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Thousands of Electric Aircraft Ready for Riyadh Expo 2030

FlyNow Aviation’s eCopter (Asharq Al-Awsat)
FlyNow Aviation’s eCopter (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Thousands of Electric Aircraft Ready for Riyadh Expo 2030

FlyNow Aviation’s eCopter (Asharq Al-Awsat)
FlyNow Aviation’s eCopter (Asharq Al-Awsat)

FlyNow Aviation, an urban air mobility startup from Austria, is gearing up to provide thousands of electric helicopters to enhance mobility and sustainability during the Riyadh Expo 2030.
Yvonne Winter, Chief Operating Officer of FlyNow Aviation, revealed these plans to Asharq Al-Awsat on the sidelines of the 2024 Global Forum on Electric Vehicles and Mobility Technology held last week in Riyadh.
Winter mentioned that the company is set to establish a regional headquarters in Saudi Arabia within one to two months, alongside setting up an assembly line for local production and export to global markets from within the Kingdom.
FlyNow Aviation specializes in manufacturing, operating, and developing efficient, automated electric cargo drones and taxis, leveraging cutting-edge technology to ensure reduced manufacturing and operational costs.
Winter revealed that her company developed a family of electric aircraft known as “eCopter,” consisting of two types: a single-seat version and a dual-seat version capable of carrying passengers or cargo, with a payload capacity of up to 200 kilograms.
The aircraft include a fully battery-powered version currently capable of a 50-kilometer range for safety reasons. In the future, there will also be a hydrogen-powered version and a hybrid version combining both technologies, with the hybrid version offering a range of up to 200 kilometers and a flying speed of up to 130 kilometers per hour.
Winter described the eCopter as “extremely quiet.”
She emphasized the company’s focus on introducing a system to significantly improve ground conditions, especially in tackling traffic congestion.
Winter noted that while her company is finalizing the system, their initial rollout will prioritize cargo to minimize risks.
FlyNow Aviation seeks collaboration from various stakeholders—corporations, regulators, and government bodies—to shape laws, regulations, digital infrastructure, airport facilities, insurance systems, weather checks, and more.
The company plans to continue air freight operations for goods for the next two years, transitioning to passenger transport after completing hundreds of flights to enhance flying comfort and ease concerns.
She expects swift implementation, underscoring the importance of low-altitude economics, typically involving activities focused on civil aviation vehicles.
Moreover, Winter highlighted that the automotive industry of the past century will transform into urban air mobility in the future.
Saudi Arabia is poised to lead these transformations and the new economy in line with Vision 2030, she noted.
Saudi Arabia’s successful bid to host Expo 2030 in Riyadh will serve as a platform to showcase cutting-edge innovations, technologies, and contributions addressing global challenges across various sectors.
The event anticipates welcoming 40 million visitors globally, with a budget of approximately $7.8 billion.

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Business

Egypt Raises Fuel Prices by up to 30 Percent

A gas station in the Egyptian capital, Cairo. (Reuters)
A gas station in the Egyptian capital, Cairo. (Reuters)
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Egypt Raises Fuel Prices by up to 30 Percent

A gas station in the Egyptian capital, Cairo. (Reuters)
A gas station in the Egyptian capital, Cairo. (Reuters)

Egypt raised domestic fuel prices by up to 30 percent on Tuesday, blaming "exceptional" global energy pressures caused by the Middle East war, which has disrupted oil supplies and shipping routes.

The increases, announced by the petroleum ministry, apply to gasoline, diesel and natural gas used in vehicles.

In a statement, the ministry said the adjustments were driven by "disruptions in supply chains, rising risk levels and higher maritime shipping and insurance costs", which have pushed petroleum product prices to "levels not seen in years".

Oil prices briefly surged above $119 a barrel on Monday before plunging to around $84 after US President Donald Trump said the US-Israel war with Iran would end soon.

Diesel, one of Egypt's most widely used fuels, rose by three Egyptian pounds, or about 17.1 percent, to 20.50 pounds ($0.38) per liter, up from 17.50 pounds.

Prices for 80-octane gasoline rose by about 16.9 percent, to 20.75 pounds per liter, while 92-octane gasoline increased by roughly 15.6 percent to 22.25 pounds.

Prices for 95-octane climbed by about 14.3 percent to 24 pounds, the ministry said.

Natural gas used for vehicles saw the largest hike, jumping 30 percent to 13 pounds per cubic meter.

Egypt has raised fuel prices four times over the past two years under an $8 billion loan program from the International Monetary Fund.

An October increase of up to 13 percent was expected to be the last under the plan.

Business

Oil Falls as Trump Predicts Middle East De-escalation

Wells at the San Ardo Oil Field in San Ardo, Calif., Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
Wells at the San Ardo Oil Field in San Ardo, Calif., Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
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Oil Falls as Trump Predicts Middle East De-escalation

Wells at the San Ardo Oil Field in San Ardo, Calif., Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
Wells at the San Ardo Oil Field in San Ardo, Calif., Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

Oil prices fell on Tuesday after hitting a more than three-year high in the previous session as US President Donald Trump predicted the war in the Middle East could end soon, easing concerns about prolonged disruptions to global oil supplies.

