Kuwait pension fund posts record first-quarter investment profit

The fund held $112bn in assets at the end of March last year

ADNEC Walk-In Facility_Phase III COVID-19 Vaccine Trials

New walk-in screening facility opened in Abu Dhabi for Covid-19 vaccine trials

The facility, which can process up to 800 volunteers a day, is only open to Abu Dhabi residents

New space technology centre to be set up in Abu Dhabi

One of its main objectives will be to build capabilities and create a technical space hub in the UAE

Kuwait to resume flights from Aug 1, bans residents from seven nations including India, Philippines

Kuwait had suspended all commercial flights to and from Kuwait International Airport in mid-March

Hajj 2020 Saudi 5

In pics: Hajj 2020 begins, Saudi authorities confirm no Covid-19 cases among pilgrims

The number of pilgrims attending this year’s Hajj has been limited to 1,000

Oil prices

Saudis seen cutting oil price for first time in four months

OPEC and allied producers have started to ease output curbs amid weakening demand

Etisalat’s eWallet expands into utility bill payments

eWallet is offering a Dhs5 cashback for eligible transactions of Dhs50

AXA to offer Covid-19 insurance cover

AXA will reimburse policyholders up to $5,000 for irrecoverable travel costs

Dubai Media City venue Q43 shuts down for good

Q43 was a popular haunt for those working in Media City and Internet City in Dubai

GCC Covid-19 update: UAE registers 375 cases; 665 infections reported in Oman

The death toll in Oman has risen to 412

Mastercard taps Microsoft Azure to boost R&D in ecommerce, fintech

Azure to serve as native cloud infrastructure for Mastercard Labs’ R&D efforts

Dubai Rugby Sevens

Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens tournament for 2020 cancelled

A local tournament may be held in Dubai in December, the official announcement of which is expected on August 10

Emirates Hospitals Group selects Okadoc to digitise call centre, roll out telehealth platform

Okadoc’s platform is expected to reduce no shows and increase Emirates Hospital Group’s revenues

Dubai’s Emirates to resume flights to Clark from August 1

The airline’s passenger network will grow to 68 destinations in August

Restaurants, cafés, food outlets in Abu Dhabi to operate at 80% capacity

All employees must undergo laser-based DPI screening for the virus every two weeks

hajj-picture

Hajj pilgrimage in the age of coronavirus is unlike any before

Saudi Arabia has dramatically downsized the ritual because of the coronavirus pandemic, with authorities testing pilgrims and cutting their numbers from the usual 2 million to around 1,000

India announces additional repatriation flights from UAE

From August 1-29, Air India will repatriate Indian citizens on 22 flights from Sharjah and Abu Dhabi airports

Dubai Public Transport Metro

Free parking in Dubai during Eid Al Adha 2020; public transport timings revised

The RTA has said that paid parking will resume in Dubai from Monday, August 3

Dubai fire

Sheikh Hamdan condoles firefighter who died in Dubai blaze

The fire broke out at two warehouses in Dubai Investment Park

GEMS-school

GEMS schools preparing to open school campuses across the UAE in September

GEMS schools will have protocols including social distancing, thermal screening and travel declarations

First Abu Dhabi Bank

First Abu Dhabi Bank joins Mideast lenders in raising provisions

First Abu Dhabi Bank increased impairments to Dhs1.06bn ($289m) from Dhs467m a year ago

ADNOC considers stake sale in $5bn of properties

The plan is in its inception stage and could still change

Waldorf-Astoria-Ras-Al-Khaimah

Free Covid-19 tests for all hospitality staff in Ras Al Khaimah

Hospitality staff testing will be carried out across the 45 hotels in the emirate

Huawei - Sanjay Sainani copy

Planning for the data centres of tomorrow in the Middle East

Ensuring data centers are fully prepared to meet the future demand is a critical endeavour to support the new digital economy

Gonzalo Usandizaga

Why businesses within the Middle East need to guard against a “new normal” wave of cyberattacks

While cybersecurity systems in place may have been enough before the pandemic, companies need to reassess their frameworks in light of this increased stress to ensure business continuity

Shailesh Dash main

Phi Trends: The business implications of 5G

Investors must keep a lookout for stocks with game-changing potential, which inevitably will tap into 5G and enable future growth prospects, opines entrepreneur and investor Shailesh Dash

GCC Covid-19 update: UAE registers 369 cases; 846 infections reported in Oman

The death toll in the UAE and Oman has risen to 347 and 402 respectively

ADCB

UAE’s ADCB to lay off around 400 employees – reports

The bank had asserted in March that no employees would be made redundant as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic

CEOs in the UAE should have tech background to succeed – VMware study

UAE businesses see the benefits of modernised apps to enhance performance and resilience

Abu Dhabi

Free parking in Abu Dhabi during Eid Al Adha holidays

Surface public parking bays will be free starting from Thursday, July 30