Business

Biggest quarterly gain in GCC markets since global financial crisis

Published

3 years ago

April 4, 2022

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The MSCI GCC aggregate index saw a rise of about 18 per cent in the first three months of 2022, thanks to a broad rally across regional GCC markets and higher oil prices. This is the biggest quarterly gain recorded by GCC markets since the second quarter of 2009 during the global financial crisis.

The surge was backed by four consecutive months of gains in the index, Kamco Invest said in a report.

During the quarter, all the regional markets were in the green. Abu Dhabi reported the biggest gain of about 17 per cent. It was followed by Qatar and Saudi Arabia, with gains of around 16 per cent each, the report added.

The biggest gains were recorded by capital goods, materials and banking sectors — at close to 20 per cent. Energy and health care expanded 18 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively.

The only sectors that declined in the first quarter were consumer durables and apparels, and pharma, the report revealed.

In March, the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) was the best-performing market in the GCC, with the exchange’s market capitalisation increasing 4.7 per cent to reach Dh1.81 trillion ($492 billion).

Total volume of shares traded grew 39 per cent to 6.2 billion in March from 4.4 billion in February. Monthly value traded also rose 44 per cent to Dh40.2b last month, the report added.

ADX, the Arab world’s second-largest stock market by market value, also led the GCC in terms of year-to-date gains that reached 17.2 per cent at the end of March after registering record growth during 2021, the report said.

The Dubai Financial Market also gained 5 per cent in March, closing at 3,526.6 points, supported by gains in six out of nine sectoral indices including large-cap sectors such as banks, property and insurance, the report said.

Staff Reporter

Business

Sheikh Mohammed announces new UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade and renames Ministry of Economy

Published

2 days ago

June 20, 2025

Michael Gomes

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In a major UAE government move, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, has announced the creation of a new Ministry of Foreign Trade and renamed the Ministry of Economy to the Ministry of Economy and Tourism.

Taking to the social media platform X, Sheikh Mohammed said the decisions were made in consultation with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE.

“Brothers and sisters, after consultation with my brother, the President of the State, may God protect him, and with his approval, we announce today several changes in the UAE government as follows: The Ministry of Foreign Trade was established in the UAE government and the name of the Ministry of Economy is changed to Ministry of Economy and Tourism,” the Dubai Ruler wrote in his post.

Key announcements include:

The establishment of a new Ministry of Foreign Trade, with Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi appointed as the minister.
The Ministry of Economy is now renamed the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, to reflect its broader scope. Abdullah Bin Touq Al Marri will continue to lead it.
The National Artificial Intelligence System will become an advisory member of the Cabinet, starting January 2026. It will also join the Ministerial Council for Development and the boards of all federal entities and government-owned companies.

The integration of AI into key decision-making bodies aims to enhance policy efficiency, provide real-time technical advice, and support future-focused governance across sectors.

Sheikh Mohammed emphasised that the move aligns with the UAE’s ongoing commitment to innovation, agility, and strategic leadership at all levels of government.

Real estate

Abu Dhabi launches smart platform to boost real estate investment and speed up construction approvals

Published

3 days ago

June 19, 2025

Michael Gomes

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Real estate investors in Abu Dhabi have a new reason to celebrate. The Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) has launched Binaa, an AI-powered digital platform that promises to slash building permit approval times by up to 70 per cent and reduce unnecessary construction costs, making the emirate even more attractive for real estate development and investment.

Unveiled during the Abu Dhabi Infrastructure Summit, the goal of Binaa is to dramatically reduce red tape, speed up approvals, and modernise how building projects are reviewed and managed.

What Binaa Means for You:

Up to 70 per cent faster permit approvals
Simplified process for private villa construction
Real-time tracking for architects, contractors, and homeowners
Minimises the cost and environmental impact of over-designed plans
Supports full coordination across 15 plus government entities

Smarter Construction, Powered by AI

Binaa uses AI, Building Information Modelling (BIM), and virtual/augmented reality to help spot design inefficiencies and ensure buildings meet safety and sustainability codes. It can also simulate site inspections using 3D overlays, making it easier to spot errors before they become costly construction issues.

During Phase 1, the platform will focus on private villas, which account for around 20,000 applications annually. Future phases will expand to larger developments.

One Platform, Endless Possibilities

Binaa offers a single digital window for managing the entire building process. It allows instant collaboration between consultants, project owners, and government agencies.

Business

UAE Central Bank keeps interest rate steady at 4.40%

Published

3 days ago

June 19, 2025

Michael Gomes

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The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has announced that it will maintain its Base Rate at 4.40%, following the US Federal Reserve’s decision to leave its Interest Rate on Reserve Balances (IORB) unchanged.

The Base Rate is applied to the Overnight Deposit Facility (ODF) and serves as a key benchmark for short-term interest rates in the country’s financial system.

In line with this, the CBUAE also confirmed that the borrowing rate for short-term liquidity from the central bank will remain 50 basis points above the Base Rate, applicable across all standing credit facilities.

What does this mean?
Anchored to the US Fed’s IORB, the UAE’s Base Rate reflects the overall monetary policy stance and helps set the floor for overnight money market interest rates, ensuring stability in the financial sector.