Brent futures fell $6.28, or 6.3%, to $92.68 a barrel at 0715 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was down $6.19, or 6.5%, to $88.58 a barrel, reported Reuters.

Both contracts fell as much as 11% earlier before paring some losses. Oil surged past $100 a barrel on Monday to the highest since mid-2022, as ‌supply cuts ‌by Saudi Arabia and other producers during the expanding US-Israeli war ‌on ⁠Iran stoked fears ⁠of major disruptions to global supplies.

Prices later retreated after Russian President Vladimir Putin held a call with Trump and shared proposals aimed at a quick settlement to the war, according to a Kremlin aide, easing concerns about supply.

Trump said on Monday in a CBS News interview that he thought the war against Iran was "very complete" and Washington was "very far ahead" of his initial four- to five-week estimated time frame.

"Clearly Trump's comments about a short-lived war have calmed ⁠markets. While there was an overreaction to the upside yesterday, we ‌think there is an overreaction to the downside today," ‌said Suvro Sarkar, energy sector team lead at DBS Bank, adding that the market was ‌underappreciating risks at these levels for Brent.

"Murban and Dubai grades are still well above $100 ‌per barrel, so practically nothing much has changed in terms of ground realities," he added, referring to benchmark Middle Eastern oil grades.

In response to Trump, Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said they would "determine the end of the war," and Tehran would not allow "one liter of oil" to be exported ‌from the region if US and Israeli attacks continued, state media reported on Tuesday, citing the IRGC's spokesperson.

Prices, however, remain under ⁠pressure as Trump ⁠considers easing oil sanctions on Russia and releasing emergency crude stockpiles as part of a package of options aimed at curbing spiking global oil prices, according to multiple sources.

"Discussions around easing sanctions on Russian oil, comments from Donald Trump hinting that the conflict could eventually de-escalate, and the possibility of G7 countries tapping strategic oil reserves all pointed to the same message - that oil barrels will somehow continue to reach the market," Priyanka Sachdeva, a Phillip Nova analyst, said in a note on Tuesday.

"Once traders sensed that supply routes could still be maintained, the initial 'panic premium' that had pushed prices above the $100 mark yesterday started to fade, and oil prices quickly pulled back."

G7 nations had said on Monday they were prepared to implement "necessary measures" in response to surging global oil prices but stopped short of committing to the release of emergency reserves.

Business

Gold Gains on Weaker Dollar, Easing Inflation Concerns

AFP- A saleswoman adjusts gold jewelry for sale at a shop in Lianyungang_ in China's eastern Jiangsu province
AFP- A saleswoman adjusts gold jewelry for sale at a shop in Lianyungang_ in China's eastern Jiangsu province
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Gold Gains on Weaker Dollar, Easing Inflation Concerns

AFP- A saleswoman adjusts gold jewelry for sale at a shop in Lianyungang_ in China's eastern Jiangsu province
AFP- A saleswoman adjusts gold jewelry for sale at a shop in Lianyungang_ in China's eastern Jiangsu province

Gold prices rose on Tuesday, supported by a weaker US dollar and easing energy costs after US President Donald Trump suggested that the war in the Middle East could end soon.

Respite from a potential war-driven surge in inflation would likely reduce the chances of central banks raising interest rates, a positive for non-yielding gold, Reuters said.

Spot gold rose 0.7% ‌to $5,174.49 per ounce, ‌as of 0631 GMT. US gold futures ‌for ⁠April delivery rose ⁠1.6% to $5,184.

The dollar fell 0.4%, making greenback-priced bullion cheaper for holders of other currencies.

Gold prices rose "due to the news flow from US President Trump himself, stating that there is a potential for de-escalation ... So what we could see is that potential inflation expectation starts to tone down given this dramatic fall in ⁠oil price," said Kelvin Wong, a senior ‌market analyst at OANDA.

Oil prices ‌fell by more than 5% following Trump's comments.

But, the US president ‌also warned that US attacks could rise sharply if ‌Iran sought to block tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which handles one-fifth of the world's oil supply.

The war has effectively shut the strait, stranding tankers for over a week and forcing ‌producers to halt output as storage fills up, sending energy prices soaring.

Gold prices fell by ⁠as much ⁠as 2% on Monday as higher energy costs fanned inflation concerns and further dimmed the prospects for a near-term cut in interest rates by the US Federal Reserve.

Investors expect the Fed to keep rates steady at the end of its two-day meeting on March 18, per CME Group's FedWatch tool.

Markets are now awaiting the US consumer price index for February, due on Wednesday, and Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) index - the Fed's preferred inflation gauge - on Friday.

Spot silver rose 2% to $88.73 per ounce. Spot platinum gained 0.7% at $2,196.35, while palladium lost 0.3% to $1,685.01.