Kuwait posts record $36bn deficit on oil price drop, virus

Salaries and subsidies in the 2020-21 fiscal year accounted for 73 per cent of spending

Dubai announces three day super sale with up to 90% discounts

UAE: Rules eased at commercial establishments; vaccinations remain mandatory to enter events

Shopping centres, restaurants and cafés can now operate at 80 per cent of their capacity

Covid-19 PCR tests Abu Dhabi

Price of Covid-19 PCR tests across Abu Dhabi capped at Dhs65

If any healthcare provider is found to be flouting this directive, they will be barred from administering PCR tests and will also be fined

Saudi Aramco

Saudi Aramco reports $25.5bn net income in Q2 2021

Aramco’s gearing fell to 19.4 per cent from 23 per cent at the end of 2020

UAE reports 1,410 Covid-19 cases, 4 deaths

The nationwide case count has risen to 692,964

Emirates Burj Khalifa

Watch: Emirates video of flight attendant on top of Dubai’s Burj Khalifa goes viral

The 32-second clip to celebrate the UAE’s removal from UK’s travel red list shows an Emirates flight attendant standing at the top of the world’s tallest building

ICA

UAE’s ICA unveils new generation Emirates ID

The new card includes upgraded features like enhanced protection and 3D picture

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan

UAE’s Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak meets Iran’s new president in Tehran

Media reports suggested that President Raisi expressed Iran’s sincere desire to strengthen its relations with the UAE

Dumat Al Jandal wind farm

Trials successful on Saudi Arabia’s first wind farm; connected to electricity grid

UAE’s Masdar has partnered on the construction of the 400MW Dumat Al Jandal facility

Kuwait names new wealth fund board after three-month delay

The board always includes the finance and oil ministers, as well as the central bank governor and finance ministry undersecretary

UAE carriers Etihad, Emirates announce resumption of flights to UK

From August 11 until October 30, Emirates will operate four weekly flights between Dubai and Glasgow

Umrah Saudi Arabia Grand Mosque

Saudi Arabia increases cap on number of Umrah pilgrims to 2 million per month

Foreign pilgrims who are fully vaccinated will be permitted to perform Umrah starting from August 9

Five social media marketing tips for beginners

It’s never too late to get onto social media and leverage the power of those platforms

GCC: How a traditional mall can become relevant and profitable again

The new consumer is looking for a multi-layered and interactive environment, which can provide memorable and rewarding experiences

Islamic Development Bank, Bloomberg LP launch financial education programme across 9 countries

Participating universities will be announced over the coming months

Dubai

Dubai renames two metro stations along the Red Line

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority granted Landmark Group the naming rights

VOX Cinemas Wafi City

UAE’s Majid Al Futtaim becomes Middle East distribution partner for Warner Bros. Pictures

Majid Al Futtaim operates operates 615 screens across eight markets in the Middle East

UAE reports 1,508 Covid-19 cases, 1,463 recoveries

The case count in the country stands at 688,489

Honduran coffee

Video: How Honduran coffee makes the journey to the UAE

Joshua Jahani, owner of Jahani Trading, says that the family owns coffee farms in Marcala, Honduras

Saudi’s Sabic sees profit surge amid global chemical boom

Revenue climbed 72 per cent year-on-year to $11.3bn

Robotics and Automation

UAE to host region’s first conference on automation, robotics in construction

The country won the right to host the major global event during its participation in the 36th session of the conference held in Canada

Gulf Business Awards 2021

Nominations are open for Gulf Business Awards 2021

The nominations cover companies and business leaders across multiple industry verticals including energy, tourism and finance, among others

Flights to and from Nigeria suspended until August 15 – Emirates

Customers who have been to or connected through Nigeria in the last 14 days will not be permitted on any Emirates flights bound for Dubai

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi to begin flights to Tirana and Sarajevo

The flights to Tirana will commence on September 11 and to Sarajevo from October 3

Saudi wealth fund is said to hire ex-HSBC executive as director

Since 2015, the PIF’s assets under management have risen to $430bn from about $150bn

Covid-19: Abu Dhabi’s SEHA begins administering Sinopharm vaccine to children aged 3-17

Vaccinations in Abu Dhabi will be provided through the Covid-19 vaccination centre at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, Al Mushrif Children’s Specialty Centre, Majlis Al Mushrif, Majlis Al Manhal and Majlis Al Bateen

Dubai Airport

UAE, Bahrain, Qatar and India removed from UK’s travel red list

These countries will be added to the UK’s amber list, with the changes coming into force from 4am BST on Sunday, August 8

Buy-now-pay-later provider tabby secures $50m in Series B round

The funding will be used to expand tabby’s product portfolio and launch in new markets

UAE reports 1,519 Covid-19 cases, 1,470 recoveries

The nationwide case count has risen to 686,981

What rock climbing taught this Dubai-based auto business entrepreneur

Irfan Tansel, CEO of Al Masaood Automobiles, shares some of his key learnings garnered from years of rock climbing that can help business leaders achieve their ambitious growth plans