Emirates reopens resort in Australia after bushfires led to its temporary closure

The One&Only Wolgan Valley resort in Australia reopened in early February

Dubai’s Eat App raises $5m Series B round

Eat App’s restaurant reservation platform currently supports over 1000 restaurants, hospitality groups and hotels, and has processed over 10 million diners to date

Dubai’s Emirates cancels flights to Lagos on weather concerns

Due to low visibility and poor weather, flights were cancelled on February 17-18

Wamda invests in UAE’s automotive platform Seez

Seez raised $6m in its Series A funding round to grow and access the $10bn online used-automotive industry in the UAE and other MENA markets

Dubai’s Emirates launches discounted fares for spring 2020

The offer is valid for bookings from February 17-29, for travel until June 15, 2020

UAE’s Agthia launches region’s first ‘plant-based’ water bottle

The new Al Ain bottle features packaging made using plant-based sources which are biodegradable

UAE’s Barakah nuclear power plant receives operating licence

The country’s nuclear regulator has authorised Nawah Energy Company to commission and operate Unit 1 of the nuclear power plant

UAE’s Etihad Cargo, dnata extend cargo handling partnership to 15 locations

Etihad Cargo-dnata alliance will now extend to North America and South Asia Pacific

Lebanon lira no longer fit for airline owned by central bank

Starting on Monday, February 17, Middle East Airlines will only accept foreign currency payments

DP World to delist from Nasdaq Dubai

Parent company Port and Free Zone World has offered to acquire DP World’s shares currently traded on Nasdaq Dubai

UAE confirms ninth coronavirus case

A 37-year-old Chinese citizen was the latest confirmed case of the new coronavirus infection

Quarantined student in Saudi commits suicide on coronavirus fear

The patient, who had lived in Saudi Arabia for the past eight months, was a student at King Abdulaziz University

Oman dismisses media reports, says no coronavirus case in the sultanate

Health ministry advises the public to source information only from official outlets

G20 ministers ready to count the cost of coronavirus at Saudi this week

The Group-of-20 finance ministers and central bankers will be discussing a risk to growth that is growing bigger by the day

Kuwait, Saudi to resume oil output from shared field this month

The Khafji field will start output by the end of February

Abu Dhabi island to host nation’s first floating solar power plant

The pilot facility hosts a capacity of 80 kilowatts

Coronavirus update: Two more patients in the UAE have recovered

Since the outbreak of the virus, the UAE had reported eight cases of which six were of Chinese citizens, while the additional two were of Filipino and Indian nationalities

Air pollution costs world $8bn a day, Greenpeace says

China, the US and India bear the highest economic cost of soaring pollution, at an estimated $900bn, $600bn and $150bn a year, respectively

Is online grocery shopping the new normal?

The transition from ordering cooked meals to fresh produce online may be a slow one in the region, but is that trend set to change soon?

Power Letters 2020: Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO, Masdar

In 2020, Masdar’s global expansion is on track as the UAE’s renewables pioneer opens new markets, financing options and technologies

Healthcare group Aster gets approval for 100% ownership of its business in Dubai

The UAE has passed a new law granting complete ownership to foreign companies in approved sectors

No fee hike for private schools in Dubai next year – KHDA

A total of 295,148 students across 173 nationalities are receiving education in schools across Dubai

Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa Fund, Facebook to train female entrepreneurs in the UAE

A thousand female entrepreneurs will be trained under this initiative

UAE fuel delivery service Cafu to expand into Egypt

The company has also started offering services in the emirate of Umm Umm Al Quwain

Dubai Islamic Bank records 2% profit rise in 2019

The bank’s total income amounted to Dhs13.68bn in 2019, up 17 per cent from Dhs11.73bn in 2018

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank posts 4% profit rise in 2019

The bank’s group net revenues for 2019 grew 2.5 per cent to Dhs5.91bn compared to Dhs5.769bn in 2018

UAE’s largest lender FAB turns to sterling in return to bond market

The bank offered a three-year £450m ($583m) note at a yield premium of 98 basis points over UK gilts

Oil rally runs into turbulence after jump in Chinese virus cases

China’s Hubei province reported almost 15,000 new coronavirus cases, spurring a drop in crude prices

Abu Dhabi’s ADIB looks to save Dhs500m by cutting jobs, shutting branches – report

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank is reportedly planning to close local and international branches

ADNOC Distribution plans record investment to add gas stations

The company plans to open between 20 to 25 filling stations in Dubai