萝莉视频

Egypt working to integrate railways into Asia-Europe trade

Egypt working to integrate railways into Asia-Europe trade
Egypt has been expanding its railways along seven separate axes. Wikimedia Commons
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Updated 26 May 2025

Egypt working to integrate railways into Asia-Europe trade

Egypt working to integrate railways into Asia-Europe trade
  • Israel and Iraq have likewise been spending billions of dollars on rail lines

CAIRO: Egypt is working to integrate the country into a railway network connecting Asia and Europe, but a long-planned bridge that would link 萝莉视频 to Egypt鈥檚 Sinai Peninsula has yet to be finalized, Transport Minister Kamel Al-Wazir said on Sunday.
Egypt has been expanding its railways along seven separate axes, he said. These include three high-speed lines that would connect Sokhna Port on the Red Sea with the Mediterranean and Alexandria in the north and with Aswan in the far south.
Israel and Iraq have likewise been spending billions of dollars on rail lines with an eye toward tapping the east-west trade. All the plans involve loading cargo onto ships for part of the journey.
鈥淲e have now completed the planning for the bridge between Egypt and 萝莉视频 and are ready to implement it at any time 鈥 whether a bridge or a tunnel,鈥 Wazir told Reuters on the sidelines of an economic conference organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt.
鈥淏ut the (current) solution for connecting Egypt with 萝莉视频 and Jordan is through the Arab Bridge Maritime Co., which currently has 13 vessels that can take cargo between 萝莉视频, Jordan and Egypt.鈥
萝莉视频鈥檚 King Salman announced during a visit to Egypt in 2016 the idea for a bridge, which would complement a mega-city and business zone called NEOM the Saudis were building across the Straits of Tiran.
Rail cargo would be sent to a series of ports on the Mediterranean that Egypt has been upgrading over the last decade.
The high-speed train line connecting to Egypt鈥檚 south would skirt the edge of the pyramids area in the desert, while simultaneously serving the site, he added.
A proposed route through the site of Abydos, where Egypt鈥檚 first pharaohs were buried 5,000 years ago, has been diverted to pass over the plateau above and away from the antiquities site.


Qatar and Kuwait sign tax agreement to boost economic ties聽

Qatar and Kuwait sign tax agreement to boost economic ties聽
Updated 19 sec ago

Qatar and Kuwait sign tax agreement to boost economic ties聽

Qatar and Kuwait sign tax agreement to boost economic ties聽

RIYADH: Qatar and Kuwait have signed an agreement to eliminate double taxation and prevent tax evasion and avoidance, aiming to enhance economic coordination and commercial ties. 

The accord seeks to establish a legal framework to eliminate all forms of double taxation on income and to reinforce bilateral cooperation in tax matters by aligning with international standards, the Qatar News Agency reported.

The deal was signed by Qatari Minister of Finance Ali bin Ahmed Al-Kuwari and Kuwaiti Minister of Finance and Minister of State for Economic Affairs and Investment Noura Sulaiman Al-Fassam.

The countries currently do not impose personal income tax on individuals, but both levy corporate tax on foreign entities. Qatar enforces a flat 10 percent corporate income tax, while Kuwait applies a 15 percent tax on profits earned by foreign companies operating in the country. 

鈥淭his agreement will contribute to supporting international standards of transparency through the exchange of verified financial information, as part of both countries鈥 commitment to strengthening coordination and cooperation in tax matters and economic relations,鈥 Al-Kuwari said during the signing, as quoted by QNA. 

The agreement also aims to enhance commercial cooperation, broaden investment opportunities for government entities and individuals, combat tax evasion, and support neutrality and fairness in the treatment of taxpayers. 

In addition, Kuwaiti Minister Al-Fassam signed a memorandum of understanding with 萝莉视频鈥檚 Minister of Finance, Mohammed Al-Jadaan, who led a Saudi delegation participating in the 123rd meeting of the Financial and Economic Cooperation Committee of the GCC in Kuwait. 

