Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank records 52% decrease in net profit for H1 2020

Its net revenue also declined nearly 11.5 per cent year-on-year to Dhs2.5bn

CSP Abu Dhabi Terminal

CSP launches new direct service from Abu Dhabi to Europe and Indian subcontinent

The new route will be served by a fleet of eight vessels ranging in capacity from 10,000-13,000 TEU

Dubai-new

Dubai businesses return to growth in July as pandemic impact eases

Construction as well as the wholesale and retail industry are leading the upswing

KUWAIT-HEALTH-VIRUS worker expat

Kuwait mulling plan that could see 360,000 expats deported in the ‘short-term’

The Gulf state is aggressively looking to reduce its expat population

Saudi Arabia Youth

Two-thirds of Saudi Arabia’s population is under the age of 35

Nearly half of all Saudi employees are below the age of 35

Kuwait city

Kuwaiti MPs reject draft law allowing private sector firms to cut salaries by up to 50%

Kuwaiti lawmakers have approved amendments to the rent law, allowing tenants to delay their rent payments

UAE plots new stimulus measures to bolster economy

The UAE’s central bank had provided more than $70bn of stimulus by March to aid businesses

AI everything

Dubai issues guidelines to restart exhibitions, live events and concerts

Measures to be followed include social distancing and limited capacity

Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi ports’ non-oil foreign trade valued Dhs66.5bn for first four months of 2020

Re-exports fell 24.6 per cent year-on-year to Dhs13bn and non-oil exports by 8.5 per cent to Dhs18.3bn

Jobless recovery from virus takes shape for top 3 Arab economies

Employment continued to fall in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt despite a stronger pickup in non-oil private sector activity in July

DAFZA

Exports from Dubai’s DAFZA up 54% in Q1 2020

China accounted for the highest percentage of DAFZA’s trade, with 21 per cent valued at Dhs7.7bn

Dubai attracted around Dhs12bn of FDI in H1 2020

There were 190 FDI projects announced in the emirate in H1 2020, around 50 per cent of them being greenfield initiatives

Dubai UAE

JPMorgan sees virus fallout stoking Middle East deals into 2021

The first six months saw $72bn of bond issuance from the region

Dubai DMCC Diamond Exchange

Dubai’s DMCC cuts business registration fees for diamond companies by 50%

DMCC also said that newly registered companies will be offered a free 12-month membership of the Dubai Diamond Exchange

china oman

Chinese oil giant CNPC eyes BP’s $1.5bn stake in Oman gas field

China’s state-owned oil giant is reportedly conducting advanced discussions with BP for a 10 per cent stake in the Khazzan natural gas field

barakah nuclear energy uae

UAE begins nuclear energy production at Barakah plant

The UAE is the first Arab country, and the 33rd nation globally, to produce nuclear energy

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

Standard Chartered

Standard Chartered appoints new CEO for Saudi Arabia banking division

In February last year, the British bank received approvals from Saudi Arabia’s financial regulator to open a branch in the kingdom

Kuwait workers

Kuwait’s draft law on expat quotas to exempt domestic workers, those on government contracts

Under the new proposal, Indians must not exceed 15 per cent of the population of Kuwaitis

Dubai crown prince Sheikh Hamdan

New survey in Dubai reveals 88% satisfaction in government’s handling of Covid-19 pandemic

There were 91 per cent of respondents who approved of the effectiveness of the national sterilisation programme, while 88 per cent were satisfied with the testing measures in place

DIFC

China strengthens fintech cooperation with Dubai through new agreement with DIFC

Jiaozi Fintech Dreamworks and DIFC will collaborate on key sectors such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, big data and cloud computing

Dubai Customs furnished 452,000 insurance refund requests in H1 2020

The insurance refund requests were valued at Dhs3.2bn

Dubai

Dubai’s real estate sector records transactions worth Dhs72.5bn in H1 2020

In H1 2020, 4,536 women investors completed 5,112 investments worth Dhs6.6bn

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia refutes reports that it is mulling income tax

An official within the government added that the “issue is fundamentally not for discussion”

Muscat Oman

Oman to reimpose nationwide lockdown to contain spread of Covid-19

The two-week lockdown will commence from July 25

Kuwait runs into resistance on bill to boost borrowing

Kuwait raised $8bn in March 2017 in its first sale of international bonds

Dubai Food Security

Dubai’s external food trade valued at Dhs32bn in H1 2020

The emirate’s food imports reached Dhs22bn, while exports were recorded at Dhs5.5bn and re-exports amounted to Dhs4.5bn

G20 to make debt relief extension call closer to year end

All member countries have started implementing the Debt Service Suspension Initiative that currently is set to only run through December

Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi records Dhs80.23bn non-oil foreign trade in first five months of 2020

Saudi Arabia was the emirate’s top trading partner during the period, accounting for Dhs17.91bn worth of trade

Dubai Chamber announces task force to manage late payments issue

The task force will explore the causes of late payments, raise awareness and encourage the adoption of best payments practices