{"id":113689,"date":"2026-03-18T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/?post_type=issue&#038;p=113689"},"modified":"2026-04-14T06:35:56","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T06:35:56","slug":"more-economic-pressure-on-bahrain","status":"publish","type":"issue","link":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/issues\/more-economic-pressure-on-bahrain\/","title":{"rendered":"More economic pressure on Bahrain"},"content":{"rendered":"<section id=\"113691\" 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=\"113691\">\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\/18\/the-soundtrack-of-the-morning-booms-and-public-safety-alerts\/\">\r\n                            The soundtrack of the morning: booms and public safety alerts                        <\/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\/18\/the-soundtrack-of-the-morning-booms-and-public-safety-alerts\/\" 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\/18\/the-soundtrack-of-the-morning-booms-and-public-safety-alerts\/')\">\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\/18\/the-soundtrack-of-the-morning-booms-and-public-safety-alerts\/\">\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=The soundtrack of the morning: booms and public safety alerts&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/18\/the-soundtrack-of-the-morning-booms-and-public-safety-alerts\/\">\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\/18\/the-soundtrack-of-the-morning-booms-and-public-safety-alerts\/&title=The soundtrack of the morning: booms and public safety alerts\">\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=The+soundtrack+of+the+morning%3A+booms+and+public+safety+alerts+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fmenaplus%2F2026%2F03%2F18%2Fthe-soundtrack-of-the-morning-booms-and-public-safety-alerts%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\/18\/the-soundtrack-of-the-morning-booms-and-public-safety-alerts\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                                            <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-113691\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-113691 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-opening-note tag-enterpriseam tag-iran tag-opening-note 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>It\u2019s our last issue before we slide into Eid El Fitr, and the soundtrack to this morning\u2019s issue is courtesy Baby Ayatollah in Tehran, with two booms and two public safety alerts before sunrise. (At least the pre-9am alerts are now a bit less shrill than before\u2026)<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>We have zero clarity on how much longer the war might last<\/strong> as this third week hurtles to a close, but regional markets are showing signs traders think we\u2019ll be at it for a while yet. We\u2019re hoping for a bit of respite over this long weekend.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Happy Eid, everyone. <\/strong>Monday is a national holiday in Saudi Arabia and Egypt \u2014 though not for those of us in the UAE. We\u2019ll be back in your inboxes on Wednesday, 25 March. \u2013Patrick and Salma<\/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\/iran\/\">Iran<\/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                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"113692\" 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=\"113692\">\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\">ECONOMY + PUBLIC POLICY<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/18\/bahrains-economy-is-teetering-on-the-edge\/\">\r\n                            On the ropes                        <\/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\/18\/bahrains-economy-is-teetering-on-the-edge\/\" 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\/18\/bahrains-economy-is-teetering-on-the-edge\/')\">\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\/18\/bahrains-economy-is-teetering-on-the-edge\/\">\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=Bahrain\u2019s economy is teetering on the edge&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/18\/bahrains-economy-is-teetering-on-the-edge\/\">\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\/18\/bahrains-economy-is-teetering-on-the-edge\/&title=Bahrain\u2019s economy is teetering on the edge\">\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=Bahrain%E2%80%99s+economy+is+teetering+on+the+edge+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fmenaplus%2F2026%2F03%2F18%2Fbahrains-economy-is-teetering-on-the-edge%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\/18\/bahrains-economy-is-teetering-on-the-edge\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/954.jpg?fit=1568%2C9999&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"113693\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/18\/bahrains-economy-is-teetering-on-the-edge\/954-jpg-7\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/954.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"954.jpg\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/954.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/954.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-113692\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-113692 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-economy-public-policy tag-bahrain tag-economy-public-policy tag-enterpriseam 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>Bahrain\u2019s economy was on the ropes before the war with Iran broke out. <\/strong>Three weeks of Iranian attacks may now have it down for the count. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The conflict with Iran has added a layer of economic pressure that Bahrain could have <\/strong><strong>done without.<\/strong> The US-Israeli war on Iran spiked the regional risk premium and drove up the cost of Bahrain\u2019s already-expensive borrowing. Bahrain is also grappling with the disruption to the Red Sea trade flows that the country\u2019s financial services and logistics sectors depend on, threatening to further destabilize an economy that is already heavily dependent on bailouts from its Gulf neighbors. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>IN CONTEXT-<\/strong> In the months leading up to the war, both <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fitchratings.com\/redirect\/?q=\/site\/pr\/10300935\" style=\"\">Fitch<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.spglobal.com\/ratings\/en\/regulatory\/article\/-\/view\/sourceId\/101654471\" style=\"\">S&P<\/a> downgraded Bahrain\u2019s sovereign credit ratings <strong>further into junk territory<\/strong> as government debt hit nearly 150% of GDP. That figure gives Bahrain the undesirable superlative of <strong>the second-highest debt-to-GDP ratio of any Fitch-rated sovereign<\/strong>, while debt servicing costs are similarly among the highest globally at 34% of government revenue. