Gulf Times Business
Russia seen to offer sanctioned LNG to energy-hungry Asia at a discount
Russia is seeking to leverage a global natural gas supply crunch to lure energy-starved South Asia into purchasing shipments from its US-sanctioned facilities, according to people familiar with the matter. The shipments were being offered at a 40%...
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Wars impose deep and prolonged economic costs on countries, says IMF research
Wars cause large and persistent economic losses in countries where fighting takes place, with output declining by roughly 7% over five years on average, and economic scars lasting for more than a decade, the International Monetary Fund said in research...
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EM assets climb as traders hunt for winners
Emerging market (EM) stocks climbed on Tuesday, cruising towards their third consecutive session of gains as investors weary of the relentless headlines from the Middle East picked winners selectively. Repeated false dawns and harsh rhetoric from both...
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QFCRA launches refreshed brand identity
combined ratios signals that insurers are likely to sustain underwriting profitability in the medium term,” the analyst said. Qatar Insurance reported 100% net combined ratio, QLM 99%, Doha Insurance 89%, Al Koot 86%, Al Khaleej Takaful 86%, Beema...
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QSE mirrors regional sentiments as index loses 67 points
The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) yesterday saw about 40% of the stocks extend gains but overall it settled in the negative. The market, which touched an intraday low of 10,148 points, managed to regain some lost grounds to finally settle at 10,160.38...
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FIATA seminar via Qatar Chamber initiative examines global shipping risks
The International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA), at the invitation of Qatar Chamber, recently organised a webinar on ‘Middle East Security Situation: Managing Legal, Insurance, and Operational Risks in Times of Disruption’. The...
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Al-Kaabi meets UK secretary of state for energy security
HE the Minister of State for Energy Affairs Saad bin Sherida al-Kaabi met yesterday with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero of the United Kingdom, Ed Miliband, reports QNA. Discussions during the meeting, which was held virtually,...
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‘Qatar becoming a strategic tech hub’
Qatar is becoming a strategic hub as it combines political stability, financial strength with a clear vision for the future, says Licorne Gulf founder Irina Duisimbekova. Excerpts from the interview: How do you see Qatar’s position in the global...
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Premiums surge, runs cut as war disrupts naphtha supply to Asia
Cut off from Middle East naphtha due to the Iran war, Asian producers of plastics and packaging face surging premiums that are already hitting output at petrochemical plants. Benchmark prices for first-half May cargoes soared to around $1,300 a ton on...
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GTA issues clarifications on capital gains tax exemption for corporate restructuring
The General Tax Authority (GTA) has announced official clarifications on capital gains tax in the State of Qatar, introducing an exemption for gains arising from intra-group restructuring, in a move aimed at supporting the investment environment. In a...
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Japan allows more coal-fired power to cope with energy shock
Japan will allow more use of coal-fired power plants in an effort to boost security of supply to cope with the energy shock from the war in the Middle East. The country will let less-efficient coal facilities take part in capacity market auctions in...
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Qatar industrial sector PPI falls 14.90% in January
flat. On a year-on-year basis, the Mining and Quarrying PPI for January 2026 decreased by 18.23% compared to January 2025. This decline was mainly due to a 18.25% decrease in Crude Petroleum and Natural Gas, and a 0.10% decrease in Other Mining and...
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War knocks global economy with shock to growth, prices
The world economy’s first signs of a synchronized shock emerged in business surveys revealing how the Iran war’s fallout is crippling growth momentum and stoking prices. Multiple purchasing manager indexes compiled by S&P Global for March showed...
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JPMorgan shifts EA buyout debt mix, boosts loan to $5bn
Wall Street banks led by JPMorgan Chase & Co have amended the debt package for the buyout of video game maker Electronic Arts Inc, increasing the size of a US dollar loan offering to $5bn. The lender group boosted the loan by $1bn, while reducing the...
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Shockwave of war is rippling through the global economy
The global economy’s first collective health check since war broke out in the Middle East will arrive in the form of business surveys from the US to the euro zone. Every purchasing manager index for which Bloomberg collects estimates is anticipated to...
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Iran war rattles the global aluminium supply chain
The US-Israeli war on Iran is now in its third week and its impact on Gulf aluminium production and exports is accelerating disruption across an already fragmented physical supply chain. Two Gulf smelters are curtailing capacity, and the continued...
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Qatar’s Consumer Price Index rises 2.51% year-on-year in February
Qatar’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose to 110.60 points in February 2026, marking an increase of 0.64% compared to January 2026 and a year-on-year rise of 2.51% compared with February 2025. The index, which measures inflation, comprises 12 main groups...
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Emergency stockpile oil coming soon to markets: IEA
More than 400mn barrels of oil from International Energy Agency emergency reserves will begin flowing soon, the agency said in its most detailed account of the rollout of the plan to combat a spike in crude prices since the start of the Iran...
