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Intelligence for the New World Economy

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Intelligence for the New World Economy
Semafor World Economy

Semafor Gulf

Emirates introduces first electrically powered premium economy seat

The seats, which rival many first-class options on domestic routes in Europe and the US, will debut on newly delivered Airbus A350s.
New Emirates premium economy seat.
Courtesy of Emirates

Gulf carriers bulk up their fleets

Saudia Cargo will double its fleet, adding four Boeing 777-200F jets over more than two years.
A Saudi Cargo plane.
Courtesy of Saudi Cargo

$300k falcons fly off the shelves in Abu Dhabi

Bred on the same American farm, an ultra-white gyrfalcon chick went for 1.1 million dirhams ($300,000) while a pure-white gyr fetched 1.5 million dirhams.
An “Ultra White Pure Gyr Garmousha” falcon chick sold in Abu Dhabi.
Courtesy of Emirates News Agency

Chinese tech firms deepen ties in Saudi Arabia

Chinese AI, robotaxis, and factories are all coming to the kingdom (if they aren’t already there).
A graphic showing the Chinese and Saudi flags, a robotaxi, and a tech conference.
Semafor illustration/Go Nakamura/Yilei Sun/Reuters

New museum reflects on Saudi’s post-oil future

As the kingdom plans for life after oil, crude has become a muse, with art spanning the eras before, during, and after it.
Poster for Post-Oil 2026 at the Design Doha biennial.
@designdohabiennial/Instagram

Dimon and Dalio RSVP to Saudi’s flagship investment summit

Saudi Arabia’s flagship investment conference has published its RSVPs nearly two months out.
Attendees gather in the lobby of the Exhibition and Conference Center of the Ritz Carlton Hotel during the first day of the Future Investment Initiative conference, in Riyadh, 2022.
Attendees at FII in 2022. Ahmed Yosri/Reuters.

Saudi’s $8.1B beauty market dominates Gulf

The boom is being driven by Saudi women’s rising disposable income.

Saudi AI firm HUMAIN to launch giant global VC fund this year

The kingdom’s AI champion is also “hardening” data center defenses as the Iran war threatens infrastructure.

OPEC’s new threat comes from within

Saudi Aramco’s widening oil discount suggests that Riyadh — which normally bears the cost of supporting prices — isn’t willing to surrender market share.

Chinese tech companies plant deeper roots in Saudi Arabia

Companies including ByteDance and Tencent announced investment in the kingdom during Riyadh’s annual LEAP tech conference.

UAE real estate developer Arada agrees to build $7B district in Damascus

The deal is the latest example of Gulf capital being funneled into Syria’s reconstruction, aligned with a broader US effort to keep the country out of Iran’s orbit.

Gulf’s biggest port Jebel Ali waits for the war to end

Six months into the Iran war, Dubai’s port operator is spending $100 million a month to keep its flagship facility ready for a recovery.

Adam Neumann opens DIFC office for real estate venture

Flow, the residential real estate venture from WeWork co-founder Adam Neumann, is opening an office in DIFC.

UAE AI firm pitches video compression for Saudi security

Abu Dhabi-based Neurovia AI says its software can shrink video files by up to 95% while maintaining near-original clarity.

PIF megaproject ends two-year CEO search

The sovereign wealth fund-controlled developer ROSHN gets a new boss amid leadership churn at top Saudi firms.

UAE’s Sheikh Tahnoon backs domestic and US stablecoins

The deputy ruler of Abu Dhabi is a major shareholder in the holding company of a new US bank linked to World Liberty Financial.

Iran war widens split in Gulf stock markets

Dubai and Qatar have fallen as they remain more exposed to the Strait of Hormuz closure, while Saudi Arabia and Oman have performed positively.

UAE investigates Egyptian bank targeted by US sanctions

The UAE’s Central Bank launched a probe into the local branches of Egypt’s Banque Misr over potential links to Iran.