{"id":113269,"date":"2026-03-16T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/?post_type=issue&#038;p=113269"},"modified":"2026-04-13T18:30:05","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T18:30:05","slug":"we-laughed-when-saudi-overbuilt-red-sea-port-capacity-it-just-became-a-lifeline","status":"publish","type":"issue","link":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/issues\/we-laughed-when-saudi-overbuilt-red-sea-port-capacity-it-just-became-a-lifeline\/","title":{"rendered":"We laughed when Saudi overbuilt Red Sea port capacity. It just became a lifeline."},"content":{"rendered":"<section id=\"113271\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"113271\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">1<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">OPENING NOTE<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/16\/week-three-a-great-rerouting-is-reshaping-gulf-logistics-as-the-economic-costs-pile-up\/\">\r\n                            Week three: A \u201cGreat Rerouting\u201d is reshaping Gulf logistics as the economic costs pile up                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/16\/week-three-a-great-rerouting-is-reshaping-gulf-logistics-as-the-economic-costs-pile-up\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); navigator.clipboard.writeText('https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/16\/week-three-a-great-rerouting-is-reshaping-gulf-logistics-as-the-economic-costs-pile-up\/')\">\n                    Copy Link                <\/a>\n\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/16\/week-three-a-great-rerouting-is-reshaping-gulf-logistics-as-the-economic-costs-pile-up\/\">\n                    Facebook                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/facebook-icon2.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/intent\/post?text=Week three: A \u201cGreat Rerouting\u201d is reshaping Gulf logistics as the economic costs pile up&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/16\/week-three-a-great-rerouting-is-reshaping-gulf-logistics-as-the-economic-costs-pile-up\/\">\n                    X                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/twitter-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/16\/week-three-a-great-rerouting-is-reshaping-gulf-logistics-as-the-economic-costs-pile-up\/&title=Week three: A \u201cGreat Rerouting\u201d is reshaping Gulf logistics as the economic costs pile up\">\n                    LinkedIn                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/linkedin-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?text=Week+three%3A+A+%E2%80%9CGreat+Rerouting%E2%80%9D+is+reshaping+Gulf+logistics+as+the+economic+costs+pile+up+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fmenaplus%2F2026%2F03%2F16%2Fweek-three-a-great-rerouting-is-reshaping-gulf-logistics-as-the-economic-costs-pile-up%2F\">\n                    WhatsApp                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/whatsapp-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n    <\/div>\n        <\/div>\r\n                    \r\n                <\/div>\r\n\r\n            \r\n            <div class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/16\/week-three-a-great-rerouting-is-reshaping-gulf-logistics-as-the-economic-costs-pile-up\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                                            <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-113271\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-113271 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-opening-note tag-debt-market tag-dubai-international-airport tag-enterpriseam tag-opening-note tag-uae wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Good morning, wonderful people. <\/strong>We\u2019re well into week three of the US-Israeli war on Iran, and some patterns worth talking about are taking shape. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>But first: <\/strong>Let\u2019s play a little game of point-counterpoint.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>POINT- The US-Israeli war on Iran could hit MENA\u2019s biggest economies harder than covid<\/strong> if it lasts much longer, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2026-03-15\/gulf-economies-at-risk-of-worst-strife-since-1990s-on-iran-war\" style=\"\">Bloomberg<\/a> \u2019s inimitable Farouk Soussa says. Qatar and Kuwait could see their economies contract as much as 14% this year if the war lasts through April, while the UAE could see a 4% drop and Saudi GDP could shrink 3%. Egypt, meanwhile, trails only Pakistan and India in its vulnerability to fallout from the conflict, a Fitch Solutions report suggests. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>COUNTERPOINT- Maybe some investors think it\u2019s all just a blip? <\/strong>The UAE just raised USD 300 mn in its first AED-denominated T-bond auction since the war started. Investors placed bids for more than 4.4x than was on offer and the spread was just 16 basis points above comparable US treasuries. Some investors, it seems, still like the UAE\u2019s longer-term prospects, whatever the short-term narrative is on capital flight. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Yes, but\u2026 <\/strong>The open question remains: How much of the buying was by captive domestic players? (Read: Local institutions directed to send the right signal.)<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>This morning\u2019s pattern: A Great Rerouting<\/strong> is reshaping the region\u2019s logistics architecture in real time<strong>. <\/strong>As we note in this morning\u2019s The Lede, Saudi has engineered a massive repositioning of trucks and customs infrastructure to the Red Sea in a bid to stay open to global trade. Egypt\u2019s Red Sea ports are surging, and DP World anticipates surging Jeddah volumes. Meanwhile, Adnoc is cutting onshore crude shipments to equity partners by 20% so that it can redirect supply to Fujairah, the east-west pipeline that\u2019s now ramping-up to 7 mn bbl \/ day. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The rerouting will hit passengers this morning, too: <\/strong>DXB was just reopening for a handful of flights as of 10:37 am UAE after an <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/DXBMediaOffice\/status\/2033354879452991975?s=20\" style=\"\">Iranian drone hit fuel tanks<\/a> at the airport overnight, forcing a shutdown. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>What you\u2019re reading: <\/strong>This is the first live-written zero issue of EnterpriseAM MENA+. Thanks for reading. \u2013Patrick<\/p>\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/debt-market\/\">debt market<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/dubai-international-airport\/\">Dubai International Airport<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/opening-note\/\">Opening Note<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/uae\/\">UAE<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"113272\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"113272\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">2<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">THE LEDE<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/16\/saudis-overbuilt-red-sea-port-capacity-is-suddenly-a-lifeline-for-the-gulf\/\">\r\n                            All roads lead to Jeddah                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/16\/saudis-overbuilt-red-sea-port-capacity-is-suddenly-a-lifeline-for-the-gulf\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); 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Jeddah Islamic Port alone has capacity north of 10 mn TEUs but handled just over 3 mn TEU in 2024. King Abdullah Port adds another 5 mn TEUs. That means Saudi\u2019s Red Sea ports were operating at roughly 40-45% utilization before the crisis.