Cash flow key challenge in recovery of UAE-based small and medium businesses – survey

Facebook announces grant of USD 544,609 to support Dubai small businesses in their economic recovery following the pandemic

Barakah Nuclear Power UAE

UAE’s Barakah nuclear power plant connects to the national grid

The four units at Barakah will generate up to 25 per cent of the UAE’s electricity demand

Fitch follows Moody’s by downgrading Oman deeper into junk again

Fitch’s latest downgrade brings its ranking of Oman to the same level as that of Moody’s Investors Service and S&P Global Ratings.

Hala Ras Al Khaimah

Careem launches Hala taxi service in Ras Al Khaimah

There are 500 Hala taxis deployed across the emirate

Saudi Arabia avoids reference to UAE normalisation with Israel

Saudi Arabia’s media has been more unfettered in its praise of the UAE’s decision

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

Bahrain awards 769 tenders worth $1.7bn in H1 2020

The construction and engineering sector accounted for the biggest share of contracts in the first six months of the year

Abu Dhabi’s Etihad to offer special passenger flights to select Indian cities

Flights must be booked at least 24 hours in advance

Oracle joins bid to acquire TikTok as US ban looms

Oracle joins early front runners Microsoft and Twitter in bid to buy video-sharing site

Israel Mossad Yossi Cohen UAE

Israel intelligence agency Mossad’s chief, Yossi Cohen, visits UAE

He was received by Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s national security adviser

Fintech industry growing by 18% annually in Saudi Arabia: report

Fintech transactions in the kingdom amounted to over $20bn by the end of 2019

Technogym to offer live and on-demand training videos through its equipment consoles

Technogym Live will aggregate proprietary content as well as sessions created by fitness clubs and coaches

DIFC-gate

DIFC launches new license starting at $1,500 for startups and entrepreneurs in Dubai

Businesses can secure up to four visas when renting a desk space within the freezone

Uber-app

Uber launches ride services in Sharjah

Customers in Sharjah can access UberSelect, Uber’s more affordable service

Fitbit Premium reaches more than 500,000 paid subscribers one year after launch

The paid service from Fitbit costs Dhs40 per month or Dhs330 per year in the UAE

Bahrain seen needing more Gulf aid as it’s downgraded by Fitch

Lower oil prices and the global coronavirus pandemic have combined to stretch its finances

ADNOC Ruwais

ADNOC invests $3.5bn to upgrade Ruwais refining capability

Upon completion in mid-2022, the upgrade will allow ADNOC to process up to 420,000 bpsd of heavier and sourer grades of crude oil in Ruwais

UAE Hope Probe completes first course correction to reach Mars’ orbit

The Hope probe took off from the Tanegashima Space Centre on July 20 on a 493 million km journey to Mars

Abu Dhabi to merge oil services firms into national champion

Earlier this year, it decided to combine utilities Taqa and ADPower

Kuwait expats

Kuwait unlikely to extend visas beyond Aug 31, to stop issuing work permits for certain expats aged over 60

Expatriates whose visas expired by the end of May were given a three-month free grace period to renew their documents

Sheikh Mohammed Digital Economy

Sheikh Mohammed says digital economy is next priority for UAE

The digital economy’s contribution to the UAE’s local GDP in 2019 reached 4.3 per cent

UAE Israel Stem Cells

UAE and Israel sign agreement to cooperate on stem cell research

Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Centre and Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. signed an MoU on Monday

Dubai-based InsureTech startup Sehteq secures $20m to venture into reinsurance

Sehteq will have an additional investment of $3m to support its technology arm

Dubai skyline

Dry night coming up in Dubai this week

The dry night will be observed across Dubai to mark the Hijri New Year

King Abdullah Medical City picks Avaya Spaces to coordinate Covid-19 response

King Abdullah Medical City used Avaya Spaces to establish a workflow-based steering committee

Finablr founder Shetty resigns as Indian court closes net on NMC Health

Finablr and NMC Health were both listed on the London Stock Exchange before being suspended

Dubai’s Emirates to resume passenger services to Warsaw

The resumption will broaden Emirates’ passenger network to 75 cities in September

Saudi Arabia’s inflation rate surged to 6.1% in July on VAT hike

Saudi Arabia increased its value-added tax from 5 per cent to 15 per cent on July 1

Saudi’s Amaala strengthens alliance with Dubai-based HASCO

The startup will offer excavation, backfilling, and earthworks for Triple Bay Marina

Vox Cinemas Imax Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi cinemas to reopen at maximum of 30% capacity

All staff members must undergo Covid-19 testing before these cinemas resume operations

Dubai Parks

Dubai Municipality has built 70 new parks and playgrounds in the emirate this year

The total number of parks and playgrounds built by Dubai Municipality now stands at 185