Kingdom’s Council of Economic and Development Affairs has cancelled projects valued at over $260 billion
Author Archives: Staff Writer
Clinton has 90 percent chance of winning, according to last polls
Polling stations set to close between 4am and 5am (Dubai time) on Wednesday – likely result at 8am (Dubai time)
Aviation
Qatar Airways says pushing for Meridiana deal ‘by January’
State carrier also plans new route to Florence and wide-body service to Pisa
Etihad could raise $1 billion in planned sukuk debut
The airline reported total revenues of about $9 billion in 2015 according to an investor presentation
Oil prices bounce as OPEC promises a cut is on the cards
Secretary-general of OPEC said the group was committed to an output-cutting deal made in Algiers in September
Qatar Chamber of Commerce calls for more PPPs as gov’t prepares law
Industrial sector highlighted as having potential for public-private-partnerships
Welsh National Opera to perform Madam Butterfly, La bohème at Dubai Opera
Welsh National Opera will take part a pop-up opera event taking place in public spaces during the visit
Dubai’s DEWA says 200 MW solar project attracts 30 expressions of interest
Project will form part of 1,000 MW in planned concentrated solar power capacity by 2030 at Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum Solar Park
ITP Publishing Group launches new digital division
ITP Live includes the GCC’s largest ‘social influencer’ agency, plus video content creation, digital sales, e-commerce and live events
Dubai chosen as final location for Amazon’s Grand Tour TV series
Fans can apply to join the studio audience Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May
Dubai property market remains ‘challenging’, says Damac chairman
2016 will be remembered as year of market turmoil, macroeconomic pressures says Damac chairman Hussain Sajwani
Kuwait issues new copyright law
Law protects authors’ works and allows performance artists financial rights
Mars One says acquired by Frankfurt-listed InFin for $96.1m
Company aims to recruit new CEO to replace founder Bas Lansdorp, who becomes board chairman under the takeover deal
Qatar set to increase government salaries amid cutbacks in spending
Some Qataris’ basic salaries will double under a law to be passed in January
Oman says oil market remains oversupplied
Minister of Oil and Gas Mohammad bin Hamad al-Rumhy said he was looking forward to talks between OPEC and non-OPEC about how to shore up the market
Dubai’s Reflets par Pierre Gagnaire closes down
The restaurant will reopen in May 2017 with a new concept
Joint committee should address JASTA issues, says FNC Speaker
Dr Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Speaker of the Federal National Council, said joint FNC-government committee shoull address challenges of US bill
UK’s Prince Charles, Camilla begin three-day visit to UAE
Royal couple started with visit to Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
SMEs
Arabian Business StartUp announces top six in People’s Choice: Entrepreneur of the Year award
3,201 people voted for the People’s Choice Award: Entrepreneur of the Year Award nominees
Zain Saudi to offer landline, internet data services after license upgrade
The kingdom’s third-largest phone operator was currenty provides mobile services only
Dubai’s Damac Properties Q3 profit slips 11.7%
Damac expects full year sales to exceed $1.9 billion
Saudi Aramco halts petroleum product shipments to Egypt until further notice
Aramco did not give a reason for halting the shipments, but that Egypt had launched tenders to cover its demand for petroleum products in November
SMEs
Prashant K. Gulati, Amir Farha to speak at Arabian Business StartUp Academy
The final Arabian Business StartUp Academy of our 2016 series is aimed at helping start-up and SME leaders grow their businesses beyond local borders
Hyperloop One set to announce high-speed transport for Gulf region?