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Why it matters:<\/strong> The Gulf imports 85% of its food \u2014 and more than 70% of it came through the now-shut Strait of Hormuz. Rice, cereals, meat, medicine, construction materials, and the industrial inputs that keep desalination plants and factories running all funneled through there until two weeks ago.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>How it works now: <\/strong>Companies and customs officials have scrambled to reposition trucks, customs operations, and specialists at Red Sea-coast facilities to haul cargo into and out of (but mostly into\u2026) the Kingdom while Hormuz remains shut. Cargo arriving via the Suez Canal or around the Cape of Good Hope now lands at Jeddah, King Abdullah Port, or Yanbu, then moves overland by truck into the Kingdom and onward to neighboring GCC states. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>This is traffic the UAE is losing.<\/strong> Jebel Ali, DP World\u2019s flagship hub, handled 15.6 mn TEU last year. UAE ports outside Hormuz \u2014 Khorfakkan at c. 5 mn TEU capacity and Fujairah at under 1 mn \u2014 cannot compensate. Saudi\u2019s under-used Red Sea ports are absorbing what the Gulf\u2019s established hubs can\u2019t currently handle.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>That could create \u201chealthy\u201d competition:<\/strong> Saudi Arabia\u2019s investment in inland logistics zones and Red Sea gateways will narrow the perceived gap with operations in the UAE, the former head of supply chain and transport industries at the World Economic Forum Wolfgang Lehmacher tells EnterpriseAM.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>This could signal a long-term shift: <\/strong>Logistics routes in the region are likely to become more diversified to hedge against geopolitics, markets, or climate-driven volatility, Lehmacher told us. \u201cBy shifting part of the flow away from the Gulf and toward the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, these corridors do not make Hormuz irrelevant, but they do change the geometry of power in the region: market access, risk, and bargaining leverage will no longer be concentrated in a single narrow waterway,\u201d Lehmacher said.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>There\u2019s more value for everyone <\/strong>\u2014 Jeddah, Yanbu, Dammam, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Salalah, Aqaba \u2014 <strong>in a Mideast platform of interoperable hubs<\/strong>, Lehmacher argues, than there is in any one center becoming \u201cthe\u201d undisputed hub. When the conflict ends, he says, operators should compete on performance, but collaborate on standards, data and interoperability. The goal: To make the region indispensable to global shippers and investors \u2014 and more resilient.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>As with anything governmental, it needs a name before it can be declared real:<\/strong> Saudi Transport Minister Saleh Al-Jasser <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.spa.gov.sa\/en\/N2534501\" style=\"\"><\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.spa.gov.sa\/en\/N2534501\" style=\"\">has dubbed it<\/a> the \u201cWestern Coast Logistics Corridors Initiative.\u201d He made the announcement in Jeddah Islamic Port, flanked by the heads of the customs authority and the national port authority. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>It\u2019s a land bridge \u2014 but not <\/strong><strong>the<\/strong><strong> Landbridge:<\/strong> The Saudi Landbridge railway, a c. USD 7 bn Vision 2030 project linking Jeddah to Riyadh and Dammam, is still under construction, with operations not expected until the late 2020s. What\u2019s running today is tires-on-asphalt. Trucking is slower, costlier per TEU, and harder to scale than the rail network the Kingdom is building.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The Red Sea is getting a second act \u2014 and carriers are already repositioning.<\/strong> DP World \u2014 which operates the South Container Terminal at Jeddah Islamic Port \u2014 expects rising volumes at its Red Sea terminals, Group CEO Yuvraj Narayan <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/middle-east\/dp-world-jebel-ali-port-fully-operational-inbound-vessel-traffic-reduced-2026-03-12\/\" style=\"\"><\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/middle-east\/dp-world-jebel-ali-port-fully-operational-inbound-vessel-traffic-reduced-2026-03-12\/\" style=\"\">said<\/a> on an earnings call last week, though he stopped short of saying how much volume or what cargo types were moving. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Worth noting:<\/strong> APM Terminals, Maersk\u2019s terminal subsidiary, recently acquired a 37.5% minority stake in that same Jeddah terminal, meaning the world\u2019s two largest port operators are now co-invested in the facility positioned to become the Gulf\u2019s primary relief valve.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Shipping lines are building new routes around the Hormuz blockade.<\/strong> The Gemini Cooperation (Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd) launched AE19, a new Asia-Europe service that sails from Chinese and Korean ports to Tanjung Pelepas, rounds the Cape of Good Hope into the Mediterranean, then calls at Jeddah. The first westbound sailing departed Xingang on 13 March. That it routes via the Cape rather than Suez \u2014 just weeks after Gemini had returned its ME11 service to the Red Sea in mid-February \u2014 tells you how fast the security picture shifted once Israeli and US warplanes started flying.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>BACKGROUND-<\/strong> Saudi Arabia has been working on supply chain hedges for some time. The launch of Folk Maritime in 2024 was part of that drive: Focused on feeder connections in the Red Sea, the company is basing a core part of its business strategy on offering a Plan B (shipping option) or \u201cbackup offer\u201d for shippers, a consideration often neglected by large global industries in the past, CEO of Folk Maritime Poul Hestbaek previously <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/logistics\/2025\/11\/17\/folk-maritimes-poul-hestbaek-unpacks-growth-plans-for-2026-amid-volatile-global-trade\/\" style=\"\"><\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/logistics\/2025\/11\/17\/folk-maritimes-poul-hestbaek-unpacks-growth-plans-for-2026-amid-volatile-global-trade\/\" style=\"\">told us last year<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>What to watch for next: <\/strong>We\u2019ll be keeping an eye on Jeddah\u2019s throughput numbers over the next 30 days \u2014 and for signs that Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, and others add more AE19-style services routing via the Cape to Jeddah. War-risk insurance pricing on Gulf-bound routes \u2014 and what the still largely-silent Houthis do \u2014 are also on our radar.