ESI Digital Summer

The upcoming ESI Digital Summer B2B esports conference will focus on the Middle East and other emerging regions

On August 18, the day will be dedicated to the Middle East, the world’s fastest-growing gaming market

Oil giant Saudi Aramco plans huge spending cuts for 2021

Saudi Aramco may keep capex, most of which is spent on exploration and production, at a similar level until at least 2023

UAE Ambulance

Sheikh Mohammed launches online initiative to train one million paramedics globally

It is being rolled out in cooperation with 140 experts and 67 training institutions based around the world

Dubai’s DIFC grants banking licence to Samba Financial Group

Samba Financial Group’s presence in DIFC will facilitate its access to regional markets

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank records 52% decrease in net profit for H1 2020

Its net revenue also declined nearly 11.5 per cent year-on-year to Dhs2.5bn

New AI-based mobile app Wai-Eye to assist schools in Covid-19 compliance

Wai-Eye leverages existing CCTV network to enforce health protocols

Fortinet debuts firewall for hyperscale data centres

Capacity needs are outpacing security hardware performance capabilities

New report says 95% of Saudi businesses experienced a major cyber attack in the past year

Most Saudi organisations (61 per cent) reported that cyber attacks involved operational technology systems

Dubai’s Emaar Properties posts 35% drop in net profit for H1 2020

It recorded Dhs9.032bn in revenues for H1 2020

Dubai’s Emirates to resume passenger services to three more cities

The carrier’s passenger network will grow to 74 destinations by September 1

Emaar Malls reports 69% dip in net profit for H1 2020

Mall occupancy remains stable at 92 per cent

Kuwait pension fund plans to triple infrastructure investments

PIFSS had a record investment profit of $7.3bn in the three months through June

Abu Dhabi seeks local investors for $21bn pipeline

ADNOC is discussing moving its 51 per cent holding in the pipelines into a special-purpose vehicle

LEBANON-BLAST

UN sends Lebanon 50,000 tons of wheat to avert food crisis

The first batch of 17,500 tons will arrive in 10 days

Dubai property market expected to pick up in H2 – Land Department chief

In June, real estate sales transactions grew by 64 per cent compared to May

Saudi KAI airport

Saudi’s GACA denies reports that kingdom plans to resume international flights in October

A circular published on social media is “baseless and fabricated”, says the aviation authority

Emirates-airport-Dubai

UAE residents no longer require government approvals to return to the country

Residents who wish to return to the country are automatically approved to do so

Home security

DDoS attacks triple year-on-year in Q2 2020: Kaspersky

Spike attributed to Covid-19 disrupting travel plans

New gaming phone RedMagic 5S set for GCC debut

Dedicated gaming smartphone to be available across the region from September.

Arabic drama podcast ‘The Basement’ to run from September

Podcast series will be available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Anghami, Deezer and Spotify

Dubai-madinat-burj-al-arab-buj-khalifa-pic

Dubai Tourism extends deadline for hotels to comply with sustainability measures

Hotel establishments have been offered a 12-month extension to ensure they implement the new measures

Microsoft-Windows

FBI warns against using Microsoft Windows 7

Microsoft stopped supporting Windows 7 with any further updates in January of this year

GCC Covid-19 update: UAE reports 262 cases; 263 infections registered in Oman

The death toll in the UAE has risen to 358

UAE-based startup eyewa raises $2.5m in latest funding round

The latest funding has scaled the company’s total raised capital to $11.1m in three years

Six Senses Zighy Bay

What will the future travel industry look and feel like?

It’s time to ask ourselves how our trips – whether for pleasure or work – impact the world around us

CSP Abu Dhabi Terminal

CSP launches new direct service from Abu Dhabi to Europe and Indian subcontinent

The new route will be served by a fleet of eight vessels ranging in capacity from 10,000-13,000 TEU

UAE’s Air Arabia reports net loss of Dhs169m for H1 2020

Air Arabia served a total 2.48 million passengers in the first half of 2020, a drop of 57 per cent compared to first half of 2019

Dubai-new

Dubai businesses return to growth in July as pandemic impact eases

Construction as well as the wholesale and retail industry are leading the upswing

KUWAIT-HEALTH-VIRUS worker expat

Kuwait mulling plan that could see 360,000 expats deported in the ‘short-term’

The Gulf state is aggressively looking to reduce its expat population

Study says 15% of Saudis tune in to podcasts at least once a week

Listeners trust podcasts more than radio, newspapers and websites, Markettiers report says