Kuwait aviation authority temporarily shuts down airspace
Qatar
Aviation
Bahrain shuts airspace, issues safety warning
Bahrain announced the temporary closure of its airspace
Aviation
Qatar shuts airspace
Qatar authorities close airspace for safety of citizens, residents and visitors
Qatar
Qatar Airways signs agreement for Middle East’s first digital aircraft painting facility
The new facility will accommodate commercial, VIP, and military aircraft, with two widebody paint facilities and a multipurpose hangar for light maintenance activities
Airlines
Revealed: Skytrax names world’s best airlines for 2025
Skytrax reveals 2025 World Airline Award winners with a Middle East national carrier taking top prize
Dubai universities
Top Arab universities 2026 revealed: Education institutions in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar and Oman climb QS rankings
Influential international rankings names world’s best universities, see how Arab institutions fared
Qatar
Qatar’s economy to grow 6.5 per cent by 2027 on LNG expansion: World Bank
World Bank forecasts 6.5 per cent economic growth for Qatar by 2027, driven by LNG and non-oil sectors
GCC
GCC government spending to pass $542bn this year
GCC countries expected to spend over $542bn on revenues of $487bn this year
GCC airlines
GCC flights cancelled: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman announce suspensions amid rising tensions
Airlines and airports in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman suspended some flights to and from UAE
Qatar
Qatar tax authority extends fine waiver until August 31
Qatar’s General Tax Authority extends its 100 per cent Financial Penalty Exemption Initiative
Armenia
Armenia announces visa-free travel for citizens and residents of UAE, Saudi, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain
Armenia welcomes tourism and business with visa-free travel for UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain
3D print
Qatar launches world’s largest 3D-printed construction project with new schools
UCC Holding and Ashghal begin 3D-printing new schools in Qatar
Aviation
Trump’s Middle East visit brings an order windfall for Boeing in May
With orders for 303 aircraft, it was the best month since December 2023; It includes a 160-aircraft order from Qatar Airways and 28 from Etihad
Islamic Finance
Qatar Islamic finance assets hit $188bn
Islamic finance assets in Qatar increased by more than 4 per cent last year
ministry of finance qatar
Qatar posts $138m budget deficit in Q1 2025
Qatar sees dip in revenues during first three months of 2025
air cargo
Qatar Airways, IAG, and MASkargo to launch new joint cargo business soon
The Joint Business, which promises to open fresh trade opportunities across the world, is targeting a formal launch date in late 2025