UAE's ADQ Consortium to Invest $35 Bn in Egypt

Officials sign the Ras El-Hekma project agreements in the presence of Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly. (WAM)
Officials sign the Ras El-Hekma project agreements in the presence of Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly. (WAM)
TT

UAE's ADQ Consortium to Invest $35 Bn in Egypt

Officials sign the Ras El-Hekma project agreements in the presence of Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly. (WAM)
Officials sign the Ras El-Hekma project agreements in the presence of Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly. (WAM)

ADQ, an Abu Dhabi-based investment and holding company, has unveiled plans to invest $35 billion in Egypt.  

ADQ will acquire the development rights for Ras El-Hekma for $24 billion to develop the region into one of the most significant new city developments by a private consortium.  

ADQ will also convert $11 billion of deposits that will be utilized for investment in prime projects across Egypt to support its economic growth and development.  

Ras El-Hekma is a coastal region in Egypt located approximately 350 kilometers northwest of Cairo, spanning over 170 million square meters.

The significant investment marks a pivotal step towards establishing Ras El-Hekma as a leading first-of-its-kind Mediterranean holiday destination, financial center, and free zone equipped with world-class infrastructure to strengthen Egypt's economic and tourism growth potential.  

The Egyptian government will retain a 35% stake in the Ras El-Hekma development.  

Ras El-Hekma will be a next-generation city comprising mainly of tourism amenities, a free zone, and an investment zone combining, among others, residential, commercial, and recreational spaces with seamless connectivity domestically and internationally.  

ADQ is leveraging its expansive portfolio and partners, aiming to unlock the appeal of Ras El-Hekma as a premium international financial and tourism destination, adopting the latest cutting-edge digital and technological smart city solutions.  

The Holding Company will also benefit from Egyptian and international partners to support its development and investment plans.  

ADQ's experience in providing fully integrated infrastructure solutions across a broad range of services promises to bring significant benefits to the new development and Egypt's economy and is expected to attract over $150 billion in investments.  

ADQ CEO Mohamed al-Suwaidi said the company is a long-standing investment partner in Egypt and has demonstrated its ability to select opportunities aligned with its investment framework and benefit the Egyptian economy.  

"The investment underscores our commitment to developing Ras El-Hekma into one of Egypt's most attractive coastal destinations through the enablement of mega-infrastructure and development projects," Suwaidi was quoted by the UAE state news agency (WAM).  

He explained that the company will work with partners such as Modon Properties and Talaat Moustafa Group to deliver value across multiple sectors of Egypt's vibrant economy.



Oil Up as Israel, Hezbollah Trade Accusations of Ceasefire Violation

FILE - An aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, makes an appearance over pumpjacks as they draw out oil and gas from well heads near Cremona, Alberta, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
FILE - An aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, makes an appearance over pumpjacks as they draw out oil and gas from well heads near Cremona, Alberta, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
TT

Oil Up as Israel, Hezbollah Trade Accusations of Ceasefire Violation

FILE - An aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, makes an appearance over pumpjacks as they draw out oil and gas from well heads near Cremona, Alberta, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
FILE - An aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, makes an appearance over pumpjacks as they draw out oil and gas from well heads near Cremona, Alberta, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

Oil prices ticked up on Thursday after Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah traded accusations that their ceasefire had been violated, and as Israeli tanks fired on south Lebanon.

OPEC+ also delayed by a few days a meeting likely to extend production cuts.

Brent crude futures edged up by 30 cents, or 0.4%, to $73.13 a barrel by 1741 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were up 23 cents, 0.3%, at $68.93. Trading was thin because of the US Thanksgiving holiday, Reuters reported.
Israel's military said the ceasefire was violated after what it called suspects, some in vehicles, arrived at several areas in the southern zone.
The deal, which took effect on Wednesday, was intended to allow people in both countries to start returning to homes in border areas shattered by 14 months of fighting.
The Middle East is one of the world's major oil-producing regions, and while the ongoing conflict has not so far not impacted supply it has been reflected in a risk premium for traders.
Elsewhere, OPEC+, comprising the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia, delayed its next policy meeting to Dec. 5 from Dec. 1 to avoid a conflict with another event.
Also supporting prices, OPEC+ sources have said there will again be discussion over another delay to an oil output increase scheduled for January.
"It's highly unlikely they are going to announce an increase production at this meeting," said Rory Johnston, analyst at Commodity Context.
The group pumps about half the world's oil but has maintained production cuts to support prices. It hopes to unwind those cuts, but weak global demand has forced it to delay the start of gradual increases.
A further delay has mostly been factored in to oil prices already, said Suvro Sarkar at DBS Bank. "The only question is whether it's a one-month pushback, or three, or even longer."
Depressing prices slightly, US gasoline stocks rose 3.3 million barrels in the week ending Nov. 22, the US Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday, countering expectations of a small draw in fuel stocks ahead of holiday travel.
Slowing fuel demand growth in top consumers China and the US has weighed on oil prices this year.