鈥淒uring the meeting, participants discussed several topics related to enhancing financial and economic cooperation among GCC member states in a way that contributes to further joint Gulf cooperation,鈥 Al-Jadaan said in a post on X. 

The deal, signed on the sidelines of the meeting between 萝莉视频 and Kuwait, aims to enhance cooperation in the financial sector. 

鈥淭he MoU will deepen bilateral ties and foster enhanced cooperation in the financial sector, advancing the shared strategic interests of both brotherly nations,鈥 Al-Jadaan added. 

The deal seeks to develop and strengthen ties between the two ministries and increase collaboration in support of shared interests between the two countries. 


Middle East airlines to lead global profit margins in 2025, IATA says聽

Middle East airlines to lead global profit margins in 2025, IATA says聽
Updated 02 June 2025

Middle East airlines to lead global profit margins in 2025, IATA says聽

Middle East airlines to lead global profit margins in 2025, IATA says聽

RIYADH: Middle East airlines are forecast to post the world鈥檚 highest net profit margin in 2025 of 8.7 percent, outpacing global peers, according to the latest industry report. 

The forecast, released by the International Air Transport Association during its 81st Annual General Meeting in New Delhi, also projects that airlines operating in the Middle East will generate a net profit of $6.2 billion this year 鈥 slightly up from $6.1 billion in 2024. The region is also expected to earn $27.20 per passenger.

Globally, airlines are projected to record a net profit of $36 billion, with total industry revenue reaching $979 billion 鈥 below IATA鈥檚 earlier $1 trillion estimate, due in part to macroeconomic uncertainties and supply constraints. 

The growth of the aviation sector in the Middle East reflects broader regional expansion, as countries such as 萝莉视频 and the UAE continue to bolster the industry as part of their economic diversification efforts. 

In its report, IATA stated: 鈥淭he Middle East will generate the highest net profit per passenger among the regions. Robust economic performance is supporting strong air travel demand, both for business and leisure travel.鈥 

It added: 鈥淗owever, with delays in aircraft delivery, the region will see limitations in capacity as airlines embark on retrofit projects to modernize their fleet, hence limiting growth.鈥 

According to IATA, revenue per passenger in 2025 is expected to reach $11.10 in North America, followed by $8.90 in Europe, $3.40 in Latin America, $2.60 in Asia Pacific, and $1.30 in Africa.

Global outlook 

While airlines globally are expected to earn a collective $36 billion in profit in 2025, up from $32.4 billion in 2024, the figure is slightly below the $36.6 billion projected in December. The average net profit per passenger remains modest at $7.20, according to IATA. 

IATA Director General Willie Walsh said the first half of 2025 has brought notable uncertainty to global markets. Still, he noted, airline performance is expected to surpass 2024 levels, though it will fall slightly short of earlier forecasts. 

鈥淭he biggest positive driver is the price of jet fuel which has fallen 13 percent compared with 2024 and 1 percent below previous estimates,鈥 he said. 

Walsh added: 鈥淢oreover, we anticipate airlines flying more people and more cargo in 2025 than they did in 2024, even if previous demand projections have been dented by trade tensions and falls in consumer confidence.鈥 

He noted that considering the headwinds, this is a strong result that 鈥渄emonstrates the resilience that airlines have worked hard to fortify.鈥 

Operating profit for global airlines is expected to reach $66 billion in 2025, up from $61.9 billion the previous year. Total expenses are projected at $913 billion in 2025, marking a 1 percent increase from 2024. 

鈥淥ur profitability is not commensurate to the enormous value that we create at the heart of a value chain supporting 3.9 percent of global GDP and providing and supporting jobs for 86.5 million people,鈥 said Walsh. 

Passenger revenue in 2025 is expected to increase by 1.6 percent year on year to reach an all-time high of $693 billion. 

Passenger growth, measured in revenue passenger km, is projected at 5.8 percent 鈥 a normalization following the double-digit growth during the pandemic recovery. 

Cargo revenues are expected to decline by 4.7 percent to $142 billion in 2025, driven by sluggish global economic growth and trade-dampening protectionist measures, including tariffs. 

