UAE: Gov’t Expenditures Total $25.1 Bln in Q1

The Emirati capital Abu Dhabi. (WAM)
The Emirati capital Abu Dhabi. (WAM)
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UAE: Gov’t Expenditures Total $25.1 Bln in Q1

The Emirati capital Abu Dhabi. (WAM)
The Emirati capital Abu Dhabi. (WAM)

The preliminary results of the UAE Government Finance Statistics Report for the first quarter of 2023, published by the Ministry of Finance, revealed that the government’s revenues amounted to AED115.6 billion ($31.4 billion), and its expenditures totaled AED92.5 billion ($25.1 billion).

Total revenues included AED63.5 billion ($17.2 billion) of tax revenues, AED3.9 billion ($1 billion) of revenues from social contributions, and AED48.2 billion ($13.1 billion) of other revenues from property income, sales of goods and services, fines and penalties, and transfers not elsewhere classified.

According to the Ministry of Finance’s data, the value of total expenditures amounted to AED92.5 billion ($25.1 billion) consisting of net investment in nonfinancial assets and current expenses, including employees’ wages, use of goods and services, consumption of fixed capital, paid interest, subsidies, grants, social benefits, and other transfers.

The results of financial transactions during the first quarter of 2023 show the value of net lending/net borrowing amounted to AED23.2 billion ($6.3 billion). The net lending/net borrowing value is a summary measure of a governments’ ability to lend or their need to borrow, and an indicator of the financial impact of government activity on other sectors of the economy.

Younis Haji Al Khouri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance, said: “These results reflect the efficiency of government expenditure and effective utilization of financial resources in directing them to priority strategic sectors. It also showcases the advancement of the government’s financial framework and its success in developing new and diversified sources of government revenue away from oil and adopting effective financial policies to manage and develop the government’s financial resources.”

“The government’s financial performance enhances the UAE’s competitiveness and its move towards sustainable socio-economic development. The World Bank projects that the UAE’s non-oil sector is expected to achieve strong growth by the end of 2023, driven by robust domestic demand, particularly in tourism, real estate, construction, transportation, and manufacturing sectors,” he added.

Publishing the preliminary results of the UAE Government Finance Statistics Report for the first quarter of 2023 is in line with the open data policy followed by the UAE and based on the standards of the Government Finance Statistics Manual issued by the International Monetary Fund.

Government Finance Statistics (GFS) show the total volume of government operations in the country and measure the financial activities of the government in an economy, and the government’s allocation of resources.



Saudi Maritime and Logistics Congress Kicks off in Jeddah in October

The Jeddah Superdome will host the 2026 edition of the congress. (Saudi Maritime and Logistics Congress)
The Jeddah Superdome will host the 2026 edition of the congress. (Saudi Maritime and Logistics Congress)
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Saudi Maritime and Logistics Congress Kicks off in Jeddah in October

The Jeddah Superdome will host the 2026 edition of the congress. (Saudi Maritime and Logistics Congress)
The Jeddah Superdome will host the 2026 edition of the congress. (Saudi Maritime and Logistics Congress)

The Saudi Maritime and Logistics Congress will kick off in Jeddah on October 21 and 22, with the participation of more than 15,000 specialists from over 90 countries, coinciding with the Kingdom's efforts to boost its position as a global logistics hub.

The Jeddah Superdome will host the 2026 edition of the congress, which brings together government officials, representatives from port authorities, shipping companies, logistics operators, investors, and major buyers in the sector.

The event comes at a time when the Kingdom is focusing on developing its maritime transport infrastructure and logistics services under the National Transport and Logistics Strategy. This strategy aims to increase port capacity to 40 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) annually by 2030.

The congress will explore opportunities to develop port capacity, logistics zones, shipping corridors, maritime transport services, and digital infrastructure, alongside shifts in the energy sector, infrastructure and technology investments, and supply chain resilience.