<\/p>\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/gcc\/\">GCC<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/logistics\/\">LOGISTICS<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/saudi-arabia\/\">Saudi Arabia<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" 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class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">3<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">Sports<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/16\/the-cost-of-instability-f1-motogp-scrub-april-events-in-the-gulf\/\">\r\n                            F1\u2019s red flag                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a 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href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/16\/the-cost-of-instability-f1-motogp-scrub-april-events-in-the-gulf\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/741.jpg?fit=1568%2C9999&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"113275\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/16\/the-cost-of-instability-f1-motogp-scrub-april-events-in-the-gulf\/741-jpg-5\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/741.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"741.jpg\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/741.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/741.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-113274\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-113274 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-sports tag-bahrain tag-enterpriseam tag-qatar tag-sports tag-tourism tag-uae wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong> Flagship motorsport events in the GCC are the latest casualties of war <\/strong>after organizers called off three Grand Prix competitions scheduled for April in Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>What\u2019s happening? <\/strong>F1 has formally <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/7116058\/2026\/03\/14\/bahrain-saudi-grand-prix-canceled-f1\/\" style=\"\">cancelled<\/a> the 12 April (Bahrain) and 19 April (Jeddah) races, while MotoGP has <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/sports\/formula1\/motogp-postpones-qatar-grand-prix-due-middle-east-conflict-2026-03-15\/\" style=\"\">pushed<\/a> its Qatar opener to November.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Why it matters: <\/strong>The cancellations are another sign of the headwinds facing the region\u2019s tourism industry, which is already looking at some <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/e99229ce-3571-4126-99e2-346e7cc6f5ac\" style=\"\">USD 600 mn per day<\/a> in foregone revenue. The events generate big tourism receipts from luxury travellers from all over the world. The UAE <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.arabnews.com\/node\/2634815\/business-economy\" style=\"\">reportedly<\/a> reeled in some AED 1.25 bn from weekend spending associated with F1 events.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The cancellations are a big hit for motorsport owners. <\/strong>Analysts are <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.investing.com\/news\/analyst-ratings\/guggenheim-reiterates-liberty-formula-one-stock-buy-on-race-cancellations-93CH-4560714\" style=\"\">saying<\/a> the lost races can cost Liberty Formula One somewhere between USD 190-200 mn in lost revenue. The combined hosting fees paid by Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.the-race.com\/formula-1\/five-consequences-of-f1s-double-race-cancellation\/\" style=\"\">estimated to exceed<\/a> USD 100 mn alone.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>Teams sharing in the revenues will also be hit: <\/strong>McLaren CEO Zak Brown acknowledged the lost races will \u201cprobably\u201d dent team budgets, but said the financial impact is the \u201cleast of our concerns\u201d given the geopolitical reality.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>What\u2019s next? The circuit now faces an unexpected extended break<\/strong>, leaving an empty 35-day gap in the calendar between the Japanese and Miami Grands Prix. An immediate logistical headache is retrieving team freight and equipment that have been stranded in Bahrain since pre-season testing concluded.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">Let\u2019s call the whole thing off<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Other sports events are doing the same:<\/strong> The World Endurance Championship postponed its season opener in Qatar until October. Tennis organizers <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/sports\/tennis\/atp-challenger-event-uae-halted-due-security-alert-2026-03-03\/\" style=\"\">scrapped<\/a> the ATP Challenger in Fujairah. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Finance events are also <\/strong><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/issues\/the-economy-could-contract-if-the-war-lasts-through-april-goldman-sachs-says\/#113752\" style=\"\">pulling the plug<\/a><\/strong><strong>. <\/strong>JPMorgan rescheduled its MENA Global Opportunities conference (it\u2019s not saying when it will run), it\u2019s unclear whether next month\u2019s EFG Hermes One on One will go ahead, and companies are moving their annual general meetings to Switzerland and other major centers from Abu Dhabi and Dubai. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Crypto bros are also pulling back: <\/strong>The Token2049 \u200cconference has been delayed to April 2027, it said <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.token2049.com\/dubai\/announcement\" style=\"\">in a statement<\/a>. The gathering attracted c. 15k attendees last year, including the CEOs of Binance and stablecoin Tether. <\/p>\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/bahrain\/\">Bahrain<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/qatar\/\">Qatar<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/sports\/\">sports<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/tourism\/\">Tourism<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/uae\/\">UAE<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"113276\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"113276\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">4<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">THE CORRIDOR<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/16\/youre-going-to-pay-more-for-your-tech-gadgets-thanks-to-qatars-natural-gas-shutdown\/\">\r\n                            Your next smartphone is going to cost more because of Bibi\u2019s war                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/16\/youre-going-to-pay-more-for-your-tech-gadgets-thanks-to-qatars-natural-gas-shutdown\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" 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              <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/intent\/post?text=You\u2019re going to pay more for your tech gadgets thanks to Qatar\u2019s natural gas shutdown&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/16\/youre-going-to-pay-more-for-your-tech-gadgets-thanks-to-qatars-natural-gas-shutdown\/\">\n                    X                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/twitter-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/16\/youre-going-to-pay-more-for-your-tech-gadgets-thanks-to-qatars-natural-gas-shutdown\/&title=You\u2019re going to pay more for your tech gadgets thanks to Qatar\u2019s natural gas shutdown\">\n                    LinkedIn                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" 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href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/16\/youre-going-to-pay-more-for-your-tech-gadgets-thanks-to-qatars-natural-gas-shutdown\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/internal\/113995.jpg?fit=1568%2C9999&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"113277\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/16\/youre-going-to-pay-more-for-your-tech-gadgets-thanks-to-qatars-natural-gas-shutdown\/113995-jpg-5\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/internal\/113995.