Saudi Q3 GDP growth slowest in over three years

Saudi’s GDP, adjusted for inflation, grew 0.9 per cent from a year earlier

Oman 2017 budget projects smaller deficit as govt plans tax hikes

The government is mulling changes to income tax and changes to fees charged for hiring foreign workers

Saudi appoints board for newly created entertainment entity

The new entity will develop, promote, regulate and fund Saudi’s entertainment industry

Saudi budget likely to raise labour costs for corporates

The introduction of various taxes on expat visas will increase labour costs in the kingdom, says report

Saudi plans to pump $53bn into the private sector to boost diversification

An investment fund will be established to provide the capital

Women should be allowed to work as paramedics, opticians – Saudi officials

The government aims to increase the number of women in the workforce by 2020

Saudi’s King Salman acknowledges restructuring measures are ‘painful’

The plunge in oil prices since mid-2014 has pushed Saudi to rein in public spending

Dubai’s tourism sector gets boost from visas-on-arrival for Chinese

The UAE introduced visas-on-arrival for Chinese nationals in September

UAE private sector job growth hits four-month high

The UAE’s non-oil private sector regained growth in November for the first time in four months

Saudi government injects cash into economy following oil-linked slowdown

Riyadh raised $17.5bn last month in its first international bond issue

Saudi’s new nationalisation scheme aims to create over one million jobs

The programme will come up for voting in the Shoura Council this week

Iran will issue visa on arrival to all but 9 countries

Iran and the global economy: Have things changed?

The lifting of sanctions against Iran in January is yet to have the impact many had hoped for

Saudi to set up national water and energy efficiency programme

Saudi aims to reduce electricity and water subsidies by SAR200bn by 2020

Bahrain approaches banks about sukuk sale in Q1 2017

The kingdom has some $5bn-equivalent in debt maturing in 2017

Saudi central bank predicts 1.8% GDP growth this year

The non-oil sector is expected to expand 2.5 per cent

Oman’s National Gas Company terminates CEO

S&P downgrades outlook for Oman to ‘negative’

Oman’s fiscal consolidation could take longer than expected, says rating agency

Dubai firms remain ‘cautious’ on hiring despite strong growth

Dubai’s private sector economy registered an improvement in business conditions in October

UAE to have new framework for public-private partnerships

The documentation will be used instead of drafting a new PPP law

Sharjah ruler’s wife calls for new UAE ministry for women

The move will further empower women in the country, she said

UAE’s economy has doubled in the last 10 years – Sheikh Mohammed

The non-oil sector’s contribution to the UAE’s GDP now stands at 77 per cent

Kuwait raises minimum salary requirement for family visas

Expatriates now have to earn at least KD450 per month to sponsor their families

Expats over 60 in Saudi to account for two employees under Nitaqat scheme

Expats registered as investors, academicians and doctors will be exempt from the ruling

UAE’s non-oil sector sees slowest growth in new orders since 2010

Orders slowed in September due to weaker demand from external markets

UAE begins implementing new wage protection scheme

The decree will impose hefty fines on companies that fail to pay their workers on time

The importance of start-ups to the halal economy

A growing number of Muslim-centric businesses are helping to diversify the halal economy

Drop in haj visitors hits Saudi businesses

One of the reasons for the declining visitor numbers is the absence of Iranian pilgrims

Dubai reveals new public parking rates for commercial areas

Dubai’s private sector hiring remains slow despite overall growth

The monthly Emirates NBD business tracker found Dubai’s private sector growth on track in August

gavel

UAE bankruptcy law may be finalised by end-2016

Under existing legislation, unpaid debt or a bounced cheque can land businessmen in jail

Saudi prince to discuss reform drive in visits to China, Japan

Saudi officials will also discuss energy cooperation agreements with the two countries

Filipino workers stranded in Saudi to be provided free air tickets

Help is also being provided for workers to switch companies in the kingdom