Gulf Islamic Investments LLC., also known as GII, is set to buy the 70 percent stake owned by private equity firm Jadwa Investment Co. in Almeswak Dental Clinics
Author Archives: Abdul Rawuf
ACJ TwoTwenty
FIVE purchases the first Airbus ACJ TwoTwenty from Comlux
Starting January 2022, Comlux Completion in Indianapolis will build the interior of the VIP cabin selected by FIVE, among the multiple cabin arrangements and options that the ACJ TwoTwenty offers
Bullion Market
Dubai says gold-trading allegations are ‘lies’
Allegations from foreign regulators, refineries and non-governmental organizations are “lies” and “nationally-targeted insults,” said the chief executive officer of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre, Ahmed bin Sulayem
automated investment advice
Is robo-investing the future of investing?
While brokers have utilised robo-investing since the early 2000s, it wasn’t until 2008 that the first robo-investment services were offered directly to clients
ADNOC
ADNOC and TAQA announce green energy venture to generate 30GW by 2030
Initiative will focus on domestic and global renewable energy and the processing and storage of green hydrogen among others
acquisitions
Dubai’s Amanat exploring deals, sees IPO candidates in portfolio
The government plans to list utility DEWA – likely to be the city’s biggest deal – and its Salik road toll collection system
acquisitions
Etisalat telecom acquires UAE’s grocery app elGrocer
ElGrocer’s online presence in the country will complement Etisalat UAE’s existing marketplace services under the brand ‘Smiles’ including online food delivery, lifestyle offers and the ability to earn and redeem points at more than 7,000 outlets across the UAE
AB In Focus
AB Talks: How the construction industry can build back better in a post-Covid world
Mohammed Al Ghanim, CEO of Al Hamra Kuwait, a 50-year-old veritable tycoon of the construction industry, sat down with Arabian Business to discuss how the construction industry is faring amid a general coronavirus recovery, and what challenges face the future of the sector
AB In Focus
AB Talks: UAE closing in on global economic partnerships
Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade and Minister in charge of Talent Attraction and Retention, sits down with Arabian Business to talk global trade deals, some of which could be complete before the end of Expo 2020
Bracco Group
Why women in the workplace are corporates’ ‘greatest engine of international growth’
Italian Bracco Group’s Mind the Stem Gap manifesto supports females’ access to science, technology education
ADNOC
UAE pushes ahead with $20bn gas project to boost exports
Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. will award engineering and construction work for the Dalma gas field in Arabian Gulf waters as soon as this week, sources
Aviation industry
VistaJet to increase fleet size by a quarter as private aviation firm flies post-Covid
Part of the UAE-based Vista Global Holding, VistaJet revealed Dubai has been the most popular destination across the entire group globally
Bitcoin
Bitcoin as an inflation hedge – is gold losing its lustre?
Bitcoin versus bullion, a comparison that is as old as the cryptocurrency itself. I’ve heard both sides of the argument throughout the 2021 bull and bear cycles and now I’m starting to wonder if the fundamentals have changed ever since?
AB In Focus
AB Talks: Emaar’s Mohamed Alabbar on record results, leadership and why Dubai is set to rival New York
Emaar Properties generated $7.2 billion of sales in the first nine months of this year – three times the sales of a year ago. So is this just revenge activity and pent-up demand, or is there something more fundamental driving the market? AB Talks is joined by Emaar Properties founder Mohamed Alabbar to unpack what’s happening in the market
digital economy
Dubai launches AED1bn fund in push to encourage public listings
New Future District Fund will help to establish 1,000 digital companies in the emirate in the next five years
Airbus A321neos
Airbus wins 28-plane A320neo order from Kuwait’s Jazeera Air
Deal has a list price in excess of $3.5 billion before discounts, comprising of 20 A320neos and eight larger A321neos
China economy
China volatility can continue, but don’t ignore the rest of EM right now
It’s not just Asia that is exposed to China real estate – it’s a $60 trillion asset class that has seen decades of growth with global implications
circular economy
How local content can promote ESG
There are sizable rewards for countries and companies that can implement ESG successfully in the short and long term—and sizable disadvantages for those that cannot
consumer confidence
UAE consumer confidence recovers to highest level in 10 years, report reveals
UAE’s retail economy is showing ‘positive signs of recovery’ as consumer spending in Q3 exceeds 2019 levels, according to a new report by Majid Al Futtaim
businesswomen
How regional entrepreneurship challenges support growth of female-led start-ups
Events such as TiEWomen’s Global Competition provide a robust network for women-led businesses to connect with mentors and advisors, said second-runner up Farah Emara
airline business
Indian airline Akasa launches $9bn, 72-aircraft order with Boeing
India’s SpiceJet, which is also participating at the Dubai Airshow, has also announced a settlement agreement with Boeing on its outstanding claims related to the grounding of 737 MAX aircraft, paving the way for resumption of deliveries from its order of 155 MAX aircraft
Financial literacy
UAE financial literacy start-up Verity raises $800,000 in pre-seed funding
Verity is headquartered in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), and plans to launch in the UAE later this year, with an expansion across the Middle East and North Africa intended for 2022
AB In Focus
AB Talks: How innovation builds the future for Visa
Akshay Chopra, vice president, head of innovation and design, CEMEA, Dan Baxter, vice president of corporate communications CEMEA and Vicki Aronis, director of development for Sweid & Sweid, join AB Talks to discuss how Visa’s new 100,000 sq ft headquarters in Dubai is built to empower innovation
Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries
UAE’s Julphar sees near doubling of Q3 pharma sales to $100m
Chairman of Ras Al Khaimah-based company hails ‘positive trajectory’ after returning to profitability in 2021
Aviation industry
Emirates reveals retrofit plans for premium economy roll-out
Dubai airline says it will add new cabin class to more than 100 aircraft in its fleet, starting next year
end-of-service benefits
