Bahrain parliament approves decision to double VAT to 10%

The bill has now been sent to the Shura Council, the upper house of the National Assembly

Dubai-Internet-City Tecom Group

Tecom Group to list on Dubai Financial Market

Tecom’s business communities include Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Dubai Design District and Dubai Industrial Park

New UAE weekend: Private sector companies can decide whether to make a change

The UAE on Tuesday announced a new four-and-a-half-day working week for federal government entities

Saudi Crown Prince arrives in Oman on official visit

On the sidelines of the visit, Saudi Arabia and Oman signed 13 memoranda of understanding across different sectors

Oman unveils 13 national projects exceeding OMR3bn

The projects cover several key sectors, such as energy, food security, manufacturing, mining, health and tourism services

Economists debate how Omicron will impact the global recovery

The imposition of travel restrictions will shake consumer and corporate confidence

Gold drops as easing virus variant concerns curb haven demand

Bullion has erased its November rally and is almost back to where it started the month

Aveva

UAE’s Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, Siemens partner to underpin digital transformation

The partnership will help determine levels of 4IR tech adoption across the UAE’s industrial sector

UAE to set up $10bn investment fund in Turkey

The new fund will focus on strategic investments across sectors including logistics, energy, health and food

Shanghai

UAE’s First Abu Dhabi Bank to open first mainland China branch

FAB will offer both RMB and foreign currency business onshore in China through its new branch in Shanghai

Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, UAE MOCCAE, Eugene Willemsen, and Aamer Sheikh

PepsiCo launches MENA edition of Greenhouse Accelerator programme

It has partnered with the UAE’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment for the initiative

Saudi launches new service allowing investors to start a business from outside the kingdom

Under the new service, investors can complete the process of authenticating the agency and attesting the establishment contract in three steps

Saudi Crown Prince plans emissions-free industry hub ‘floating’ on sea

The project, dubbed ‘Oxagon’, will feature a port and a logistics hub

Five-year visas announced for employees of global companies based in Dubai

The directive was announced by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, on Tuesday

UAE Armed Forces signed Dhs11.28bn deals on day two of Dubai Airshow 2021

The total number of deals across the two days of the exhibition equalled 10

85% of job seekers in UAE feel their roles can be performed remotely – survey

Nearly 21 per cent of job applicants also said that they had relocated since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic

Dubai road-toll operator Salik to seek about $1bn in IPO

Plans unveiled to list Salik road toll system on Dubai Financial Market

There are currently eight Salik toll gates in the city, with three million vehicles registered in the system

Explainer: Has hybrid working taken off in the GCC?

The types of roles that can be performed at 100 per cent remote mode are going to be more limited, opines Christos Adamantiadis, CEO, Marsh Middle East and Africa

Abu-Dhabi

Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange proposes SPAC regulatory framework

The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange and Abu Dhabi’s Department of Economic Development have submitted a proposal to the Securities and Commodities Authority

Saudi Arabia chases $64bn Hollywood dream

The kingdom is launching its first international film festival

Kuwait cabinet quits in step toward ending political impasse

It’s the third government to resign in a year

Dubai to encourage IPOs from private firms to revive market

The city merged its economic and tourism departments on Saturday

Abu Dhabi UAE government

Indonesia fund lets UAE invest in its high-yield instruments

The investment framework deal was signed with the Abu Dhabi Growth Fund

Saudi bourse Tadawul ends IPO wait, plans to list 30% stake

The offering could value it at between $3bn and $4bn

Dubai’s Expo spurs tourism, boosting UAE business activity

A Purchasing Managers’ Index compiled by IHS Markit rose to 55.7 in October from 53.3 in September

Over half of Arab youth say they will boycott brands that damage the environment

The region’s youth is keen to ensure governments and businesses act responsibly when it comes to climate action

How should GCC economies manage public finances

Governments can use sovereign asset liability management as a financial tool to manage public sector balance sheet risks

Saudi budget sees first quarterly surplus since 2019 on high oil

Oil revenue was about SAR148bn, an increase of 60 per cent from the same period last year

Covid-19: Bahrain updates alert system, temperature checks to be stopped for unvaccinated

Obligatory registration of information will no longer be required for non-vaccinated individuals when entering a facility, with waiting areas to be re-opened

Six areas to cover in your startup’s first 100 days

The first few months for any startup are critical