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India asks China for urea cargoes as gas crunch hits plants
Al Mirqab Capital Co; Ali Hussain Ibrahim Alfardan, Alfardan Investment Co; Ali Yousef Hussein Kamal; and Khalifa Hussein al Naama. The following were appointed as reserve members: Abdulaziz Mohammed Hamad Abdullah al-Mana, on behalf of Al Mana...
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Iraq to keep crude output at 1.4mn bpd amid war disruption, says minister
Iraq will keep crude oil production at around 1.4mn barrels per day, Oil Minister Hayan Abdel-Ghani was quoted as saying on Thursday, less than a third of the level before the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. According to the state news agency, the...
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Barwa Real Estate developing comprehensive strategic plan for 2026 in next phase of growth
Barwa Real Estate Group has developed a comprehensive strategic plan for 2026, structured around three fundamental pillars, outlining next phase of growth. “The plan seeks to secure sustainable returns, optimise shareholder value, and support the...
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Why New Zealanders are moving to Australia in droves
For decades, moving “across the ditch” to Australia has been an easy option for New Zealanders seeking higher pay and broader prospects. There’s no visa required and it’s just a quick, three-hour flight separating the two countries. The steady flow —...
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Airports demonstrate strong operational adaptability
Gulf airports have repeatedly demonstrated strong resilience and operational adaptability during periods of disruption, Stefano Baronci, director general, ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East, has said. Baronci explained, “During the Covid-19 crisis, for...
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UDC shareholders approve 5.5% cash dividend
United Development Company (UDC), a leading Qatari public shareholding company and the master developer of The Pearl and Gewan Islands, held its annual general assembly where shareholders approved 5.5% cash dividend equivalent to QR194.7mn. The...
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Russia seen prepared to divert oil to India as conflict disrupts flows
Russia is ready to divert oil to India to offset Middle East supply disruptions, with about 9.5mn barrels of Russian crude in vessels near Indian waters and able to arrive within weeks, an industry source with direct knowledge told Reuters. The source...
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IEA ready to stabilise oil market hit by Iran war, says document
The International Energy Agency is ready to help stabilize the global oil market in the wake of the Iran conflict, noting that member countries hold over 1bn barrels in emergency stockpiles, according to a document prepared by the agency and seen by...
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Hopes for Suez Canal revival dashed by new Middle East conflict
Shippers are once again avoiding the Suez Canal as the US and Israel are locked in a war with Iran, dashing hopes of an imminent revival for the key global trade conduit that’s a pillar of the Egyptian economy. AP Moller-Maersk A/S, Hapag-Lloyd AG and...
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Hedge funds hike bullish oil bets to 22-month high on Iran risks
Hedge funds turned the most bullish on Brent crude since April 2024 as investors grew more concerned that US military action in the Middle East could be imminent and disrupt oil supplies flowing out of the region. Money managers increased their...
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Aramco revs up gas boom as $100bn Jafurah field starts
Saudi Aramco started production from the largest single shale gas field outside of North America in December, as it looks for alternative supplies to meet growing local electricity demand and free up crude oil for exports. The Saudi government-run...
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QNB Group earns 5 accolades at 2026 Sustainable Finance Awards
QNB Group has secured five awards, including Overall Best Bank for Sustainable Finance in the Middle East, at the annual Global Finance Sustainable Finance Awards, reinforcing its leadership in advancing responsible banking and sustainable growth...
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MPHC plans QR770mn investment over next five years
Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding Company (MPHC) is planning to invest QR770mn in capital expenditures over the next five years, it was announced during MPHC’s Annual General Assembly, presided over by its chairman, Ahmad Saif al-Sulaiti. During the...
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QSE sees 59% of stocks end in red
Reflecting the growing US-Iran tensions, the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) yesterday opened the week weak with its key index losing as much as 68 points and capitalisation erode in excess of QR4bn. The Gulf institutions were seen net profit takers as the...
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Qatar Chamber holds course on entrepreneurship, legal protection
Qatar Chamber recently organised a two-day specialised training course on ‘Entrepreneurship and Legal Protection of Emerging Establishments from Idea to Liquidation’. The course, which gathered several entrepreneurs, project owners, and individuals...
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Dell Technologies and Ooredoo in pact to advance AI innovation, deepen cooperation
SMEs, contributing to more efficient business processes and strengthening the digital maturity of participating SMEs. The programme also offered a wide range of innovative digital solutions and exclusive offers, through the implementation of 94...
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TotalEnergies appoints Antoine Delafargue as country chair and managing director for exploration and production in Qatar
support of achieving long-term corporate sustainability objectives and reinforcing the responsibility towards the environment and society, he said. Within an increasingly dynamic and rapidly evolving business environment, Milaha has demonstrated a...
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Qatar Chamber invited to visit Iowa to explore opportunities
Qatar Chamber first vice-chairman Mohamed bin Towar al-Kuwari held a meeting with David Hamod, president and CEO of the National American Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC), at the chamber’s Lusail headquarters yesterday. They discussed economic...