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>They tried\u2026 <\/strong>Manama kicked off a fiscal consolidation package in December that includes introducing a 10% corporate tax in 2027, hiking energy prices for businesses, and implementing spending cuts. The war may have just cut the legs out from beneath the program. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Even with soaring prices, Bahrain\u2019s fiscal breakeven oil price remains out of reach<\/strong> at around USD 127 \/ bbl. More importantly, the kingdom faces a structural irony: While hydrocarbons account for c. 75% of government revenue, the bulk of its oil income flows from the Abu Saafa offshore field, an asset whose production proceeds Riyadh shares equally with Manama under a decades-old arrangement. In other words, Bahrain can\u2019t pump its way to solvency.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>What to watch for:<\/strong> With reforms likely delayed by the war, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/globalsourcepartners.com\/post_shares\/o_7teoRTMDN41kRvbB_jvA\/view\" style=\"\">it\u2019s likely<\/a> other GCC countries will be forced to <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.spglobal.com\/ratings\/en\/regulatory\/article\/-\/view\/type\/HTML\/id\/3531268\" style=\"\">extend another bailout package<\/a> to prop up Bahrain. A destabilized Bahrain is a strategic liability for its neighbors \u2014 particularly Saudi Arabia \u2014 but the bailout will come with strings: Manama will have to show it\u2019s serious about fiscal reform. Ratings agencies will be watching for any backsliding on the corporate income tax, legislation for which is due to reach parliament this year. Slippage in the timeline will be seen as a signal that the reform package is political theater, not fiscal medicine.<\/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\/economy-public-policy\/\">Economy + Public Policy<\/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=\"113694\" 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=\"113694\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">3<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">Manufacturing<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/18\/egypt-rolls-out-a-rejigged-playbook-to-reel-in-asian-automakers\/\">\r\n                            A new automotive playbook                        <\/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\/18\/egypt-rolls-out-a-rejigged-playbook-to-reel-in-asian-automakers\/\" 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\/18\/egypt-rolls-out-a-rejigged-playbook-to-reel-in-asian-automakers\/')\">\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\/18\/egypt-rolls-out-a-rejigged-playbook-to-reel-in-asian-automakers\/\">\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=Egypt rolls out a rejigged playbook to reel in Asian automakers&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/18\/egypt-rolls-out-a-rejigged-playbook-to-reel-in-asian-automakers\/\">\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\/18\/egypt-rolls-out-a-rejigged-playbook-to-reel-in-asian-automakers\/&title=Egypt rolls out a rejigged playbook to reel in Asian automakers\">\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=Egypt+rolls+out+a+rejigged+playbook+to+reel+in+Asian+automakers+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fmenaplus%2F2026%2F03%2F18%2Fegypt-rolls-out-a-rejigged-playbook-to-reel-in-asian-automakers%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\/18\/egypt-rolls-out-a-rejigged-playbook-to-reel-in-asian-automakers\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/950.jpg?fit=1568%2C9999&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"113695\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/18\/egypt-rolls-out-a-rejigged-playbook-to-reel-in-asian-automakers\/950-jpg-7\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/950.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"950.jpg\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/950.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/950.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-113694\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-113694 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-manufacturing tag-automotive tag-egypt tag-enterpriseam tag-manufacturing tag-morocco 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>Egypt is pitching itself as a manufacturing hub for Asian automakers<\/strong> \u2014 specifically from China, India, and Japan \u2014 who are looking to secure their reach into EMEA markets while global supply chains remain under pressure. The positioning comes as the Industry Ministry rolls out a new policy direction for its local automotive industry that reimagines its original Automotive Industry Development Program (AIDP). <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>What to expect:<\/strong> The ministry\u2019s new plan targets 100k vehicles annually with 60% local content, a government official tells EnterpriseAM. The incentives extend to passenger cars, buses and mass transit vehicles. While the Madbouly government is promising a lucrative revamp, the details are still under wraps. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>It\u2019s a clear reboot to a program that failed: <\/strong>The AIDP asked for way too much, way too fast. It demanded assemblers pump out 10k vehicles a year (with a minimum of 5k per model) with a 35% local content ratio, which could only be met by the largest of automakers and didn\u2019t make financial sense for many given weak domestic purchasing power and a small auto feeder industry, sources in the industry tell us.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The revised policy is a signal that Egypt is going after its own competitive niche.<\/strong> Local commentary has for years centered on \u201ccatching up\u201d with Morocco, which established itself as a world-class automotive hub with two decades of consistent industrial policy. Having attracted French auto majors, Morocco now manufactures (rather than just assembles) cars at scale and <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.atalayar.com\/en\/articulo\/economy-and-business\/the-automotive-sector-the-driving-force-behind-moroccos-economic-growth\/20251222123424221682.html\" style=\"\">exports around 75% of its output<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The gap between Cairo's aspirations and Rabat\u2019s reality is significant, but the <\/strong><strong>competitive landscape in North African automotive manufacturing is not a zero-sum game.