In pics: Madame Tussauds to open in Dubai’s Bluewaters this year

The attraction will feature 60 global stars, including 16 brand new wax figures from the Middle East

Emirates suspends flights between Dubai and Nigeria

The carrier also confirmed that flights from South Africa will remain suspended until July 6, 2021

A health worker holds a vial of Covishield, AstraZeneca's Covid-19 coronavirus vaccine

Dubai’s DHA clarifies list of approved vaccines for UAE residents travelling from India

Only UAE residents in India who have received two doses of a ‘UAE-approved vaccine’ will be allowed to travel to Dubai from Wednesday, June 23

Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi’s non-oil foreign trade reached Dhs201.2bn in 2020

Its trade reduced 5.6 per cent compared to Dhs213.3bn recorded in 2019

Mubadala-backed Dubai fintech startup loads up on debt financing

Tabby has raised more than $30m in funding from local and global investors

Mall Of Oman Majid Al Futtaim

UAE’s Majid Al Futtaim to open Mall of Oman in September 2021

Its key features include over 350 retail outlets, a 15-screen VOX cinema and the country’s largest indoor snow park

Ian Fairservice, Managing Partner and Group Editor of Motivate Media Group, and Frank Melloul, CEO of i24 News

UAE’s Motivate Media Group partners with Israel-based broadcaster i24 News

Both companies will partner on multiple fronts including producing new forms of content across digital, print and broadcast

UAE reports 1,964 Covid-19 cases, 6 deaths

The nationwide case count has risen to 613,993

university of wollongong dubai UOWD

This Dubai university now offers three-year bachelor degrees

The eligibility for the three-year bachelor degrees depends on the student’s high school curriculum, grades achieved and proficiency in English

Abu Dhabi updates operating protocols for children’s nurseries

Updated guidelines include increasing the number of children within ‘bubbles’

Wastewater Monitoring Lab Abu Dhabi G42 Healthcare

New Abu Dhabi lab to use AI tech to analyse wastewater for infectious diseases

Construction on the Wastewater Monitoring Lab, being developed in collaboration with G42 Healthcare, will be completed in 12 months

Yahsat eyes first Abu Dhabi IPO since 2017

The satellite operator plans to list a stake of as much as 40 per cent next month

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority DEWA

DEWA’s desalinated water production at Jebel Ali increases to 490m imperial gallons daily

The increased production is a result of adding new units which use Sea Water Reverse Osmosis technology at DEWA’s Jebel Ali Power Plant and Desalination Complex

Saudi Arabia Airport

Saudi links boarding passes with health app for all domestic passengers

The application will show the passenger’s status as being immune/immune by first dose/immune by recovery/no record of infection

New giant Saudi pension fund aims to crack world’s top 10 ranks

Saudi Arabia has been taking steps to merge and restructure various entities as it looks to boost efficiency

UAE schools

UAE public schools to reopen school campuses in 2021-2022 academic year

However, distance learning to remain optional in these schools when they reopen on August 29

UAE’s Emirates Development Bank allocates Dhs30m to finance SMEs through Beehive platform

The Beehive platform uses crowdfunding technology to connect SMEs seeking finance with investors who can support their finance request

Covid-19 update: UAE reports 1,850 cases, 5 deaths

The case count has risen to 612,029

Dubai Airports capacity to hit 90% of pre-virus levels by autumn

The airport plans to reopen a terminal and concourse that were shut in March 2020

Top Bahrain telecom firm is said to weigh Saudi dual listing

Batelco has hired the investment arm of Samba Financial Group as an adviser on the deal

Jebel Ali Free Zone

Dubai’s Jafza healthcare, pharma customer base grows 12%

There are 174 companies within this sector in the free zone, employing 1,100 people

Aramco closes $12bn pipeline deal with China, UAE backing

The subsidiary will have rights to 25 years of tariff payments for oil transported through Aramco’s crude pipeline network

Abu Dhabi school students to return to campus in upcoming academic year

However, full-time remote learning will be allowed to parents who request it, if the option is offered by their child’s school

Saudi destroys 17 armed drones launched by Houthis

The Houthis have been frequently targeting the kingdom with explosive-laden drones in recent weeks

UAE’s The Luxury Closet raises $14m growth capital

The Luxury Closet has teams across five countries, and serves clients worldwide representing 85 countries

Dubai Airports to reopen DXB’s Terminal 1, Concourse D on June 24

The facilities were closed on March 25, 2020, following the partial suspension of operations at DXB to control the spread of the pandemic

Sheikh Hamdan orders construction of 16km cycling track in Dubai

RTA aims to extend the total length of cycling tracks in the emirate to 739km by 2026

UAE entry Liberia, Sierra Leone, Namibia

UAE suspends entry of passengers from three more countries

Entry of travellers from Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Namibia will be suspended indefinitely from Monday, June 21

Dubai airport

Dubai eases travel guidelines for passengers from India, South Africa and Nigeria

UAE residents who have received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine, are allowed to travel to Dubai

How transformational leadership is essential during Covid-19

There are some key traits that transformational leaders need to put into practice