Revealed: Most popular projects in Dubai for off-plan sales in 2019

Popular buildings in the off-plan segment were mainly in the luxury market, finds report

Bahrain reports 21 new cases of coronavirus in a single day

The first case was of a school bus driver who drove a number of children to three schools on Sunday morning before he showed symptoms of the virus

Saudi announces cabinet reshuffle, creates new ministries

A series of royal orders created a separate ministry of investment and appointed former energy minister Khalid Al-Falih to head it

gfh nasdaq dubai

Bahrain’s GFH Financial Group lists $300m sukuk on Nasdaq Dubai

The five-year sukuk was oversubscribed 2.5 times with a total book size exceeding $750m

Fitness First Middle East to launch new clubs in the GCC

The first of the new clubs is expected to open in April at Marina Gate, Dubai, and will be the brand’s 33rd destination in the UAE

Dubai bans advertising on residential buildings

The Dubai Municipality will issue guidelines regarding a permit that will be required to advertise across the emirate

Regulator of Dubai’s DIFC fines global mortgage firm $105,000 for ‘unauthorised activity’

Enness’ DIFC office was fined for carrying out activities outside the scope of its licence

OPEC+ cuts that steadied market now bring risk of $100 crude

No OPEC decision yet on oil cuts – Saudi energy minister

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies are to meet next week in Vienna to assess their global cuts and output policy

UAE and Saudi Arabia lead global water desalination projects

Further investments of $4.3bn are expected into MENA’s desalination projects by 2022

Oman reports two cases of coronavirus, quarantines 250 on suspicion

The two women, who tested positive for the disease, had travelled from Iran

UAE halts all flights to Iran on coronavirus concerns

The country has already suspended all flights to and from China, with the exception of Beijing

Coronavirus update: Kuwait, Bahrain report additional cases

The total number of coronavirus cases in Kuwait tally five while Bahrain has registered eight cases of the Covid-19 virus

empower

Empower opens world’s first unmanned cooling plant in Dubai

By the end of 2020, the plant will have a total cooling capacity of 49,000 refrigeration tonnes

Oman’s new sultan embarks on long road to economic recovery

The Gulf nation plans to lower its debt and review state companies

Bahrain suspends all flights from Dubai and Sharjah for 48 hours

All passengers entering Bahrain will be tested at arrivals

UAE’s NMC Health sees 42% more downside for battered shares

The stock has lost 68 per cent since the Muddy Waters report on December 17, and is the worst performer this year in the UK’s benchmark FTSE 100 Index

Saudi Arabia has granted 400,000 visas since opening to tourism

The kingdom aims is to draw 100 million visits a year by 2030

UAE bans citizens from travelling to Iran and Thailand

The move come amidst efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus outbreak in Iran

Bahrain’s Investcorp acquires two US properties for $164m

Its global multifamily property portfolio is currently valued at approximately $2.3bn

Dubai Police extends initiative to waive traffic fines

A total of 557,430 motorists benefitted from the previous initiative announced in February 2019

Network International to launch WeChat Pay in the UAE

The launch will enable Chinese tourists to transact seamlessly with Network International’s merchant network in the UAE via their WeChat mobile wallet

HSBC’s Saudi Arabia affiliate seeks to boost corporate lending

Saudi British Bank, which is 29 per cent owned by HSBC, completed the acquisition of Alawwal Bank last year to create the kingdom’s third-largest lender

Coronavirus update: Kuwait, Bahrain confirm first cases

Bahrain reported a citizen who had arrived from Iran as its first case of the coronavirus infection while Kuwait reported three confirmed cases of the virus

Abu dhabi uae capital flag

UAE’s economy grew 2.9% in 2019 – report

The UAE economy grew 4 per cent in the second quarter of 2019 while the fourth quarter posted the lowest growth figure of 1.3 per cent

UAE announces spring holidays for private, public schools

Spring holidays for government and private schools that follow the ministry’s curriculum across the UAE will begin on March 29 and end on April 11

Hundreds of residents of Dubai’s Duja Tower return back after fire

Residents were evacuated after a fire broke out at the building on Thursday night

Abu Dhabi welcomes 11.35 million visitors in 2019

The 2019 visitor figures grew 10.5 per cent year-on-year

Saudi regulator seeks to raise capital levels for insurers

Of Saudi Arabia’s 33 insurance companies, 10 made a loss last year, with the bulk of profits being earned by two companies — Bupa Arabia and Tawuniya

UAE central bank is monitoring job cuts in financial sector

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank is seeking to save about Dhs500m by cutting jobs and closing branches

G20 finance chiefs discuss coronavirus threat to global economy in Saudi meet

Central banks in Indonesia, Mexico, Turkey and South Africa have cut rates this year