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WEEKLY REVIEW
The bullish momentum in the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) continued for the second week in straight with its key index gaining more than 160 points and capitalisation adding about QR7bn. Notwithstanding the persistent apprehensions and geopolitical...
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Qatar urged to consider ‘positive neutral counter-cyclical capital buffer’ to bolster banks’ resilience
Qatar should consider introducing a “positive neutral counter-cyclical capital buffer” (CCyB) to bolster its banking sector resilience, according to a top official of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Ahead of Article IV consultation with Qatar,...
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Kuwait exploring first shale development with Devon, EOG
Kuwait Oil Co (KOC) is in talks with companies including Devon Energy Corp and EOG Resources Inc to evaluate and potentially develop shale resources in the country, the latest Middle Eastern nation to consider tapping into these unconventional...
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Emerging economies call for global safety net
Emerging market economies have called for an effective global safety net that encourages adoption of sound economic policies and enables countries to prevent crises. This was among the key points discussed at a high-level roundtable session titled...
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Private sector role seen essential for strategic economic recalibration
The role of the private sector in the Qatar-India economic corridor is undergoing a fundamental transformation, shifting from a model of passive participation to a deliberate pillar of national economic strategy, according to a top official of LuLu...
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Google goes from laggard to leader as it pulls ahead of OpenAI with stellar AI growth
Alphabet is taking on OpenAI with a gusto that underscores Wall Street’s perception that the Google parent is the leader in AI, a turn of events from a year ago when investors thought it was badly lagging behind rivals and punished its stock. Alphabet...
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Dukhan Bank signs exploratory MoU with PayLater to assess deferred payment solutions
Dukhan Bank has signed an exploratory Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with PayLater, a Qatar-based financial technology company offering deferred payment solutions, on the sidelines of Web Summit Qatar 2026. The counterparty operates as a deferred...
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Why even a hint of ‘Sell America’ rattles global markets
The US boasts the world’s deepest and most liquid financial markets. The dollar is the king of currencies. Treasuries are the preeminent safe-haven asset. And yet, a narrative has taken hold that it may be time for global investors to “Sell...
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QCB governor meets General Atlantic chairman
HE the Governor of the Qatar Central Bank (QCB) and Chairman of the Qatar Investment Authority Sheikh Bandar bin Mohammed bin Saoud al-Thani met yesterday with Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of General Atlantic William Ford, reports QNA. During...
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QSE defies regional trend as key index falls 37 points
Defying a general gaining trend in the region, the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) yesterday settled 37 points lower on selling pressure particularly at the telecom and banking counters. The foreign institutions’ net buying weakened substantially as the...
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General assembly approves change of QEWC name to Nebras Energy
The Extraordinary General Assembly meeting of Qatar Electricity & Water Company (QEWC) approved changing the company’s commercial name to Nebras Energy. The meeting was presided over yesterday by HE the Minister of State for Energy Affairs Saad bin...
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Uruguay central bank chief signals more interest rate cuts in 2026
Uruguay’s central bank plans to continue cutting interest rates next year to get consistently low inflation up to its 4.5% target by accelerating growth and weakening the currency, Chairman Guillermo Tolosa told reporters in Montevideo on Friday....
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MCIT organises awareness sessions to support SMEs in adopting modern digital tools
QNB Financial Services (QNBFS), a subsidiary of QNB Group launched retail trading in fixed-income securities on the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE), where QNBFS executed its first transaction in fixed-income securities for individuals. This “pioneer step”...
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EU finalises deal to phase out Russian gas imports by 2027
The European Union has reached a deal to phase out Russian gas faster than originally planned, a move that aims to finally sever ties between the bloc and its once-primary energy supplier. In the aftermath of the invasion of Ukraine, traders and...
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QFC Family Office Forum highlights Qatar’s value proposition for wealth preservation, growth
The Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) hosted this year’s edition of its Family Office Forum, bringing together senior family office representatives, next-generation leaders, wealth advisers, and industry experts to discuss factors shaping family wealth and...
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Chamber participates in 1st Gulf forum for building capacities, skills of home-based business owners
Qatar Chamber recently participated in the ‘First Gulf Forum for Building the Capacities and Skills of HomeBased Business Owners’, hosted by Kuwait. The two-day forum was organised by the Executive Office of the Council of Ministers of Labour and...
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Commercial Bank, MBG Corporate Services host exclusive VAT advisory workshop
Commercial Bank’s Wholesale Banking team hosted an exclusive Advisory Workshop on Value Added Tax (VAT), in collaboration with MBG Corporate Services. The session highlighted the importance of regulatory compliance and meeting obligations within...
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Philippines’ Misamis Occidental eyes Qatar ties via business missions
The governor of Misamis Occidental province in the Philippines has underscored the importance of reciprocal business missions between Qatar and Northern Mindanao, describing delegation exchanges as a key pathway to explore investment opportunities in...
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