Hyperloop’s teaser video suggests that it could take 48 minutes to travel from Dubai to Riyadh
Egypt pound float set to cost Saudi’s Savola $45m in Q4
Savola’s products in Egypt include edible oil and vegetable ghee, sugar and pasta
Saudi said to impose conditions for civil servants’ bonuses
Government also sets cap for financial rewards as part of austerity measures
Aviation
Qatar Airways CEO urges new freedom flights amid EU competition debate
Brussels should permit Europe-wide aviation agreements with Gulf carriers, says Akbar Al Baker
Abu Dhabi rents slide on slow economic growth
Residential rents fall 2% in third quarter and hotel vacancy rates up, says CBRE
Shams Dubai initiative sees over 200 buildings fitted with solar panels
Shams Dubai installs photovoltaic panels on rooftops to generate electricity from solar power
Aviation
Jet Airways plans direct flights from Calicut, Bangalore to Oman
Etihad-backed Indian carrier will add the new services once it receives the new aircraft on order
Dubai taxis get anti-collision system to reduce rear-end accidents
New ‘brake plus’ system could reduce rear-end collisions by 50 percent according to RTA
Emaar Malls reports 16% rise in Q3 net profit
Emaar said the gross leasable area occupancy levels across all retails assets averaged at 96 percent during the first nine months of 2016
Visitors to Dubai spend twice as much as tourists in other major cities
New report shows overnight visitors to emirate splash out nearly twice the average of 11 other cities
Aviation
Bombardier’s flagship business jet completes first test flight
Global 7000 has a range capability of 13,705 kilometres and can fly from New York City to Dubai non-stop
DEWA begins work on world’s tallest, smartest gov’t building
Total renewable energy generated will be over 7,000 megawatt hours annually.
Saudi car insurance prices said to surge 400%
Reckless driving, disruptive roadworks cited as reasons for hefty increase
Qatar issues rulebook for private school licences
Guidelines on licence application process published by Ministry of Education
Careem launches women-only limo service
Company announces deal with Dubai Taxi Corporation for ‘Ameera’ chauffeur service
Ireland checking if Irish ISIL supporter in Mosul suicide attack
Abu Usama al-Irelandi, born Terence Kelly, was said to have detonated an explosive-laden vehicle in northern Iraq
Jumeirah Restaurant Group to close The Ivy Dubai
Restaurant, which opened five years ago, is closing its doors due to the end of the site’s lease in Jumeirah Emirates Towers
Price recovery begins in Dubai’s mid-market communities
Latest Reidin-GCP data shows property values registered slight gains in mid-market communities such as Discovery Gardens and International City
Qatar set to ratify data privacy law
Businesses face QR5m fine if fail to introduce measures to protect personal data
RTA to open nine marine stations on Dubai Water Canal, Business Bay
The service will be offered at Sheikh Zayed Road, Safa Park, Al Wasl, Jumeirah, Dubai Canal, Dubai Design District, Al Wajeha Al Maeyah, Marasi, and Business Bay
UAE’s Lulu Group enters US with New Jersey export plant
Lyndhurst facility to process, re-label and export food, non-food products, company said
SMEs
UAE-based WOMENA invests $460k in start-ups during first two years
WOMENA has proven to be the powerhouse of the UAE seed and start-up capital ecosystem
Aviation
Air France-KLM targets Gulf rivals with new long-haul business
New long-haul business is set to have a fleet of 10 planes by 2020
Clinton’s charity confirms Qatar’s $1m gift while she was at State Dept
Qatari officials pledged the money in 2011 to mark the 65th birthday of Bill Clinton
Qatari investors acquire London’s Bow Street Magistrate’s Court
Business Trading Company’s UK arm to convert 1881 court house into luxury hotel
Dubai firm invests in music streaming service Anghami
Samena Capital leads investment round while Dubai telco du signs deal to bundle music with its products
12yo boy dies putting up UAE flag
Saeed Khalfan Humid Al Naiumi fell from the roof of his family home in Al Ain.
Big Oil pledges $1bn for gas technologies to fight climate change
Saudi Aramco is among the 10 oil giants that will launch the Climate Investments Fund.
Saudi Arabia likely to add to $17.5bn bond issuance in 2017
New Merrill Lynch report says Gulf kingdom’s record issuance is ‘unlikely to be a one-off occurrence’
Dubai-linked firm launches plan to build giant waterpark in Australia
Australian investment unit of Dubai’s Najibi partners with WhiteWater to build waterpark on Sunshine Coast
Dubai starts to enforce fines for bus lane violations
Roads and Transport Authority says drivers will be handed AED600 penalties for breaking rules on Al Ghubaiba and Al Mamzar roads