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Fruits of diversifying the economy: United Arab Emirates sees its total revenue surge 32pc

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Fruits of diversifying the economy: United Arab Emirates sees its total revenue surge 32pc

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) saw revenue increase 31.8 per cent in revenue in 2022, its finance minister said on Sunday, supporting an overall fiscal surplus last year.

One of the Gulf’s most diversified economies, the UAE has been developing its non-oil sectors, focusing on areas such as trade, tourism, manufacturing and logistics and financial services.

Read more: Is there any lesson to learn from Saudi Arabia?

Spending increased 6.1pc in 2022 on the year to stand at about 427 billion dirhams ($116bn), state news agency WAM said, citing the finance minister, Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

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“Despite the increase in revenues, the UAE has maintained a cautious and rational spending policy,” it said, adding that the surplus would allow for stronger fiscal buffers to mitigate potential financial risks.

It gave no figure for the full-year fiscal surplus but in May the central bank said the surplus hit $46bn in the first nine months of 2022, supported by strong oil and non-oil revenue growth as well as high oil prices.

Growth in acquisitions of non-financial assets doubled, up 94.5pc in 2022 on the year.

Read more: FDI shrinks globally but is up 10pc to $23bn in UAE during 2022: UN report

In July, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) had said in a report that foreign direct investment (FDI) flows into the United Arab Emirates rose 10pc in 2022 from the previous year to a record $23 billion despite the fact that the FDI fell 12pc globally in the year – again showing the strength of the Gulf State’s economic strength.

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The efforts made to diversify the country’s economy can best be gauged by the fact that it has set up a federal entity to regulate gaming as Ras Al Khaimah, one of the UAE’s seven emirates, is set to open a roughly $3.9bn Wynn Resort featuring a casino.

Read more: Welcome to Ras Al Khaimah: UAE sets up gaming regulator, led by US industry veterans

The moves to allow gambling are against a backdrop of intensifying economic competition in the Gulf, especially with Saudi Arabia. The UAE has introduced a raft of liberal legal reforms as it tries to maintain its edge as the region’s trade, tourism and financial hub.

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Star Entertainment says Hard Rock-led group weighs bid, shares surge

Star Entertainment says Hard Rock-led group weighs bid, shares surge

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Star Entertainment says Hard Rock-led group weighs bid, shares surge

Star Entertainment (SGR.AX), opens new tab said on Monday a consortium led by Florida-based Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos is considering a bid for the cash-strapped Australian firm, sending its shares 20% higher.

A potential takeover by entertainment giant Hard Rock would provide a much-needed financial lifeline to Star, which has been plagued by a regulatory inquiry into its flagship Sydney casino operation and an executive exodus.

Star, which had a market value of A$1.29 billion ($863.66 million) as of Monday’s close, said it has been approached by a consortium of investors which includes Hard Rock Hotels & Resorts (Pacific).

The company said it understands Hard Rock Hotels is a local partner of Hard Rock.

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Earlier in the day, Star said it had received “inbound interest from a number of external parties” but flagged none of them had yet resulted in “substantive discussions”.

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Red Lobster seeks bankruptcy protection with $100 mln in financing commitments

Red Lobster seeks bankruptcy protection with $100 mln in financing commitments

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Red Lobster seeks bankruptcy protection with $100 mln in financing commitments

U.S.-based restaurant chain Red Lobster has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a Florida court after securing $100 million in financing commitments from its existing lenders, the company said on Sunday.

The company listed its assets and liabilities to be between $1 billion and $10 billion, according to a court filing.

Red Lobster said its restaurants will be open and operate as usual during the bankruptcy proceedings, and plans to reduce its locations as well as pursue a sale of substantially all its assets.

The restaurant chain also said it has entered into a “stalking horse” purchase agreement to sell its business to an entity formed and controlled by its existing term lenders.

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“This restructuring is the best path forward for Red Lobster. It allows us to address several financial and operational challenges and emerge stronger and re-focused on our growth,” said Jonathan Tibus, CEO of Red Lobster.

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BMW imported 8,000 vehicles into US with parts from banned Chinese supplier, Senate report says

BMW imported 8,000 vehicles into US with parts from banned Chinese supplier, Senate report says

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BMW imported 8,000 vehicles into US with parts from banned Chinese supplier, Senate report says

German automaker BMW (BMWG.DE), opens new tab imported at least 8,000 Mini Cooper vehicles into the United States with electronic components from a banned Chinese supplier, a U.S. Senate report released on Monday said.

A report by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden’s staff said BMW imported 8,000 Mini Coopers with parts from a Chinese supplier banned under a 2021 law and that BMW continued to import products with the banned parts until at least April.

BMW Group said in an email it had “taken steps to halt the importation of affected products.”

The company will be conducting a service action to replace the specific parts, adding it “has strict standards and policies regarding employment practices, human rights, and working conditions, which all our direct suppliers must follow.”

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Congress in 2021 passed the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) law to strengthen enforcement of laws to prevent the import of goods from China’s Xinjiang region believed to have been produced with forced labor by members of the country’s Uyghur minority group. China denies the allegations.

“Automakers’ self-policing is clearly not doing the job,” Wyden said, urging the Customs and Border Protection agency to “take a number of specific steps to supercharge enforcement and crack down on companies that fuel the shameful use of forced labor in China.” Customs and Border Protection did not immediately comment.

The report found that Bourns Inc, a California-based auto supplier, had sourced components from Sichuan Jingweida Technology Group (JWD). That Chinese company was added to the UFLPA Entity List in December, which means its products are presumed to be made with forced labor. 

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