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"113995.jpg\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/internal\/113995.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/internal\/113995.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-113276\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-113276 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-the-corridor tag-enterpriseam tag-natural-gas tag-qatar tag-south-korea tag-the-corridor wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"> <strong>Your next smartphone or laptop was already going to be more expensive <\/strong><strong>thanks to rising <\/strong><strong>RAM pri<\/strong><strong>ces <\/strong>\u2014 and Donald Trump and Bibi Netanyahu\u2019s war against Iran just made it a whole lot worse. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>South Korea\u2019s semiconductor industry is <\/strong><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/tomshardware.com\/tech-industry\/qatar-helium-shutdown-puts-chip-supply-chain-on-a-two-week-clock\" style=\"\">staring down<\/a><\/strong><strong> the barrel of a supply chain <\/strong><strong>emergency <\/strong>that will have devicemakers paying more for components. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Blame the conflict in the Gulf: <\/strong>QatarEnergy\u2019s Ras Laffan complex going offline at the start of the month has all but halted Qatar\u2019s ability to produce helium. The gas is a critical \u2014 and often non-substitutable \u2014 ingredient used for semiconductor manufacturing, along with several other applications. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>By the numbers:<\/strong> Qatar produced around 63 mn cubic meters of helium in 2025, nearly one-third of global supply, according to US Geological Survey data. The Korea International Trade Association estimates the country sourced 64.7% of its helium from Qatar last year \u2014 a vulnerability that takes on strategic weight given that South Korea and Taiwan each account for 18% of global semiconductor manufacturing capacity. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Spot prices have already jumped 20-40%<\/strong>, with prices doubling in some transactions. If the outage stretches to 60-90 days, delivered prices <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/energy\/helium-prices-soar-qatar-lng-halt-exposes-fragile-supply-chain-2026-03-12\/\" style=\"\">could rise 25-50%<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The industrial gas majors with the heaviest Qatar exposure<\/strong> \u2014 Linde, Air Products and Chemicals, Air Liquide, and Japan's Iwatani \u2014 <strong>are the most immediately in the line of fire<\/strong>. Air Products has said it is \u201ctaking steps to ensure continuity of supply\u201d without elaborating. Air Liquide said it draws from multiple continental sources and maintains a storage cavern in Europe, providing some buffer. Iwatani has fared relatively well so far, partly because it also sources from the US and holds stockpiles in both countries. <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/uk.investing.com\/news\/stock-market-news\/linde-positioned-to-weather-inflation-tighter-helium-supply-jpmorgan-says-4558428\" style=\"\">JPMorgan suggests<\/a> Linde could emerge as a winner in this equation, arguing that the company\u2019s long-term contract structure allows it to pass through cost inflation and that tightening helium and rare gas markets could offset softness in Asia and Europe. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>South Korea is looking for a pivot:<\/strong> SK Hynix has since said it has diversified supply and secured adequate inventory, while TSMC said it hasn\u2019t seen a material impact, but is monitoring developments. Seoul\u2019s Trade Ministry launched a review of 14 semiconductor materials that have \u201chigh dependence\u201d on inputs sourced from the Middle East. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Look for suppliers to start triaging their clients if supplies don\u2019t improve soon:<\/strong> Kornbluth Helium Consulting says MRI systems and rocket programs would receive 100% of their needs, semiconductor fabs around 95%. Welding, diving, and party balloons would face the steepest cuts \u2014 not great for your next birthday party (or for homebuilders, for that matter).<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The bottom line for consumers: <\/strong>RAM prices are already going through the roof thanks to the AI boom. Spiraling helium prices will make the next batch of semiconductors more expensive \u2014 and the skyrocketing price of oil is going to it even costlier to get devices into stores. Maybe now is the time to buy that smartphone or laptop if you\u2019ve been sitting on the sidelines? <\/p>\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/natural-gas\/\">natural gas<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/qatar\/\">Qatar<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/south-korea\/\">South Korea<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/the-corridor\/\">The Corridor<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"113278\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"113278\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">5<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">WAR WATCH<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/16\/the-ieas-record-412-mn-barrel-oil-release-wont-close-the-gap-and-iran-is-making-sure-of-it\/\">\r\n                            From the Dept. of Sisyphean Tasks                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/16\/the-ieas-record-412-mn-barrel-oil-release-wont-close-the-gap-and-iran-is-making-sure-of-it\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); 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That\u2019s more than double what they released in a bid to smooth-out the market after Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine, the previous record. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>It ain\u2019t gonna make a difference, folks: <\/strong>Pundits suggest the fastest member states can get crude to market is at a rate of about 2 mn bbl\/d. With Hormuz shut, the global market is losing nearly 20 mn bbl\/d that can\u2019t move through the strait. And even with rising production from folks who can still ship to market, production is on track to decline 8 mn bbl\/d in March, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.iea.org\/reports\/oil-market-report-march-2026\" style=\"\">IEA estimates<\/a>. There\u2019s a reason folks are calling this the largest-ever supply disruption to the global oil market. <strong>Brent crude is north of USD 104 \/ bbl this morning. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The math gets worse when you look at the timeline.<\/strong> Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand will start releasing their 109 mn bbl immediately, but the bulk from the Americas and Europe won\u2019t hit the market until the end of March. \u201cIt buys time, but it does not solve the crisis,\u201d <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2026\/03\/14\/iran-war-iea-oil-stockpile-spr-strait-hormuz.html\" style=\"\">Bernstein analysts<\/a> told clients.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>And Iran is methodically targeting the infrastructure that was supposed to be the <\/strong><strong>workaround.<\/strong> Oil loading at Fujairah \u2014 which sits outside Hormuz and connects to Abu Dhabi\u2019s oil fields by pipeline \u2014 is back online after a drone-sparked fire <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2026\/03\/15\/oil-loading-operations-at-ua.html\" style=\"\">stopped operations<\/a> on Saturday, Bloomberg reports. Authorities haven\u2019t said when full operations will resume. Adnoc had already shut its Ruwais refinery earlier in the week after a drone strike sparked a fire.