<\/strong> Morocco has already captured the European export tier and is unlikely to cede that position in the near term. Egypt is better positioned to capture Asian manufacturer investment oriented toward domestic consumption in Africa and the Middle East. Egypt\u2019s competitive proposition is built around scale \u2014 107 mn consumers, the Arab world\u2019s largest domestic automotive market, and a web of trade agreements spanning Africa, the Gulf, and the EU that could make it a multi-directional export platform rather than a single-axis one. <\/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\/automotive\/\">Automotive<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/egypt\/\">Egypt<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/manufacturing\/\">manufacturing<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/morocco\/\">Morocco<\/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=\"113696\" 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=\"113696\">\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\">WAR WATCH<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/18\/could-the-gulf-start-to-change-tactics-as-the-war-drags-on\/\">\r\n                            Changing tactics?                        <\/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\/18\/could-the-gulf-start-to-change-tactics-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(); navigator.clipboard.writeText('https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/18\/could-the-gulf-start-to-change-tactics-as-the-war-drags-on\/')\">\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\/18\/could-the-gulf-start-to-change-tactics-as-the-war-drags-on\/\">\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=Could the Gulf start to change tactics as the war drags on?&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/18\/could-the-gulf-start-to-change-tactics-as-the-war-drags-on\/\">\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\/18\/could-the-gulf-start-to-change-tactics-as-the-war-drags-on\/&title=Could the Gulf start to change tactics as the war drags on?\">\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=Could+the+Gulf+start+to+change+tactics+as+the+war+drags+on%3F+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fmenaplus%2F2026%2F03%2F18%2Fcould-the-gulf-start-to-change-tactics-as-the-war-drags-on%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\/18\/could-the-gulf-start-to-change-tactics-as-the-war-drags-on\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/960.jpg?fit=1568%2C9999&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"113697\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/18\/could-the-gulf-start-to-change-tactics-as-the-war-drags-on\/960-jpg-7\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/960.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"960.jpg\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/960.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/960.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-113696\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-113696 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-war-watch tag-enterpriseam tag-gulf-war tag-iran tag-oil tag-war-watch 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>Gulf states are reportedly urging Washington to \u201cnot stop short\u201d in its military campaign <\/strong><strong>against Iran<\/strong>, fearing repeat future attacks if Tehran\u2019s offensive capabilities remain intact, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/middle-east\/gulf-states-press-us-neutralise-iran-good-hormuz-crisis-deepens-2026-03-16\/\" style=\"\">Reuters<\/a> reports. It remains unclear, however, what the Gulf\u2019s involvement in the war could look like, or if it will get involved at all, as Iran continues to escalate its attacks on the region. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>\u201cGulf states are not at the moment suggesting any inclination towards joining the war<\/strong> because the economic and reputational costs of it would be too immense,\u201d Amandeep Ahuja, head of research at Confluence Consultants, tells EnterpriseAM. The UAE could be involved in a US-led effort to secure the Strait of Hormuz, the UAE president\u2019s diplomatic advisor Anwar Gargash <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/middle-east\/uae-could-join-international-effort-led-by-us-secure-strait-hormuz-says-adviser-2026-03-17\/\" style=\"\">said<\/a>, as the closure continues to undercut a key pillar of GCC economies. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The thresholds that would prompt the GCC to get actively involved are \u201cif very critical <\/strong><strong>assets, like desalination plants, are under increased attack<\/strong>, or incidents involving civilian casualties, because Gulf states have positioned themselves as a safe haven,\u201d Ahuja said. <\/p>\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">Military options on the table<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Gulf countries have several different military options<\/strong>, including granting the US full access to bases and airspace, Senior Fellow for Middle East Policy Hasan Alhasan wrote in a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.iiss.org\/online-analysis\/online-analysis\/2026\/03\/the-gulf-states-offensive-options-against-iran\/\" style=\"\">note<\/a>. While the UAE has avoided any participation in the war, Saudi Arabia has acknowledged providing logistical support for US air patrols. The GCC could also engage in more active and direct retaliation, or target the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps\u2019 economic, logistical, or energy infrastructure, the report noted.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>It\u2019s \u201cunclear whether [the UAE and Saudi] possess sufficient inventories of weapons and <\/strong><strong>munitions <\/strong>to sustain an extended military campaign against Iran,\u201d Alhasan noted. For now, GCC states will likely support through continued information sharing, Nicholas Heras, senior analyst at the New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy, tells EnterpriseAM. <\/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\">The future of US-Gulf relations<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>While at an economic level, the US-GCC relationship remains deep and mutually <\/strong><strong>beneficial<\/strong>, the war could prompt strategic realignment among regional leaders when it comes to relationships with the US and Israel, Ahuja noted. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Heras argues that definitive US military success in Iran \u201cwould be a soothing balm for <\/strong><strong>US-Gulf relations<\/strong>,\u201d serving to reassure GCC states of Washington\u2019s reliability. <\/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\">Can we get our oil out, at least? <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Meanwhile, oil prices are cooling off slightly as one Pakistani tanker made it through <\/strong><strong>Hormuz and Iraq is about to tap an alternative exit for crude flows.