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QatarEnergy to Join Lebanon Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration

A sign with the logo of French oil and gas company TotalEnergies is pictured at a petrol station in Bouguenais near Nantes, France, November 14, 2022. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe/File Photo
A sign with the logo of French oil and gas company TotalEnergies is pictured at a petrol station in Bouguenais near Nantes, France, November 14, 2022. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe/File Photo
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QatarEnergy to Join Lebanon Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration

A sign with the logo of French oil and gas company TotalEnergies is pictured at a petrol station in Bouguenais near Nantes, France, November 14, 2022. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe/File Photo
A sign with the logo of French oil and gas company TotalEnergies is pictured at a petrol station in Bouguenais near Nantes, France, November 14, 2022. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe/File Photo

QatarEnergy will join TotalEnergies and Eni in a three-way consortium to explore oil and gas in two maritime blocks off the coast of Lebanon, the Lebanese energy ministry said on Thursday.

Following months of talks, QatarEnergy is set to take a 30 percent stake, leaving France's TotalEnergies and Italy's Eni with 35 percent each.

The announcement said agreements would be signed on Sunday.

Lebanon's first licensing round in 2017 saw a consortium of TotalEnergies, Eni, and Russia's Novatek win bids to explore in the offshore 4 and 9 blocks.

Novatek pulled out in Sept. 2022, leaving its 20 percent stake in the hands of the Lebanese government.

"This will be a major positive development," Lebanon's energy minister Walid Fayad told Reuters, adding that it could bring forward the launch of exploration activities.

Lebanon and Israel agreed to a landmark agreement brokered by the US to delineate their long-disputed maritime border.

Block 9 lies mostly in Lebanese waters but a segment lies south of the newly delineated border with Israel. Total and Israel have agreed on a separate deal for any revenues generated from there.

The deal stipulated that no Lebanese or Israeli corporations would operate in the zone below the new border, prompting a transfer of the TotalEnergies and government stakes to two companies described as "vehicles" of TotalEnergies and the search for a new consortium partner.

Offshore areas in the eastern Mediterranean and Levant have yielded major gas discoveries in the past decade. Interest in them has grown since Russia's invasion of Ukraine disrupted gas supplies.

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Business

Tourism Projects Worth $9 Billion Being Implemented in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province

The Saudi Minister of Tourism, along with the President of Aramco, tours the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture in the Eastern Province. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi Minister of Tourism, along with the President of Aramco, tours the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture in the Eastern Province. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Tourism Projects Worth $9 Billion Being Implemented in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province

The Saudi Minister of Tourism, along with the President of Aramco, tours the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture in the Eastern Province. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi Minister of Tourism, along with the President of Aramco, tours the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture in the Eastern Province. Asharq Al-Awsat

The Eastern Province is expected to witness the implementation of more than 650 tourism projects valued at over SAR12.7 billion (approximately $3.39 billion).

With the addition of investments in new projects exceeding SAR21 billion ($5.6 billion), total tourism investments amount to around SAR33.7 billion (nearly $9 billion), reflecting a growth in the sector.

Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb said tourism investments in the region are experiencing qualitative growth, adding that the Eastern Province enjoys competitive advantages that make it attractive for tourism investment.

The minister said the region has achieved positive results in sector performance, welcoming more than 13.4 million tourists whose spending exceeded SAR18.5 billion ($4.9 billion), underscoring the rising demand for tourism services.

Tourism Diversity

Al-Khateeb revealed that more than 650 approved tourism projects would contribute to improved tourism, in addition to strengthening partnerships and supporting private sector participation. This, he said, reflects the rapid growth pace and the achievements that the tourism sector in the Eastern Province has witnessed.

High-quality projects in the region enhance competitiveness, supported by the Tourism Development Fund, said Al-Khateeb. These projects contribute to improving quality of life and offering integrated visitor experiences, reinforcing the region’s position as a leading tourist destination on the Arabian Gulf coast, he added.

The minister met with Eastern Province’s tourism employees, who briefed him on promising opportunities and made proposals aimed at developing career paths for workers in the sector.

Al Khobar Season

Al Khobar Season 2025 has achieved remarkable success since its launch, featuring a seasonal program spanning nearly 90 days. Supported by the Sharqia Development Authority and the Saudi Tourism Authority, the season hosted events across more than 20 locations, attracting over one million visitors and involving more than 50 partners from the private sector.

Al Khobar Season enhances the Eastern Province’s status as a major tourism and entertainment destination through experiences that blend entertainment, culture, arts, and sports. This contributes to improving quality of life, achieving the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, and developing the tourism sector.

Business

Saudi Exports Development Authority Organizes Trade Mission to Syria, Iraq 

Officials are seen during one of the visits to a Saudi company. (Saudi Exports Development Authority on X)
Officials are seen during one of the visits to a Saudi company. (Saudi Exports Development Authority on X)
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Saudi Exports Development Authority Organizes Trade Mission to Syria, Iraq 

Officials are seen during one of the visits to a Saudi company. (Saudi Exports Development Authority on X)
Officials are seen during one of the visits to a Saudi company. (Saudi Exports Development Authority on X)

The Saudi Exports Development Authority (SAUDI EXPORTS) organized a trade mission for Iraq and Syria in conjunction with the Made in Saudi Expo 2025 in Riyadh, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Tuesday.

The missions involved 87 Saudi exporters and 32 importing companies, representing key sectors including construction, food products, medical supplies, and packaging industries.

A series of business-matching meetings were held to explore opportunities for cooperation and trade partnerships.

The meetings and bilateral discussions held alongside the exhibition resulted in the signing of seven trade agreements, reflecting the quality and competitiveness of Saudi products.

This was followed by an orientation tour for the visiting trade delegation of the Saudi companies’ pavilions to explore the latest national innovations and products.

Business

Modi Invites Jordanian Companies to Invest in India

Modi speaks at the India-Jordan Business Forum in Amman on Tuesday (X)
Modi speaks at the India-Jordan Business Forum in Amman on Tuesday (X)
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Modi Invites Jordanian Companies to Invest in India

Modi speaks at the India-Jordan Business Forum in Amman on Tuesday (X)
Modi speaks at the India-Jordan Business Forum in Amman on Tuesday (X)

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday invited Jordanian companies to invest in India, saying they can look forward to good returns on their investments as the country is growing at over 8%.

Speaking at the India-Jordan Business Forum meet here, Modi said India is soon going to become the third-largest economy in the world, and presents opportunities for Jordanian companies to become part of the growth story, according to news agency Press Trust of India.

The PM said his country’s high GDP numbers are due to productivity-driven governance and innovation-led growth policies.

Modi also said numbers are important in the universe of business, but he has come to Jordan to build a long-term relationship between the two nations.

“The relationship between India and Jordan is one where historical trust and future economic opportunities come together,” he noted.

India is growing at a fast pace, and new doors of opportunities are opening for Jordanian companies as well, the PM added.

“You (Jordan) can become a partner in India's high growth and earn good returns on your investments,” Modi said.

Indian companies in Jordan can manufacture medicines and medical devices. This will benefit the people of Jordan, and the country can also become a reliable hub for West Asia and Africa, he said.

While highlighting potential sectors of bilateral cooperation, Modi said India has a lot of experience in farming in dry climates.

“This experience of ours can make a real difference in Jordan. We can work on solutions like precision farming and micro-irrigation. We can also collaborate on building cold chains, food parks, and storage facilities,” he added.

Modi arrived in Jordan's capital, Amman, on Monday on a two-day visit at the invitation of King Abdullah II. Jordan is the first leg of the Prime Minister's four-day, three-nation tour, which will also take him to Ethiopia and Oman.