July 28, 2025

Rating agency Fitch has reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating at A+, with a stable outlook. The affirmation reflects the kingdom’s strong fiscal buffers, substantial sovereign external assets, and continued growth in its non‑oil sectors. Fitch also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s resilient banking fundamentals and low government debt relative to comparable economies. While oil dependence remains a vulnerability, robust economic […]

Gulf bourses exhibited mixed performance on July 24. Investors remained cautious amid fluctuating corporate earnings and uncertain trade talks. Saudi markets dipped ~0.4%, Dubai rose 0.4% reaching multi-year highs, and Qatar posted modest growth.   Source: reuters.com

Oil prices edged higher on July 28 after the US and EU struck a trade agreement while negotiations with China showed optimism. Brent crude rose 0.29% to $68.64 a barrel, and WTI increased 0.23% to $65.31, supporting Gulf financial market sentiment.  Source: reuters.com

On July 25, UAE equities closed higher with Dubai outperforming—supported by real estate and telecom sector gains. Strong oil prices and a breakthrough US–Japan trade deal spurred sentiment, lifting Dubai’s main index by 0.6%, led by Emaar Properties (+2.6%) and Salik (+1.3%).   Source: reuters.com

Crypto giant Binance has rolled out “Sharia Earn”, its first Sharia‑compliant staking product, certified by Islamic scholars. Available across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, and beyond, the platform allows investors to earn passive returns on major tokens (BNB, ETH, SOL) via an interest‑free structure adhering to Islamic finance norms.   Source: gulfnews.com