<\/strong> Baghdad reached an agreement with Kurdish authorities to ship oil out of the country through Turkey\u2019s Ceyhan port, and is still in <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/middle-east\/iraq-talks-with-iran-safeguard-oil-tanker-traffic-through-hormuz-2026-03-17\/\" style=\"\">talks<\/a> with Tehran to let some Iraqi tankers pass through the strait after attacks on tankers in Iraqi waters. The breakthrough \u2014 as small as it is \u2014 comes after a Pakistani oil tanker <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2026-03-16\/pakistan-oil-tanker-transits-hormuz-after-hugging-iran-s-coast\" style=\"\">inched its way through the Strait of Hormuz<\/a> on Monday. <\/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>Another <\/strong><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ukmto.org\/recent-incidents\" style=\"\">tanker was hit<\/a><\/strong><strong> off the coast of the UAE<\/strong> east of Fujairah while anchored, resulting in minor structural damage, but no injuries. The latest hit marks the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/logistics\/2026\/03\/17\/war-risk-premiums-up-tenfold-for-vessels-transiting-hormuz\/\" style=\"\">third vessel<\/a> hit in UAE waters in less than a week. <\/li>\n<li><strong>Dubai and Oman Customs introduced a temporary joint corridor to expedite <\/strong><strong>procedures<\/strong><strong> for sea and air cargo<\/strong>, rerouting shipments through Omani ports and airports, according to a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/910.pdf\" style=\"\">statement (pdf)<\/a>. <\/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\/gulf-war\/\">Gulf war<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/iran\/\">Iran<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/oil\/\">oil<\/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=\"113698\" 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=\"113698\">\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\">MARKETS + DEALS<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/18\/dfm-flirts-with-the-bears\/\">\r\n                            DFM flirts with the bears                        <\/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\/18\/dfm-flirts-with-the-bears\/\" 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\/18\/dfm-flirts-with-the-bears\/')\">\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\/18\/dfm-flirts-with-the-bears\/\">\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=DFM flirts with the bears&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/18\/dfm-flirts-with-the-bears\/\">\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\/18\/dfm-flirts-with-the-bears\/&title=DFM flirts with the bears\">\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=DFM+flirts+with+the+bears+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fmenaplus%2F2026%2F03%2F18%2Fdfm-flirts-with-the-bears%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\/18\/dfm-flirts-with-the-bears\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/945.jpg?fit=1568%2C9999&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"113699\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/18\/dfm-flirts-with-the-bears\/945-jpg-7\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/945.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"945.jpg\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/945.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/945.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-113698\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-113698 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-markets-deals tag-adx tag-amanat tag-cfi-dubai tag-dfm tag-dubai tag-egx tag-egypt-privatization tag-emirates-nbd tag-enterpriseam tag-grova-venture-capital tag-hassan-allam tag-idbi-bank tag-ihc tag-ipo-watch tag-iran-war tag-lvp-pharma tag-markets-deals tag-rameda tag-real-estate tag-share-buyback tag-tadawul 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>The DFM briefly entered bear market territory on Monday, touching levels roughly 22% <\/strong><strong>below its February peak<\/strong> before closing down 2.53% at c. 5.3k points as week three of the war in Iran grinds on. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The market gained 4.1% yesterday<\/strong>, leaving it down 9% year-to-date. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Real estate stocks<\/strong> \u2014 the index's heaviest weight and most conflict-exposed sector \u2014 <strong>have <\/strong><strong>shed some 31% since the war began<\/strong>, dragging financials and transport with them. The pullback is a sharp reversal for an exchange that rallied c. 300% over six years on the back of Dubai's tourism, property, and financial services boom. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>DFM is the worst-hit bourse in the region:<\/strong> The ADX is down c. 9.5% since the war started, while Tadawul has actually rallied more than 2%. \u201cThe decline appears to be less about panic selling and more about markets adjusting to higher short-term risk and slower activity in sectors that are central to Dubai's economy,\u201d Christy Achkar, financial market analyst at CFI Dubai, tells us.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">\n<hr style=\"height:2px;border-width:0;color:gray;background-color:gray\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>SIGN OF THE TIMES- Does Sumitomo Mitsui have the war yips? <\/strong>That\u2019s the suggestion from <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2026-03-18\/smbc-asks-banks-to-confirm-saudi-energy-loan-backing-amid-war\" style=\"\">Bloomberg<\/a>, which notes that SMBC has taken the \u201cunusual step\u201d of asking Asian banks backing a USD 1.5 bn loan to Saudi Energy to confirm that they\u2019re still on board. SMBC is sole underwriter on the facility, commitments for which are due by the end of this month. <\/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\">Deals<\/p>\n<p style=\"border-right-style:solid;border-top-width:0pt;border-left-style:solid;orphans:2;text-align:left;padding:0;margin:0;border-right-width:0pt;line-height:1.15;border-left-width:0pt;border-top-style:solid;border-bottom-width:0pt;border-bottom-style:solid;widows:2\"><strong>India is reportedly shelving its sale of a majority stake in state-owned IDBI Bank<\/strong>, putting <strong>Emirates NBD<\/strong>\u2019s biggest subcontinent play on ice and causing IDBI shares to <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/india\/indias-idbi-bank-slumps-after-report-government-scrap-bids-majority-stake-sale-2026-03-16\/\" style=\"\"><\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/india\/indias-idbi-bank-slumps-after-report-government-scrap-bids-majority-stake-sale-2026-03-16\/\" style=\"\">drop<\/a> as much as 16.5%, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/india\/india-scrap-bids-majority-stake-idbi-bank-bloomberg-news-reports-2026-03-13\/\" style=\"\"><\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/india\/india-scrap-bids-majority-stake-idbi-bank-bloomberg-news-reports-2026-03-13\/\" style=\"\">Reuters reports<\/a>. The Dubai lender was competing against Canada\u2019s Fairfax for a 60.7% slice valued north of USD 7.5 bn, but bids fell short of New Delhi\u2019s expectations. Foreign appetite for Indian banking assets isn\u2019t the problem \u2014 the government thinks both ENBD and Prem Watsa made low-ball offers, leaving Emirates NBD to bide its time on what would have been a landmark cross-border acquisition.