AVIATION-

Riyadh Air will focus on the niche markets of flights to and from KSA rather than compete with prominent Gulf hubs, CEO Tony Douglas said while explaining the airline's “super aggressive” growth plan, The Financial Times reports. Riyadh Air will not directly rival gulf giants like Qatar Airways, Dubai’s Emirates, and Abu Dhabi’s Etihad, which have grown by providing connecting flights through their major home airports to various global destinations, Douglas said. Instead, Riyadh Air will instead focus on serving travelers to and from Saudi Arabia. Last March, the company announced its first order of 39 Boeing 787 jets, with options for 33 others, aiming to serve over 100 destinations by the end of the decade. Riyadh Air is expecting to receive its first 11 jets from Boeing in 2025.

Masdar + ZeroAvia collaborate on hydrogen production for aircrafts: UAE state-owned renewables giant Masdar inked an agreement with US-based hydrogen-electric aircraft developer ZeroAvia to explore hydrogen production and supply projects for aircraft, according to a statement. As part of the partnership , ZeroAvia will refuel its zero-emission aircrafts at commercial airports by 2030, with plans for a first hydrogen-fueled commercial flight by 2025. The companies will initially establish clean flight operations in North America and Europe, with plans to later expand operations in the UAE. The UAE government has set a target to produce 1.4 mn tons of hydrogen annually by 2031 before increasing its production capacity tenfold to 14-22 mn tons by 2050. Masdar aims to reach an annual 1 mn ton green hydrogen production volume by the end of the decade.

E-COMMERCE-

Talabat pro launches in Bahrain: Delivery platform Talabat has launched a new subscription service, Talabat pro, in Bahrain, Trade Arabia reports. The service will provide exclusive benefits to its customers, such as unlimited deliveries without charge from selected vendors and restaurants, for a monthly fee of BHD 2.5 or BHD 2 per month as part of a yearly plan, the outlet writes.

DHL receives Volvo electric truck from Al Futtaim: Al Futtaim Automotives has delivered a Volvo Heavy-Duty Electric Truck to logistics player DHL, according to a statement. The truck is set to operate in Dubai and serve as a pre-carriage solution for the Etihad Rail system. Al Futtaim delivered its first Volvo truck to Unilever a few weeks ago as part of a joint initiative to roll out EVs as part of Unilever’s last-mile delivery fleet in the UAE.

ENERGY-

Iraq + Turkmenistan agree to tentative gas agreement: The Iraqi oil minister’s undersecretary Ezzat Saber announced that a government delegation, including officials from various ministries, conducted meetings with Turkmenistan’s gas sector representatives and reached a preliminary gas import agreement, INA reports. The agreement involves importing gas to fuel electric power plants. A memorandum of cooperation is in the works, expected to be finalized by year-end, which will detail the proposed quantities.

Israel has approved an increase in natural gas exports to Egypt, Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz announced, Jewish Press reports. The gas will come from Israel’s Tamar natural gas field, which is owned and operated by a consortium of international companies including Isramco, Chevron, Mubadala Energy, Tamar Petroleum, Dor Gas, and Everest. Israel will raise gas exports to Egypt by an additional 38.7 bcm over the next 11 years, according to the ministry. This could later be increased to 44 bcm. Egypt imported 4.62 bcm of gas from Israel last year.

Timeline: Egypt aims to boost imports of Israeli gas by over 30% this October, which coincides with decreased domestic demand in Israel, Asharq Business reported.

Iran + Armenia mull streamlined border controls for road freight: Tehran and Yerevan are holding talks on cutting tariffs and rolling out e-customs procedures for crossborder truck movements, state-aligned Tasnim reported. The measures look to boost trade between both countries, as well as transit via the Aras Free Zone on the Iran-Armenia border, Tasnim reported, citing chairman of Iran’s Supreme Council of Freetrade-Industrial and Special Economic Zones Hojjatollah Abdolmaleki.

STORAGE + WAREHOUSING-

Bahrain is looking to boost its food security with a new BHD 20 mn silos project, Alwatan reports, citing Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry Food Committee Chairman Khaled Al Amin. The silos project aims to position Bahrain as a main distributor of Russian wheat regionally, Al Amin added. Economic studies for the project have been finalized with the implementation of the project still requiring several arrangements between both countries.

ALSO WORTH KNOWING-

• Netherlands-based shipbuilding company Damen Shipyards Group has delivered a new Shoalbuster 3209 vessel — dubbed Al Mirfa — to AD Port’s subsidiary Safeen Group. (Press Release)
• Air Arabia Abu Dhabi, the emirate’s low cost airline introduced a new Abu Dhabi to Lar route with three weekly flights, starting 14 September, expanding its destinations to 33. (Press release)
• The Dubai Maritime Authority of the Ports, Customs, and Freezone Corporation will launch a campaign over the next few months to strengthen the consumer rights of traders and beneficial cargo owners. (WAM)
• The Iraqi Oil Tanker Company has received a new tanker with 31ktonnes of capacity, with officials expressing the company’s intention tobuild a new fleet. (Statement)
• Iraqi national carrier Iraq Airways received a new Airbus A220-300, with crewmen from the carrier conducting the delivery flight between Oslo and Baghdad International Airport. (Statement)
• Iraq’s Transport Ministry has received the fifth and final Airbus A220 aircraft as part of a contract with Airbus. The aircraft will join Iraqi Airways’ fleet. (Ministry statement)