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Mohammed bin Zayed Names Abu Dhabi's Largest Housing Project ‘Riyadh City’

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan presiding over the Supreme Petroleum Council. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan presiding over the Supreme Petroleum Council. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Mohammed bin Zayed Names Abu Dhabi's Largest Housing Project ‘Riyadh City’

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan presiding over the Supreme Petroleum Council. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan presiding over the Supreme Petroleum Council. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan unveiled on Monday "al-Riyadh City", the newest and largest housing project in Abu Dhabi.

Named after the Saudi capital, Sheikh Mohammed stated that relations between the Kingdom and UAE "are based on brotherhood, cooperation and common destiny."

The Crown Prince tweeted on his official account: "Based on Khalifa's vision, we are updating policies related to citizen housing system and introducing a package of residential products in Abu Dhabi."

The total area of the Riyadh City project is approximately 8,000 hectares, equivalent to 85 percent of the area of Abu Dhabi Island and approximately 45 percent of Abu Dhabi's total residential land area. It is located 30 kilometers from Abu Dhabi downtown and its capacity is expected to reach over 200,000 citizens by the completion of the project.

The Abu Dhabi Government launched the Modon Real Estate Company to design and create integrated residential communities that will meet the needs of citizens and requirements of Emirati families in line with the cabinet's policy to provide housing grants and government loans to local beneficiaries.

The company will oversee partnerships with specialist designers and construction companies to ensure construction is done within the determined time limit and budget.

The development of Riyadh City will include residential neighborhoods with controlled population densities, as well as a full range of public facilities, such as parks, schools, shops, mosques, and medical and community service centers, which will comply with the highest standards of sustainability.

In other news, UAE Supreme Petroleum Council (SPC) approved ADNOC’s plans for capital expenditure of over $108.8 billion, over the next five years. The plan includes several expansion and growth projects that will explore and appraise Abu Dhabi’s unconventional gas resources, as the company seeks to enable future value creation from its untapped gas resources.

Presided over by Sheikh Mohammed, who is also Vice Chairman of the Supreme Petroleum Council, the council approved ADNOC’s key strategic investments program and future opportunities, as the oil and gas company expands its 2030 strategy, aimed at unlocking, creating and maximizing value and ensuring smart growth in its upstream, and downstream businesses, while strengthening market access.

Sheikh Mohammed reaffirmed that ADNOC has the unwavering support of UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan as it continues to drive the nation’s prosperity by creating long-term, sustainable value from all of the nation’s hydrocarbon resources.

Minister of State and ADNOC Group CEO Sultan al-Jaber declared that SPC’s approval of ADNOC's expanded strategic investment and growth plans signals a further tangible acceleration in ADNOC’s transformation.

"It marks the next phase in delivering our 2030 strategy, which will contribute to further maximizing value from all our resources, introduce new and significant partnership opportunities and enhance our capabilities to diversify our portfolio of products, as we aim to expand into key growth markets," said Jaber.

ADNOC plans to secure additional captive crude processing capacity in growth markets, establish sector specific global businesses and enhance its global marketing activities.

In line with the 2030 strategy, ADNOC will grow its crude refining capacity by 60 percent and more than triple its petrochemical production to 14.4 mtpa by 2025 through a staged expansion plan aimed at initially optimizing its existing assets to grow and diversify its products portfolio.

In addition, an aromatics project will be launched to convert naphtha into gasoline and aromatics and a large project to enhance the crude processing flexibility of its 900,000 bpd refining system will be taken forward.

The SPC is the highest governing body of the oil and gas industry in Abu Dhabi. The council formulates, approves and oversees the implementation of Abu Dhabi's petroleum policy and follows up its implementation across all areas of the petroleum industry to ensure that the set goals are accomplished.

