Browsing: United Arab Emirates

• Kenyan imports from Saudi Arabia grew three fold to $228 million in March on increased orders of diesel. 
• This was the highest import value compared to  China’s ($217 million), India’s ($194 million) and the UAE’s ($99 million). 
• Kenya is using a new procurement system designed to cut pressure on forex demand by adopting 180-day credit from payment on delivery.

Saudi Arabia is currently Kenya’s largest source of imports, underscoring the significance of recent oil import deal according to data by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS). 

The Middle Eastern country overtook China, India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to become Kenya’s biggest single import market for the first time, driven by increased diesel orders. 

KNBS data shows that goods imported from Saudi Arabia grew three fold to $228 million in March on increased orders of diesel from $60 million a month earlier. 

This was the highest import value …

• UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence H.E. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan cites the nation’s unique standing in fostering tolerance and coexistence globally.
• UAE is one of the most religiously, politically, and socially diverse countries in the world making it ideal to invest in. 
• The UAE has always provided a tolerant and safe society with quality education, enabling families to live peacefully and work together without fear of violence. 

The 12th edition of the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) featured a highly impactful session on tolerance and coexistence. The highlight was the signing of MoUs between six nations and the UAE to promote the values of tolerance and coexistence. 

H.E. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, the UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence highlighted the country’s unique standing globally in creating a society of tolerance and coexistence.

Socially diverse country in the world

H.E. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan …

• The Annual Investment Meeting and Emirates Angel Investors Association agree to turn UAE into a thriving base for startups.
• The collaboration is expected to create a positive impact on the United Arab Emirates’ startup ecosystem. 
• The partnership will link startups with a wide network of investors, as well as the necessary resources and mentorship.

The Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) and Emirates Angel Investors Association (EAIA) have joined forces to strengthen their efforts towards promoting startups. The collaboration between AIM and EAIA is expected to create a positive impact on the United Arab Emirates’ startup ecosystem. The UAE has been a fertile base for establishment and growth of startups. 

The partnership will provide startups with access to a wide network of investors. Benefitting entrepreneurs will also access necessary resources and mentorship to help them grow and succeed.

Commenting on the partnership, Director General of AIM Walid A. Farghal said, “The purpose …

In June 2022, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) revealed that Nigeria had not handed over US$ 450 million owed to different airlines. By July 2022, the money owed to foreign airlines had risen by US$14 million to US$464 million.

The funds were generated from ticket sales but were yet to be remitted, leading to friction between Nigerian authorities and international airlines.

The Nigerian federal government attributed the mess to the foreign exchange crisis as the naira continues to weaken against the dollar. IATA asked the West African country to release the funds’ failure, to which it risks being alienated from air connectivity.…

• In 2020, the capital investment in the renewable energy sector was at US$8.72 billion, outshining oil and gas for the first time
•  Despite the damage caused to the climate, gas and oil are at the core of the energy sector, which is concerning
• The United Arab Emirates (UAE) topped in the Middle East, attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) in renewable energy close to US$2.4 billion in 2020

One of the conclusions of the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference, which was held in Glasgow, Scotland, is that the climate change effect caused by fossil fuels on the earth might be irreversible by 2030.

The COP 26 conference emphasized the cutting down subsidies granted for coal and fossil fuels to low- and middle-income countries. However, there is no amicable consensus arrived on the above emphasis.

It appears that global financial firms are reluctant to curtail the direct and indirect financing of …

The President said enhancing trade between Kenya and the Gulf countries would help to address the urgent need for jobs and economic opportunities for young people.

He especially urged business leaders from the private and public sectors to develop a special trading framework that will give preference to small and medium enterprises in the East African Community and the GCC.

At the same time, President Kenyatta expressed the need to develop a long-term solution to the many tariff and non-tariff barriers that curtail trade between Kenya and the Gulf region.…

Cargo freight and passenger flights from Dubai to Nairobi were not affected by the Kenyan ban.

All incoming and transit passenger flights from Kenya have been banned till further notice as a result of an increase in Covid-19 cases in the nation, which led to the suspension of flights by Kenya Airways (KQ) to Dubai earlier this month.

KQ said tickets prepaid for travel during the suspension period will be refunded. KQ said that when flights resume, passengers will be able to rebook.…

Somali PM Mohamed Roble has apologised to the UAE for the seizure of US$9.6 million in April 2018.

The Somali government, at the time, said the money seized at Mogadishu airport was intended for purposes of destabilising the country.

On the contrary, the UAE claimed it was for paying the salaries of the Somali military.

Read: Mastercard signs partners to elevate e-commerce in Somalia with new debit card launch

The back story

After the seizure, security officials in Somalia said the substantial amount of cash was intercepted after the plane landed from Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, at Mogadishu airport.

There were three suitcases carrying the US$9.6 million which were put in storage inside Somalia’s national bank, according to two senior security officers.

Security officials in Somalia said they had intercepted a substantial amount of cash that landed from Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, at Mogadishu airport on …

Kenya is among some eight countries that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) wants to deepen trade ties with, even as it pushes to grow its status as the Middle East commercial hub.  

According to a report filed by Reuters on September 14th, the Gulf State said it wanted to strengthen trade and economic ties with countries including India, Britain, Turkey, South Korea, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Israel and Kenya.  

The Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Thani Al Zeyoudi told the publication that UAE would pursue bilateral issues that include trade, foreign direct investment and sectors such as tourism.  

In terms of oil, UAE is Kenya’s major supplier of oil. For instance, in 2019, oil imports from the UAE stood at KSh116.9 billion ($1.2M) in 2018 compared to KSh108.6 billion ($1.0M) in the previous year.  That year, however, Saudi Arabia overtook UAE as the leading source of Kenya’s oil imports, …

More than half of Sub-Saharan Africa’s population still does not have access to electricity according to a March 2020 report by the IMF. This means that the potential of the energy sector in Africa is immense since industry, education, healthcare and many other aspects of the economy cannot be fully exploited without power. 

In addition to inadequate power, those in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have to pay on average nearly twice as much for electricity in comparison to consumers elsewhere in the world.  Even with power for the 50 per cent of the population, power shortages cost the continent an estimated 2 to 4 per cent of GDP a year.  …