Adnoc Distribution, the UAE's largest fuel retailer, reported a 2.1 per cent increase in second-quarter net income as revenue climbed, supported by higher fuel volumes and cost efficiencies.
Net profit for the three months to the end of June rose to Dh521 million ($141.96m), the company said in a statement to Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, where its shares are traded.
Second-quarter revenue rose by 66.4 per cent annually to Dh5 billion ($1.36bn), compared with Dh3bn last year.
"These results reflect our focused drive towards delivering on our strategy and sustained progress in all of our strategic pillars: fuel, non-fuel and cost efficiency," said Bader Al Lamki, chief executive of Adnoc Distribution.
"We continue to make disciplined capital investments, achieving cost savings while growing our service station network and maintaining high levels of safety, quality and customer experience."
Fuel volumes made a "progressive recovery" towards their pre-Covid levels as consumer sentiment improved after a successful vaccination drive in the UAE.
The company also managed to lower its operating costs, which fell by 10 per cent in the first half of the year, compared with the same period last year.
The company will pay a dividend of Dh2.57bn in 2021, with the payment for the first half – of 10.285 fils per share – set for distribution in October, pending board approval.
In March, Adnoc Distribution's shareholders approved a proposal to raise the dividend for 2020 by 7.5 per cent and maintain a similar payout for the next two years.
The company set a minimum dividend payout of Dh2.57bn for 2022, compared with 75 per cent of distributable profit as per the previous policy.
In May, Adnoc said it had successfully raised $1.64bn through the sale of new shares and issuance of exchangeable bonds in Adnoc Distribution.
The company offered 375 million shares, equal to 3 per cent of its share capital and a three-year unsecured bond that could be exchanged for a further 7 per cent of shares, subject to certain conditions.
The placement of additional shares will leave the Adnoc Group with a 70 per cent interest in its fuel distribution arm.
Adnoc Distribution opened 12 new fuel retail stations in the UAE in the first half of the year. The company also obtained no-objection certificates from the Saudi General Authority for Competition to acquire 35 new stations in the kingdom.
The acquisition of the stations in Saudi Arabia was announced in December and in February.
In the UAE, the company also refurbished 24 of its Adnoc Oasis convenience stores in the first half of the year.
The fuel retailer also joined the MSCI Emerging Markets index on May 27. Adnoc Distribution joins nine other UAE-listed companies that are part of the index, which is tracked by funds with assets worth billions of dollars.
THE BIG THREE
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
19 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 5 (2011, 14, 15, 18, 19)
French Open: 2 (2016, 21)
US Open: 3 (2011, 15, 18)
Australian Open: 9 (2008, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21)
Prize money: $150m
ROGER FEDERER
20 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 8 (2003, 04, 05, 06, 07, 09, 12, 17)
French Open: 1 (2009)
US Open: 5 (2004, 05, 06, 07, 08)
Australian Open: 6 (2004, 06, 07, 10, 17, 18)
Prize money: $130m
RAFAEL NADAL
20 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 2 (2008, 10)
French Open: 13 (2005, 06, 07, 08, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20)
US Open: 4 (2010, 13, 17, 19)
Australian Open: 1 (2009)
Prize money: $125m
THREE
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Nayla%20Al%20Khaja%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Jefferson%20Hall%2C%20Faten%20Ahmed%2C%20Noura%20Alabed%2C%20Saud%20Alzarooni%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Teachers' pay - what you need to know
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
Brief scoreline:
Burnley 3
Barnes 63', 70', Berg Gudmundsson 75'
Southampton 3
Man of the match
Ashley Barnes (Burnley)
The Sky Is Pink
Director: Shonali Bose
Cast: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Farhan Akhtar, Zaira Wasim, Rohit Saraf
Three stars
25%20Days%20to%20Aden
%3Cp%3EAuthor%3A%20Michael%20Knights%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPages%3A%20256%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAvailable%3A%20January%2026%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
1st Test July 26-30 in Galle
2nd Test August 3-7 in Colombo
3rd Test August 12-16 in Pallekele
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
If you go
The flights
There are various ways of getting to the southern Serengeti in Tanzania from the UAE. The exact route and airstrip depends on your overall trip itinerary and which camp you’re staying at.
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Kilimanjaro International Airport from Dh1,350 return, including taxes; this can be followed by a short flight from Kilimanjaro to the Serengeti with Coastal Aviation from about US$700 (Dh2,500) return, including taxes. Kenya Airways, Emirates and Etihad offer flights via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam.
More coverage from the Future Forum
FIGHT CARD
1. Featherweight 66kg
Ben Lucas (AUS) v Ibrahim Kendil (EGY)
2. Lightweight 70kg
Mohammed Kareem Aljnan (SYR) v Alphonse Besala (CMR)
3. Welterweight 77kg
Marcos Costa (BRA) v Abdelhakim Wahid (MAR)
4. Lightweight 70kg
Omar Ramadan (EGY) v Abdimitalipov Atabek (KGZ)
5. Featherweight 66kg
Ahmed Al Darmaki (UAE) v Kagimu Kigga (UGA)
6. Catchweight 85kg
Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) v Iuri Fraga (BRA)
7. Featherweight 66kg
Yousef Al Husani (UAE) v Mohamed Allam (EGY)
8. Catchweight 73kg
Mostafa Radi (PAL) v Abdipatta Abdizhali (KGZ)
9. Featherweight 66kg
Jaures Dea (CMR) v Andre Pinheiro (BRA)
10. Catchweight 90kg
Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Juscelino Ferreira (BRA)
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
