UAE and Saudi Arabia lead global water desalination projects

Further investments of $4.3bn are expected into MENA’s desalination projects by 2022

Oman’s new sultan embarks on long road to economic recovery

The Gulf nation plans to lower its debt and review state companies

UAE expats remit Dhs165bn in 2019

Remittances are down 2.4per cent year-on-year

Abu dhabi uae capital flag

UAE’s economy grew 2.9% in 2019 – report

The UAE economy grew 4 per cent in the second quarter of 2019 while the fourth quarter posted the lowest growth figure of 1.3 per cent

Oil slides while gold heads to $1,700 over coronavirus fears

Bullion prices have taken off this year, rising almost 10 per cent, as concerns over the virus deepen

G20 finance chiefs discuss coronavirus threat to global economy in Saudi meet

Central banks in Indonesia, Mexico, Turkey and South Africa have cut rates this year

Lebanon slammed by double downgrade as bond default looms

S&P Global Ratings cut the country’s long-term foreign currency rating to CC, following a similar reduction by Moody’s Investors Service to Ca

Dubai Economy issues 4,692 instant licences to date

The instant licence service enables businessmen to obtain a commercial license within five minutes

Gold just hit a seven-year high on virus fears

Spot gold traded at $1,607.95 an ounce at 3.02pm in Shanghai, down from Wednesday’s peak of $1,612.98, which was the highest since March 2013

Billionaire Sawiris hopes to join Egypt gold rush as rules eased

The North African country will announce its first exploration tender in close to three years by March

G20 ministers ready to count the cost of coronavirus at Saudi this week

The Group-of-20 finance ministers and central bankers will be discussing a risk to growth that is growing bigger by the day

Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa Fund, Facebook to train female entrepreneurs in the UAE

A thousand female entrepreneurs will be trained under this initiative

Lebanon weighs IMF help to decide on $1.2bn bond payment

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri requested the World Bank and IMF for assistance to address the country’s financial woes

Majority of UAE residents feel Expo 2020 will boost economy – survey

As many as 49 per cent feel that the Dubai Expo will enhance the country’s reputation as a business hub while 48 per cent feel it will lead to creation of more jobs

What’s next for Oman’s economy?

As Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said takes charge in Oman, Georgia Tolley describes the challenges the GCC state faces and potential ways ahead

Dubai waives certain government service fees to lower living costs

Some of the fees waived include those in the healthcare sector

OPEC+ consults China for urgent analysis of virus threat to oil

The JTC’s assessment may help determine whether the 23-nation alliance convenes an emergency ministerial meeting later this month

New Dhs200bn utility company under consideration in Abu Dhabi

The new entity will have total assets worth Dh200bn, with more than 85 per cent of its revenue coming from regulated and contracted businesses

Dubai posted 34% rise in registered trademarks in 2019

A total of 5,157 trademark files were registered at Dubai Economy in 2019 compared to 3,844 in 2018

Oil slumps 16% in January; off to slowest start since 1991

The plunge in oil prices has prompted a push led by Saudi Arabia for the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies to hold an emergency session in February

Lebanese bonds sink to record lows amid concern over repayment

International reserves can only finance the country’s external needs until March 2021 before being depleted

Crunch time for Lebanon as new cabinet decides on bond payment

Government debt stands at more than 150 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product

Lebanon gets new government after three months of protest

The newly appointed cabinet will have to act fast to address the country’s worst financial and economic crisis in decades

UAE site Bayt.com to grow its global workforce

Close to 500,000 daily visitors from the region access the job site to either look for jobs, to hire, or to find various career related content and tools

Saudi’s entertainment push: Is it affordable for all?

The government has tried to offer options for all at the Riyadh Season, says official

New ‘Future District’ created in Dubai, Dhs1bn fund launched for ‘new economy’ firms

Dubai also aims to achieve Dhs2 trillion in terms of foreign trade volumes by 2025, supported by establishing 50 offices around the world

Lebanon erupts in protest again as crisis builds and banks fret

Lebanese lenders have tightened restrictions on US dollar withdrawals and transfers abroad

Dubai’s DMCC registered 1,969 new companies in 2019

The free zone marked a year-on-year registration growth rate of 5.4 per cent

Why Dubai focuses on creating more green spaces

Urban developments need to have green spaces not just from an environmental perspective, but also from a profitability outlook

New UAE brand logo for the next 50 years revealed

The Emirates will plant 10 million trees in line with every vote cast to decide the winning logo