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Business

War Weighs on Egypt’s Private Sector as PMI Hits Near Two-Year Low in March

People walk past a closed cinema as shops close early under a government-ordered curfew aimed at reducing energy costs in downtown Cairo on April 2, 2026. (AFP)
People walk past a closed cinema as shops close early under a government-ordered curfew aimed at reducing energy costs in downtown Cairo on April 2, 2026. (AFP)
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War Weighs on Egypt’s Private Sector as PMI Hits Near Two-Year Low in March

People walk past a closed cinema as shops close early under a government-ordered curfew aimed at reducing energy costs in downtown Cairo on April 2, 2026. (AFP)
People walk past a closed cinema as shops close early under a government-ordered curfew aimed at reducing energy costs in downtown Cairo on April 2, 2026. (AFP)

Egypt's non-oil private ‌sector deteriorated at its sharpest pace in almost two years in March, as the Middle East war drove up costs and dampened client demand, a closely watched business survey showed on Sunday.

The headline S&P Global Egypt Purchasing Managers' Index fell for a fourth consecutive month, dropping to 48.0 in March from 48.9 in February — its lowest reading since April 2024.

The ‌figure remained below ‌the 50.0 threshold that ‌separates growth ⁠from contraction, though ⁠it was broadly in line with the survey's long-run average of 48.2.

Output and new orders were the chief drags on the index, with both measures also hitting their lowest levels for nearly two years. Firms frequently blamed ⁠the Middle East conflict for dampening client ‌demand, partly through ‌intensifying price pressures.

In a first, business expectations for the ‌coming 12 months slipped into negative territory, with ‌companies citing uncertainty over the war as a key reason for pessimism, though the degree of gloom was described as mild.

David Owen, senior economist at ‌S&P Global Market Intelligence, nevertheless noted that "the latest figure of 48.0 still relates ⁠to ⁠annual GDP growth of around 4.3%," adding that "recent data suggests the domestic non-oil sector is on a solid underlying growth path."

Cost pressures remained a serious concern, however. Input prices surged at their joint-sharpest pace in one-and-a-half years, as firms cited fuel costs and other war-related commodity price increases, compounded by a stronger US dollar.

In response, companies raised their selling prices at the fastest rate in 10 months, though the increase remained modest overall.

Business

Middle East War Presents ‘Serious Risk’ for Africa, Warns Report

Festus Mwirotsi, 34, scouts for pests and diseases in roses meant for export at Isinya Roses farm in Kajiado, Kenya, March 24, 2026, as Kenya's flower industry is losing up to $1.4 million a week as the Iran war cuts demand and disrupts shipping. (AP)
Festus Mwirotsi, 34, scouts for pests and diseases in roses meant for export at Isinya Roses farm in Kajiado, Kenya, March 24, 2026, as Kenya's flower industry is losing up to $1.4 million a week as the Iran war cuts demand and disrupts shipping. (AP)
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Middle East War Presents ‘Serious Risk’ for Africa, Warns Report

Festus Mwirotsi, 34, scouts for pests and diseases in roses meant for export at Isinya Roses farm in Kajiado, Kenya, March 24, 2026, as Kenya's flower industry is losing up to $1.4 million a week as the Iran war cuts demand and disrupts shipping. (AP)
Festus Mwirotsi, 34, scouts for pests and diseases in roses meant for export at Isinya Roses farm in Kajiado, Kenya, March 24, 2026, as Kenya's flower industry is losing up to $1.4 million a week as the Iran war cuts demand and disrupts shipping. (AP)

The Middle East war "presents a serious risk to Africa", the African Union and the African Development Bank (AfDB) said in a report seen by AFP Saturday.

The conflict threatens to increase the cost of living and curtail growth on the continent, the report warned.

The Middle East accounts for 15.8 percent of Africa's imports and 10.9 percent of its exports, the report noted.

"The conflict, which already has triggered a trade shock, could quickly turn into a cost-of-living crisis across Africa through higher fuel and food prices, rising shipping and insurance costs, exchange rate pressures, and tighter fiscal conditions," it added.

