Business Emerging Markets Features

Tunisia Seeks to Do Business with the Gulf Countries

Economists are getting increasingly optimistic about the plan of Tunisia’s Prime Minister, Mehdi Jomaa, to tackle persistent unemployment and a tight budget. Mr Jomaa has recently visited a number of Gulf countries, accompanied by a delegation of businesspeople led by the head of the Tunisian Union of Trade, Industry, and Handicrafts (UTICA), Wided Bouchamaoui. Mr […]

Egypt Features Headlines

Egypt/Russia: the Russian arms deal

On a two-day visit to Moscow, Egyptian army chief Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was on Wednesday accompanied by Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy to seal a lucrative arms deal and discuss areas of cooperation “in multiple fields”. The US$2 billion arms deal will mainly be funded by Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The expected Russian […]

Egypt Features Headlines

Still Short of USD:Egypt’s Booming Foreign Currency Black Market

Egypt’s central bank has lately taken some exceptional steps to help the Egyptian pound and restrain the black market in foreign currencies. Despite the central bank’s effort, the currency black market is thriving around the country, which suggests that the limits of the economic recovery since the fall of ex-President Morsi in July last year […]

Business Emerging Markets Features

Egypt : Investors begin their return

As elections draw close this year, Egypt aims at attracting foreign currency into the country after investments almost dried up following the revolution which overthrew Hosni Mubarak in 2011. This cause, aimed at easing social discontent and creating jobs, is supported by state-linked investors and Dubai retailer Majid Al Futtaim. The company is the holder […]

Business Finance

Egypt : the second economic stimulus

The military backed interim government will be embarking on its second economic stimulus package with an amount of 30 billion Egyptian pounds after allocating 29,6 billion in the first operation. Finance Minister Ahmed Galal said the package will be financed by state funds and aid received from the Gulf States. Egypt’s economy has been on […]

Features Headlines Libya

Libya: UAE embassy comes under attack

The offices of foreign missions have become the new targets of unknown attackers in Libya. Attacks on such institutions have been rising and the United Arab Emirates is the latest victim to such hostilities when a rocket-propelled grenade was directed to the building housing its diplomatic office and the ambassador’s residence. The attack came only […]

Egypt Features Headlines

UAE under Egyptian cyber-attack

Officials of United Arab Emirates Telecoms Authority have claimed that they have dealt with a cyber-attack originating from Egypt against government websites. Officials linked the attack to the support rendered by the United Arab Emirates to the transitional government, which has replaced Morsi’s government since his removal by General Al Sisi. Cyber-attacks and cyber espionage […]

Business Features Finance

MENA: Arab Spring transitional countries boosted

A statement released by United Kingdom’s foreign ministry has stated that the government, in partnership with several international financial institutions, will be holding a Deauville Partnership Investment conference in September. The conference is aimed at promoting investments, trade and supporting new investors in transitional countries marred by the Arab Spring. The European Bank for Reconstruction […]

Asia Features International

Iranian Spies Nabbed in Saudi Arabia

Saudi authorities have caught 18 people having direct link to Iranian intelligence services, exacerbating secret war and tensions between the Sunni Arab monarchies and Shiite Persian Iran accused of seeking to destabilize the Gulf countries by inciting their indigenous Shiite communities to stage demonstrations during the Arab Spring. According to Saudi Interior ministry, the spy […]