Islamic New Year holiday for UAE public and private sectors announced

The holiday is expected to fall on September 1, though it is subject to the moon sighting

New Dubai business licences up more than a third in H1

Women were granted 12 per cent of the new licences

Saudi, UAE want to invest in Lebanon, says PM Hariri

Saad al-Hariri said talks were under way with Riyadh on some 23 economic deals

Dubai businessman Khalaf Al Habtoor urges for end to Skype ban in UAE

The Dubai businessman also said reconsidering some of the fees will have a “positive impact on the economy”

Bahrain, Manama, Cityscape view of Bahrain World Trade Center and Bahrain Financial Harbor

Bahrain budget deficit narrows in first half of 2019

The kingdom said it is “well ahead of its projected deficit reduction schedule”

UAE June consumer price index down 1.49% year-on-year

The decline in CPI has partly reflected the fading impact of last year’s introduction of a value-added tax

ADNOC Distribution H1 profit climbs to Dhs1.17bn

Its Q2 net profit was also up 2.2 per cent to Dhs750m compared to the similar period in 2018

Kuwait 2018/2019 budget deficit narrows on higher oil prices

State revenue was KD20.5bn in the year to March 31, 2019, compared to the KD15bn that had been projected

Egypt to consider VAT and income-tax reforms

The government collected $39.83bn in taxes in the 2018/2019 fiscal year

Saudi to start next phase of flour mill privatisation

The sale is one of the first privatisations the kingdom is planning

Oman hires banks for dual-tranche dollar bond after cutting deficit

While not at risk of a credit crunch, Oman has been downgraded to junk by all major credit rating agencies

Oil sector lifts Abu Dhabi’s Q1 GDP by 5.7%

The emirate’s GDP totalled Dhs207bn ($56.4m) in the first quarter

IMF lowers Saudi fiscal deficit forecast to 6.5% of GDP this year

The Saudi economy, the largest in the Middle East, has suffered in recent years because of low oil prices and austerity measures

Saudi approves new tendering and procurement law

The law introduces flexibility in the price of contracts and compensations in the case of increases in raw material prices, custom duties and taxes

Saudi businesses can remain open 24 hours a day under new Cabinet decision

The new decision is hoped to help create thousands of jobs and stimulate the kingdom’s economy

Kuwait’s economy grows 2.6% in Q1

Oil sector grew at 1.3 per cent in the first quarter and non-oil sector expanded at 4.1 per cent

UAE’s ministry of economy cancels fees for over 100 services

The ministry has also reduced the fees for some services as part of efforts to boost business activity in the country

Abu dhabi uae capital flag

UAE ministry cuts work permit fees by up to 94%

The move is aimed at supporting business owners and investors in the country

Dubai skyline

Hiring in Dubai’s private sector remains stagnant despite business growth

Staffing fell in tourism and recreation as well as construction, but rose in wholesale and retail

IMF slashes Oman’s 2019 economic growth forecast to 0.3%

Oman’s state coffers have been hit hard by a slump in oil prices over the past few years

Abu Dhabi Special Olympics generated almost Dhs1bn in economic output – report

The 10-day event was held in March, with 200 nations, 7,000 athletes and 20,000 registered volunteers taking part

Saudi Arabia signs $8.3bn economic pact with South Korea

The agreement includes a $6bn deal between Saudi Aramco and Korean firm S-Oil

Abu Dhabi reveals nine new initiatives to boost the private sector

Ecotourism incentives, SME loans and instant licences are among the new initiatives

Burj Khalifa[2] dubai

Dubai issues close to 2,600 new business licences in May, creating over 8,300 jobs

Real estate, leasing and business services accounted for 35 per cent of the new licences issued in May

Saudi consumer prices fall year-on-year in May for fifth month in a row

While prices for housing, water, electricity, gas and fuel fell, prices for food and drinks and education rose

Dubai finalising project to issue business licences without residency

Dubai’s DED issued 9,489 business licences between January to April, up 35 per cent year-on-year

Burj Khalifa[2] dubai

Business activity in Dubai’s private sector grows at strongest rate since 2010

Employment growth continued to remain marginal in May

Saudi to finalise $533m privatisation deals this year – Crown Prince

The expected deals will be in sectors that include rain silos, medical and shipping services

Global economy on leading edge of recession

It seems more likely than not the downturn will deepen in the next six months unless action is taken to turn it around, writes Reuters columnist John Kemp

UAE’s private sector growth at the highest level since October 2014, hiring stagnant

Although both new orders and business activity increased, employment and salary growth remained broadly unchanged