Air cargo growth is expected to slow to 0.7 percent in 2025 from 11.3 percent in 2024. Cargo yield is also projected to decline by 5.2 percent, reflecting slower demand growth and lower oil prices. 

Fleet and backlog issue 

The IATA director general criticized aircraft manufacturers for long delivery backlogs, noting that more than 17,000 aircraft are on order, with wait times of up to 14 years, stalling growth opportunities across regions. 

鈥淭he number of deliveries scheduled for 2025 is 26 percent less than what was promised a year ago,鈥 said Walsh. 

He warned that the backlog will negatively impact revenues as demand remains unmet, while scarcity drives up maintenance and leasing costs. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 just not acceptable that manufacturers estimate it could take until the end of the decade to sort this mess out,鈥 said Walsh. 

Walsh also highlighted recent infrastructure advancements, including the opening of new secondary airports in New Delhi and Mumbai, and the phased launch of the world鈥檚 largest airport in Dubai. 

鈥淕overnments around the world are building a competitive future for aviation because they want aviation to contribute even more to their societies and economies,鈥 added Walsh. 

Sustainability and SAF 

Walsh also emphasized the importance of sustainability in aviation, urging the sector to leverage all available decarbonization tools.

He called for global cooperation to advance decarbonization efforts.

IATA reported that sustainable aviation fuel production is expected to double in 2025 to 2 million tonnes 鈥 still only 0.7 percent of total industry fuel usage. 

The average cost of SAF in 2024 was 3.1 times higher than jet fuel, adding $1.6 billion in costs. 

In 2025, SAF is expected to cost 4.2 times more than jet fuel, primarily due to 鈥渃ompliance fees鈥 levied by European fuel suppliers to hedge against the cost of meeting a 2 percent SAF mandate in jet fuel supplies. 

鈥淭he behavior of fuel suppliers in fulfilling the SAF mandates is an outrage. The cost of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 is estimated to be an enormous $4.7 trillion,鈥 said Walsh. 

He added: 鈥淔uel suppliers must stop profiteering on the limited SAF supplies available and ramp up production to meet the legitimate needs of their customers.鈥 

Walsh added that under the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation, airlines are expected to face a $1 billion cost in 2025. 

Under CORSIA, operators must purchase and cancel emissions units to offset increases in CO2 emissions. 

鈥淐ORSIA must be successful. It is a credible and verifiable system that requires carbon credits of only the highest standard, making its positive impact on climate unquestionable,鈥 said Walsh. 


Oil Updates 鈥 crude jumps after OPEC+ sticks to same output hike in July versus June

Oil Updates 鈥 crude jumps after OPEC+ sticks to same output hike in July versus June
Updated 02 June 2025

Oil Updates 鈥 crude jumps after OPEC+ sticks to same output hike in July versus June

Oil Updates 鈥 crude jumps after OPEC+ sticks to same output hike in July versus June

SINGAPORE: Oil prices rebounded more than $1 a barrel on Monday after producer group OPEC+ decided to increase output in July by the same amount as it did in each of the prior two months, which came as a relief to those who expected a bigger increase.

Brent crude futures climbed $1.46, or 2.33 percent, to $64.24 a barrel by 9:26 a.m. Saudi time after settling 0.9 percent lower on Friday. US West Texas Intermediate crude was at $62.45 a barrel, up $1.66, or 2.73 percent, following a 0.3 percent decline in the previous session.

Both contracts were down more than 1 percent last week.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and their allies decided on Saturday to raise output by 411,000 barrels per day in July, the third month the group known as OPEC+ increased by the same amount, as it looks to wrestle back market share and punish over-producers.

The group had been expected to discuss a bigger production hike.

鈥淗ad they gone through with a surprise larger amount, then Monday鈥檚 price open would have been pretty ugly indeed,鈥 analyst Harry Tchilinguirian of Onyx Capital Group wrote on LinkedIn.

Oil traders said the 411,000-bpd output hike had already been priced into Brent and WTI futures.