The congress program will focus on five key themes, including trade corridors and connectivity; ports, logistics, and industrial competitiveness; the energy transition; infrastructure investment and economic development; and technology and resilience.

The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) and the Transport General Authority (TGA) are participating as main partners in the 2026 edition, while the event is being organized in cooperation with Bahri and Seatrade Maritime Saudi, a subsidiary of Informa.


Saudi Ministry of Industry Participates in 63rd Damascus International Fair

26 August 2026, Syria, Damascus: People walk at the Damascus Fair Grounds during the opening ceremony of the 63rd Damascus International Fair. (dpa)
26 August 2026, Syria, Damascus: People walk at the Damascus Fair Grounds during the opening ceremony of the 63rd Damascus International Fair. (dpa)
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Saudi Ministry of Industry Participates in 63rd Damascus International Fair

26 August 2026, Syria, Damascus: People walk at the Damascus Fair Grounds during the opening ceremony of the 63rd Damascus International Fair. (dpa)
26 August 2026, Syria, Damascus: People walk at the Damascus Fair Grounds during the opening ceremony of the 63rd Damascus International Fair. (dpa)

The Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources is participating in the 63rd Damascus International Fair, taking place from August 26 to September 4.

The participation aims to strengthen economic and industrial integration between the two countries, showcase the growth and development of Saudi industries, and expand access for Saudi goods and services to regional markets.

Saudi non-oil exports to Syria reached SAR1.23 billion in 2025, representing growth of more than 123% compared to 2024.

The fair serves as a key platform for fostering international investment partnerships across a wide range of economic sectors, particularly energy, industry, and technology.

The 63rd edition brings together around 1,000 entities from 60 countries, as well as Syrian ministries, institutions, and artisans, highlighting the fair’s significant economic and developmental impact.


Saudi Arabia, Pakistan Aim to Raise Agricultural and Food Exports to Reach $3 Billion

The Saudi and Pakistani delegations are seen in Islamabad. (SPA)
The Saudi and Pakistani delegations are seen in Islamabad. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia, Pakistan Aim to Raise Agricultural and Food Exports to Reach $3 Billion

The Saudi and Pakistani delegations are seen in Islamabad. (SPA)
The Saudi and Pakistani delegations are seen in Islamabad. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have agreed to bolster cooperation in the fields of food security and agriculture, as both sides look to increase the value of Pakistani agricultural and food exports to the Kingdom to $3 billion.

The announcement was detailed in a joint statement issued at the conclusion of a high-level Saudi delegation's official visit to Pakistan from August 26 to 28. Led by Saudi Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture Abdulrahman Al-Fadley, the delegation included senior officials from the ministry, the General Food Security Authority, and other relevant government entities.

The discussions focused on the rice, red meat, and fruit sectors, as well as fruit concentrates, green fodder, and water-efficient agricultural technologies.

Pakistani rice supplies to the Saudi market reached approximately 169,000 tons in 2025, with an estimated value of $163 million, while annual meat supplies totaled around 30,000 tons, valued at $167 million. Saudi Arabia has expressed its desire to double the volume of meat supplies in the future.

The two sides agreed to increase the share of Pakistani fruit exports and fruit concentrates in the Saudi market, empower the private sector, and facilitate communication between business leaders, alongside expanding mutual recognition of quality certificates.

The two sides also discussed opportunities to expand the green fodder trade and build long-term supply partnerships, while Saudi Arabia encouraged Pakistan to join the International Dates Council, an invitation welcomed by Islamabad.

During the visit, Saudi Arabia reviewed investment proposals from Pakistani companies across the livestock, agricultural manufacturing, and rice value chain sectors, with both sides agreeing to coordinate on exploring and exploiting these opportunities.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their comprehensive strategic partnership. Pakistan welcomed the invitation to attend the 43rd Saudi Agriculture Exhibition, scheduled to be held in Riyadh in October, and both parties agreed to maintain ongoing coordination to follow up on the implementation of the reached understandings.