Qatar exchange to introduce margin trading this week

The initiative primarily aims to boost liquidity in the market

Aramex establishes Australia Post joint venture

The new venture will focus on e-commerce

Dubai compulsory health insurance boosts UAE insurers’ profits

Listed insurers reported aggregate profits in the first half of 2016 after losses in 2015

Select Group launches $123m Dubai Marina tower

The 31-storey Studio One project is located near the Wyndham Hotel

Saudi Electric to seek private investment for 5,400MW of projects

The projects may be executed in phases

Saudi government offers extended, unified licences to telecoms firms

The move is expected to shake up the fixed services market dominated by Saudi Telecom

Quran complex denies Saudi Oger contract renewal after 1,300 dismissed

Local media reports suggested the company had won a new contract to run the King Fahd Holy Quran Printing Complex for the next five years

Gulf News Media to cease broadcast operations

Staff left facing an uncertain future as frequency licence holder reclaims the brands

Dubai airport receives record 7.7m passengers in August

Passenger traffic during August grew 6.1 per cent year-on-year

Saudi government workers can now be fired

New reforms introduced by the Ministry of Civil Service mean government workers will not be guaranteed pay rises and can be dismissed

UAE begins implementing new wage protection scheme

The decree will impose hefty fines on companies that fail to pay their workers on time

Saudi-led coalition to target Houthi forces after UAE ship attack

The civilian logistics ship was attacked by Houthi fighters off Yemen’s southern coast on Saturday

Saudi central bank orders rescheduling of consumer loans

The central bank said it wanted to support borrowers whose incomes had been reduced due to government spending cuts

Saudi’s Kingdom Holding sells Four Seasons Toronto for $171.8m

The property was sold to family investment vehicles related to Pakistani-American Shahid Khan

Dubai’s Water Canal project to be completed in November

Surrounding the waterway will be a five-kilometre boardwalk lined with food and beverage and retail outlet

Saudi visa fees increase comes into effect

New rules will affect religious tourists and business travellers, but will exclude pilgrims

Saudi Central Bank asks lenders to reschedule government worker loans

The cabinet announced this week that it would slash ministers’ salaries by 20 per cent and reduce a range of allowances

Dubai Parks looks to future expansion with new name

The theme park operator said its new name would show ambitions beyond its first attraction in Jebel Ali

UAE fuel prices to rise in October

Motorists can expect price rises of roughly 2 to 3.5 per cent

Saudi riyal falls, bond may be delayed after US 9/11 vote

Some analysts have speculated that trade and investment ties between Saudi Arabia and the United States could be hurt

Abu Dhabi government workers granted extended maternity leave, flexible hours

The new law will apply to civil servants at government entities in Abu Dhabi but may also be applicable to some government companies.

Hundreds of Saudi Oger workers fly home with unpaid dues

The Pakistanis are among thousands of workers owed back pay by the troubled construction firm

Dubai’s Sheikh Mohammed unveils UAE Strategy for the Future

Under the strategy future prototypes for sectors including healthcare, education, social development and the environment will be developed

Kuwaiti court says petrol price hike illegal following backlash

Price rise made on September 1 was fiercely challenged by Kuwait’s MPs and the public

US Congress rejects Obama veto, Saudi 9/11 bill becomes law

The vote was a blow to Obama as well as to Saudi Arabia, one of the United States’ longest-standing allies

Dubai’s DEWA awards contract for world’s first 3D printed lab

The lab will be used to conduct research on drones and 3D printing technology

Qatar introduces free four-day transit visa

The new visa is applicable for all passengers with a layover exceeding five hours

Abu Dhabi Ports awards terminal concession to China’s Cosco Shipping

The total concession area will span roughly 70 hectares with three berths

Qatar Airways and IAG deepen commercial links

The agreement comes as British Airways converts its flights to Doha and Muscat to direct services from October 30

Samsung begins Note 7 replacement in UAE

The global recall has been embarrassing for Samsung, which even had the device banned from UAE airlines earlier this month