Read the June 2025 MEED Business Review

4 June 2025

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The GCC states are playing an increasingly important role in developing future technologies. Governments are accelerating their artificial intelligence (AI) and data centre strategies and the region now boasts a compelling combination of low-cost energy, advanced infrastructure and decisive policy support, positioning it as a hub for data-driven innovation.

The region is rapidly scaling up its data centre capacity. As of May, there were more than $78bn-worth of planned data centre construction projects, according to regional projects tracker MEED Projects, with a further $680m in active bids and $6.5bn already under construction. 

With digital infrastructure investments hitting an all-time high, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are overhauling their electricity systems in line with their energy diversification, economic expansion and net-zero targets, as they strive to secure national competitiveness in the AI economy.

The June edition of MEED Business Review explores the implications of this rapid growth in data centre investment, and what it means for the long-term technological leadership of the Gulf states in the fields of digital innovation and AI.

MEED's latest issue also includes a 13-page market report on Iraq, which is facing economic challenges as lower oil prices threaten Baghdad's spending plans. While the country's oil, gas and chemicals project market has surged to its highest value in a decade and the revival of a Syrian oil export route could provide a large economic boost, Baghdad is spending heavily on housing and infrastructure construction projects, and on its efforts to address the country's significant power deficit. The hope is that the strong projects activity will set the country on a more positive growth trajectory.

In addition, this month's issue features a report on the region's banking sector, where structural evolution is taking place in the areas of retail, digital and small and medium-sized enterprise banking. Through a series of case studies, we look at the financial institutions that are leading the way when it comes to innovation in these domains.

Meanwhile, this month's ranking of the Top 100 regional listed companies reveals that although the valuations of regional listed oil sector companies has fallen, other sectors are holding up well despite volatile global conditions and lower oil prices. Despite the oil sector weighing on the overall performance of MEED's top 100, a total of 54 initial public offerings in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region raised $12.6bn in 2024. 

This issue, the team also assesses the potential impact of the snap decision by US President Donald Trump to lift sanctions on Syria; looks at how the planned Disney theme park on Yas Island is a major boost to Abu Dhabi's tourism offering; and examines how the uptick in investment activity throughout the Middle East-Asia corridor is set to continue alongside the recently announced multibillion-dollar Gulf-US investments in sectors such as defence, energy and AI.

In the June issue, we also examine what Saudi Arabia's 19% first-quarter 2025 cut in government capital expenditure – and the coinciding drop in contract awards – means for the kingdom; and speak exclusively to Estelle Brachlianoff, Veolia Group CEO, about the French water and waste-treatment firm's plans for expansion in the Mena region.

We hope our valued subscribers enjoy the June 2025 issue of MEED Business Review

 

Must-read sections in the June 2025 issue of MEED Business Review include:

AGENDA: 
Data centres churn investments

Gulf seizes AI opportunities

> CURRENT AFFAIRS:
US announces lifting of Syria sanctions

INDUSTRY REPORT:
2025 Top 100 Listed Companies 
Middle East stocks defy lower oil prices

> TOURISM: Abu Dhabi hopes bigger is better with Disney theme park

> TRADE: Emerging Gulf-Asia corridor grows despite headwinds

> SAUDI ARABIA: Riyadh confirms capital expenditure cuts

> INTERVIEW:
> Mena crucial to Veolia’s growth plan

> IRAQ MARKET REPORT: 
> COMMENT: Iraq maintains its pace, for now

> GOVERNMENT & ECONOMY: Iraq’s economy faces brewing storm
> OIL & GAS: Iraqi energy project value hits decade-high level
> PIPELINES: Revival of Syrian oil export route could benefit Iraq
> POWER: Iraq power sector turns a page
> CONSTRUCTION: Iraq pours billions into housing and infrastructure projects

> DATABANK: Iraq forecast dips on lower oil prices

MEED COMMENTS: 
Adnoc takes a leap forward in becoming a chemicals giant

Timing is ripe for Aramco to enter India
US-Gulf AI deals usher in new era
Saudi construction needs more clarity

> GULF PROJECTS INDEX: Gulf projects index leaps 4.3%

> APRIL 2025 CONTRACTS: Region sees $8bn of project signings in third straight month of weaker awards activity

> ECONOMIC DATA: Data drives regional projects

> OPINIONDealmaking trumps the Truman Doctrine

BUSINESS OUTLOOK: Finance, oil and gas, construction, power and water contracts

To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
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MEED Editorial
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    Turkish bank DenizBank is one of Turkiye’s leading private banks and, as a wholly owned subsidiary of Emirates NBD since 2019, it is playing a leading role in developing business links between the UAE and Turkiye.

