social media

Covid-19 impact: How have social platforms upped their game?

Are social networks trying to capitalise on “social” distancing?

Human Technology Connection

Disruptors in the UAE: How have they shifted the landscape?

Disrupting, enabling, reinventing the system – whatever you want to call it, a shift in the status quo is alive and well in the UAE

Amazon Saudi Arabia

Amazon Saudi Arabia officially launched to replace Souq.com

The Amazon Prime service is not yet available in the kingdom

UAE-HEALTH-VIRUS

GCC Covid-19 update: UAE registers 388 new cases, 3 deaths; Oman reports 739 infections

The death toll in the UAE and Kuwait has risen to 298 and 308 respectively

This UAE firm offers a letter of guarantee with no fees in less than 24 hours

UAE-based Finance House offers the Al Rabeh Guarantee service to support local businesses

Emirates announces flights to 10 new cities; offers connections via Dubai to 40 destinations

The carrier will add frequencies on 14 existing routes in July

Twitter

Twitter introduces ‘tweeting with voice’ feature for iOS users

Each voice tweet captures up to 140 seconds of audio

Dubai airport

Revealed: 10 big ideas post Covid-19 in the GCC

These are some of the biggest trends set to shape the region post pandemic, according to LinkedIn

UK-based Arena Group merges UK, Europe, Middle East and Asia divisions

The company said the move will allow for “maximum utilisation of resources” across the EMEA region

OPEC says virus to keep fuel demand under pressure this year

The slow resumption of flights will constrain jet-fuel consumption, and high unemployment will restrict gasoline use

Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala weighs selling property assets to Aldar

Mubadala may also dispose of some residential buildings in the United Arab Emirates’ capital

OPPO Find X2 Pro 5G Review

Hands-on review: OPPO Find X2 Pro 5G

A new flagship 5G device which is in many ways a response to the pandemic that now requires smartphones to be mini workstations in themselves

sabic

Oil giant Saudi Aramco completes $70bn takeover of SABIC

Aramco will push back the bulk of installments until after 2022 and delay the final one by three years until 2028

Oman steps up plan to build Middle East’s biggest oil-tank farm

Oman Tank Terminal Co. (OTTCO) has almost finished constructing eight tanks to store crude for a new refinery near the town of Duqm on the Arabian Sea

UAE Central Bank’s TESS liquidity scheme availed by 26 banks

More than 140,000 eligible customers have already benefited from the TESS liquidity facility

UAE outlines conditions under which residents, citizens can travel abroad

Travel will be permitted to specific destinations and for pre-determined categories of people starting June 23

Kuwait’s housing authority sacks 135 foreign workers, aims to be ‘expat-free’ by May 2021

The decision is part of the government’s strategy to ‘Kuwaitise’ jobs in the public sector

Sweeping relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions in Dubai; children, elderly allowed in shopping malls

The new measures are in effect beginning Thursday, June 18

Gulf Business Talks: How can the GCC’s hospitality sector emerge from the Covid-19 crisis?

In this exclusive webinar, hear from experts on what lies ahead for the regional hospitality sector

coronavirus

GCC Covid-19 update: Saudi registers 4,919 cases, 39 deaths; Oman reports 810 infections

The death toll in Saudi Arabia stands at 1,091

Sharjah’s Shurooq to reopen its hospitality and leisure destinations

The move has been made in adherence to the UAE government’s health and safety protocols

Bahrain’s King Fahd Causeway set to open new gates on the Saudi side

The bridge’s passenger capacity will increase by 45 per cent when it reopens to passenger traffic

Dnata offers home check-in, baggage disinfection services to travellers in Dubai

Check-in services are delivered by baggage technology and logistics company, DUBZ

Abu Dhabi restaurants, cafés must cap occupancy at 40%; restrict entry for customers below 12 and above 60

In case a food handler contracts the virus, the establishment must be closed

Covid-19 impact on the regional energy sector: Is it set for a rebound?

In light of historic oil price routs and oversupply triggered by the novel coronavirus, how imminent and optimal is recovery for regional energy markets? Gulf Business speaks to Rita Allan, senior Construction and Projects associate at Pinsent Masons Middle East, to find out more

Saudi’s Millenium Arabia launch first Arabic esports series on Twitter

The series will be streamed every Thursday at 9.30pm UAE time starting June 18

Dubai ‘on track’ to curb virus spread, says many hospitals do not have any Covid-19 cases

The rate of infections in the last three weeks has fallen considerably while the rate of recoveries has increased

Saudi oil exports to US plunge to lowest level in 35 years

The kingdom has exported just one cargo to the US so far in June, equivalent to about 133,000 barrels a day

Abu Dhabi’s ADQ in talks for loans to fund acquisition spree

The investment firm could raise more than $3bn through a five-year loan