Dubai World Trade Centre

Dubai’s real estate transactions valued Dhs3.62bn in April 2020

Off-plan transactions constituted 72 per cent of the total deals

Oman Muscat

Oman schools to end academic year without exams; Muscat extends lockdown to May 29

The decision applies to private and public schools which will end the current academic year on May 7

Abu Dhabi’s ADQ to buy Jordanian firm from founders, Carlyle

Last week, the company acquired 30 per cent of shares in National Petroleum Construction Co. it didn’t already own

SAUDI-HEALTH-VIRUS

Saudi Arabia will enforce Covid-19 lockdown with tough penalties

Anyone who deliberately spreads the virus will be fined SAR500,000 and/or five years in prison

Abu Dhabi Customs launches economic stimulus package to support importers

A self-clearance service will allow companies to clear shipments themselves without resorting to customs brokers

Dubai’s Al Habtoor says may have to cut jobs if pandemic continues

The Al Habtoor Group owns seven hotels in Dubai as well as car dealerships, residential properties and schools

Massive fire breaks out at Sharjah residential tower

All the residents from the 328 apartments were evacuated with only minor injuries reported

mining

Saudi launches new measures to support industrial and mining sectors

The measures include restructuring loans and postponing the payment of government fees

Revealed: Indian repatriation flight schedule from the UAE

There will be 10 Air India flights organised from Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi to India from May 7-13

GCC Covid-19 update: Saudi registers 1,595 cases; UAE reports nine deaths

The death toll in Saudi Arabia reaches 200

Abu Dhabi Pay

TAMM launches Abu Dhabi Pay to offer digital payment options for government services

Currently, digital wallet and credit card payments are available while direct bank debit will subsequently be added to the platform

coronavirus covid-19

UAE reports 462 Covid-19 cases; total crosses 15,000

Since the outbreak, 146 people in the UAE have succumbed to the virus

How the coronavirus will help reshape the construction industry 

The post Covid-19 era will face challenges in developing and managing urbanisation, reinforcing the value of investing in sustainable and resilient infrastructure

Watch: How to prepare for and respond to a cyber attack?

In this special webinar, Jan Tietze from cyber security company SentinelOne, goes through the threat hunting process

UAE telco du launches digital platform for SMEs

The new platform will enable SME corporates to conduct simple, secure, and trusted business transactions

Volkswagen Middle East

Volkswagen Middle East launches new e-commerce platform in UAE, Saudi Arabia

A Live Chat facility will also allow customers to access an online personal chat with a dealership’s sales representative

Saudi Arabia to cut private sector salaries by 40%

The decision also allows companies to terminate employee contracts after six months of the coronavirus pandemic period

Message from the top: Raki Phillips, CEO, RAK Tourism Development Authority

As companies across the GCC tackle the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, regional business leaders reveal insights on what their organisations are doing and offer advice on how to deal with the current crisis

Indians in the GCC who lost their jobs to be given priority for repatriation

India will begin repatriating nationals stranded abroad in a phased manner beginning from May 7

Abu Dhabi launches free online learning programmes for all UAE residents

It will include courses developed by institutions such as Yale University, Duke University, Imperial College London, Google, and IBM

Covid-19: How to manage stress and well-being during the current crisis

Growing levels of stress at the hands of the current Covid-19 crisis could lead to another health hazard if left unchecked

Careem

Dubai’s Careem cuts 536 jobs, Uber Eats to stop Saudi operations

Dubai-based Careem also suspended a portion of its public transit offerings

sheikh hamdan

Dubai has ‘sufficient’ strategic food reserves – Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan

The committee explored ways to further facilitate food trade and distribution, diversify import sources, support local food production and reduce food waste

coronavirus

UAE reports 567 new Covid-19 cases, 11 deaths

The number of infections in the country has risen to 14,730

India to begin repatriation of stranded citizens, including from UAE, this week

Citizens will be transported via aircraft and naval ships and will be quarantined for 14 days upon arrival at their destination in India

New York University Abu Dhabi Institute launches online Nobel Laureate Lecture Series

The series is available on the Institute’s YouTube channel

SAUDI-HEALTH-VIRUS

GCC Covid-19 update: Saudi reports 1,645 cases; Kuwait confirms two deaths

Since the outbreak, Saudi Arabia has reported a total of 28,656 Covid-19 cases

Sharjah extends suspension of all social and sports events

The suspension will be in place until the end of May and could be extended further

Dubai Healthcare City offers relief package of fee waivers and rent reductions

The DHCA announced a 100 per cent waiver on administration fees for all its properties

sabic

Saudi Arabia’s SABIC suspends all but essential spending

The company’s first-quarter sales dropped 18 per cent to SAR30.83bn