Dubai’s Emirates introduces special fares to select destinations

Bookings have to be made between January 19 to February 2, 2021, for travel until June 15, 2021

Qatar wealth fund plans Asia push to diversify from Europe, US

The wealth fund holds stakes in some of the world’s top companies

Emirates

UAE’s Emirates, Etihad to roll out IATA’s Travel Pass for Covid-19 test results and vaccination certificates

IATA Travel Pass app enables passengers to create a ‘digital passport’ to share Covid-19 test and vaccination certificates with authorities and airlines

Gulf Air Ras Al Khaimah

Bahrain’s Gulf Air mulling flights to UAE’s Ras Al Khaimah Airport

The two entities signed an MoU to explore the possibility of building connectivity between the kingdom and the emirate

UAE telecom du to consider raising foreign ownership

The company will hold a board meeting on January 20

SABIC to shortlist Citi, Morgan Stanley for specialty chemicals IPO

SABIC hasn’t decided on a venue for the sale

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park

UAE becomes world’s first country to produce aluminium using solar power

This solar-powered aluminium will be supplied to global customers under the new product name of CelestiAL

Dubai Customs completes 16 million transactions in 2020

The 2020 figures marked a 23 per cent rise from 13 million completed in 2019

UAE Israel

UAE postpones visa-free travel agreement with Israel until July 1

Airlines from both countries have begun scheduled direct commercial passenger flights over the last few weeks

Kuwait expats

More than 83,500 expats left Kuwait in Q4 2020 – report

The number of expats in the country’s workforce has now dropped to 1.5 million

Abu Dhabi

Covid-19 PCR tests mandatory for those visiting inpatients at medical facilities in Abu Dhabi

However, those who have been vaccinated already do not need to undergo a PCR test prior to their visit

Dubai’s Emirates rolls out vaccination programme for its staff

The company will offer the Pfizer-BioNTech and Sinopharm vaccines to employees based in the UAE

Bahrain

Bahrain attracts $885m investment in 2020 despite Covid-19

Accumulated direct investments reaches 78 per cent of Bahrain’s GDP

Huawei to open largest store outside of China in Saudi Arabia

The flagship store will be located in Riyadh Front in the capital

Covid-19 test

UAE federal government employees to undergo Covid-19 PCR test every 7 days

Previously, they were required to get tested every 14 days

Emirates Airline Festival of Literature: Expert insights on navigating the new normal

Several top regional and international authors and speakers will headline the Dubai-based event this year

UAE telecoms du and Etisalat partner with Emaar Properties to provide services to local communities

Customers will be able to choose a retail telecom operator of their choice

Abu Dhabi

Mubadala, ADNOC and ADQ form alliance to grow green hydrogen economy in the UAE

The alliance will develop a roadmap to create hydrogen production sites in Abu Dhabi and the UAE

Abu-Dhabi-International-Airport-1

Abu Dhabi expands ‘green list’ of countries that do not require quarantine

Bahrain is the latest to be added to the list, which also includes other Gulf countries

Military projectile by Houthi hits Jazan, injures three

The procedures adopted in such cases were immediately implemented

Sharjah

Sharjah: Staff at private educational institutions must pay for mandatory PCR test every 14 days

An exception will be made for those employees who have received both the doses of the vaccine, or those who have a medical condition that exempts them from taking the jab

Oman Muscat

Oman closes land border for one week, says closure can be extended

The land border will be closed for at least a week, starting at 6pm on Monday, January 18

One Central Covid-19 Vaccination Centre in Dubai World Trade Centre

Covid-19 vaccination centre opens in Dubai World Trade Centre; minimum age for jab reduced to 16

The total number of vaccination centres in Dubai has reached 120

Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi announces Dhs6bn boost for SMEs

The programme is funded by Ghadan 21’s SME credit guarantee scheme

Covid-19 update: UAE reports 3,453 cases; total infections cross 250,000

The death toll in the UAE has risen to 745

Philippines

Covid-19: Philippines consulate in Dubai closed for two days

All those who availed of consular services on Sunday, January 17, have been advised to get tested for Covid-19

Power Letters 2021: Najeeb Mohammed Al-Ali, executive director, commissioner general office, Expo 2020 Dubai

Expo 2020 Dubai will be a vital, timely platform to bring the world together, in a spirit of hope and optimism and a unified purpose to inspire solutions

Dubai bets on speedy vaccine rollout to keep Expo 2020 on track

The Expo is meant to be one of the biggest events globally this year and generate billions of dollars for the government

Oman prices third bond sale since October to plug deficit

The largest oil exporter outside of OPEC sold $3.25bn in a three-part debt offering

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi operates inaugural flight to Athens

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi will initially begin flights to Athens, Thessaloniki, Alexandria, Kutaisi, Larnaca, Odesa and Yerevan