Oman

Oman to restart issuing tourist visas

Tourist visas will only be issued to those whose visits are organised by hotels or tourism companies

Bahrain

First insurance platform graduates from Central Bank of Bahrain regulatory sandbox

Tasweya offers a platform for auto-reconciliation of statements of accounts

AquaChemie Middle East

AquaChemie begins construction on $40m petrochemical terminal at Jebel Ali Port in Dubai

The specialised bulk storage terminal will have a total capacity of around 40,000 cubic metres

Gitex 2020: UAE to host Israeli tech delegation

Gitex will host the UAE-Israel Future Digital Economy Summit and the Gitex Future Stars Israel Innovation Discovery Day

Revealed: LinkedIn unveils the GCC’s most ‘engaging’ users in 2020

The list revealed 15 regional experts that led professional online conversations

GCC Covid-19 update: UAE reports 1,107 cases; 215 infections registered in Oman

The death toll in the UAE has risen to 572

Banks erase debt worth Dhs869.85m of 1,607 Emiratis

The move was implemented as per the directives of the UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Yutaka Yano appointed as president of Mitsubishi Motors Middle East and Africa

Yano was previously the general manager for the Middle East at Mitsubishi Motors Corporation in Tokyo

Dubai authorities issue safety measures for National Day celebrations

Officials urge people to limit gatherings and avoid crowded places

Axa sells Gulf operations to Kuwaiti group in $269m deal

The insurer sold its stakes in Axa Gulf, Axa Cooperative Insurance Company and Axa Green Crescent Insurance Company to Gulf Insurance Group

Dubai’s DHA launches first phase of NABIDH initiative

The initiative will provide a unified medical record for each individual in Dubai by connecting the information contained in all public and private healthcare facilities

New Dubai government-backed payment app launches in UAE

Empay will avail instant credit facility for making various payments

Abu Dhabi’s AI university appoints academic Eric Xing as president

Professor Dr. Xing has been a visiting associate professor at Stanford University, and a visiting research professor at Facebook

Dnata’s DUBZ offers home check-in services to Emirates passengers

Emirates passengers can book their home check-in services online up to 24 hours before the flight

Saudi Telecom’s CEO quits after two years

A search for a successor is underway

Saudi Central Bank extends pandemic loan support into next year

The programme has helped banks avoid having to recognise credit as non-performing

Etihad Beijing Abu Dhabi

Etihad to begin direct weekly flights from Beijing to Abu Dhabi

Etihad will become the only airline in the MENA region to operate non-stop passenger flights departing from both Shanghai and Beijing

Gitex 2020: Huawei to highlight how partnerships can create value

Connectivity, cloud, AI, computing, and industry applications to drive growth

Dubai Electricity

Dubai’s DEWA slashes water and electricity surcharges

The reductions will be applied on electricity and water bills from December 1, 2020

UAE announces fuel prices for December 2020

Prices have remain unaltered for the ninth straight month

GCC Covid-19 update: UAE reports 1,251 cases, 736 recoveries

The death toll in the UAE has risen to 570

Bahrain awards $2.7bn worth of contracts in first nine months of 2020

Robust figures come despite impact of Covid-19 on the global economy

Free parking in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah to mark 49th National Day

Motorists in the three emirates can park their vehicles for free during the three-day holiday period

How new Saudi labour reforms benefit the economy

This initiative is a win-win situation for employees as well as employers

Outlook 2021: Challenging outlook offers varied picture for GCC banks

The GCC governments’ measures to help corporates and individuals navigate the challenging environment have taken various forms

Tee time: How has golf secured a spot in the UAE’s sport scene?

The country has transitioned into one of the most popular golf destinations in the world

Dubai gets Arab Gulf’s first, and perhaps last, coal power plant

Dubai is starting up the $3.4bn Hassyan coal plant, with capacity being increased from an initial 600 mega watts to 2,400 by 2023

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

Saudi Arabia broadens Central Bank’s mandate to promote growth

The new charter also formally changed the name of the central bank, from Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority to Saudi Central Bank

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park

Dubai’s Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park to have world’s largest energy storage capacity

The fourth phase will be operational in stages starting from Q3 2021