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The Fujairah strike came hours after Iran issued an <\/strong><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/fortune.com\/2026\/03\/14\/iran-threat-uae-ports-evacuation-orders-kharg-island-strike\/\" style=\"\">unprecedented threat<\/a><\/strong><strong> against <\/strong><strong>three major UAE ports<\/strong> \u2014 Fujairah, Dubai\u2019s Jebel Ali (the Middle East\u2019s busiest container port), and Abu Dhabi\u2019s Khalifa port. Tehran\u2019s Mizan news agency, linked to the IRGC, claimed the US had used the ports to launch strikes on Iran\u2019s Kharg Island. RBC analyst Helima Croft put it bluntly: the IRGC is signaling that there is \u201c <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/middle-east\/fire-occurred-uaes-fujairah-after-debris-fell-during-interception-drone-no-2026-03-14\/\" style=\"\">no safe harbor<\/a>.\u201d <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>BACKGROUND-<\/strong> Massive fires broke out in fuel storage tanks at <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/video\/newsfeed\/2026\/3\/11\/oil-facilities-in-omans-salalah-port-ablaze-after-drone-strikes\" style=\"\">Oman\u2019s Salalah Port<\/a> last Wednesday after a coordinated drone strike. Salalah, sitting on the Arabian Sea outside Hormuz, was supposed to be another workaround \u2014 a major transshipment hub that expanded its capacity to <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.argusmedia.com\/en\/news-and-insights\/latest-market-news\/2800095-oman-s-salalah-port-halts-operations-after-drone-attack\" style=\"\">6.5 mn TEU just last year<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Iran\u2019s warning that it would target US-linked banking interests also rang true<\/strong>, with debris from an intercepted drone damaging the outside of a building in DIFC. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">No deal, no timeline<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>US President Donald Trump says the US rejected an Iranian suggestion it was open to <\/strong><strong>a truce<\/strong>, asking for \u201cbetter terms\u201d without clarifying what those terms would be (<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/audio\/2026-03-15\/trump-rejects-iran-war-deal-uae-ports-resume-operations-more\" style=\"\">listen, runtime: 5:02<\/a>). \u201cIran wants to make a deal, and I don\u2019t want to make it because the terms aren\u2019t good enough yet,\u201d he told NBC News on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Tehran begs to differ. Iran\u2019s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi flatly denied seeking a <\/strong><strong>ceasefire<\/strong> or talks in a CBS Face the Nation interview on Sunday. \u201cWe are ready to defend ourselves as long as it takes.\u201d <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.timesofisrael.com\/trump-and-iran-both-reject-international-efforts-to-launch-ceasefire-talks\/\" style=\"\">Reuters<\/a> reports that both Washington and Tehran had separately rebuffed mediation efforts by Oman and Egypt.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Trump called on China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others to send <\/strong><strong>warships to help reopen Hormuz.<\/strong> The response so far: nothing concrete. France has not committed, the UK said it is \u201cexploring options,\u201d and South Korea said it \u201ctakes note.\u201d US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said he expects China to be a \u201cconstructive partner\u201d \u2014 but Beijing has said nothing publicly, and as one analyst noted, China doesn\u2019t need to help because Iranian oil is already flowing to China. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Also on our radar:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Israel says it is planning at least <\/strong><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2026\/03\/15\/middleeast\/us-israel-iran-middle-east-war-what-we-know-intl-hnk\" style=\"\">three more weeks of strikes<\/a><\/strong>, saying it has \u201cthousands of targets\u201d remaining. Trump administration officials offered a similar timeframe, saying they expect the conflict to end \u201cwithin weeks or sooner.\u201d<\/li>\n<li><strong>Iran says 56 museums, historic buildings, and cultural sites<\/strong> have been damaged by US-Israeli strikes, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2026\/03\/15\/middleeast\/us-israel-iran-middle-east-war-what-we-know-intl-hnk\" style=\"\">CNN<\/a> reports, citing Iranian state media.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/energy\/\">ENERGY<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/iea\/\">IEA<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/infrastructure\/\">infrastructure<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/oil-watch\/\">Oil Watch<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/strait-of-hormuz\/\">Strait of Hormuz<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/war-watch\/\">WAR WATCH<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"113280\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"113280\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">6<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">MOVES + KUDOS<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/16\/al-zaabi-named-taqa-chairman-and-egypts-nbe-says-its-serious-about-growing-in-the-uae\/\">\r\n                            Al Zaabi named Taqa chairman and Egypt\u2019s NBE says its serious about growing in the UAE                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/16\/al-zaabi-named-taqa-chairman-and-egypts-nbe-says-its-serious-about-growing-in-the-uae\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); 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Industry and Advanced Technology Minister Sultan Al Jaber \u2014 who double-hats as chief of oil giant Adnoc \u2014 will be vice chairman, according to an <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/758.pdf\" style=\"\">ADX disclosure (pdf)<\/a>. Al Zaabi is currently vice chairman at the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) and chairman of ADQ-backed developer Modon. Modon is building out the UAE\u2019s massive Ras El Hekma investment in Egypt. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>#2- Sherif Elbehery<\/strong> (<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/sherif-elbehery-cfa-a634b520\/\" style=\"\">LinkedIn<\/a>) will lead the <strong>National Bank of Egypt<\/strong>\u2019s Emirati operations as CEO, he tells EnterpriseAM. Elbehery was most recently CEO of Onebank, which is on deck to launch as Egypt\u2019s first digital-native bank. He was previously with Banque Misr, Barclays Egypt, and Citibank. \u201c<strong>NBE has big plans in the UAE<\/strong>. We are looking into upgrading our DIFC license to offer a full-fledged investment banking experience,\u201d he told us.