UAE petrol prices to increase again in May

Prices declined for seven consecutive months prior to April

UAE carried out 400% more cloud-seeding operations during stormy Q1

The news follows extreme weather conditions in March that closed airports and schools, damaged buildings and caused flooding in parts of the country

Saudi Arabia to invest billions of dollars in Jordan

A joint coordination council is being set up to target the investment

Qatar telecoms company Ooredoo see 75% jump in Q1 profit

Ooredoo Kuwait already reported a 356 per cent rise in first-quarter profit

Whatsapp new privacy features

UAE woman fined Dhs 500,000 for Whatsapp comments

The case is believed to be the first carried out under new hate crime laws

Saudi riyal peg pressure eases, but not gone

Investors say that devaluation pressures have not gone away, even though Saudi Arabia has unveiled a sweeping reform package.

Qatar National Bank investigating alleged data hack

Members of the royal family, government officials and journalists are among those thought to have had bank details leaked online

Saudi Aramco sets financing plans for industrial push

Reforms envisage Aramco transforming itself from an oil and gas firm into a “global industrial conglomerate”

Dubai to reach 100,000 hotel rooms in May

Emirate expected to enter top 10 global cities in terms of room supply

Dubai plans to 3D print 25% of buildings by 2030

The new strategy will cut costs and reduce construction times, Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed said

Qatar could delay $6bn deal for missile defence systems

Budgetary pressures may delay the sale, according to manufacturer Lockheed Martin’s chief executive

Continued decline ‘likely’ for UAE real estate prices

Standard & Poor’s said there was no sign of market improvement

Dubai theme park IMG Worlds of Adventure reveals ride line-up, expansion plans

Four zones will feature numerous attractions and food options across the park

Dubai residential prices, rents decline with more pain expected

Factors including affordability concerns, job losses and low oil prices are dampening the market, Cluttons said

Damac Properties reveals its Aykon Dare tourist attraction

The development will allow daredevils to venture to the edge of the roof in nothing but a harness

Ooredoo Kuwait reports surge in Q1 net profit

Telecommunications operator reports a rise of more than 350 per cent, hitting $33.84m in the first quarter of 2016

GCC residents to require e-visa for UAE from Friday

The new rules are designed to reduce queues at border points

Riyadh real estate market hit by 6 per cent slump in sales

Saudi capital sees year-to-year sales prices and rental rates fall

Dubai sets no-fly zones for drones

New rules follow an incident at Dubai International in 2015

Dubai’s Emaar Malls Q1 net profit rises 22%

The unit reported growth in rental income during the quarter

Dubai Sukuk listings top $42bn

Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector said the emirate was a leader in the Islamic bond sector

Defendants in Villaggio Mall fire case avoid jail time

The judge presiding over the case in Qatar said defendants should pay blood money to families of the 19 victims

Dubai welcomed 4.1 million tourists in Q1

Dubai Tourism released official figures showing a 5 per cent rise in overnight visitors in the first quarter of 2016

In depth: Saudi prince unveils plans to end “addiction” to oil

Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced plans to turn the kingdom into a global investment power

Saudi Arabia approves Vision 2030 reforms

King Salman announced that the kingdom’s cabinet had agreed to the reform plan, with details coming later

UAE’s Huda Kattan ranked top worldwide on Instagram

Beauty blogger has 12.7 million followers on the platform

Kuwait lost up to $200m during oil strike

A three-day strike by oil and gas workers ended last Wednesday

IMF says it’s encouraged by Gulf’s economic reform plans

Six months ago the IMF warned that budget reforms being considered by most of the Middle East’s oil exporters were likely to be inadequate

Oman’s National Gas Company terminates CEO

Oman aims to double number of international visitors

New 2040 vision plans to increase tourism contribution to GDP

UAE’s Arabian Radio Network to launch new digital stations

The new additions, which cater to specific musical tastes, are positioned under the company’s existing brands