Saudi Aramco's trading arm signed an agreement with Oman’s global integrated energy company, OQ, to explore joint commercial opportunities in the energy sector. Reuters
Saudi Aramco's trading arm signed an agreement with Oman’s global integrated energy company, OQ, to explore joint commercial opportunities in the energy sector. Reuters
Saudi Aramco's trading arm signed an agreement with Oman’s global integrated energy company, OQ, to explore joint commercial opportunities in the energy sector. Reuters
Saudi Aramco's trading arm signed an agreement with Oman’s global integrated energy company, OQ, to explore joint commercial opportunities in the energy sector. Reuters

Saudi Aramco’s trading arm signs agreement with Oman’s OQ on new opportunities


Fareed Rahman
  • English
  • Arabic

The trading arm of Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest exporter of oil, signed an agreement with Oman’s global integrated energy company, OQ, to explore joint commercial opportunities in the energy sector.

Aramco Trading Company (ATC) and OQ will collaborate directly or through their affiliates to explore business prospects in the Omani port of Duqm and nearby crude oil storage terminal of Ras Markaz, the two companies said on Tuesday.

As part of the agreement, the companies will also undertake a joint review of ATC supplying feedstock to Duqm Refinery and Petrochemicals Industries Company (OQ8) as well as possible offtake of oil products by ATC from OQ8.

ATC and OQ may further expand the scope of the agreement to include product storage, renewables, green ammonia and green hydrogen, the companies said.

Aramco Trading Company trades crude oil, refined products, LNG and LPG, blending components, bulk petrochemicals and polyolefins. It has offices in Fujairah, London and Singapore.

OQ has operations in 17 countries that cover the entire value chain from exploration and production of oil and gas, refineries and petrochemicals to marketing and distribution of end-user products, reaching more than 60 countries worldwide.

The new agreement comes as Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visits Oman to strengthen ties between the two countries. Oman is expected to secure investment projects worth $10 billion during the visit.

Oman’s economy is projected to grow by 2.5 per cent this year after a contraction of 2.8 per cent last year, the International Monetary Fund said earlier this year.

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Starring: George MacKay, Jannis Niewohner, Jeremy Irons

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The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

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What is Folia?

Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.

Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."

Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.

In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love". 

There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.

While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."

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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
RESULTS

Manchester United 2

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Scott McTominay 90 6' 

Manchester City 0

Bangladesh tour of Pakistan

January 24 – First T20, Lahore

January 25 – Second T20, Lahore

January 27 – Third T20, Lahore

February 7-11 – First Test, Rawalpindi

April 3 – One-off ODI, Karachi

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Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company

The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.

He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.

“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.

“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.

HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon. 

With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

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Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

Moon Music

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5

Updated: December 07, 2021, 3:47 PM