No injuries were sustained at 11 passengers and crew were rescued
Author Archives: Staff Writer
Dubai
French footballer Ribery blasts critics of his 24-carat gold meal in Dubai
35-year-old Bayern Munich player posted a video on social media of a visit to a steak house owned by celebrity Turkish restauranteur Salt Bae
bank merger
Rising interest rates set to boost Saudi banks’ earnings
Earnings at Saudi Arabia’s 12 listed banks will probably climb 10.1% in 2019
Abu Dhabi
Hosts UAE snatch late draw against Bahrain in Asian Cup opener
UAE’s hopes of going deep into the tournament have not been helped by the loss of mop-top talisman Omar Abdulrahman through injury
Dubai
Dubai ruler reveals his eight guiding principles
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum calls on those in power to abide by the principles at all times
Expat Visa
UAE gov’t portal users triple to 5m in 2018
Visa tracking and fees, value added tax and employment laws and regulations were most visited pages
Dubai Investments
$125m Fujairah Business Centre project on track for early finish
Dubai Investments has announced that mixed use project in Fujairah is on track to be completed in June 2020
Khalid Ali Al Bustani
Explained: the UAE’s first year of VAT in numbers
A total of 296,000 businesses have registered with the VAT system in the UAE during the first year of operations
2019 Prediction
2019 Outlook: As cybercrime incidents continue, so are the means and technology to counter them
Why bots try to break the internet and other trends for 2019, according to Soeren Lindkvist, Vice President EMEA Carrier Division & Managing Director Middle East Region at Akamai Technologies
2019 Prediction
2019 Outlook: Cloud computing will be a key enabler for governments with smart city initiatives
A push for more diversified economies, coupled with visionary plans that include innovative smart city initiatives, have led to increased investment in new technologies, writes Zubin Chagpar, Head of Public Sector, Middle East and Africa at Amazon Web Services
2019 Prediction
2019 Outlook:: The year ahead will be a transformational one for the Middle East’s manufacturing sector
Manufacturing sector is now on an upward trajectory both globally and in the region, writes Badr Al Olama, Head of the Organising Committee for the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (GMIS) and head of mubadala aerospace
2019 Prediction
2019 Outlook: With technology and transport innovation, the phase of change in the industry will be revolutionary
As we grow into the next stages of mobility, consumers still need great products right now, writes John Roth, President and Managing Director of General Motors Africa and Middle East
2019 Prediction
2019 Outlook: Technology helping to solve congestion in the Middle East
Transport: Technology is solving congestion in the Middle East, but governments and the private sector have a long way to go, writes Mudassir Sheikha, co-founder and CEO of Careem
Jebel Jais zipline
Oman unveils plan for longest zip-line amid tourism ambitions
Ministry of Tourism says the zip line will be operated in the Misfat Al Abriyeen village in a bid to enhance tourism
GAC
Shipping services firm to open new facilities in Abu Dhabi
GAC says to launch new warehouse and open yard in Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi in early 2019
Ajman
Ajman Square tourism project set to be launched
Ajman Municipality has announced plans to launch a new tourism project which aims to create a central square in the emirate
#Jordan
Jordan renames solar plant after UAE’s founding father
$150m Quweira Solar Power Plant, funded by Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, is renamed as Sheikh Zayed Solar Power Complex
Bahrain economy
Oil price volatility underscores need for more Gulf reforms – IMF
International Monetary Fund research papers urge Guf countries to continue to diversify economies
Burj Khalifa in Dubai
Dubai features in $147k ultra-luxury holiday in 2020
Three days in Dubai, including a trip to the Burj Khalifa, included in a ‘money no object’ holiday launched by Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
Arabtec
Arabtec unit wins $96m contracts for Damac projects in Dubai
The contracts, won by Arabtec Construction, are for the construction works at two luxury residential towers, Reva Residences and Vera Residences
Iran
Top US official plans Gulf talks on Yemen, Syria, Iran
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will take in Manama, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Muscat and Kuwait City during eight-day tour of Middle East
2019 Prediction
2019 Prediction: Twitter focuses on transparency, videos and m-commerce
Commercial transactions made electronically by mobile phone will continue to spread
2019 Prediction
2019 Prediction: Growing demand for citizenship by investment
Savory & Partners predicts increased demand for citizenship by investment programmes this year
Bahrain
UN calls for release of Bahrain activist Nabeel Rajab
UN human rights office makes call after activist is sentenced to five years in prison for tweets
DP World
Dubai’s DP World invests $3bn in global growth plan in 2018
DP World CEO and chairman hails growth despite ‘challenging global economic uncertainties’
Abu Dhabi
UAE’s Borouge starts construction on new chemicals plant