<\/p>\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/jassem-al-zaabi\/\">Jassem Al Zaabi<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/moves-kudos\/\">Moves + Kudos<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/sherif-elbehery\/\">Sherif Elbehery<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/sultan-al-jaber\/\">Sultan Al Jaber<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/taqa\/\">TAQA<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/uae\/\">UAE<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"113282\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"113282\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">7<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">MARKETS + DEALS<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/16\/saudi-banks-are-shoring-up-their-balance-sheets-as-the-war-drags-on\/\">\r\n                            Saudi banks are shoring-up their balance sheets as the war drags on                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/16\/saudi-banks-are-shoring-up-their-balance-sheets-as-the-war-drags-on\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); 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The move will bring the bank\u2019s capital to SAR 40 bn. <strong>AlJazira Bank<\/strong>, meanwhile, just closed an SAR 1.5 bn AT1 sukuk through a private placement. Saudi lenders have lately been bulking-up their balance sheets to cope with huge demand for borrowing as the Vision 2030 buildout continues. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"> <strong>Talabat, down 53% in the last 12 months, wants to prop-up its share price:<\/strong> The Dubai-listed delivery platform\u2019s board approved a share buyback for up to 5% of its capital. Talabat is also proposing a USD 219 mn second-half dividend payout in a bid to keep shareholders in the stock.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Egypt well-priced? <\/strong>Foreign investors ended a 13-day selling streak by purchasing USD 1 bn in Egyptian secondary market debt on Thursday, marking a tentative return after outflows of roughly USD 6.7 bn since late February. But yields remain elevated \u2014 29-30% on the latest T-bill auction \u2014 and the Finance Ministry accepted only EGP 68 bn of the EGP 90 bn offered, signaling it\u2019s not willing to pay whatever the market is asking. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Sovereigns in the money: <\/strong>A consortium including <strong>ADIA<\/strong>, Sweden\u2019s <strong>EQT<\/strong>, and Singapore\u2019s <strong>Auba Investment<\/strong> has fully exited Swiss dermatology firm <strong>Galderma<\/strong>, raising USD 6.3 bn in a final share sale. The group netted proceeds of more than USD 25.4 bn, quadrupling their initial 2019 investment. Healthcare \u2014 in MENA+ and beyond \u2014 remains a favorite asset class for sovereigns and private-sector PE funds alike. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>On the road again: <\/strong>New ADGM-based private equity player <strong>Nahda Capital Partners<\/strong> is looking to raise USD 300 mn for its debut fund. Led by I\u00f1igo de Luna, the firm plans to target controlling stakes in mid-market GCC family businesses across the food production, healthcare, and industrial tech sectors.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Startups are still raising:<\/strong> Medical device startup <strong>XCath<\/strong> closed a USD 30 mn Series C round, bringing total funding to USD 92 mn and UAE-based AI finance platform <strong>Kudwa<\/strong> said it raised USD 1.1 mn in a round closed in late 2025.<\/p>\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">ALSO WORTH KNOWING TODAY- <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Acwa Power<\/strong> acquired a 32% stake in <strong>Shuaibah Water and Electricity Company<\/strong> from PIF subsidiary <strong>Badeel<\/strong> for SAR 843.3 mn through its <strong>Al Waha Projects<\/strong> unit. The deal gives Acwa control of a 900 MW power and 880k cubic meter \/ day desalination facility.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Egypt<\/strong> is negotiating to double its currency swap agreement with <strong>China<\/strong> to support USD liquidity, allowing Chinese import payments in CNY. Cairo also plans to issue additional Panda bonds following a successful USD 500 mn debut.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>FAB<\/strong> shareholders approved an AED 8.8 bn dividend for 2025 \u2014 approximately 80% of paid-up capital. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Adia<\/strong> will commit funds to <strong>Dignari Capital<\/strong>\u2019s APAC private credit fund, focusing on real estate financing across developed APAC markets including Hong Kong. Amount not disclosed.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>DIFC<\/strong>-headquartered <strong>Akcel Growth Fund<\/strong> has launched an AED 1 bn platform to invest in golf across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Ras Al Khaimah. India and other tourism markets are on its radar. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Taqa <\/strong>shareholders approved a dividend of 2.2 fils per share for 4Q 2025, bringing the full-year 2025 payout to AED 5 bn (4.45 fils per share). <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\"> Market Snapshot<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Tadawul<\/strong> -0.3% \u2022 <strong>ADX<\/strong> +0.8% \u2022 <strong>DFM<\/strong> flat \u2022 <strong>EGX30<\/strong> +1.2%<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">Brent USD 74.10 \/ bbl \u2022 Gold USD 2,038 \/ oz \u2022 USD \/ SAR 3.7502 \u2022 USD \/ EGP 50.85<\/p>\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/acwa-power\/\">Acwa Power<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/adia\/\">Adia<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/akcel-growth-fund\/\">Akcel Growth Fund<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/al-waha-projects\/\">Al Waha Projects<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/aljazira-bank\/\">Aljazira Bank<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/auba-investment\/\">Auba Investment<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/badeel\/\">Badeel<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/dignari-capital\/\">Dignari Capital<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/eqt\/\">EQT<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/fab\/\">FAB<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/galderma\/\">Galderma<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/kudwa\/\">Kudwa<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/markets-deals\/\">Markets + Deals<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/nahda-capital-partners\/\">Nahda Capital Partners<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/pif\/\">PIF<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/riyad-bank\/\">Riyad Bank<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/shuaibah-water-and-electricity-company\/\">Shuaibah Water and Electricity Company<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/talabat\/\">Talabat<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/taqa\/\">TAQA<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/xcath\/\">XCath<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> 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src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/823.jpg?fit=1568%2C9999&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"113285\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/16\/gcc-countries-face-usd-bns-in-foregone-energy-revenues-and-its-a-boon-for-algeria\/823-jpg-5\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/823.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"823.jpg\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/823.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/823.