How amendments to UAE labour law will drive the country’s talent-retention efforts
Effective February 2022, the adjustments modernise labour relations and enhance the country’s liveability for expats, say leading industry experts
Expo 2020 Dubai
New Zealand looking at Expo 2020 Dubai to boost exports to GCC
New Zealand’s Consul General for Dubai and the Northern Emirates spoke with Arabian Business about the island nation’s plans to boost food and beverage exports with the GCC as regional consumers become more conscious
Capital Markets
Dubai’s main utility DEWA readies for share offering by April
IPO may value the utility at more than $25 billion, according to people familiar with the matter
5G network
Du announces major milestone achievement as 5G network becomes the fastest in UAE
Telco giant expects to achieve 90 percent nationwide population 5G coverage by the end of 2021 backed by industry-leading speeds
AB In Focus
AB Talks: Dubai set to welcome business world and play pivotal role in post-Covid era
Dubai Chamber and the World Chambers Federation have organised this year’s ICC World Chambers Congress, which coincides alongside Expo 2020 Dubai and takes place November 23-25, 2021
binance
Binance rolls out ‘ten fundamental rights for crypto users’
Binance has faced regulatory hurdles in multiple regions as countries have moved to crack down on the platform, but Binance officials have openly said they want to work with regulators to develop frameworks
Clean water
How start-ups are turning water problems into big business
There are some great young minds taking clean water issue more seriously than the previous generation
Dubai businesses
How Dubai is ready to help the world get back to business
In an exclusive interview with Arabian Business, Hamad Buamim, president and CEO of Dubai Chamber highlights the significance of the 12th World Chambers Congress being hosted in Dubai (12WCC), the first time it is being held in the post-Covid-era
green building
What real estate developers must focus on, to help them define sustainability strategies?
It is time for builders to understand that they have an urgent underlying responsibility to help develop a low-carbon, sustainable, and green economy
businesswomen
Encouraging female entrepreneurship can fuel MENA’s socio-economic growth
The need for entrepreneurship diversity is becoming increasingly apparent, and the Middle East only stands to gain from it
build personal brand strategy
Why personal branding is not a trend
If we look at the way recruitment has evolved in the past 10 years, it makes sense that personal branding has gained huge momentum in our corporate life
cashless economy
Egypt’s journey to a cashless society and financial inclusion
Market opportunity for this sector is substantial with over 43 million cardholders, and with no signs of digital payments disappearing, fintechs will continue to have the foundations to prosper within Egypt
AB In Focus
AB Talks: How Abu Dhabi aims to attract the world’s brightest
Sameh Al Qubaisi, Executive Director of the Executive Affairs Office at Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, joins AB Talks to discuss the UAE capital’s growing appeal for expats
Almunajem Foods
Almunajem’s IPO said to draw demand for all shares on sale
Riyadh-based firm is selling 18 million shares through the IPO, that’s seeking to raise as much as $288 million
Covid-19 DXB
How Dubai’s DXB is seeing a performance rebound after Covid shock
Latest passenger traffic numbers reveal near-20% increase during the past four weeks
Dubai Airshow
Saudia weighs bumper jetliner order to reach 250-strong fleet
Deliveries would most likely come beyond 2024 once demand is more fully recovered from Covid-19, revealed CEO Ibrahim Koshy
Dnata
Will Emirates become Dubai’s next high profile IPO?
Group chairman and CEO of the aviation giant, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, said he was unable to comment during a media round table event on Monday
digital healthcare
UK firms eye Gulf digital healthcare space
In the last 18 months, British digital healthcare firms have notably been making their mark in the region
Dubai tourism
Expo 2020 Dubai visitor numbers top 3.5m after six weeks
Organisers say virtual visitation has also risen to 15.7 million since October 1
Aviation industry
Boeing shares optimism for return of 787 Dreamliner deliveries
As the aviation manufacturing giant continues inspections of its 787 carriers following quality concerns, Boeing International shares with Arabian Business its optimism for a close restart of its Dreamliner deliveries
banking technology
Oman’s Phaze Ventures launches $30m fund, eyes UK fintech
Phaze Ventures launches $30m fund to back early-stage start-ups in MENA, Europe and North America in a first for Oman
carbon emissions
How sustainable investing can help us win the race to net zero
Technological advances in clean energy and cleaner emissions allow more and more industries and countries to work toward environmental goals
ADNOC
ADNOC to receive up to 100% of grid power from clean energy by January 2022: CEO
In October the UAE authorities announced a target to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, in addition to a plan to invest $163bn in renewable energy to support the initiative
Kuwait government
Kuwaiti Crown Prince to temporarily assume some of Ruler’s duties
Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who is 84, has periodically been traveling abroad on private trips that are widely known to have involved medical treatment
Men's Health
Why Movember is about growing more than just a moustache
Annual awareness campaign sheds light on important issues around men’s health
employees wellbeing
Why prioritising mental health is key to a business’s success
‘We believe in building a healthy and positive environment for all our employees, as that’s the only way we can keep the company going,’ said CEO of Dubai-based Eva Interiors
Employment in UAE
UAE job applicants putting mental health at top of employment needs
Some 52 percent of job applicants in the country have said mental health policies would dictate future career choices
chronic illnesses
How AI and a ‘human touch’ are combatting type two diabetes
UAE’s Glucare uses continuous data monitoring and patient education to manage the chronic disease
Cruise Terminal
New cruise terminal set for Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz Port
Four berths will also be constructed at the Dammam port and Yanbu Commercial Port as part of the agreement between the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) and Cruise Saudi and Globe Group