<\/p>\n<p style=\"border-right-style:solid;border-top-width:0pt;border-left-style:solid;orphans:2;text-align:left;padding:0;margin:0;border-right-width:0pt;line-height:1.15;border-left-width:0pt;border-top-style:solid;border-bottom-width:0pt;border-bottom-style:solid;widows:2\"><strong>IHC greenlit another AED 5 bn share buyback<\/strong>, just three months after wrapping <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2025\/12\/04\/emerging-markets-surge-on-ai-optimism-though-india-lags-behind\/\" style=\"\"><\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2025\/12\/04\/emerging-markets-surge-on-ai-optimism-though-india-lags-behind\/\" style=\"\">its<\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2025\/12\/04\/emerging-markets-surge-on-ai-optimism-though-india-lags-behind\/\" style=\"\">previous buyback program<\/a> and signaling it was done with repurchases, according to a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/114071.pdf\" style=\"\"><\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/114071.pdf\" style=\"\">bourse filing (pdf)<\/a>. The program covers c. 0.6% of total shares, with a two-year execution window. IHC could reduce its capital if the repurchased equity isn\u2019t offloaded. It\u2019s a simple message: IHC thinks its share is undervalued and wants to signal confidence even after the recent war-induced market plunge.<\/p>\n<p style=\"border-right-style:solid;border-top-width:0pt;border-left-style:solid;orphans:2;text-align:left;padding:0;margin:0;border-right-width:0pt;line-height:1.15;border-left-width:0pt;border-top-style:solid;border-bottom-width:0pt;border-bottom-style:solid;widows:2\"><strong>LVP Pharma has nearly doubled its stake in EGX-listed Rameda to 23.15%<\/strong>, acquiring 223 mn shares at c. EGP 5.1 apiece in a deal worth EGP 1.14 bn, according to a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/688594.pdf\" style=\"\"><\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/688594.pdf\" style=\"\">bourse filing (pdf)<\/a>. It\u2019s the firm\u2019s third major move on Rameda in just over a month. The roll-up comes as Egypt\u2019s pharma sector faces rising pressure from higher import costs tied to the weaker EGP and shipping disruptions \u2014 production costs could climb as much as 30% over the next three months if FX pressures persist, the head of the pharma division at the Egyptian Chambers of Commerce told EnterpriseAM earlier this month.<\/p>\n<p style=\"border-right-style:solid;border-top-width:0pt;border-left-style:solid;orphans:2;text-align:left;padding:0;margin:0;border-right-width:0pt;line-height:1.15;border-left-width:0pt;border-top-style:solid;border-bottom-width:0pt;border-bottom-style:solid;widows:2\">\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">Also worth knowing today-<\/p>\n<p style=\"border-right-style:solid;border-top-width:0pt;border-left-style:solid;orphans:2;text-align:left;padding:0;margin:0;border-right-width:0pt;line-height:1.15;border-left-width:0pt;border-top-style:solid;border-bottom-width:0pt;border-bottom-style:solid;widows:2\"><strong>Egypt<\/strong> is gearing up for a post-Eid privatization sprint, targeting USD 3-4 bn in inflows by year-end from at least 20 state-owned enterprise exits or IPOs \u2014 with the government favoring 10-40% public listings on the EGX over strategic sales, EnterpriseAM Egypt reports.<\/p>\n<p style=\"border-right-style:solid;border-top-width:0pt;border-left-style:solid;orphans:2;text-align:left;padding:0;margin:0;border-right-width:0pt;line-height:1.15;border-left-width:0pt;border-top-style:solid;border-bottom-width:0pt;border-bottom-style:solid;widows:2\"><strong>Amanat<\/strong> subsidiary Cambridge Health Group bought out remaining minority investors to take full ownership of Jeddah-based <strong>Sukoon International Holding<\/strong>, completing a decade-long consolidation that began with a 33.3% stake in 2015, according to a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/858.pdf\" style=\"\"><\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/858.pdf\" style=\"\">DFM disclosure (pdf)<\/a>. Transaction value undisclosed.<\/p>\n<p style=\"border-right-style:solid;border-top-width:0pt;border-left-style:solid;orphans:2;text-align:left;padding:0;margin:0;border-right-width:0pt;line-height:1.15;border-left-width:0pt;border-top-style:solid;border-bottom-width:0pt;border-bottom-style:solid;widows:2\">Cairo-based <strong>Hassan Allam<\/strong>\u2019s SPAC has rebranded as <strong>Grova Venture Capital<\/strong> per an <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/867.pdf\" style=\"\"><\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/867.pdf\" style=\"\">EGX<\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/867.pdf\" style=\"\">disclosure (pdf)<\/a>, raising authorized capital to EGP 500 mn with funds earmarked to finance acquisitions and inject liquidity into targets, per a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/865.pdf\" style=\"\"><\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/865.pdf\" style=\"\">separate filing (pdf)<\/a>.<\/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\/adx\/\">ADX<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/amanat\/\">Amanat<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/cfi-dubai\/\">CFI Dubai<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/dfm\/\">DFM<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/dubai\/\">Dubai<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/egx\/\">EGX<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/egypt-privatization\/\">Egypt privatization<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/emirates-nbd\/\">Emirates NBD<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/grova-venture-capital\/\">Grova Venture Capital<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/hassan-allam\/\">Hassan Allam<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/idbi-bank\/\">IDBI Bank<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/ihc\/\">IHC<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/ipo-watch\/\">IPO WATCH<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/iran-war\/\">Iran war<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/lvp-pharma\/\">LVP Pharma<\/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\/rameda\/\">Rameda<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/real-estate\/\">real estate<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/share-buyback\/\">share buyback<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/tadawul\/\">Tadawul<\/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=\"113700\" 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=\"113700\">\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\">ALSO ON OUR RADAR<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/18\/vulture-investor-indeed\/\">\r\n                            