Popular New York restaurant Serendipity 3 to open in Dubai

Two outlets will be opened at Dubai Festival City and The City Walk in December 2015

Even as Iran opens up, travellers face credit card blocks

Two hotels will open in Tehran next month – the ibis IKIA and Novotel IKIA, the first international brands to re-enter the market since 1979

Arab solidarity, fear of Iran bring hi-tech Gulf troops to Yemen desert

Marib has become a key battlefield between Iranian-allied Houthi militia and a coalition of Yemenis and Emirati, Saudi and Bahraini troops

Middle East aviation sector eyeing wearables, new tech for growth

Investments are pouring into areas of IT that can facilitate check-in, bag drop/collection and entertainment

Travel review: Taipei

Taipei’s bustling night markets, delicious street food and engaging cultural sites will leave you yearning for more

Kuwait says oil market will balance itself, must be patient

Kuwait’s OPEC governor said the current imbalance stemmed from several factors and not just an economic slowdown in China

Falling oil prices will shrink MENA advertisement spending – Zenith

Agencies have imposed stronger spending restrictions in anticipation of lower consumer demand, the agency says

Saudi Arabia denounces Israeli actions at Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque

On Tuesday, Israeli police fired stun grenades and tear gas at rock-throwing Palestinians who barricaded themselves inside al-Aqsa mosque

Dubai ruler launches $3m Arab Reading Challenge project

The project will see over a million students committing to read 50 million extracurricular books during one academic year

Saudi diplomat accused of rape withdrawn from India

The diplomat was accused of repeatedly raping and torturing two Nepali maids working at his home near New Delhi

Qatari developer Katara buys iconic Rome hotel for $251m

As part of the deal, the Westin Excelsior Rome will undergo a complete renovation over the next five years

Home Centre reveals 50 store expansion, Dhs 1bn investment

The investment will expand upon Home Centre’s 90 store footprint

Boeing appoints new business heads for Turkey and Qatar

Omar Arekat, Boeing Commercial Airplanes sales director, has been appointed managing director for Qatar

GCC construction firms continue to hire despite oil slump

Previously awarded projects are continuing without impact, experts say

Rouhani’s nuclear dividend to feature in Iranian elections

Parliament is dominated by conservatives and many analysts say Khamenei will not want Rouhani’s allies to win a majority

Pictures: Accor opens Novotel, ibis in Iran, leads Tehran hotel drive

Accor is set to become the first international hospitality company to operate in Tehran since the 1979 Revolution.

UAE retail chain LuLu expands into Indonesia, plans 15 outlets

The group plans to invest $300m in the first phase of expansion

Saudi-led coalition in Yemen sees victory “no matter what”

Yemeni forces and their Arab allies are fighting to oust the Houthis in a six-month war that has killed over 4,500 people

China’s SEPCO set to win gas booster project for Saudi Aramco

Under the new project called MGS 2, SEPCO will build a gas compressor station, industry sources said

Egypt security forces accidentally kill 12, including Mexican tourists

The tourist group of 22 had parked their four four-by-four vehicles off road for a barbecue near the Bahariya oasis

Swiss authorities helping Oman in oil corruption probe

Swiss authorities are involved because transactions related to the probe involved Swiss financial institutions, a source said

Different Arab money

GCC economies hit by oil price drop, to grow 3.4% in 2015

The UAE and Saudi Arabia have fared better than their GCC counterparts because of economic diversification, says report

Five Saudi soldiers killed at Yemen border, fighting begins in central province

The five Saudis were reportedly killed in southern Najran province

UAE Armed Forces launch ground offensive in Yemen

An Emirati serviceman was killed during the operation, state news agency WAM reported

Abu Dhabi Ports sees 41% growth between Jan-July 2015

More than 772,000 TEUs containers were handled in the first seven months of 2015

Kuwait to buy Eurofighters in a deal worth up to $9bn

Sources said the 20-year-long deal for 28 Eurofighters would be finalised “in a few weeks”

Qatar appoints first ambassador to Iraq in 25 years

Iraq’s foreign minister had said in May that Qatar would open an embassy in Baghdad

No relaxation seen in Gulf states’ curbs on Syria’s refugees

The Gulf states worry about the political, social and economic impact of an influx of refugees

Dubai eyes China for lucrative incentive tourism market

The emirate hosted the International Dragon Awards in August, welcoming about 5,700 attendees

India in diplomatic row over rape case ahead of Modi’s Saudi visit

Two Nepal maids claim they were kidnapped, gang-raped and starved over several months at a Saudi diplomat’s home