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Logistics (MENA) 
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A maturing talent war
Bye-bye, Saudi salary premium | Bahrain joins relief package party | It’s B-A-U for Abu Dhabi, Inc | Egyptian builders to deliver Saudi’s housing ambitions?
Wednesday, 15 April 2026
Surprise jump
Good morning, friends. We have some good news to kick off the issue after yesterday’s surprise fuel price hike — the EGP is strengthening against the greenback, the bourse is up, and we’re hoping we’re on the path to recovery after what has been a volatile March so far.
To balance out the good news, February’s inflation reading came in higher than expected.
Today at a Glance
News
IEA cuts outlook for oil demand as supply nosedives
PLUS: Higher inflation in Cairo + Muscat as luxury retail…
Morocco’s tourism industry had a good 1Q as others in the region struggled
Morocco was the most visited country in Africa last year
Banking
Finance
Business
Saudi salary premium is shrinking as the Saudi-UAE talent war matures
The shift is likely driven by the scaling back of…
GCC aluminum output nosedives, putting pressure on buyers to find alternatives
Japan, the US, and the EU are the most exposed, with each importing some 19% to 25% of their primary aluminum needs…
Sovereign funds
SWFs are keeping busy
PLUS: Quick-delivery unicorn Ninja tests IPO waters
More Trojena contracts scrapped
What we’re tracking this morning regionally and around the world
Infrastructure
Scorecard
Energy
Big oil and gas discoveries in the Mediterranean and Libya are very welcome news for Egypt
Eni, Repsol, and Sonatrach all reported big finds that should be fairly quick to come to market
GCC countries face USD bns in foregone energy revenues — and it’s a boon for Algeria
This is another fake dek just to keep the atomizer happy