Vulture investor, indeed                        <\/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\/18\/vulture-investor-indeed\/\" 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\/18\/vulture-investor-indeed\/')\">\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\/18\/vulture-investor-indeed\/\">\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=Vulture investor, indeed&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/18\/vulture-investor-indeed\/\">\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\/18\/vulture-investor-indeed\/&title=Vulture investor, indeed\">\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=Vulture+investor%2C+indeed+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fmenaplus%2F2026%2F03%2F18%2Fvulture-investor-indeed%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\/18\/vulture-investor-indeed\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/958.jpg?fit=1568%2C9999&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"113701\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/18\/vulture-investor-indeed\/958-jpg-4\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/958.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"958.jpg\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/958.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/958.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-113700\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-113700 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-also-on-our-radar tag-also-on-our-radar tag-aramex tag-aviation tag-earnings-watch tag-enterpriseam tag-logistics tag-maf tag-qatar tag-sports 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\">\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">Aviation<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>From the Dept. of Vultures: Lufthansa\u2019s CEO expects the war to undermine Gulf carriers\u2019 <\/strong><strong>dominance on Asian routes<\/strong>, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.manager-magazin.de\/unternehmen\/industrie\/lufthansa-so-koennen-wir-in-europa-nicht-weitermachen-warnt-ceo-carsten-spohr-warnt-a-c46546e6-c742-474c-a4ef-ad2fd740049e\" style=\"\"><\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.manager-magazin.de\/unternehmen\/industrie\/lufthansa-so-koennen-wir-in-europa-nicht-weitermachen-warnt-ceo-carsten-spohr-warnt-a-c46546e6-c742-474c-a4ef-ad2fd740049e\" style=\"\">saying<\/a> \u201cnew risks\u201d in the Gulf will weaken Emirates\u2019 case for more landing slots at German airports. He also suggested the war could divert air traffic away from the region long-term. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>MEANWHILE-<\/strong> <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Kuwait\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zawya.com\/en\/business\/aviation\/jazeera-airways-to-launch-daily-flights-via-saudi-arabia-and-uae-ujpqtkmd\" style=\"\"><\/a> <strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zawya.com\/en\/business\/aviation\/jazeera-airways-to-launch-daily-flights-via-saudi-arabia-and-uae-ujpqtkmd\" style=\"\">Jazeera Airways<\/a><\/strong> is launching daily Istanbul flights via Saudi\u2019s Qaisumah Airport starting Wednesday \u2014 making it the only carrier currently using the alternative route to bypass disrupted corridors<\/li>\n<li><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.britishairways.com\/content\/information\/travel-news\" style=\"\">British Airways<\/a><\/strong> has extended schedule reductions for Dubai, Amman, and Bahrain through 31 May and Doha through end of April<\/li>\n<li><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qatarairways.com\/en\/travel-alerts.html\" style=\"\">Qatar Airways<\/a><\/strong> will operate limited flights to and from Doha from today through 28 March.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">Logistics<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Aramex is expanding its healthcare logistics footprint<\/strong> with a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zawya.com\/en\/press-release\/companies-news\/aramex-opens-first-regional-healthcare-hub-at-dubai-south-free-zone-wqw7o4bf\" style=\"\"><\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zawya.com\/en\/press-release\/companies-news\/aramex-opens-first-regional-healthcare-hub-at-dubai-south-free-zone-wqw7o4bf\" style=\"\">new 5.6k sqm hub<\/a> in Dubai South Freezone with climate-controlled storage across the temperature spectrum. <\/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\">Cancelled\u2026<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The Qatar Football Festival, including the Spain-Argentina Finalissima, <\/strong><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/qna.org.qa\/en\/news\/news-details?id=qatar-football-festival-2026-cancelled&date=15\/03\/2026\" style=\"\">has been<\/a><\/strong><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/qna.org.qa\/en\/news\/news-details?id=qatar-football-festival-2026-cancelled&date=15\/03\/2026\" style=\"\">canceled<\/a><\/strong><strong>. <\/strong>It\u2019s the latest in a string of regional sports cancellations, including Grand Prix races originally scheduled for April in Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia.<\/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\">Earnings<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Majid Al Futtaim posted a 41% jump in net income to AED 3.6 bn<\/strong> on revenue of AED 35.9 bn in 2025, per its <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.majidalfuttaim.com\/en\/media-centre\/press-releases\/detail\/2026\/03\/majid-al-futtaim-reports-record-fy-2025-results-with-41--net-profit-growth-and-strongest-balance-sheet-in-over-a-decade\" style=\"\"><\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.majidalfuttaim.com\/en\/media-centre\/press-releases\/detail\/2026\/03\/majid-al-futtaim-reports-record-fy-2025-results-with-41--net-profit-growth-and-strongest-balance-sheet-in-over-a-decade\" style=\"\">earnings release<\/a>. Strip out valuation gains and underlying net income rose even faster, up 48% to AED 2.3 bn. Real estate development did the heavy lifting, with revenue up 33% to AED 5.8 bn, while e-commerce rose 20% to AED 3.2 bn, and malls held firm with >98% occupancy<\/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\/also-on-our-radar\/\">ALSO ON OUR RADAR<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/aramex\/\">Aramex<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/aviation\/\">aviation<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/earnings-watch\/\">EARNINGS WATCH<\/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\/maf\/\">MAF<\/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                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"113702\" 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=\"113702\">\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\">WHAT WE\u2019RE