The growth rate of most African countries continues to be slower than before the Covid pandemic, it noted.

"A loss in output growth of 0.2 percentage points on Africa's GDP is projected for 2026 if it (the conflict) exceeds six months," it said.

"The longer the conflict lasts and the more severe the disruption to shipping routes and energy and fertilizer supplies, the greater the risk of a significant growth slowdown across the continent."

Reduced deliveries of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Gulf will impact fertilizer production, limiting its availability during the crucial planting period up to May, it added.

- Currencies hit -

The report was compiled by the UN Development Program (UNDP) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).

According to recent data from the AfDB, the currencies of 29 African countries have already depreciated, increasing the cost of servicing external debt, making imports more expensive and reducing foreign exchange reserves,

Some countries could see some short-term gains, such as Nigeria for its oil exports or Mozambique for its LNG.

The rerouting of ships around Cape of Good Hope could benefit ports in Mozambique, South Africa, Namibia and Mauritius.

Kenya is establishing itself as a logistics hub in East Africa, while Ethiopian Airlines, the leading carrier in Africa, is serving as an "emergency air bridge" between the continent, Asia, and Europe, the report noted.

But these gains are likely to be uneven and will not offset the consequences for inflation, budgets, and food security in Africa, they warned.

Above all, the current crisis could hit the costs of humanitarian aid and divert donor funds towards other priorities.

Business

Taiwan Says It Has Assurances over LNG Supplies from 'Major' Country

The Taipei 101 skyscraper is seen lit up before the Earth Hour in Taipei, Taiwan, Saturday, March 28, 2026. (AP Photo/ Chiang Ying-ying)
The Taipei 101 skyscraper is seen lit up before the Earth Hour in Taipei, Taiwan, Saturday, March 28, 2026. (AP Photo/ Chiang Ying-ying)
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Taiwan Says It Has Assurances over LNG Supplies from 'Major' Country

The Taipei 101 skyscraper is seen lit up before the Earth Hour in Taipei, Taiwan, Saturday, March 28, 2026. (AP Photo/ Chiang Ying-ying)
The Taipei 101 skyscraper is seen lit up before the Earth Hour in Taipei, Taiwan, Saturday, March 28, 2026. (AP Photo/ Chiang Ying-ying)

Taiwan has received ‌supply assurances from the energy minister of a "major" liquefied natural gas-producing country, the island's economy minister said on Saturday, speaking about the Iran war's impact on Middle East energy imports.

Taiwan, a major semiconductor producer, had relied on Qatar for around a third of its LNG before the conflict, and has said it has secured alternate supplies for the months ahead from countries including Australia and the United States, said Reuters.

Speaking to ‌reporters in Taipei, ‌Economy Minister Kung Ming-hsin said that ‌because ⁠Taiwan has good ⁠relationships with its crude oil and natural gas suppliers, neither adjusting shipment origins nor purchasing additional spot cargoes would be a problem.

Kung said that about two weeks ago the energy minister of a certain "major energy-producing country" proactively contacted him.

The person "explained to us that they ⁠would fully support our natural gas needs. ‌If we have any ‌demand, we can let them know," he added.

"Another country even ‌said that some countries have released strategic petroleum ‌reserves, and they could also help coordinate matters if Taiwan needs assistance," Kung said.

"This shows that Taiwan has in fact earned considerable goodwill internationally through the long-term trust ‌it has built over the years," he said.

He declined to name the countries involved.

Angela ⁠Lin, ⁠spokesperson for state-owned refiner CPC, said at the same news conference that crude oil inventories were being maintained at pre-conflict levels and overall petrochemical feedstock supplies have remained stable.

CPC Chairman Fang Jeng-zen said that to reduce dependence on the Middle East, a new contract with the US will see 1.2 million metric tons of LNG supplied annually, with even more to come in the future, including eventually from Alaska.

However, Taiwan is not considering importing crude or LNG from Russia, he added.