鈥淭he headline motive has centered on punishing OPEC+ members like Iraq and Kazakhstan that have persistently produced above their pledged quotas,鈥 said the Commonwealth Bank of Australia in a note on Monday.

Kazakhstan has informed OPEC that it does not intend to reduce its oil production, according to a Thursday report by Russia鈥檚 Interfax news agency citing Kazakhstan鈥檚 deputy energy minister.

Looking ahead, Goldman Sachs analysts anticipate OPEC+ will implement a final 410,000 bpd production increase in August.

鈥淩elatively tight spot oil fundamentals, beats in hard global activity data, and seasonal summer support to oil demand suggest that the expected demand slowdown is unlikely to be sharp enough to stop raising production when deciding on August production levels on July 6th,鈥 the bank said in a note dated Sunday.

Meanwhile, low levels of US fuel inventories have stoked supply jitters ahead of expectations for an above-average hurricane season, analysts said.

鈥淢ore encouraging was a huge spike in gasoline implied demand going into what鈥檚 considered the start of the US driving season,鈥 ANZ analysts said in a note, adding that the gain of nearly 1 million bpd was the third-highest weekly increase in the last three years.

Traders are also closely watching the impact of lower prices on US crude production which hit an all-time high of 13.49 million bpd in March.

Last week, the number of operating oil rigs in the US fell for a fifth week, down four to 461, the lowest since November 2021, Baker Hughes said in its weekly report on Friday.

 


New center positions 萝莉视频 for advanced manufacturing leadership

New center positions 萝莉视频 for advanced manufacturing leadership
Updated 01 June 2025

New center positions 萝莉视频 for advanced manufacturing leadership

New center positions 萝莉视频 for advanced manufacturing leadership
  • Integrated initiatives aim to enhance industrial productivity and efficiency
  • Center brings together programs and initiatives that enable the adoption of modern manufacturing technologies

RIYADH: The global industrial sector is witnessing a radical transformation toward adopting Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, prompting countries to reconsider traditional manufacturing methods and adopt smart solutions that include automation, artificial intelligence, robotics, and data-driven systems to improve production efficiency and reduce operational costs. 

According to the Saudi Press Agency, the Kingdom is not only keeping pace with the global industrial transformation but also aims to lead it through strategic initiatives and specialized programs that promote smart industry practices and accelerate the adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies.

This will enhance the competitiveness of 萝莉视频鈥檚 industrial sector both regionally and globally, aligning with the goals of Vision 2030 and the National Industrial Strategy to position the Kingdom as a leading industrial power, one that supports global supply chains and exports high-tech products globally.

The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources is undertaking this ambitious transformation by establishing an integrated and comprehensive national system to enhance advanced manufacturing, according to SPA. 

It has launched the Advanced Manufacturing and Production Center, which brings together all programs and initiatives that enable the adoption of modern manufacturing technologies and stimulate smart and innovative industrial solutions. 

This initiative is in cooperation with various government entities related to the technology, research, and innovation sectors and in partnership with several global leaders in industrial technology. 

The efforts under the Advanced Manufacturing and Production Center include the Future Factories Program Initiative, the Industrial Beacons Program, the Accelerated Manufacturing Program, the Capability Centers Network, and the Operational Excellence Program, reported SPA. 

These initiatives collectively support the center鈥檚 vision of becoming a unified national platform that accelerates the adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies. They also serve as a bridge to help local manufacturers access cutting-edge solutions that improve efficiency, enhance quality, and reduce costs across the industrial sector. 

The center aims to boost productivity and competitiveness in the manufacturing sector by localizing advanced and sustainable technologies, creating an attractive environment for industrial investment, and supporting skill development through its Capability Centers Network. It also offers experiential learning opportunities and provides advisory services to help industrial establishments adopt advanced manufacturing practices. 

The efforts of the ministry are aligned with several government entities that support the center鈥檚 vision and objectives.