TRACKING<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/18\/what-were-keeping-an-eye-on-as-we-head-into-the-break\/\">\r\n                            What we\u2019re keeping an eye on as we head into the break                        <\/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\/18\/what-were-keeping-an-eye-on-as-we-head-into-the-break\/\" 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\/18\/what-were-keeping-an-eye-on-as-we-head-into-the-break\/')\">\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\/18\/what-were-keeping-an-eye-on-as-we-head-into-the-break\/\">\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=What we\u2019re keeping an eye on as we head into the break&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/18\/what-were-keeping-an-eye-on-as-we-head-into-the-break\/\">\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\/18\/what-were-keeping-an-eye-on-as-we-head-into-the-break\/&title=What we\u2019re keeping an eye on as we head into the break\">\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=What+we%E2%80%99re+keeping+an+eye+on+as+we+head+into+the+break+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fmenaplus%2F2026%2F03%2F18%2Fwhat-were-keeping-an-eye-on-as-we-head-into-the-break%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\/18\/what-were-keeping-an-eye-on-as-we-head-into-the-break\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/956.jpg?fit=1568%2C9999&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"113703\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/03\/18\/what-were-keeping-an-eye-on-as-we-head-into-the-break\/956-jpg-7\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/956.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"956.jpg\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/956.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/956.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-113702\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-113702 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-what-were-tracking tag-egypt tag-enterpriseam tag-jordan tag-lebanon tag-saudi-arabia tag-tunisia tag-what-were-tracking 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>We send you off into Eid vacation no clearer about when the war might end <\/strong>than when the week started, but from Abu Dhabi to Cairo, there\u2019s a sense that we\u2019re all going to need to come back from the break ready for this to grind on a while longer. Among the stories we\u2019ll be keeping an eye on over the break:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><a id=\"wwtt1\"><\/a> <strong>#1- Saudi construction contracts last year collapsed to less than half of 2024 levels \u2014 <\/strong><strong>and PIF <\/strong><strong>budget cuts are only part of the story<\/strong>, industry data suggests. The value of construction contracts issued across the kingdom in 2025 fell below USD 30 bn, less than half the prior year's total. The contraction was driven by Public Investment Fund budget cuts and a wholesale reprioritization of the gigaproject portfolio. <strong>The question now: Will the war give Riyadh further cover <\/strong>to pull back even more, prioritizing the World Cup and Expo buildouts over other projects?<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">\n<hr style=\"height:2px;border-width:0;color:gray;background-color:gray\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><a id=\"wwtt2\"><\/a> <strong>#2- Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Tunisia are among the emerging markets in the region <\/strong><strong>that <\/strong><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/sustainability\/climate-energy\/ebrd-weighs-support-cushion-emerging-economies-iran-war-fallout-2026-03-16\/\" style=\"\">could be getting a financial lifeline<\/a><\/strong><strong> from EBRD.<\/strong> The development bank is looking at emergency support measures to help shield vulnerable countries from the external shock of the ongoing regional war. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>All four are particularly vulnerable:<\/strong> Egypt and Jordan could be facing a drop in remittances from expats in the Gulf, while both countries and Lebanon are also expected to see disruptions in tourism-based businesses. Meanwhile, a handful of other countries \u2014 including Tunisia \u2014 are exposed to being delayed, canceled, or otherwise face hurdles as a result of higher financing and energy costs.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">\n<hr style=\"height:2px;border-width:0;color:gray;background-color:gray\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><a id=\"wwtt3\"><\/a> <strong>#3- It\u2019s interest rate week around the world: <\/strong>The Fed will make its interest rate announcement today \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 style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The Fed is widely expected to keep rates unchanged<\/strong> as it takes stock of the economic fallout from the war. Policy decisions moving forward might prove tricky. The war\u2019s pressure on oil prices threatens to spike inflation, while the US labor market is also looking weak, so the case for looser vs. tighter economic policy might be much less clear than before. <\/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\">Sign of the times<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>European <\/strong><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/markets\/asia\/gulf-money-will-boost-europes-defence-startups-2026-03-17\/\" style=\"\">defense startups<\/a><\/strong><strong> could be the Gulf\u2019s best bet for cost-effective drone <\/strong><strong>interception<\/strong> \u2014 and the match works both ways. The UAE alone has burned through hundreds of Patriot interceptors since the war began, each costing USD 4 mn to down a USD 35k Iranian Shahed drone. With a global <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.breakingviews.com\/columns\/breaking-view\/gulf-crisis-worsens-global-missile-supply-crunch-2026-03-04\/\" style=\"\">missile shortage<\/a> compounding the cost asymmetry, Gulf buyers are hunting for alternatives \u2014 and cash-strapped European defense startups building next-gen counter-drone systems need exactly what the Gulf offers: urgency, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/1860f4b3-fda1-4320-8f55-0791acf5bd05\" style=\"\">funding<\/a>, and a live theater to prove their tech.