Sharjah hires banks for $1bn sukuk sale

A sale could happen as soon as this week and proceeds will be used for general budgetary needs, sources said

Saudi begins phase two of easing lockdown: Mosques reopen, fines revealed for violators

Domestic flights are also allowed to resume in the kingdom

UAE Ministry of Finance reduces fees for certain federal entities

The measures include a 50 per cent reduction in the fees to register suppliers

Abu dhabi uae capital flag

Only 30% of UAE federal government staff to return to workplace from May 31

The decision to increase the number of employees will be reviewed weekly based on the prevailing health conditions

RTA Tamkeen programme

All Dubai government employees to begin working out of offices from June 14

Fifty per cent of these government employees will resume working from the office starting Sunday, May 31

Offices Send Their employees Home

Dubai offices allowed to reopen with 50% capacity; public transport timings revised

Earlier, offices were permitted to reopen with only 30 per cent of their staff in attendance

Electronic Cigarettes

UAE defers ban on e-cigarettes, water pipe tobacco products without ‘digital tax stamps’

The ban will now go into effect from January 1, 2021

Russia sees oil market balance in June-July on OPEC+ cuts

Producers have lowered global oil supply by around 14-15 million barrels a day

Dubai to resume business activities from May 27, cinemas, gyms to reopen

There will be no restrictions on movement between 6am and 11pm

KUWAIT-EGYPT-HEALTH-VIRUS

Expat population in some GCC states may drop by up to 10% – report

Employment across the GCC could fall by around 13 per cent due to the impact of the coronavirus

LinkedIn reveals top 5 most applied for jobs in UAE during the pandemic

These roles have seen the highest percentage increase in job applications between March and April 2020

Abu Dhabi wealth fund sees U-shaped global rebound next year

As the pandemic forced factories all over the world to shutter and people to stay home, the global economy has plummeted and oil prices have dropped by almost half since the start of the year

Dubai’s ICD reports 16.9% rise in 2019 profits

Its 2019 revenues dipped 1.9 per cent to Dhs228bn

Global downturn risks becoming prolonged recession – WEF

High unemployment, lack of progress in reducing carbon emissions and exacerbated inequalities are all possible side effects of the pandemic

Oman cuts pay for new civil servants by up to 23%

Oman has resorted to spending cuts to stabilise public finances

Dubai Economy renews 33,874 licences through its ‘Auto Renewal’ service

The Business Registration & Licencing (BRL) sector also recorded a 62 per cent increase in auto renewal transactions during the first four months of 2020, compared to the same period in 2019

Gold climbs to seven-year high as Fed warns on US economic growth

Bullion has surged 16 per cent this year as the spread of the virus curbed economic growth

Saudi wealth fund said to be seeking $10bn margin loan

PIF is in need of capital as it embarks on an investment spree that has seen it build stakes in some of the world’s largest companies since the start of the coronavirus pandemic

Dubai denies media report that it is seeking support from Abu Dhabi fund Mubadala

It added that Reuters published the story without verifying the trustworthiness of its source

Saudi wealth fund PIF buys Boeing, Citi, Facebook, Disney stakes

The PIF is looking into “any opportunity” arising from the economic wreckage of the crisis, its governor said in April

Saudi Arabia ‘Vision 2030’ plan cut by $8bn – report

Brent crude is currently trading at around $30 a barrel, about half the level it was when Saudi Arabia announced its budget in December

Dubai family businesses seek VAT cut and government help to repatriate expat workers

Representatives of family businesses met with Dubai government officials last month

Dubai permits hotel beaches and public parks to reopen, watersports, skydiving also allowed

In malls and retail outlets, the refund and return of goods and the use of fitting rooms is now permitted

Dubai reveals ‘reopening’ plan post Ramadan for malls, offices

Malls will be allowed to stay open longer but restrictions on children, elderly to continue

ADNOC Distribution Service Station

ADNOC Distribution’s Q1 net profit down 31%

Its underlying EBITDA grew 4.7 per cent year-on-year to $171m in the first quarter of 2020

What will be the impact of Saudi’s VAT hike on businesses and consumers?

The kingdom has hiked its VAT rate from 5 per cent to 15 per cent starting July 1

No plans to hike VAT in the UAE – ministry

The UAE government levied a 5 per cent VAT on goods and services in January 2018

Abu Dhabi launches digital service for rent refunds on commercial leases

The new online service has been activated in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Department of Finance

dubai silicon oasis

Dubai Silicon Oasis introduces additional economic relief measures

In April, DSOA introduced several incentives for residents, startups, companies and commercial tenants located within buildings owned by the authority

Saudi Arabia triples VAT, cuts cost of living allowances

The steps taken to shore up revenue and rationalise spending are valued at about SAR100bn in total