News & Insights

Saudi Arabia awarded 18 construction projects worth more than SR30 billion in May, its biggest monthly haul of 2026, with infrastructure dominating and 20 more awards expected in June. Source: Arab News (https://www.arabnews.com/node/2647366/business-economy)

Abu Dhabi and Dubai exchanges rebounded on June 16 in their first session after the holiday, with Emaar, Emirates NBD, FAB and Aldar leading a relief rally on the preliminary peace deal. Source: Zawya (https://www.zawya.com/en/capital-markets/equities/mideast-stocks-uae-stocks-climb-as-markets-reopen-to-us-iran-peace-deal-h2181zes)

Saudi Arabia’s main index closed higher on June 16 with turnover of SR4.65 billion, though market breadth stayed negative as gains concentrated in insurance and food stocks. Source: Arab News (https://www.arabnews.com/node/2647412/business-economy)

Brent eased to $82.72 a barrel on June 16 as traders weighed the return of disrupted supply through the Strait of Hormuz against soft physical fundamentals and weaker Chinese demand. Source: Arab News (https://www.arabnews.com/node/2647352/business-economy)

Goldman Sachs president John Waldron said Friday the bank is on pace to match or surpass the 2021 global M&A record of $5.8 trillion, driven by corporate-led dealmaking and a rebound in capital markets activity — even as MENA deal volumes remain subdued amid regional disruption. Source: Zawya (https://www.zawya.com/en/business/m-a/goldman-sachs-says-on-track-for-near-record-m-and-a-volumes-in-2026-krdiilp7)

IATA data released Friday shows the Middle East was the world's worst-performing aviation market in April, with a 46.6% year-on-year plunge in passenger demand — severe enough to push global air traffic into its first year-on-year decline since the pandemic recovery began. Source: The National (https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/aviation/2026/05/29/middle-east-was-worst-performing-aviation-market-in-april-as-passenger-traffic-plunged/)

Brent crude held around $94/barrel on Friday after falling nearly 9% for the week, with traders marking time on unconfirmed reports that Washington and Tehran were nearing a deal to lift Strait of Hormuz shipping restrictions. Source: Arab News (https://www.arabnews.com/node/2645332/business-economy)

JLL's first-quarter market review shows Saudi hospitality and prime offices holding firm on Vision 2030 demand, even as housing transactions in Riyadh and Jeddah more than halved year-on-year. Source: Arab News (https://www.arabnews.com/node/2644979/business-economy)