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-113284\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-113284 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-the-scorecard tag-algeria tag-enterpriseam tag-iraq tag-oil-and-gas tag-saudi-arabia tag-the-scorecard wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"> <strong>Oil-exporting countries in the Gulf are looking at <\/strong><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/041bd1f6-f27b-41fd-a051-9ff337985cae\">USD 15.1 bn in foregone<\/a><\/strong><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/041bd1f6-f27b-41fd-a051-9ff337985cae\">energy<\/a><\/strong><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/041bd1f6-f27b-41fd-a051-9ff337985cae\">revenues<\/a><\/strong><strong> since the start of the regional conflict<\/strong> due to the near-shutdown of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia has borne the brunt of that figure, accounting for some USD 4.5 bn of the total before pivoting to <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/oilprice.com\/Latest-Energy-News\/World-News\/Saudi-Arabia-Offers-2-Million-Barrels-for-Sale-From-the-Red-Sea.html\">export more from the Red Sea<\/a>. Meanwhile, Iraq\u2019s options for alternatives look to be dwindling, as Baghdad\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ina.iq\/en\/economy\/46502-oil-minister-iraq-exploring-alternative-options-for-crude-oil-exports.html\">plans to ship oil<\/a> through Turkey\u2019s Ceyhan pipeline is <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/livecoverage\/us-israel-iran-war-news-2026\/card\/kurdish-authorities-reject-baghdad-request-to-restart-oil-exports-via-ceyhan-DecjLw7xDrwujBNlO9YX\">being blocked<\/a> by the Kurdish government. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>While the global energy upheaval is ratcheting up the pressure on Gulf exporters, it has <\/strong><strong>been a boon for Algeria<\/strong>, which is <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2026-03-13\/oil-at-100-a-barrel-promises-boon-for-africa-s-largest-country\">emerging<\/a> as our region\u2019s biggest beneficiary of the surge in crude prices. With Brent rising above the USD 100 mark, the North African country is looking at a narrowed budget deficit, considering its budget assumes oil prices sitting at USD 70 \/ bbl. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>Yeah, but what would Algeria need to balance its books?<\/strong> Oil prices shooting up to around USD 120-125 \/ bbl, according to analyst estimates. <\/p>\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/algeria\/\">Algeria<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/iraq\/\">Iraq<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/oil-and-gas\/\">oil and gas<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/saudi-arabia\/\">Saudi Arabia<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/the-scorecard\/\">The Scorecard<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"113286\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"113286\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">9<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">WHAT WE\u2019RE TRACKING<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/16\/a-record-run-for-uae-property-bonds-is-unravelling-plus-is-syrias-financial-isolation-coming-to-a-close\/\">\r\n                            A record run for UAE property bonds is unravelling. PLUS: Is Syria\u2019s financial isolation coming to a close?                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/16\/a-record-run-for-uae-property-bonds-is-unravelling-plus-is-syrias-financial-isolation-coming-to-a-close\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); 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UAE corporate debt is the worst-performing segment in emerging markets this month, with real estate names taking the heaviest losses, marking a sharp reversal for the sector following a borrowing surge, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2026-03-15\/us-and-iran-keep-up-strikes-as-trump-mulls-possibility-of-a-deal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bloomberg<\/a>. After another record-setting 2025 for real estate bond issuance \u2014 and issuances in January and February setting expectations for 2026 to be another bumper year \u2014 that debt is now being sold off.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong>The losses have been sharpest among the most leveraged names<\/strong>, including Binghatti and Omniyat Holdings, which are just two of the firms seeing a \u201cmild correction\u201d that some analysts believe was overdue. Still, the market does not appear to be pricing in a replay of Dubai\u2019s 2029 crash.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong>Some investors see a buying window in the dislocation.<\/strong> One analyst pointed to short-dated bonds from Damac Properties \u2014 maturing April 2027 \u2014 as having held up relatively well, dropping just 25 cents \/ USD 1 to 100.3. Longer-dated paper is \u201creally about the sector outlook, which is too early to call.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">Watch this space<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><a id=\"wwtt3\"><\/a> <strong>#1- DHL is still bullish on MENA+: <\/strong>The global logistics giant DHL is going ahead with plans to invest in the region, war or not, CEO Mike Parra told Sky News Arabia <a href=\"https:\/\/www.snabusiness.com\/article\/1858306-%D8%AF%D9%8A-%D8%A5%D8%AA%D8%B4-%D8%A5%D9%84-%D8%AA%D8%A8%D9%82%D9%8A-%D8%AE%D8%B7%D8%B7%D9%87%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%AB%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%82-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%B7-%D8%B1%D8%BA%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%B1%D8%A8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">(watch, runtime: 4:43)<\/a>. DHL <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2025\/06\/12\/dhl-to-invest-over-eur-500-mn-in-the-middle-east-with-a-focus-on-the-uae-and-saudi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">said<\/a> last year that it would deploy over EUR 500 mn in the region between 2024 and 2030, with a focus on the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The strategy includes upgrades to logistics hub and gateway infrastructure while expanding air fleet capacity. DHL said late last year that it would invest in a <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/12\/11\/dhl-hassan-allams-yanmu-to-set-up-eur-24-mn-east-cairo-logistics-hub\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">EUR 24 mn logistics hub<\/a> in Cairo.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong>#2- It\u2019s interest rate week <\/strong><strong>in the West<\/strong><strong> around the world: <\/strong>The Fed will make its interest rate announcement on Wednesday \u2014 and Thursday is equally big a day, with the ECB, Bank of England, and Bank of Japan doing the same. Central banks in China, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Sweden, and Switzerland are also meeting this week to set rates.<\/p>\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">Sign of the times<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><a id=\"wwtt2\"><\/a> <strong>Syria\u2019s <\/strong><strong>15-year lockout from the global financial system is coming to an end<\/strong>, with the the country\u2019s account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York set to be unfrozen \u201csoon,\u201d Syrian Central Bank Governor Abdul Qader Al-Hasrieh said on Saturday. Syria\u2019s central bank has also reached an agreement to open a correspondent account with the Bank of Canada, Canada\u2019s central bank.