Gulf Times Business
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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Aramco venture capital arm to open Paris office for AI investment
Aramco Ventures, a subsidiary of Saudi national oil major Aramco, is opening an office in Paris to oversee European artificial intelligence investment expected to total hundreds of millions of euros, CEO Mahdi Aladel told Reuters on Tuesday. The...
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Vodafone Qatar unveils transformative 5G standalone network, immersive experiences at MWC Doha 2025
Vodafone Qatar has announced the commercial launch of its 5G Standalone (SA) network, which marks a significant leap forward in its digital transformation journey. The company has partnered with Nokia to deliver 5G SA in Qatar, and they are jointly...
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Qatar Chamber explores co-operation with Portuguese Industrial Association
Qatar Chamber acting director general Ali Bu Sherbak al-Mansouri held a meeting yesterday with Filomena Pina Pires, director of the Portuguese Industrial Association (AIP), and Manul Campos, AIP Project Partner. The meeting discussed bilateral trade...
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Commercial Bank wins ‘prestigious’ awards at TAB Global Middle East and Africa Awards 2025
Commercial Bank has been recognised with prestigious awards at the TAB Global Middle East and Africa Awards 2025, reflecting its continued leadership in innovation, digital excellence, and customer-centric banking solutions. Commercial Bank was named...
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Al-Kuwari meets LSEG, Ashmore Group CEOs
QNB has launched Boat Finance, a bespoke loan to finance boats up to QR2mn, offering an exclusive interest rate of 3.45% per annum (equivalent to 1.85% flat rate). The loan finances both new and used boats or yachts, engines, navigation equipment, or...
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Mideast plays ‘defining role’ in Africa’s ‘historic’ energy transformation: Al-Attiyah Foundation
Africa stands at the threshold of a historic energy transformation — one in which the Middle East will play a defining role. With vast untapped reserves, surging demand from Europe, and billions in potential investment, the continent’s natural gas...
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QDB wins ‘Best Corporate Bank in Digital Transformation’ title, 5
Qatar Development Bank (QDB) has won the ‘Best Corporate Bank in Digital Transformation in the Middle East for 2025’ award from Global Finance. QDB was also named ‘Best Corporate Digital Bank’ in Qatar, having been selected from a shortlist of six...
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QNB organises ‘Junior Entrepreneur’ programme
QNB’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) team organised a creative programme for children titled ‘QNB Junior Entrepreneur’ in line with its initiatives to prepare a generation of new leaders capable of achieving a knowledge-based economy in...
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MoCI holds seminar on auditors’ compliance with AML/CFT requirements
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) has organised a seminar “Auditors’ Compliance with Anti-Money Laundering and CounterTerrorism Financing Requirements” with the participation of auditors, accounting firms and a wide array of...
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For two offshore blocks in Suriname
QatarEnergy has signed two new production sharing contracts (PSC) for offshore Blocks 9 and 10 in Suriname. The blocks were awarded to a QatarEnergy consortium during the POST SHO2 bid round held in June 2025. Pursuant to the signed agreements,...
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BP CEO expects non-Opec+ oil supply growth could decline by April
Oil supply growth outside Opec+ could decline by April, while demand remains robust, BP’s Chief Executive Murray Auchincloss said on Monday. “There is a supply increase that’s come outside of Opec+,” Auchincloss said. “We think that finishes in about...
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Funding Gate TAMKEEN
Qatar Development Bank (QBD) launched ‘TAMKEEN’ or the National Funding Gate, a unified digital platform for business financing in the country, during a ceremony held in Doha yesterday. TAMKEEN brings together Qatar’s leading financial institutions...
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Middle East Enterprise AI & Analytics Summit 2025’
Vodafone Qatar has been recognised with three major awards at the ‘11th Middle East Enterprise AI & Analytics Summit 2025’ in Doha, reaffirming its leadership in artificial intelligence, analytics, and customer experience innovation. The event...
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QNB Group supports Gulf Businesswomen Forum as strategic partner
QNB Group and the Qatar Chamber have signed a sponsorship agreement for the Seventh Gulf Businesswomen Forum, under which QNB will sponsor the event as a Strategic Partner. The agreement was signed by Qatar Chamber acting general manager Ali Bu...
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Moody’s assigns ‘(P)Aa2’ rating and stable outlook to Qatar’s Global Sukuk Ventures issuance
Global rating agency Moody’s has assigned ‘(P)Aa2’ rating and “stable” outlook to Qatar’s Global Sukuk Ventures’ issuance programme. The rating agency assigned a foreigncurrency backed senior unsecured MTN (medium-term note) rating of ‘(P) Aa2’ to the...
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IQ reports QR3.4bn profit on QR13.7bn revenues
Market heavyweight Industries Qatar (IQ) - the holding entity for Qatar Petrochemicals, Qatar Fertiliser and Qatar Steel - has reported a net profit of QR3.4bn for the nine-month (9M) ended on September 30 2025. On a like-for-like basis, excluding...
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Smart City Expo Doha envisions prosperous future beyond connectivity
Qatar will host a new edition of Smart City Expo Doha this November, organised by Fira de Barcelona, in partnership with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), and within MWC25 Doha. Under the slogan ‘Beyond Connectivity: A...
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