Pandemic travel

Israel to end Covid travel restrictions to several countries including UAE, UK and US

The travel ban was put in place in December as an effort to prevent people infected with coronavirus from entering the country

Saudi Arabia cuts oil prices for Asia buyers as OPEC adds supply

On Tuesday OPEC+ decided to increase production in February by 400,000 barrels a day

Power Letters 2022: Dr Khalid Omar Al Midfa, Chairman, Sharjah Media City

Our goal is to establish a dynamic filmmaking industry that reflects the realities of Emirati and Arab societies

Aljada Discovery Centre Arada

Sharjah’s Arada posts 38% rise in sales in 2021 to Dhs2.41bn

Arada sold 2,488 homes last year, 6 per cent more than the year before

abu DHabi

UAE’s Mubadala-backed Reef and Americana partner to open cloud kitchens across MENA

The cloud kitchens will operate Reef, Americana and third-party brands as well throughout the Middle East and North Africa

Manchester City announces global partnership with Abu Dhabi’s Masdar

Masdar is focused on developing renewable energy projects across the Middle East and North Africa and broader international markets

John Martin St. Valery

Leveraging opportunities for growth in UK-UAE business ties

John Martin St. Valery, chairman of the British Business Group in Dubai, shares his outlook for the year and tells us why it bodes well for British businesses in the emirate

UAE reports 2,687 Covid-19 cases, 902 recoveries

The nationwide case count stands at 777,584

Tanvir Kanji, head of Inca Tanvir, an independent integrated communications company and marketing and PR consultancy

Remembering UAE-based Inca Tanvir Advertising founder Tanvir Kanji

Kanji set up one of the Middle East’s first full-service advertising agencies in 1976 in Sharjah

Dubai’s Emirates named the world’s safest airline

The Middle Eastern airline came out on top in a study of 25 airlines conducted by the Hamburg-based Jet Airliner Crash Data Evaluation Centre

Covid-19: Schools in Dubai can move to distance learning for 48 hours without prior approval – KHDA

The education regulator has said that all students above the age of six, and all adults at school, must continue to wear masks properly

Emirates

Emirates suspends flights between Dubai and six African destinations

The airline will operate one-way flights from Dubai to six other countries

OPEC output boost severely limited as African members struggle

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries added just 90,000 barrels a day in December

Power Letters 2022: Arif Amiri, CEO, DIFC Authority

Amidst a global pandemic, DIFC achieved its 2024 Strategy growth targets three years ahead of schedule in the first half of 2021

Dubai records real estate transactions worth Dhs300bn in 2021

The Dubai Marina area saw the highest number of transactions

UAE covid-19 vaccine

Covid-19: Health ministry issues guidelines on eligibility, timelines for booster jabs in UAE

Vulnerable individuals who took the Sinopharm vaccine have been advised to take their booster shot three months after the second dose

Abu Dhabi government employees

Booster shots mandatory for Abu Dhabi government employees to enter workplace

Additionally, they must continue to present a negative PCR test results every seven days

Dubai, UAE Burj Khalifa

Prices at world’s tallest tower jump as Dubai home sales boom

Business activity in Dubai rebounded sharply last year alongside a jump in tourism

UAE reports 2,708 Covid-19 cases, 743 recoveries

The nationwide case count stands at 774,897

ADNOC Umm Shaif

ADNOC awards $946m contract for UAE’s Umm Shaif field

The contract was awarded by ADNOC Offshore to National Petroleum Construction Company following a tender process

ADQ to create UAE’s largest healthcare platform within Pure Health

Abu Dhabi Health Services Company and The National Health Insurance Company will merge into Pure Health as part of the agreement

Air Arabia

Air Arabia resumes city check-in service in Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Ajman

The centres will accept baggage for direct transportation to the airport and generate boarding passes between 8-24 hours prior to departure

Saudi pension fund says returns hit 14%

The returns were due to its long-term portfolio allocation and market performance

Power Letters 2022: Saif Humaid Al Falasi, group CEO, ENOC

Our plan has been to lead as an example in the energy sector on how a retail energy service provider can showcase advances in the sustainable use of energies

Abu Dhabi

UAE’s Alpha Dhabi Holding acquires 25% of Al Qudra Holding

The acquisition is part of Alpha Dhabi’s Dhs8bn strategic investment plan across key sectors in the UAE

OPEC+ output is coming back much quicker

On Tuesday, OPEC+ agreed to hike output by 400,000 barrels per day

Sheikh Mohammed launches Dhs100m Great Arab Minds initiative in Dubai

The five-year initiative will support 1,000 leading Arab intellectuals across fields including physics and mathematics, software and data science, economics, higher education and research

Dubai Duty Free

Dubai Duty Free achieves Dhs3.56bn sales in 2021, up 40% y-on-y

The top five selling categories for the year included perfumes followed by liquor, cigarettes and tobacco, gold and electronics

UAE reports 2,581 Covid-19 cases, 796 recoveries

The nationwide case count has risen to 772,189

Expo 2020 Dubai records almost 9 million visits in first three months

From October 1 until December 31, almost 30 per cent of all visitors came from outside the UAE