World Government Summit in Dubai to Host 15 Global Forums in Late March

Mohammed Abdullah al-Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Chairman of the WGS Organization. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Mohammed Abdullah al-Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Chairman of the WGS Organization. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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World Government Summit in Dubai to Host 15 Global Forums in Late March

Mohammed Abdullah al-Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Chairman of the WGS Organization. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Mohammed Abdullah al-Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Chairman of the WGS Organization. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The World Government Summit (WGS) revealed it will host this year 15 forums to explore the most important global trends defining the next decade.

The Summit’s eighth edition, which will be held at the Expo 2020 Dubai at the Dubai Exhibition Center in late March, will bring together the world’s most prominent talents to discuss vital sectors and develop ideas and visions for a new future.

The WGS will host for the first time this year the Global Crypto Forum and the Global Metaverse Forum to discuss the most prominent global trends during the current decade.

It will also organize the first Arab Meeting for Young Leaders, the Arab Government Administration Forum, Cybersecurity in Aviation Forum, the Investopia Investment Summit, in addition to the TIME 100 Gala, and the Forbes 30 Under 30 Forum.

The WGS continues to host major forums that comprise key pillars for global communities and their future, namely: the Climate Change Forum, which focuses on the UAE hosting of the (COP28), and the Global Energy Forum, the Global Health Forum, the SDGs in Action, the Government Services Forum, the Women in Government Forum, and the Gender Balance Forum.

Mohammed Abdullah al-Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Chairman of the WGS Organization, said the Summit has become the largest global platform for shaping the future of governments.

His remarks were made in a speech delivered at the WGS Dialogue, which was held at the Museum of the Future in Dubai on Monday.

He said that the Summit – which will soon complete its first decade of operations – has “evolved into an incubator of innovative solutions at the decision and policymaking level, where ideas, knowledge and success stories are shared and transferred by pioneering government officials, leaders and industry experts.”

“We need to enhance the participation of young people – who make up two-thirds of the region’s population – in decision-making positions to provide a platform where their voice can be heard,” Gergawi said, noting that the Summit provides an annual platform for Arab youth to share their aspirations and future visions.

“WGS also witnessed the appointment of the UAE’s youngest minister of youth, the launch of youth councils and youth strategies, the creation of youth policies, and the launch of the Arab Youth Center to prepare a pioneering model for empowering the largest social segment in the Arab world,” he added.

Gergawi pointed out that hosting the Summit at Expo 2020 Dubai is symbolic of the UAE’s connected, forward-looking philosophy.

“Organizing WGS 2022 at Expo 2020 Dubai will make for an exceptional event,” he said.

“It will build on the achievements of this incredible expo which overcame unprecedented challenges and disruption to bring people together in the most challenging of times.”

“We are connecting the world’s greatest minds to create the future we all want,” he stressed.



Mawani Reports 2.01% Increase in Container Throughput for January 2026

Mawani Reports 2.01% Increase in Container Throughput for January 2026
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Mawani Reports 2.01% Increase in Container Throughput for January 2026

Mawani Reports 2.01% Increase in Container Throughput for January 2026

Ports overseen by the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) reported a 2.01% increase in container handling for January 2026, totaling 738,111 TEUs, up from 723,571 TEUs in January 2025. Transshipment containers rose significantly by 22.44%, reaching 184,019 TEUs compared to 150,295 TEUs the previous year.

However, the number of imported containers decreased by 3.23% to 284,375 TEUs, and exported containers dropped by 3.47% to 269,717 TEUs year-over-year, SPA reported.

Passenger numbers surged by 42.27%, totaling 143,566 passengers compared to 100,909 last year. Vehicle volumes increased by 3.31% to 109,097, and the ports received 886,908 heads of livestock, a 49.86% increase from the same period in 2025.

In terms of cargo tonnage, liquid bulk cargo rose by 0.28% to 14,102,495 tons, general cargo totaled 839,987 tons, and solid bulk cargo reached 4,263,168 tons. The total tonnage handled was 19,205,650 tons, reflecting a 3.04% decrease from the previous year. Vessel traffic recorded 1,121 ships, a slight decrease of 1.75%.

This increase in container throughput supports trade, stimulates the maritime transport industry, and enhances supply chains and food security. These achievements align with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, reinforcing Saudi Arabia's position as a global logistics hub.

In 2025, Mawani ports achieved a 10.58% increase in total handled containers, reaching 8,317,235 TEUs, while transshipment containers for the year rose by 11.78% to 1,927,348 TEUs.


Oil Prices Edge Lower as IEA Reduces Demand Forecast

Oil platforms and pumpjacks at Lake Maracaibo, in Cabimas, Venezuela, January 26, 2026. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/File Photo
Oil platforms and pumpjacks at Lake Maracaibo, in Cabimas, Venezuela, January 26, 2026. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/File Photo
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Oil Prices Edge Lower as IEA Reduces Demand Forecast

Oil platforms and pumpjacks at Lake Maracaibo, in Cabimas, Venezuela, January 26, 2026. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/File Photo
Oil platforms and pumpjacks at Lake Maracaibo, in Cabimas, Venezuela, January 26, 2026. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/File Photo

Oil prices slipped on Thursday as investors weighed the International Energy Agency's lowering of its global oil demand forecast for 2026 against potential escalation of US-Iran tensions.

Brent crude oil futures were down 19 cents, or 0.27%, at $69.21 a barrel by 1232 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude fell 8 cents, or 0.12%, to $64.55.

Global oil demand will rise more slowly than previously expected this year, the IEA said on Thursday while projecting a sizeable surplus despite outages that cut supply in January.

The Brent and WTI benchmarks reversed gains to turn negative after the IEA's monthly report, having derived support earlier from concerns over the US-Iran backdrop.

US President Donald Trump said after talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday that they had yet to reach a definitive agreement on how to move forward with Iran but that negotiations with Tehran would continue.

Trump had said on Tuesday that he was considering sending a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East if a deal is not reached with Iran. The date and venue of the next round of talks have yet to be announced.

A hefty build in US crude inventories had capped the early price gains. US crude inventories rose by 8.5 million barrels to 428.8 million barrels last week, the Energy Information Administration said, far exceeding the 793,000 increase expected by analysts in a Reuters poll.

US refinery utilization rates dropped by 1.1 percentage points in the week to 89.4%, EIA data showed.

On the supply side, Russia's seaborne oil products exports in January rose by 0.7% from December to 9.12 million metric tons on high fuel output and a seasonal drop in domestic demand, data from industry sources and Reuters calculations showed.


Saudi Aramco Reportedly Sells Oil from Jafurah Field as Huge Project Starts

Saudi Aramco's Jafurah project. Photo: Aramco
Saudi Aramco's Jafurah project. Photo: Aramco
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Saudi Aramco Reportedly Sells Oil from Jafurah Field as Huge Project Starts

Saudi Aramco's Jafurah project. Photo: Aramco
Saudi Aramco's Jafurah project. Photo: Aramco

Saudi Aramco sold oil from its $100 billion Jafurah project in the first reported export from the massive natural gas development, Bloomberg reported.

Jafurah is Aramco’s first unconventional field, developed using the type of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, techniques pioneered in the US shale patch.

The deposit, which Chief Executive Officer Amin Nasser calls the company’s crown jewel, will produce massive amounts of natural gas once at capacity, expected in 2030. It also has plentiful volume of liquid fuels that will boost the company’s returns, Nasser has said.

The oil that Aramco sold is condensate, a light oil liquid that’s often found in gas deposits, according to traders with knowledge of the purchases. It will go to buyers in Asia for loading later this month or in early March, Bloomberg quoted the traders as saying.