    Recep Bastug, who was appointed as DenizBank’s CEO in 2024, says there is great potential for trade between the two countries. 

    “Turkiye is a growing country,” he says. “We’ve had volatility over the past five years, but the Turkiye economy and the banking sector have been able to manage those periods successfully.”

    Having spent years with international institutions such as BBVA, Bastug has vast experience in the banking sector. “Turkish banks, especially private ones like DenizBank, are very successful. In terms of capital, balance sheet structure and digital transformation, we are in a strong position,” he says.

    Solid fundamentals

    Turkiye’s fundamentals remain solid with a diversified export-oriented economy, a young and skilled population of 85 million, and relatively low debt levels. “We are not a highly leveraged country. Our household debt-to-GDP ratio is low. With the right policy mix, we offer high potential for foreign investors,” says Bastug.

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    GCC projects

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    DenizBank is already delivering results. “With Emirates NBD, we’ve identified 10 strategic cooperation areas, including trade finance, payments and capital markets. Thanks to this partnership, Emirates NBD has become the number one debt capital markets bank in Turkiye, even ahead of global players.”

    One area of growing activity is initial public offering (IPO) participation. “We’ve launched a mutual fund that allows Turkish private banking clients to participate in IPOs from the region, including from the UAE and Saudi Arabia. It’s a diversification strategy and helps retain wealth within the group.”

    Turkiye’s connection with the Gulf is going up, and DenizBank is set to play a serious role in these relations. Day by day, Turkish companies are expanding their footprint in the region
    Recep Bastug, DenizBank

    Inflation ends

    Despite the current inflationary environment, Bastug says there is a clear inflection point ahead. “We expect 2027 to be a turning point. Once we exit the inflationary accounting regime [in Turkiye], DenizBank will become one of the biggest contributors to Emirates NBD’s global balance sheet. Last year, we contributed $1.2bn. In 2027, it will be significantly more.”

    DenizBank is the fifth-largest private bank in Turkiye with about a 5% market share. “The largest private bank is at 13%. It’s not easy to close that gap – but we will do it. Our long-term goal, aligned with our shareholder, is to become the biggest and most successful private bank in the country.”

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    Regional opportunities

    Bastug also sees potential for engagement beyond the GCC, including in post-conflict reconstruction. “In the past, Turkiye had strong trade volumes with Syria. Even during wartime, commercial links remained. Once a stable environment emerges, there will be opportunities – especially in infrastructure.”

    While a physical branch presence is not currently being considered, DenizBank is prepared to support Turkish contractors operating in neighbouring countries. “We have the relationships and expertise to facilitate this growth. And culturally, we’re well aligned with the region – it helps make business smoother.”

    As Turkiye re-establishes economic momentum and Gulf economies look to deliver on long-term visions, DenizBank is positioning itself for a more active role in the region in the future. “We are preparing the bank for the next stage, and with the backing of Emirates NBD, we’re confident in our ability to lead.” 

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    The project, which is endorsed by Iraq’s National Investment Commission (NIC), will cover an area of about 3 square kilometres.

    According to local media reports, Basra province governor Asaad Al-Idani said the project has already been awarded to a developer.

    Iraq has been gradually recovering since the war. The government initially prioritised infrastructure and public housing to stimulate economic growth, improve living standards and attract foreign investment.

    More recently, benefitting from higher oil prices and a period of relatively stable governance, Baghdad has expanded its focus to reconstructing and modernising the country’s deteriorating infrastructure.

    The Iraqi construction market has also seen significant investments from private real estate developers from the region. In May, Egyptian real estate developer Ora Developers announced that it had started construction on the Al-Wardi residential city project, which consists of more than 100,000 residential units covering about 61 million square metres (sq m) on the southeastern side of Baghdad.

    The move is the latest sign of international investors’ growing appetite for developing real estate in Iraq as part of the country’s post-war building initiatives.

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    MEED’s June 2025 report on Iraq includes:

    > COMMENT: Iraq maintains its pace, for now
    > GOVERNMENT & ECONOMY: Iraq’s economy faces brewing storm

    > OIL & GAS: Iraqi energy project value hits decade-high level
    > PIPELINES: Revival of Syrian oil export route could benefit Iraq
    > POWER: Iraq power sector turns a page
    > CONSTRUCTION: Iraq pours billions into housing and infrastructure projects

    > DATABANK: Iraq forecast dips on lower oil prices

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14170011/main.png
    Yasir Iqbal