Prince Khaled’s KBW Ventures joins $60m financing round for cell-based seafood company

Financing deal for US-based BlueNalu is largest to date in the cell-based seafood industry

Etihad Airways flights Doha

Etihad Airways to restart flights between Abu Dhabi and Doha in February

The service will operate daily using an Airbus A320 and a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

Dubai Health Authority Visa

Dubai suspends non-urgent elective surgeries for one month

DHA says the directive is to allow health facilities manage Covid-19 cases

Kaspersky targets connected car makers with new cybersecurity tool

Increase in connected cars sees rise in automotive-related attacks

UAE Covid-19 Vaccine Drive Through

Drive-through Covid-19 vaccine centres to be introduced across the UAE

These centres will be operated by Abu Dhabi Healthcare Services (SEHA) and will increase the total number of locations for Covid-19 vaccines to 218

Digital Economy: UAE consumers to pivot away from cash – report

Young and digitally savvy populations across the Middle East and Africa region are key to long-term growth outlook

US elections: Biden arrival in Washington ahead of inauguration framed by heavy security

Outgoing President Donald Trump doesn’t plan to invite the Bidens to the White House before the inauguration

Daman Healthcare UAE Frontline Heroes Office

UAE’s frontline workers eligible for upgraded medical insurance

Eligible professionals enrolled in the Frontline Heroes Office registry will enjoy expanded coverage, with benefits similar to Daman’s “Enhanced Sahtak”

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank launches one-year healthcare equities note for investors

The structured note which matures in 12 months provides 95 per cent capital protection

Bahrain plans to sell dollar bonds to plug budget deficit

The Gulf Arab kingdom is selling benchmark-size seven-year debt, 12-year securities and/or notes maturing in 30 years

Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways boosts carbon offset programme

Etihad is working with New Zealand’s CarbonClick to develop its voluntary guest offset programme

Dubai UAE

Dubai responds to “party haven amid pandemic” media report

The state-run Dubai Media Office issued a clarification on Tuesday, January 19

Michael Chiesa vs Neil Magny fight in Abu Dhabi to be broadcast live on UFC Arabia app

Welterweight fight will also be aired live on video-on-demand site Starzplay

Cysiv expands SOC-as-a-service operations to Middle East and Africa

Cysiv acquired and re-branded Cairo-based SOC services firm SecureMisr in 2020

Evian Middle East introduces new label-free, 100% recycled water bottle

Evian seeks to become a ‘fully-circular’ brand by 2025

Dubai’s DHA ceases PCR testing at select centres; nationwide Covid-19 cases cross 260,000

The UAE announced 3,491 new cases on January 19

UAE-based P2P app Ziina joins Y-Combinator accelerator programme

Ziina also announces new seed funding from US and MENA venture capital funds

Oman extends visa-free period for citizens of 103 countries for upto 14 days

The step is part of efforts to bolster the tourism sector of the sultanate

Power Letters 2021: Erik Dudman Nielsen, group CEO, Virgin Mobile Middle East and Africa

At Virgin Mobile, digital has always been the core of its business proposition

Dubai’s Emirates introduces special fares to select destinations

Bookings have to be made between January 19 to February 2, 2021, for travel until June 15, 2021

Qatar wealth fund plans Asia push to diversify from Europe, US

The wealth fund holds stakes in some of the world’s top companies

Emirates

UAE’s Emirates, Etihad to roll out IATA’s Travel Pass for Covid-19 test results and vaccination certificates

IATA Travel Pass app enables passengers to create a ‘digital passport’ to share Covid-19 test and vaccination certificates with authorities and airlines

Gulf Air Ras Al Khaimah

Bahrain’s Gulf Air mulling flights to UAE’s Ras Al Khaimah Airport

The two entities signed an MoU to explore the possibility of building connectivity between the kingdom and the emirate

UAE telecom du to consider raising foreign ownership

The company will hold a board meeting on January 20

SABIC to shortlist Citi, Morgan Stanley for specialty chemicals IPO

SABIC hasn’t decided on a venue for the sale

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park

UAE becomes world’s first country to produce aluminium using solar power

This solar-powered aluminium will be supplied to global customers under the new product name of CelestiAL

Dubai Customs completes 16 million transactions in 2020

The 2020 figures marked a 23 per cent rise from 13 million completed in 2019

UAE Israel

UAE postpones visa-free travel agreement with Israel until July 1

Airlines from both countries have begun scheduled direct commercial passenger flights over the last few weeks

Kuwait expats

More than 83,500 expats left Kuwait in Q4 2020 – report

The number of expats in the country’s workforce has now dropped to 1.5 million

Abu Dhabi

Covid-19 PCR tests mandatory for those visiting inpatients at medical facilities in Abu Dhabi

However, those who have been vaccinated already do not need to undergo a PCR test prior to their visit