Fifth polypropylene unit in Ruwais will grow its capacity by more than 25% to 2.24 million tonnes per year
Al-Khobar
Hotel giant plans to debut voco brand in Saudi Arabia
InterContinental Hotels Group announces plan to convert and rebrand two hotels in Saudi Arabia
Abu Dhabi
Property prices continue to fall in key UAE markets
Dubai and Abu Dhabi have both been included in the bottom 12% of real estate markets in relation to price growth over the past year
AC Milan
Saudi female fan ban at Italian Supercup sparks row
Italian Supercup will be played between Juventus and AC Milan on January 16 at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Riyadh
Dubai
Dubai’s Global Village sets new record for visitors
Dubai’s multicultural festival park attracts over 3m guests during first two months of 23rd season
Abu Dhabi
Top UAE singers to open AFC Asian Cup in Abu Dhabi
Organisers are promising a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ experience and ‘breathtaking’ live show on Saturday
Carrefour
New $117m Oman shopping mall to open in January
UAE-based retail giant Majid Al Futtaim has announced opening date for City Centre Suhar project
2019 Prediction
2019 Prediction: Nissan sees UAE growth in eco-friendly options
Sustainable mobility in the region will gain tremendous momentum this coming year
2019 Prediction
2019 Prediction: Time to make ‘bold decision’ on bounced cheques
Dr Habib Al Mulla says more can be done to improve the UAE’s status on all fronts
2019 Prediction
2019 Prediction: Greater investment in high-end Dubai property
Affordable units will represent a huge chunk of off-plan developments in Dubai
DNO
Norway’s DNO exits oil fields deal in Oman
Norwegian oil and gas operator relinquishes operatorship and participation in Oman Block 8, which contains the Bukha and West Bukha fields
Al Hilal FC
Plan to privatise Saudi Arabia’s football clubs faces delay
Head of the Saudi Football Federation says privatisation might happen beyond the targeted 2020
2019 Prediction
2019 outlook: The Middle East is set for a promising, albeit challenging, year ahead
The Middle East has had a history of taking hits, and rising back bigger and better.
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Burj Khalifa New Year Fireworks
Dubai Police report trouble-free New Year’s Eve
Police commander says no trouble or injuries reported despite two million people out celebrating in Dubai
Jamal Khashoggi
Saudi prosecutor seeks death sentences as Khashoggi trial opens
Attorney general wants death penalty for five of 11 defendants charged with the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi
Largest oil producer
OPEC oil output falls most in two years as Saudi Arabia makes cuts
Saudi Arabia throttles back production, according to a Bloomberg survey of officials, analysts and ship-tracking data
Hyundai
World’s longest bridge in Kuwait set for 2019 completion
The world’s longest bridge linking Kuwait City to Subiyah New Town across Kuwait Bay is set to be completed in April
Hasan Minhaj
Comic speaks out after Netflix pulls show in Saudi Arabia
Hasan Minhaj takes to Twitter to ridicule decision by Netflix to pull episode of Patriot Act
DGCX
Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange sets trading record in 2018
Total value of the contracts was $474.9bn, beating its previous highest value of $448bn traded in 2013
Area 2071
Dubai appoints boss for Area 2071 innovation hub
Maha Khamis Al Mezaina will oversee the management and implementation of projects and initiatives of Area 2071
Boarding Pass
Emirates Pass returns with more offers for Dubai tourists
Customers will be able to use their boarding passes to take advantage of deals at more than 500 outlets throughout the UAE
Abraaj Group
Dubai bank said to win right to swap Abraaj debt for fund stakes
Noor Bank provided a $100m loan to the collapsed Abraaj Group, once one of the most high-profile private equity companies in the Middle East
culture and heritage
India sees slump in foreign tourists during holiday season
Foreign tourist arrivals in India over Christmas-New Yearwitnessed a significant drop, estimated to be in region of 15-25%
Abu Dhabi F1
F&B outlets must pay up to 40% revenue share during F1 Abu Dhabi
Businesses are also required to pay registration fees to attend the event, according to Jamal Wick, co-founder of Bespoke Trailers
Dubai
Revealed: the economic benefits of football
A new report from the Dubai Sports Council recommended that clubs with lower budgets diversify investments to maintain their share value
Cristiano Ronaldo
Top football stars, teams in Dubai for awards at Globe Soccer event
FIFA boss Gianni Infantino said he is open to the possibility of expanding the 2022 World Cup from 32 to 48 teams
Careem
2019 will be ‘year of exits’ by Middle East start-ups, says Fadi Ghandour
Western funds will only invest in size and scale, according to the executive chairman of Wamda Capital
Abdullah bin Nasser Al Dawoud
Saudi Arabia announces plans for major entertainment complex in Riyadh
Saudi Entertainment Ventures Company complex will include sports facilities, cinemas and a wide variety of F&B offerings
Baker McKenzie Habib Al Mulla
More changes to UAE residency laws expected, says Al Mulla
Investors will also demand further activities to be subject to foreign ownership exemptions, said the chairman of Baker McKenzie Habib Al Mulla