Here is the rundown of ten top stories – from a casino in the UAE, Dubai being linked to a bid for Liverpool FC, and an announcement about the world’s tallest residential tower being built in the UAE – you might have missed this week on Arabian Business.
It was a week that saw major developments in the UAE, ongoing turmoil and new investors at Twitter and visa changes in Saudi Arabia.
Check out our pick of the best of Arabian Business this week.

UAE first casino confirmed
The Wynn Marjan in Ras Al Khaimah will be home to the UAE’s first casino, it was reported this week.
Ras Al Khaimah is currently writing gaming laws for the casino, using Singaporean and US regulations as its foundation with the Wynn Marjan planning its casino operations in the emirate.
“We certainly don’t want to underbuild the casino,” Wynn Resorts CEO Craig Billings in the group’s Q3 2022 earning call this week. “The casino component, where at least for some period of time, we will be operating on our own, which makes it quite exciting is shaping up to be somewhat larger than Wynn Las Vegas, but with numerous pockets of energy and compression.”

Dubai eyes $5bn second bid for Liverpool FC
This would be the second time that Dubai has attempted to purchase the club, with a bid in 2007 falling through. Dubai International Capital “almost signed” for a takeover of the club in 2007 for $360 million, the former DIC boss told Arabian Business.
Fenway Sports Group Holdings LLC said that it is working with Goldman Sachs Group and Morgan Stanley as it gauges buyer interest for the club, the people said, asking not to be identified.

Dubai arrested influencer Hushpuppi sentenced to 11 years jail
Lifestyle influencer Hushpuppi was based in Dubai and had a following of more than two million on Instagram where he boasted a glamorous life of luxury cars, homes and other items. He was caught in July in a series of synchronised raids called ‘Operation Fox Hunt 2’ with six SWAT teams from Dubai Police.
Following the arrest Ramon Abbas (Hushpuppi) was extradited to the US to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and appeared in court shortly after.
In recent updates, Hushpuppi has been sentenced to 11 years in jail for his role in a multi-million dollar cybercrime operation and has been ordered to pay over $1.7 million in restitution to two victims.

UAE announces new visa fines for tourists and residents
The UAE has changed the fines for people overstaying their visa in the country. Anybody who overstays the duration of a residency visa will now pay double the previous fee.
Every day a person overstays a UAE residency visa they will be required to pay a AED50 charge, where it had previously been AED25.
The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security has also amended the size of the fine for tourist and visit visa holders. This fine has been reduced from AED100 a day to AED50.

World’s tallest residential tower Burj Binghatti to be built in Dubai
The final height for the Business Bay skyscraper has not been released yet, but New York’s Central Park Tower, at 472.4m, holds the current record for tallest residential-only building.
The UAE’s tallest residential tower is the 393m Princess Tower.

Abu Dhabi Airports announce electric flying taxi plans
With the objective of deploying a new concept of air transportation that uses electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to move people and cargo, Abu Dhabi Airports has signed a memorandum of understanding with leading French firm Groupe ADP to explore its potential.
Abu Dhabi Airports and Group ADP will engage in the joint planning, design, development, and operation of ground infrastructure for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) in Abu Dhabi, following engagement with stakeholders, a feasibility study and market assessment to develop the roadmap.

The investors who funded Elon Musk’s Twitter buyout
Aside from Twitter’s current turmoil of firing employees, paid features, being delisted as a public company and much more, the social media giant has a new line-up of investors.
Elon Musk acquired the social media platform for $44b, with the help of Wall Street bank loans and shareholders who expressed their interest, after is “pitch desk” for a stake of the new company.
Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, Qatar Investment Authority and Binance are among the new investors.

Saudi Arabia announces visa-free entry ahead of Qatar World Cup
For the first time ever, Saudi Tourism Authority announces the extension of the Saudi multi-entry visa, the new announcement states that the multi-entry visa allows Hayya Card holders to stay in Saudi for up to 60 days, with pre-entry to the FIFA World Cup not required.
Further extensions will allow for ‘Hayya with Me (1+3)’, allowing Hayya Card holders and three additional friends and family members to enter the kingdom.
All travellers must hold valid Hayya cards to be eligible for free-of-charge entry, visitors will be allowed to stay in Saudi for 60-days starting 10 days prior to the FIFA World Cup.

GEMS Education looking for “long term partner”
In an exclusive interview with Arabian Business, Varkey – who owns the majority of the company – said the private equity firm CVC was looking to exit its stake, believed to be slightly over 30 percent.
“We have an agreement with CVC, and we are now working to deliver then their exit which was always planned for. That’s what this is about. We are fortunate in that there have been several suitors,” he said, adding that wealth fund ADQ and real estate developer Aldar “were among many groups across the world showing interest.”

Al Hosn no longer needed in Abu Dhabi
People in Abu Dhabi will no longer have to show the Al Hosn Green Pass to enter public spaces after Covid-19 requirements were lifted in the UAE.
The new rules begin at 6am on Monday, November 7 and come after more than two-and-a-half years of stringent rules since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
The phasing out of the Al Hosn Green Pass was announced by the UAE’s National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority.