Marriott International has announced an exceptional year of growth across Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) in 2025 with more than 230 organic signings representing over 31,000 rooms. It also added 170 properties and nearly 24,000 rooms across EMEA last year.
The Arab region is experiencing a gradual economic recovery despite mounting challenges, according to a new report issued by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).
Etihad Cargo, the logistics arm of UAE national carrier Etihad Airways, has delivered solid results for FY2025 increasing revenue by 8% year-on-year while transporting 703,000 leg tonnes, thus marking a 9% rise in volumes. Significant growth was recorded across core verticals.
The global economy is expected to grow at a reasonable but not particularly exciting pace again this year, supported by easier monetary policy, fiscal stimulus in key economies and the continued artificial intelligence (AI) boom, but important downside risks remain in a volatile and unpredictable global environment, according to ACCA’s latest Global Economic Outlook.
Saudi Arabia's real gross domestic product (GDP) recorded an annual growth rate of 4.5% in 2025 compared to the previous year, while growth reached 4.9% in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.
Saudi Arabia’s real GDP grew by 4.8% in the third quarter compared to last year, reported SPA citing official data. All economic activities recorded y-o-y growth with oil activities surging by 8.3%, non-oil activities by 4.3% and government activities by 1.4%.
Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), the world’s largest aluminium smelter on one site, said it has signed a two-year agreement with Gulf Aluminium Rolling Mill Company (GARMCO) to help boost the technical capabilities of its Bahraini employees.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is projected to generate SAR1.15 trillion ($310 billion) in revenue in 2026, up 5.1% over the 2025 estimate, underscoring the gains from the country’s ongoing economic diversification agenda, said a report.
Bahrain’s economy has grown five-fold over the past two decades, with the GDP rising from $9 billion to over $47 billion by the end of 2024, said a top government official, in a key achievement within the kingdom’s broader development journey.
The UAE’s tourism sector continued its strong upward trajectory in 2025, consolidating its position as one of the country’s most dynamic economic sectors, contributing AED257 billion ($70 billion) to GDP and setting new visitor records for the year, said a report.
