SHIPPING + MARITIME-

Spain studies Morocco undersea connection: The Spanish Transport Ministry has earmarked EUR 1.6 mn to assess the feasibility of an underwater tunnel connecting Spain and Morocco across the Strait of Gibraltar, Morocco World News reported on Saturday, citing Spanish daily Europa Sur. The connection would transport goods, services, and passengers over a 38.5 km stretch, 27.7 km of which would be submerged.

Who’s doing what? Spanish public company Ineco will be conducting the feasibility study, while German tunnelling machinery outfit Herrenknecht is evaluating technical viability, with a report expected to be published in June 2025. The parties are mulling two options for the European side’s entry point: the Spanish city of Algeciras and the Tarifa municipality.

TRADE-

Abu Dhabi, Japan strengthen trade ties: The Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI) and Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro) have inked an agreement to improve trade relations at the Abu Dhabi-Japan Business Connect Forum in Tokyo, according to a press release released on Thursday. The agreement aims to promote long-term bilateral trade growth, with a focus on innovation, sustainability, and advanced technologies.

AVIATION-

#1- Gulf carriers head to Egypt’s Alamein: Saudia, Flynas, and Etihad will launch 17 weekly flights to Egypt’s El Alamein International Airport starting in June — their first direct routes to the North Coast city, Asharq Business reports, citing a government official. Saudia will operate six weekly flights from Riyadh and Jeddah, Flynas will run nine, and Etihad will fly twice weekly from July through mid-September. Flydubai will also ramp up its flights to Alamien to seven a week starting 21 June, up from just one last summer.

#2- Dubai will award more tenders for its new passenger terminal at Al Maktoum International Airport later this year, Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects Executive Chairman Khalifa Al Zaffin told Gulf News on Thursday. The terminal substructure and district cooling plants will be the next packages to be tendered later this year. Some AED 1 bn in contracts have been awarded for the construction of the first phase of the Dubai South airport project, which includes the development of a second runway, he said.

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