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Regional leaders are increasingly diversifying their weapons arsenals<\/strong>, supplementing US hardware with technology from Europe, South Korea, China, Turkey, and Russia, Nicholas Heras, senior analyst and program head for the State Resilience and Fragility Program at the New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy, tells EnterpriseAM. But top-tier US hardware will always be at the head of the region\u2019s shopping list, he adds. <\/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\/egypt\/\">Egypt<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/jordan\/\">Jordan<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/lebanon\/\">Lebanon<\/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\/tunisia\/\">Tunisia<\/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=\"113704\" 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\/18\/113704\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                                            <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-113704\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-113704 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>Bye-bye, Saudi salary premium? Economic pressure on Bahrain ratcheted up by the war | More gas, not enough stability for Libya<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":113690,"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-113689","issue","type-issue","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","wpautop","entry"],"acf":{"mongo_id":"29cbee30-52ad-488f-85fd-5880b2f9099a","teaser":"Bye-bye, Saudi salary premium? Economic pressure on Bahrain ratcheted up by the war | More gas, not enough stability for Libya","photo_url":"https:\/\/ent.news\/2025\/5\/2430.jpg"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>More economic pressure on Bahrain - MENA+ Edition<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/issues\/more-economic-pressure-on-bahrain\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"More economic pressure on Bahrain\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Bye-bye, Saudi salary premium? Economic pressure on Bahrain ratcheted up by the war | More gas, not enough stability for Libya\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/issues\/more-economic-pressure-on-bahrain\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"MENA+ Edition\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-14T06:35:56+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/5\/2430.jpg?fit=%2C&ssl=1\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/issues\/more-economic-pressure-on-bahrain\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/issues\/more-economic-pressure-on-bahrain\/\",\"name\":\"More economic pressure on Bahrain - MENA+ Edition\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/issues\/more-economic-pressure-on-bahrain\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/issues\/more-economic-pressure-on-bahrain\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/5\/2430.jpg?fit=%2C&ssl=1\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-03-18T00:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-14T06:35:56+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/issues\/more-economic-pressure-on-bahrain\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/issues\/more-economic-pressure-on-bahrain\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/issues\/more-economic-pressure-on-bahrain\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/5\/2430.jpg?fit=%2C&ssl=1\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/5\/2430.jpg?fit=%2C&ssl=1\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/issues\/more-economic-pressure-on-bahrain\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Issues\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/AMarchives\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"More economic pressure on Bahrain\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/\",\"name\":\"MENA+ Edition\",\"description\":\"MENA+ Edition\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/#organization\",\"name\":\"MENA+ Edition\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/42998.svg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/42998.svg\",\"caption\":\"MENA+ Edition\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"More economic pressure on Bahrain - MENA+ Edition","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/issues\/more-economic-pressure-on-bahrain\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"More economic pressure on Bahrain","og_description":"Bye-bye, Saudi salary premium? Economic pressure on Bahrain ratcheted up by the war | More gas, not enough stability for Libya","og_url":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/issues\/more-economic-pressure-on-bahrain\/","og_site_name":"MENA+ Edition","article_modified_time":"2026-04-14T06:35:56+00:00","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_image":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/5\/2430.jpg?fit=%2C&ssl=1","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/issues\/more-economic-pressure-on-bahrain\/","url":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/issues\/more-economic-pressure-on-bahrain\/","name":"More economic pressure on Bahrain - MENA+ Edition","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/issues\/more-economic-pressure-on-bahrain\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/issues\/more-economic-pressure-on-bahrain\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/5\/2430.jpg?fit=%2C&ssl=1","datePublished":"2026-03-18T00:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2026-04-14T06:35:56+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/issues\/more-economic-pressure-on-bahrain\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/issues\/more-economic-pressure-on-bahrain\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/issues\/more-economic-pressure-on-bahrain\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/5\/2430.jpg?fit=%2C&ssl=1","contentUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/5\/2430.jpg?fit=%2C&ssl=1"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/issues\/more-economic-pressure-on-bahrain\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Issues","item":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/AMarchives\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"More economic pressure on Bahrain"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/#website","url":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/","name":"MENA+ Edition","description":"MENA+ Edition","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/#organization","name":"MENA+ Edition","url":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/42998.svg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/42998.svg","caption":"MENA+ Edition"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/issue\/113689","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/issue"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/issue"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/issue\/113689\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":113718,"href":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/issue\/113689\/revisions\/113718"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/113690"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=113689"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=113689"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=113689"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}