Bahrain’s Investcorp launches in India by acquiring IDFC businesses

Investcorp is looking to expand its business across Asia

Everything you need to know about Pope Francis’ visit to the UAE

The pope will visit the UAE from February 3 to 5 in his first-ever trip to the GCC

Dubai Investments Park postpones Islamic bonds sale

DIP said more attractive funding alternatives were available

Vox opens first cinema in Jeddah

Saudi Arabia ended its decades-old ban on cinemas last year

Over 35% of UAE residents paying more for rent than a year ago – survey

Quarterly survey finds 61 per cent of the respondents are still in the same home they were in a year ago

Only one Indian school in Dubai rated ‘outstanding’ by regulator KHDA

In total, 21 Indian-curriculum schools were rated good or higher

India’s SBI set to own 15% of Jet Airways, Etihad 40% – reports

With debts of about $1.14bn, the cash-strapped carrier is seeking a debt-for-equity swap

Saudi Arabia suspends 126 local government employees on corruption charges

The move follows 2017’s corruption crackdown which rounded up dozens of princes and ex-ministers

Saudi’s NEOM set up as joint stock company owned by wealth fund

The change in the legal status of NEOM will allow the company to create 16 economic sectors

Abu Dhabi banks ADCB, UNB and Al Hilal to merge creating UAE’s third largest lender

The new banking group, with assets of $114bn, will carry the ADCB identity

Siemens awarded its biggest contract in Oman for power and water project

The contract, valued at $229m, is for a project in Oman’s Duqm Special Economic Zone

Dubai contractor Drake & Scull appoints new group CEO

The company, which has accumulated losses of over Dhs1bn, is currently in the midst of a restructuring

Dubai Chamber membership passes 231,000

An international push saw nearly 14,500 new companies join the chamber in 2018

UAE accuses Qatar of banning its products, files WTO complaint

The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Egypt have imposed a diplomatic, trade and transport boycott of Qatar since June 2017

UAE, Saudi reveal details about common digital currency Aber

The common digital currency is expected to reduce remittance costs between the two countries

Abu Dhabi TV cameraman killed in Yemen bombing

The blast took place at a market in Mocha on Monday evening

Video: Honor View 20 launches in the UAE, price revealed

Honor claims is it now the fourth biggest smartphone brand in the region

Uber eyes cheaper UAE rides as Emirati drivers get behind the wheel

The MENA region was Uber’s “fastest growing” worldwide in 2018, says regional general manager

Saudi signs $54.4bn of deals, offers manufacturing incentives

The kingdom is offering investment opportunities in mining, industry, logistics and energy sectors

IMF says Kuwait’s economic growth to strengthen on the back of oil prices

The Gulf state’s non-oil growth is projected to increase to about 3.5 per cent in 2020

ADCB’s chairman, CEO to fill top positions in new Abu Dhabi merged bank – sources

The three-way merger with Union National Bank and Al Hilal Bank could form a bank with around $113bn in assets

Bahrain upholds life sentence against opposition leaders charged with spying for Qatar

Al-Wefaq members Sheikh Ali Salman, Sheikh Hassan Sultan and Ali Alaswad were sentenced to life imprisonment in November

Dubai waives Dhs1,000 fee to boost tourism industry

The PRO card, which cost Dhs1,000 and was subject to an annual renewal fee, was needed for requests for permits and approvals

Saudi-Ethiopian billionaire Mohammed Al-Amoudi released from detention

He was among scores of Saudi businessmen and political leaders rounded up in November 2017 as part of corruption ‘purge’

Saudi government to spend $27bn on industry plan

The kingdom’s industrial development programme covers the mining, industry, logistics and energy sectors

Saudi expat workforce shrinks in Q3 as local unemployment rate drops

The number of expats working in the kingdom reduced from 10.18 million in Q1 to 9.5 million in Q3

Four Yemeni nationals executed in Saudi for killing Pakistani guard

The accused also allegedly stole from the company where the victim was serving as a guard

Several people rescued after being stranded by heavy rains in Saudi’s Tabuk

Severe weather conditions have been forecast across the kingdom

Saudi’s Misk Innovation launches accelerator programme with 500 Startups

The partnership will aim to boost entrepreneurship in the kingdom

Dubai airport retains spot as world’s busiest for international travellers in 2018

The airport welcomed 89.1 million passengers last year