Are the smartphone users of today in a digital disarray?

It’s about time all of us seriously reflect on how we break this addiction

Dubai FDI

Dubai records Dhs24.7bn FDI in 2020

Dubai ranked fourth globally in FDI capital flows into greenfield projects

Revealed: Top 5 most powerful Arabs in Saudi Arabia

The highest ranked Arabs originating from Saudi Arabia in Gulf Business’ annual Arab power list

Dubai Chamber

Dubai Chamber members’ exports reach Dhs54.8bn in Q1 2021, up 6% y-on-y

Over 6,000 new member companies joined Dubai Chamber in the first three months of 2021

Dubai foreign trade

Dubai’s non-oil external trade reached Dhs1.182 trillion in 2020

China remained Dubai’s largest trading partner with Dhs142bn worth of exchanges in 2020

Four steps on how regional governments can elevate economic competitiveness

Government support is most effective when it is invested at a sector or industry level, creating enabling environments with well-designed regulations

The UAE likely to attract the most investment in MENA: Kearney

Kearney’s 2021 FDI Confidence Index ranks the UAE 15th globally

Saudi Arabia Alula

Saudi Crown Prince launches master development plan for AlUla

It will be implemented in three phases until 2035, with the first phase set to be completed by 2023

Dubai’s external trade with South Africa grows 17% to Dhs15.71bn in 2020

Agricultural and food products were the main commodities in Dubai’s trade with South Africa

Ramadan 2021: Dubai announces guidelines for praying in mosques

Maximum duration of Isha and Taraweeh prayers in mosques is capped at 30 minutes

Sheikh Hamdan launches Al Quoz Creative Zone in Dubai

Sheikh Hamdan launches Al Quoz Creative Zone in Dubai

Entrepreneurs in the creative sector will be able to issue freelancing permits and a single license to practice diverse creative business activities

Ramadan 2021: Pilgrims must be Covid-19 immune to enter two Holy Mosques

Those who have recovered from the Covid-19 infection can also be issued a permit

KUWAIT-HEALTH-VIRUS

Kuwait mulls renewing work permits for expats aged over 60 in certain cases

The ban took effect in January this year

Islamic Development Bank sukuk Nasdaq Dubai

Saudi’s Islamic Development Bank lists $2.5bn sustainability sukuk on Nasdaq Dubai

The total value of the bank’s sukuk listed on Nasdaq Dubai stands at $17.14bn

Sheikh Mohammed launches Dhs30bn strategic programme to stimulate vital sectors

The programme will contribute to financing more than 13,500 SMEs and creating 25,000 jobs

Abu Dhabi UAE

UAE economic recovery picks up pace in March, hits 20-month high – PMI

IHS Markit UAE PMI Index rose from 50.6 in February to 52.6 in March

UAE announces $3bn investment in Iraq

The joint statement came at the conclusion of the official visit by Iraqi Prime Minister Dr. Mustafa Al Kadhimi to the UAE

Oman is more than halfway towards meeting its financing needs for 2021

The government has OMR1.83bn left to raise after so far borrowing OMR1.77bn and withdrawing OMR600m from the Oman Investment Authority

Dubai launches new strategy to double companies and jobs in the creative sector

The Dubai Creative Economy strategy aims to double the creative industries’ GDP contribution to 5 per cent of Dubai’s economy by 2025

How chartered accountants can play a key role in the fight against climate change

Chartered accountants must lead the businesses they work with to integrate climate change risk into organisational strategy, finance, operations, and communications

Jail time for spreading rumours on ‘April Fools Day’ in the UAE

Spreading false news or rumours can lead to imprisonment of no less than one year

Saudi unemployment falls in fourth quarter as virus slows

Unemployment among Saudi nationals hit a record high of 15.4 per cent last year

Kuwait masks

Kuwait might continue curfew during Ramadan, Eid

The nightly curfew currently in place from 6pm to 5am is currently expected to end on April 8

Saudi firms will cut dividends to fund $1.3 trillion investments

The new plan comes after the coronavirus pandemic and oil market turmoil created a double crisis for Saudi Arabia

How the Gulf region will witness a vigorous recovery in 2021/22

The recent recovery of the crude oil price to the pre-pandemic level of $60-65 per barrel is a huge relief for all the Gulf states

UAE: All passengers must declare currencies, negotiable instruments valued over Dhs60,000

The value of gifts brought in with travellers should not exceed Dhs3,000

Outlook for the year 2021 is ‘positive’, despite Covid-19 fallout, says Al Habtoor chairman

The real estate sector in Dubai recorded a strong sales growth of 17 per cent in January 2021

Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman

Saudi Crown Prince announces two massive green initiatives to combat climate change

The overall regional tree planting programme (with 50 billion trees) is claimed to be the largest reforestation programme in the world

Changes in UAE citizenship law beckon hope and inclusion

Amendments to the UAE’s citizenship law heralds the making of a diverse, talent-based society

Dubai declares 10-day mourning, suspends government work for 3 days over Sheikh Hamdan’s demise

Flags will be flown at half-mast during the mourning period