<\/p>\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">Setting the record straight<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong>Citi\u2019s offices and branches remain undamaged by the regional war<\/strong>, the bank <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citigroup.com\/global\/news\/perspectives\/2026\/update-on-citi-operations-in-the-middle-east\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">said<\/a> after moving to evacuate its office in DIFC last week after Iran was reported to be targeting US banks and tech firms with Israeli links. The evacuation was out of concern for employee safety, Citi stressed, noting it will continue to serve its regional clients and <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Citi\/status\/2032850086116344175\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">has no intention<\/a> of leaving the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/citi\/\">Citi<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/dhl\/\">DHL<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/syria\/\">Syria<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/what-were-tracking\/\">WHAT WE\u2019RE TRACKING<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"113288\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"calendar\">\r\n            \r\n            <div class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/16\/113288\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                                            <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-113288\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-113288 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-calendar wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\t\t<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-primary-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-primary-background-color has-background is-style-wide\">\n\n\t\t<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading mt-0 has-primary-color has-text-color has-link-color has-normal-font-size\" style=\"padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px\">\n\t\t\t<strong> CALENDAR<\/strong>\n\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">April 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">10 Apr<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Central Bank of UAE policy rate decision. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">UAE<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">12 Apr<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Central Bank of Egypt monetary policy decision. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">Egypt<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">13 Apr<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 LEAP 2026 conference opens, Riyadh (through 16 Apr). <\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">Saudi Arabia<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">13 Apr<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 IMF \/ World Bank spring meetings begin (through 18 Apr). <\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">Washington\/Virtual<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">14 Apr<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 QNB 1Q 2026 earnings guidance. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">Qatar<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">15 Apr<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 2Q IPO listing window opens; DIP prospectus expected. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">UAE<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">18 Apr<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Kuwait Stock Exchange sector rebalancing effective. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">Kuwait<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">20 Apr<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 GCC Supreme Council economic session (dates pending confirmation). <\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">Saudi Arabia<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">22 Apr<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Saudi Aramco ex-dividend date. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">Saudi Arabia<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">30 Apr<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 OPEC+ ministerial meeting, June production decisions. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">Vienna\/Virtual<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700;\">May 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">3 May<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 SAMA 1Q 2026 inflation report. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">Saudi Arabia<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">5 May<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Central Bank of Egypt 1Q 2026 monetary policy outlook. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">Egypt<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">8 May<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Qatar Central Bank 1Q 2026 financial stability review. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">Qatar<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">10 May<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Tadawul 1Q 2026 market review and foreign investor activity report. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">Saudi Arabia<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">12 May<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Emirates Global Aluminium IPO window opens (pending). <\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">UAE<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">15 May<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Emirates NBD 1Q 2026 earnings. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">UAE<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">18 May<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 First Abu Dhabi Bank 1Q 2026 results. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">UAE<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">20\u201322 May<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Arab League economic cooperation session, Cairo. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">Egypt<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">22 May<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Central Bank of UAE policy rate decision. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">UAE<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">25 May<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 ADNOC Drilling 1Q 2026 results. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">UAE<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">28 May<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 QNB 1Q 2026 results. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">Qatar<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">29 May<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Saudi Telecom Company 1Q 2026 earnings. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">Saudi Arabia<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">31 May<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Regional central banks publish Ramadan financial impact assessments. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">Region-wide<\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Of Bibi\u2019s war and smartphone prices | IEA\u2019s oil dump isn\u2019t going to help | Talabat bids to prop-up share price<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":113270,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-113269","issue","type-issue","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","wpautop","entry"],"acf":{"mongo_id":"c7a9851f-259c-416c-a1c3-2626501ea771","teaser":"Of Bibi\u2019s war and smartphone prices | IEA\u2019s oil dump isn\u2019t going to help | Talabat bids to prop-up share price","photo_url":"https:\/\/ent.news\/2025\/4\/104.jpg"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - 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