#Government

Bahrain-Manama

Bahrain central bank extends loan repayment deferrals on Covid crisis

The option to postpone installments is to be offered to all customers residing in the kingdom, whether individuals or companies

Kuwait aims to vaccinate 80% of population by September 2021

As of Monday, 2,500 people were vaccinated and second doses will be administered from January 14

Kuwait to resume flights, reopen borders on January 2

The GCC state suspended flights and closed its borders on December 21 due to concerns over the new Covid-19 strain

Covid-19 new strain: Kuwait joins Oman, Saudi in suspending flights, closing its borders

The border closure will be in place from 11pm on Monday, December 21 until Friday, January 1, 2021

OMAN-HEALTH-VIRUS-TRAVEL

Covid-19 new strain: Oman to close all its borders for a week

Cargo vehicles including planes, ships and trucks will be excluded from the decision

Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine

Kuwait set to receive first batch of Covid-19 vaccines this week

Over 60,000 people have registered on the vaccination platform so far

Covid-19 testing UAE 3

Covid-19: UAE reports 1,171 cases; Dubai’s DHA urges travellers to get doctor’s advice for vaccination

The total number of Covid-19 recorded cases in the UAE has now reached 193,575

Oman to start removing utility subsidies from January 2021

The subsidies for the electricity and water sector are about $1.95bn

Fireworks at Global Village S25 (6)[4] copy

UAE announces list of public holidays for 2021 and 2022

Public and private sector workers in the country will have the same number of national holidays

Abu Dhabi

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed disburses Dhs7bn housing loans for Emiratis in Abu Dhabi

According to the latest directive, retired low-income citizens will be exempted from repaying the loans

Foreign nationals permitted 100% business ownership in the UAE

The rule will be applicable from December 1, 2020, with businesses no longer requiring an Emirati sponsor

OMAN-HEALTH-VIRUS-TRAVEL

Over 7,600 expats register to exit Oman as part of its initiative to waive overstay fines

The initiative, which began on November 15, runs until the end of the year

u.ae government website

Record growth in users of official UAE government portal from January-October: TRA

It recorded a 50.73 per cent year-on-year increase over the 6.54 million users recorded in the same period in 2019

G20 leaders

G20: World leaders promise to ensure equality in the race to vaccinate people for Covid-19

“There is very clear recognition from the G20 members that if we leave any country behind, we will be behind” – Saudi minister

Turki Al Malki, Saudi coalition

Saudi forces destroy armed drone launched towards civilian targets in the kingdom

The attack, launched on Wednesday, targeted the kingdom’s southern region

KUWAIT-HEALTH-VIRUS

Kuwait going ahead with decision to ban work permits for expats aged over 60 from Jan 1

The decision applies to expat workers who do not have a university degree

Bahrain-Manama

Bahrain and Israel to begin direct flights, open embassies

Starting 2021, there will be 14 weekly flights operating between Bahrain and Tel Aviv

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed 2

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed invites Israeli President for UAE visit

President Reuven Rivlin has also extended an invitation to Sheikh Mohamed to visit Israel

Saudi banks sign supply chain financing deal with government

The Finance Ministry has partnered with Saudi British Bank, Samba Financial Group and National Commercial Bank

UAE-HEALTH-VIRUS Dubai

UAE plans for ‘final stage of recovery’ from the Covid crisis – officials

Officials urge the public to adhere to precautionary measures to ensure the UAE reaches the recovery stage

law

UAE cabinet amends law on evidence in civil and commercial transactions

The amendments includes the introduction of remote communication technologies in evidence-related procedures

Kuwait expats

Kuwait urges expats with expired visas to alter status or exit the country by Nov 30

Officials said those found illegally residing in the country after November 30 will be deported and prevented from returning to Kuwait

President-Elect Joe Biden And Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris Address The Nation After Election Win

World leaders welcome Biden win as they seek reset in US ties

In his four years as president, Donald Trump upended decades of accepted American foreign policy

DEWA water reservoir

DEWA’s Dhs175m water reservoir in Dubai nears completion

The reservoir will have a capacity of 60 million imperial gallons, with construction expected to be completed in the first half of 2021

US Election

US elections: Biden-Trump battle shifts to swing states after early, easy wins

The early results gave Biden a 209-118 lead in the Electoral College

USA flag and contemporary glass skyscrapers in New York

How the outcome of the US elections could affect the global stock market

The 2020 elections will show what matters the most to American voters: the stock market performance, or the real economy

Mubadala acquires stake in Abu Dhabi-based AI specialist G42

Mubadala will integrate two of its entities, Injazat and Khazna, into G42

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Sheikh Mohammed announces plans to build new satellite in Dubai

Expected to launch in 2023, the MBZ-SAT will be the second satellite to be built by an all-Emirati team

Turki Al Malki, Saudi coalition

Saudi forces destroy drones targeting civilians in the kingdom

The kingdom destroyed armed drones launched from Yemen on Saturday, Sunday and Monday

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Dubai

Sheikh Hamdan unveils new Dhs500m stimulus package for Dubai

The overall value of economic support provided by the emirate in 2020 has risen to Dhs6.8bn