Yara Abi Farraj

1 week ago | economymiddleeast.com | Yara Abi Farraj

Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al-Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, welcomed Maroš Šefčovič, EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, to the UAE for ongoing talks regarding the comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) between the UAE and the EU. The visit also included an investment roundtable with representatives from leading private sector companies aimed at exploring opportunities for increased collaboration and investment flows between the EU and UAE.

1 week ago | economymiddleeast.com | Yara Abi Farraj

Abu Dhabi has reinforced its position as one of the world’s top cities in quality of life, safety and happiness. According to the findings of the fifth Quality of Life Survey conducted in 2024 by the Department of Community Development – Abu Dhabi (DCD), 93.6 percent of residents feel safe walking alone at night, reflecting the emirate’s continued recognition as the world’s safest city in 2025 according to global indicators.

1 week ago | economymiddleeast.com | Yara Abi Farraj

The MENA region witnessed 225 M&A deals in Q1 2025, up from the 172 deals recorded in Q1 2024, reflecting a 31 percent increase in deal volume when compared year-on-year. Total deal value rose by 66 percent to $46 billion in Q1 2025, when compared to $27.6 billion in Q1 2024, according to the latest EY MENA M&A Insights report.

1 week ago | economymiddleeast.com | Yara Abi Farraj

A group of leading UAE-based companies has signed letters of intent to explore investment opportunities in the newly announced Al Rawdah Special Economic Zone, a major industrial and logistics hub being developed at the Oman-UAE border. The companies, many of which are based in the Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), represent a diverse range of sectors, including logistics, manufacturing, steel fabrication and packaging.

1 week ago | economymiddleeast.com | Yara Abi Farraj

Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power announced today the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Strategic Partnership Agreements (SPA) with key entities in Malaysia during the ASEAN-GCC Summit in Kuala Lumpur. These partnerships create a powerful synergy between Malaysia’s innovative ecosystem and Saudi Arabia’s energy transition expertise, supporting decarbonization efforts, and establishing a strategic platform for sustainable development across Southeast Asia.