey, would currently opt for digital banking services rather than visiting a bank branch, according to a paper by Backbase with YouGov. With the appetite accelerating more …
Riyadh – Mubasher: Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has suspended direct and indirect travel of citizens to the UAE, Ethiopia, and Vietnam without obtaining prior permission from the concerned authorities due to the …
Mubasher: Green and sustainability-linked debt issuances in the MENA region amounted to $6.4 billion in value during the first half (H1) of 2021, exceeding the global growth rate, according to a report by Bloomberg on Sunday. The region’s green …
Mubasher: Approximately 100 million people in the Middle East use mobile gaming, with the industry across the region expected to reach $4.4 billion by 2022 compared to $1.06 billion in 2016. The region’s mobile gaming market grew 25% in 2020, …
Mubasher: All visitors from the Arabian Gulf countries who are vaccinated against COVID-19 will be allowed to enter Switzerland without the need to undergo quarantine nor testing. This decision has come to effect on 26 June, according to a press …
Mubasher: The UAE, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia were the top three Arab countries attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in 2020, according to the Arab Investment & Export Credit Guarantee Corporation (Dhaman) report on Thursday. The …
By: Moslem Ali Cairo - Mubasher: In the second instalment of our interview with the Founder and Chairman of Sawari Ventures, Ahmed El-Alfi, we discuss the future of technology and the opportunities of startups to succeed as technological …
By: Moslem Ali Cairo - Mubasher: Today’s guest in the Startup Lounge has played an integral role in developing the entrepreneurial scene in Egypt and the MENA region. He is one of the startup ecosystem leaders and investors who brought real …
Mubasher: The UAE, Egypt, Bahrain, and Qatar have topped the MENA region’s list of destinations of interest for Saudi international travellers since Saudi Arabia reopened its borders a month ago, given their proximity and familiarity, a recent …
Mubasher: The Middle East is not far from seeing more billion-dollar startups in the coming months, and it could be having “a few more unicorns in the region,” CEO of ride-hailing company Careem Mudassir Sheikha stated during a CNBC event The …
Riyadh – Mubasher: The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) said the digital currency project Aber has succeeded to achieve its main objectives that mainly include understanding, experiencing, and analysing the maturity of the distributed ledger technology …
Mubasher: Saudi and Emirati banks had the most entries in Forbes Middle East’s Top 50 Banks in The Middle East list for 2021 with 10 financial institutions each. Qatar National Bank topped the region’s listed banks with profits of $3.3 billion and …
UAE – Mubasher: The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has revealed that vaccines against the coronavirus (COVID-19) reduce the risk of disease and hospitalization. The health authority has called upon everyone to get the vaccine, noting that eight out …
Mubasher: Islamic insurance, Takaful, premiums are expected to grow moderately over the coming two to three years as more GCC, Southeast Asian, and African countries introduce compulsory health cover, according to Moody's Investors Service. Growth …
Mubasher: Banks across the Gulf area slashed cash dividends for 2020 by 45.4% or $6.6 billion to $8 billion compared to $14.6 billion in 2019, as a result of the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent report by Kamco Invest. The …
Mubasher: Saudi Arabia and the UAE have dominated Forbes Middle East's annual ranking of the top 100 listed companies for 2021, with 37 and 20 companies, respectively. Saudi Arabia has had the most companies on the list, topped by Saudi Arabian …
Mubasher: Saudi Arabia is expected to account for 60% of the $355 billion cumulative deficit across the GCC states between 2021 and 2024, according to S&P Global Ratings. Kuwait will likely follow with 25%, while the UAE and Oman are projected to …
Mubasher: The UAE and Saudi Arabia have topped the e-commerce growth in the Middle East, both accounting for 75% of the total e-commerce sales in 2020, according to EZDubai’s ‘E-Commerce Sector in the UAE 2020 insights’ report. The two GCC markets …
Mubasher: Affordability remains a critical factor for most consumers in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), besides the overall brand experience, EY MENA Consumer Industry Leader, Ahmed Reda, said. “Brands that keep these factors in mind will …
Mubasher: Total planned and committed investments in MENA’s energy sector are expected to exceed $805 billion over the coming five years, the Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation (APICORP) said. This will mark an increase of $13 billion from the …
Mubasher: The MENA region is projected to see 83 GW of renewable and clean energy capacity, mainly from solar and wind power, by 2035, according to a research from Informa Markets. In addition, over AED 55 billion worth of solar power projects …
Mubasher: Companies in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region recorded the least number of debt defaults in 2020 amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, investment experts at Aberdeen Standard …
By: Moslem Ali Cairo – Mubasher: Plastic bags that are often used for an average of 25 minutes could take more than 20 years to decompose, while other single-use plastic products, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), might need between 400 …
By: Ingy ElSafy Mubasher: The Middle East carries plenty of appeal for regional and international investors due to the favourable macroeconomic fundamentals that underpin these markets. Meanwhile, the sectors that have witnessed increased …
