Saudi Arabia’s total non-oil trade with GCC hits $4.2bn, driven by booming re-exports and growing ties with UAE, Bahrain, and Oman
Qatar
delivery services
Saudi’s Jahez to acquire 76.56% stake in Qatar’s Snoonu for $245mn
The deal values Snoonu at $320mn, making it Qatar’s first startup to surpass the QAR1 billion valuation
Doha
UFC makes Qatar debut with fight night Doha in November
The event will take place on Saturday, November 22, and will take place at Doha’s ABHA Arena, which is described as a state-of-the-art facility
qatar real estate
Qatar real estate: Property market shows stability amid mixed performance in Q1 2025
Apartment capital values in Qatar reached QAR 10,420 per square metre, remaining stable over 12 months
Qatar
Qatar announces new school calendar until 2028 with extra Ramadan days, long weekends and more holidays
Qatar calendar aligns public and private school holidays, moves exams before National Day, and introduces well-being measures including additional Ramadan breaks
Construction
Middle East construction: Saudi Arabia’s building boom faces rising costs and labour crunch
Saudi Arabia’s construction boom is leading to rising costs in a building sector driving economic growth in the Kingdom
general tax authority
Qatar refers 13 companies to prosecution over tax evasion in H1 2025
Qatar authorities clamping down on tax evasion with legal proceedings
liquefied natural gas
Santos adds QatarEnergy Trading to its impressive list of customers
The Australian company, on the verge of an acquisition by ADNOC, signs mid-term LNG supply contract for 0.5 million tonnes per annum for two years
Tax
Qatar tax authority exempts $247m in penalties for 4,000 companies
Qatar announces success of tax penalty exemptions
Gulf Cooperation Council
Unified visa for UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman launching ‘soon’ says GCC chief
The unified tourist visa for UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman is expected to be announced soon
economic outlook
Qatar GDP grows 3.7% in Q1 2025
The 5.3 per cent growth in Qatar’s non-hydrocarbon economy during the first quarter of this year was driven by strong performances across key sectors
Aviation
Qatar travel update: Qatar Airways resumes operations in Iraq and Syria
It also returns to full flight schedule for Lebanon and Jordan, and is adding a third daily flight to Beirut and Amman
Saudi trade
Qatar-Saudi trade surges 65% in 2024 to reach $1.35bn
Trade between Qatar and Saudi Arabia soared by 65 per cent in 2024, reaching $1.35bn
qatar real estate
Qatar recorded $116m of real estate transactions in a week
Residential real estate sales in Qatar passed $16m
autonomous
Qatar launches self-driving robot taxi trials ahead of 2026 launch
Qatar begins driverless electric taxi trials to accelerate smart transport future
Aviation
Qatar Airways CEO reveals details behind travel recovery: 151 disrupted flights, 20,000 passengers diverted mid-air, 35,000 meals for stranded passengers
Qatar Airways shares the inside story on stunning travel disruption recovery following airspace closure
Air Arabia
UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman flight delays as airspace closures cause travel disruption at Gulf airports
Airports and airlines in the UAE and across the Gulf announce suspended flights and expected delays amid airspace closures and conflict escalation