World’s busiest for international traffic sees 6.95m passengers during month
Author Archives: Staff Writer
Dubai’s Careem ties up with Google Maps for UAE car search
Ride-hailing service announces move to allow UAE passengers to search for nearest Careem car
UAE to launch microfactories to revolutionise manufacturing
Abu Dhabi and Dubai to set up facilities to accelerate new manufacturing technologies including 3D printing
Amazon clinches deal to buy Middle East online retailer Souq.com
Value of the deal was not disclosed, but was in the region of $580 million, according to sources
Saudi, Jordan sign deal on $3bn in Jordan investments
Planned projects include reconstruction and rehabilitation of a north-south highway in Jordan and a power plant on Jordan’s eastern border
Souq.com set to make announcement on Amazon.com bid
Emaar Malls lodged a late bid of $800m for the Middle East e-commerce giant
A humbler Qatar still wants to punch above its weight
Qatar has acquired more than $335bn worth of assets around the globe, buying up trophies such as London’s Shard
UAE to impose 500% penalty for VAT evaders – ministry
Local transport providers like taxis, buses and trains will be exempt from VAT
New RAK resort revealed
The latest hotel in the emirate will be built on the man-made Al Marjan islands
Film festival opens in cinema-less Saudi Arabia
Festival is scheduled to open with a drama that resonates, as the kingdom’s tentative efforts to expand entertainment face resistance from conservatives
Emirates Global Aluminium mandates US banks for IPO: sources
EGA was created in 2013 when state-owned companies merged, valued at $15bn in 2013
Dubai’s Arqaam Capital launches global hedge fund in rare move
Fund has the capacity to grow gradually to around $2 billion in size
Aviation
Qatar Airways CEO accelerates India push, plans new routes to UK
Qatar Airways chief says laptop ban not designed to hurt Gulf carriers
Dubai awards $330m contracts to build key roads
Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed approves award of two deals including construction of 7th Interchange on Sheikh Zayed Road
Qatar reveals details of $6.3bn UK investment plan
Gulf country says it is weighing opportunities in areas including infrastructure, real estate and technology
UAE donates $54m to Interpol to help fight terror
Funds will go towards seven Interpol projects including counter-terrorism, cybercrime and drugs
UAE says green energy shift to save $192bn
Country forecasts savings by switching half its power needs to clean energy by mid century
Young Emirati ordered to clean streets after ‘insane’ car stunt
Driver is given three-month community service sentence, fined after performing stunts in wet weather
Saudi Arabia sweetens huge Aramco IPO with tax cut
The tax rate for investments exceeding $100bn will be 50%, according to new royal decree
Emirates mulls laptop loaning service to soften US ban blow
Dubai airline says it will adjust its offering if customer demand drops following a US ban on in-flight electronics
Qatar wealth fund to open office in Silicon Valley
Qatar Investment Authority also says still considering investing in multi-billion dollar technology fund
Kuwait sees $50-55 oil as ‘good’ for producers
Oil Minister Issam Almarzooq says stockpiles are expected to fall later this year
Qatar’s foreign trade surplus soars 74% in February
Gulf state’s surplus rises to $3.38bn, according to Ministry of Development, Planning and Statistics data
Abu Dhabi says 2017 F1 Grand Prix ticket prices frozen
Organisers say prices have been maintained at 2016 levels; 30% discounts also on offer for early bird buyers
Qatar says poised to announce major UK investment deals
Prime minister Sheikh Abdullah is leading a delegation of more than 400 officials and business executives to London and Birmingham
Health insurance fines in Dubai to kick in from April 1
4.3m Dubai residents register under health insurance plan, only 1% remaining, says DHA
Dubai Metro hours to be extended for Gitex Shopper 2017
Dubai’s transport authority announces plans to extend the hours of the city’s metro system to serve growing number of visitors
Emaar’s new Dubai supertower project set to rise
Foundation work completed on The Tower at Dubai Creek Harbour, which when completed will be 100 metres taller than Burj Khalifa
UAE’s nine-month 2016 federal budget surplus up 130%
Total gov’t revenues estimated at AED37.463bn, expenditure at AED29.717bn, says WAM
Kuwait to make changes in bid for emerging-market tag
Regulators are also planning to introduce short-selling and derivative products as they seek to attract foreign cash
Video-based social network launches in Middle East
HighlyRated.com focuses on online video content following rise in demand
Deutsche Bank reduces cheque clearing in euros in Middle East
Cheque usage globally has been on the wane as consumers and businesses turn to faster, digital payment alternatives
Gulf-based Indians increasingly returning home for investments
As we celebrate the Indians making significant contributions to Gulf economies and communities, they are increasingly turning back to their motherland for the next opportunity.
Confirmed: Emaar Malls submits $800m bid for Souq.com
Emaar said the acquisition would be in line with the strategy to align e-commerce with physical shopping
Brazil’s BRF says it continues some meat exports to Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s Food and Drug Authority said on Wednesday it had barred imports from four companies, including BRF
Gulf states push for UK free trade deal after Brexit
Trade between Britain and the GCC totals $37.5 billion annually
Oil-output cut by set to be extended by six months
OPEC, non-OPEC joint committee satisfied with progress towards conformity
UAE exempts residential property sales, rental income from VAT
Domestic VAT law before the end of the first half, says MoF officials
Emaar Malls falls after report on Souq.com bid
Dubai’s Union Properties surges after dividend proposal
Sunil Vaswani tops Indian Rich List for third year running
Our exclusive ranking of the Gulf’s wealthiest Indian expatriates.
Becoming more like Bill Gates
What traits make the most successful man in business and technology? Turns out, being more like Bill Gates is easier than you might think
When old meets new: L’Hôtel Marrakech
Marrakech’s new high-design hotel is a luxurious new retreat located inside a 19th-century palace
Western colonisation has skewed Islamic laws, says scholar
“You’re either for women’s rights and against Islam, or for Islam and against women’s rights”
Goldman Sachs said to be in talks for equities license in KSA
Saudi is emerging as attractive opportunity for international banks as it takes steps to overhaul its economy
Qatar Foundation admits it is considering job cuts
Known for its placement on the jerseys of the Spanish football club Barcelona
Dubai roads cleared of rain water
Accumulated sand and debris removed, says the municipality
Oman agrees to deepen ties with Iran central bank
Move comes despite fears of US legal action against the Islamic Republic over money laundering accusations
UK tells WhatsApp to open up to intelligence services
Internet is “serving as a conduit, inciting and inspiring violence, and spreading extremist ideology”
Dubai beats London with 10,000 more hotel rooms
Hotels in the emirate reported average occupancy rates of more than 85 percent in January, the highest in the Middle East
No more free parking on the streets of Sharjah
Paid parking from 8am to 10pm except Friday
Rain leads to 1,500 accidents over the weekend in Dubai
Motorists advised to exercise caution, avoid speeding on slippery roads
UAE gender pay gap could close by 2066, study finds
Research discovered that, globally, a woman earns an average $100 for every $140 a man earns
Dubai to begin crackdown on overcrowded flats
Overcrowding in residential units is “serious violation” against community rules and regulations
Whatsapp and others cannot “provide a … place for terrorists”: Rudd
End-to-end encryption on messaging services is unacceptable, says UK official