Emirates, Etihad ask crew to take more unpaid leave as virus saps travel demand

Emirates aims to serve 100 per cent of its network destinations by summer 2021

Mastercard rolls out tokenisation technology in the GCC to protect online shoppers

Currently, Mastercard has partnered with Checkout.com and FOO in the UAE to roll out the technology

Prince Khaled’s KBW Ventures invests in ethical pet food brand

KBW Ventures joins funding round for US-based Bond Pet Foods

Top Saudi Binladin executives leave amid $15bn debt revamp

The company is working with US investment bank Houlihan Lokey Inc. on reorganising its debt

UAE Covid-19

UAE detains two for ‘spreading false rumours’ about five Covid deaths in a family

Authorities have warned of strict action against anyone found spreading false and inaccurate information related to the coronavirus

Dubai’s RTA, DANS sign MoU for autonomous air vehicle project

The MoU will also enable added cooperation relating to studying laws relating to autonomous air vehicles

Sharjah

All Sharjah private schools to have 100% distance learning for first two weeks

The decision was jointly announced by the Sharjah Private Education Authority and the Local Emergency Crisis & Disaster Management Authority of Sharjah

Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi tightens Covid-19 testing rules to enter emirate

All DPI laser rapid testing results must be accompanied with a negative PCR test result received six days prior to entry

Fitbit unveils new Sense smartwatch, revamps Versa and Inspire devices

Fitbit says Sense smartwatch has sensor that can measure stress

Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix confirmed for Dec 13 with no spectators

The event will take place at the Yas Marina Circuit with access restricted to essential F1 staff, drivers and teams

Dubai Investments to deliver Al Barsha Tower by September 2020

The project stands 95 per cent complete

Kuwait imposes ban on visa transfers to private sector

It has also levied restrictions on the transfer of dependent to work visas in the private sector

UAE residents ditch fries for salads in the wake of Covid-19: report

Average order value of food bought online decrease 4% post-lockdown

Update: Zoom working again after widespread outage

Zoom calls in the UAE had not been affected

SAUDI-ECONOMY-TRANSPORT-METRO

Saudi to localise engineering jobs from 2021

The decision applies to all private sector establishments that employ five or more engineering professionals

Abu Dhabi returns to dollar bond market with multi-tranche deal

Abu Dhabi raised $7bn in April also through a three-tranche bond offering

Mubadala Kohlberg PCI

Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala and Kohlberg acquire majority stake in PCI Pharma Services

Philadelphia-based PCI provides a range of integrated pharmaceutical supply chain solutions

Dubai-Chamber

Dubai Chamber records 26% y-on-y increase in member companies’ exports to China in May

Vegetable oil accounted for the majority of the value of exports with a share of 53 per cent

fortnite

Microsoft sides with Epic Games in legal fight against Apple

The App Store forces applications and games on it to use its exclusive in-app payment system

Spotify signs up as sponsor for Riot Games’ League of Legends

Spotify will be audio streaming partner for League of Legends global events

RAK’s Sheikh Saud orders exemption of renewal fees for select commercial activities to counter Covid-19

Nurseries have been granted 50 per cent exemption on trade licence renewal

Saudi-backed Lucid Motors claims it will have the fastest charging EV in the world

Lucid Air EV will be able to charge at rates of up to 32 kilometres per minute

Dubai’s DEWA picks Huawei to build NOC for InfraX subsidiary

InfraX operates an independent fibre optics network for digital services

cartlow

Digital logistics firm FarEye raises $13m in new funding

FarEye counts Emirates Post and Landmark Group as customers

Airbnb readies $2bn buyback on surge in travel demand

Airbnb bans parties in home rentals worldwide, caps occupancy at 16

The company has filed confidentially for an initial public offering

DIFC Courts records 96% increase in main court cases during H1 2020

The total value of enforcement claims filed amounted to Dhs192.4m for the first half of 2020

UAE exchanges, financial centres partner with Aurora50 to drive gender diversity

Aurora50 is initiating the discussion around board-level gender diversity with a virtual event

Adeeb Ahamed New

LuLu Financial Holdings’ MD Adeeb Ahamed on the Covid crisis, remittances and plans ahead

UAE-based LuLu Exchange contributes to nearly 1.7 per cent of the global remittance inflows, reveals Ahamed

Aramco reshuffles top management, with new focus on portfolio

The moves come as Aramco adjusts to the reality of oil at $40 a barrel

Dubai number plate auction

Video: Prized number plate, V 12, auctioned for Dhs7m in Dubai

Dubai’s RTA generated a total of Dhs36.224m during its first open auction of number plates this year