In 2022, the ministry launched the Future Factories initiative to support the smart transformation journey of industrial establishments, aiming to automate 4,000 Saudi factories and increase their production efficiency, reduce reliance on unskilled labor, and promote the adoption of advanced industrial solutions and practices. 

The initiative offers numerous incentives and enablers to support the digital transformation of national factories, including financing solutions, consulting services, and the development and qualification of human resources to leverage the latest manufacturing technologies. 

It also helps industrial establishments assess their technological maturity and develop transformation plans to adopt operational excellence practices and advanced manufacturing solutions, including AI, robotics, the Internet of Things, and big data analytics. 

To support industrial transformation in the Kingdom and achieve global leadership in adopting advanced manufacturing technologies, the ministry launched the Industrial Beacons program. 

This undertaking aims to enable leading Saudi factories to adopt Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, thereby enhancing their production efficiency and qualifying them to receive international recognition within the Global Lighthouse Network, an affiliate of the World Economic Forum, by 2030. 

During the launch ceremony of the Advanced Manufacturing and Production Center, the Ministry announced 10 national industrial companies that committed to achieving the standards of the Industrial Beacons initiative. 

With the launch of the Advanced Manufacturing and Production Center and its targeted initiatives to promote advanced technologies and foster research and innovation in the industrial sector, the Kingdom signals that its ambitions extend beyond simply keeping pace with global industrial trends.


Global production of sustainable aviation fuel to reach 2m tonnes in 2025: IATA

Global production of sustainable aviation fuel to reach 2m tonnes in 2025: IATA
Updated 01 June 2025

Global production of sustainable aviation fuel to reach 2m tonnes in 2025: IATA

Global production of sustainable aviation fuel to reach 2m tonnes in 2025: IATA
  • Ensuring success of Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation is crucial, says IATA head
  • Sufficient government measures needed to meet decarbonization efforts, Willie Walsh added

RIYADH: Global sustainable aviation fuel production is expected to double to reach 2 million tonnes in 2025 compared to the previous year, according to the International Air Transport Association. 

In a press statement issued during IATA鈥檚 Annual General Meeting, Director General Willie Walsh noted that the projected 2 million tonnes of SAF will account for just 0.7 percent of total fuel consumption this year.

The use of SAF has been increasingly prominent in recent years, as most countries have set stipulated targets to achieve net zero as part of their energy transition efforts. 

鈥淲hile it is encouraging that SAF production is expected to double to 2 million tonnes in 2025, that is just 0.7 percent of aviation鈥檚 total fuel needs,鈥 said Walsh. 

He added: 鈥淎nd even that relatively small amount will add $4.4 billion globally to the fuel bill. The pace of progress in ramping up production and gaining efficiencies to reduce costs must accelerate.鈥 

The IATA official further stated that sufficient government measures, including the implementation of effective policies, are needed to meet decarbonization efforts. 

He added that ensuring the success of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation is crucial to offsetting carbon emissions in the aviation sector. 

Under CORSIA, an initiative launched by the International Civil Aviation Organization, airplane operators must purchase and cancel 鈥渆missions units鈥 to offset the increase in CO2 emissions. 

鈥淎dvancing SAF production requires an increase in renewable energy production from which SAF is derived. Secondly, it also requires policies to ensure SAF is allocated an appropriate portion of renewable energy production,鈥 said IATA in the statement. 

In a separate statement, IATA said that $1.3 billion in airline funds are blocked from repatriation by governments as of the end of April.

The industry body, however, noted that this figure also represents a 25 percent improvement compared to the $1.7 billion reported for October. 

The aviation body also urged governments to remove all barriers preventing airlines from the timely repatriation of their revenues from ticket sales and other activities in accordance with international agreements and treaty obligations.

鈥淓nsuring the timely repatriation of revenues is vital for airlines to cover dollar-denominated expenses and maintain their operations. Delays and denials violate bilateral agreements and increase exchange rate risks,鈥 said Walsh. 

He added: 鈥淓conomies and jobs rely on international connectivity. Governments must realize that it is a challenge for airlines to maintain connectivity when revenue repatriation is denied or delayed.鈥