Oman increases cigarette prices

The country’s tobacco tax has been doubled

Fire at Saudi Aramco’s Ras Tanura terminal injures eight

The company said the fire had not affected operations

Saudia aircraft from Jeddah isolated in Manila airport after ‘false’ hijacking threat

According to reports, there were around 300 passengers onboard the plane

Louvre Abu Dhabi opening pushed back to 2017, new director appointed

The museum was originally scheduled to open in 2012 but has been repeatedly delayed

US Senate to vote on a $1.15bn Saudi arms sale deal this week

A joint resolution seeks to block the deal over concerns about the conflict in Yemen

Fox calls for greater UK, UAE trade ties during visit

UK trade secretary said the UAE had been highlighted for “big-ticket” export opportunities post Brexit

Saudi medical workers protest over unpaid wages

Employees at the Saad Specialist Hospital in Al-Khobar have reportedly not been paid for four months

Abu Dhabi’s Etihad to add three weekly flights to Sydney

The airline will operate a double-daily schedule to the Australian city from February 2017

Exchange houses hold talks with UAE Central Bank over new rules

UAE banks restructure $1.9bn of loans

Banks in the country agreed to help SMEs restructure their debt in March after a series of defaults

Saudi forces intercept missile fired by Yemen’s Houthis

The Qaher-1 missile was aimed at Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid Air Base

First smartphone-based MBA launched for students in Dubai

95% of Saudi mobile shops comply with Saudisation drive

Shops are now required to employ only Saudis

Oil up on Saudi, Russia meeting

Saudi crude exports rise to 7.622m bpd in July

The kingdom produced a record high 10.673 million bpd in July

Qatar announces relocation of financial centre

Firms will be able to operate from the new location starting in mid-2017

US soldier dies in Abu Dhabi

Travis R. Tamayo, 32 was killed in a non-combat-related incident

Aramco awards major gas pipeline work to Saudi KAD

The contract was worth in the region of SAR5bn, according to sources

Saudi arrests 17 ISIL supporters plotting attacks across kingdom

Fourteen of those arrested are Saudi nationals, including one woman

Abu Dhabi plans new regulations for apps such as Uber, Careem

Ride-hailing services will have to work only with luxury private hire companies to operate in the UAE capital

Riyad Bank CEO to retire, deputy to take over role

The bank is Saudi Arabia’s fourth-largest lender by assets

Abu Dhabi considers extending Sweihan solar project after record low bid

Bidding for the Sweihan solar project is said to have beaten a record set in Chile last month

ENOC announces $1bn expansion of Jebel Ali refinery

The expansion will increase the capacity of the refinery by 50 per cent

Gulf states urge Iran to negotiate in UAE island dispute

The dispute centres on the islands of Greater and Lesser Tunbs and Abu Moussa

Saudi Aramco to shut two refineries for maintenance later this year

Each shutdown could add four million to eight million barrels of crude into global markets

Domestic workers in Dubai earn highest in the region

On average, a domestic worker in the emirate pockets a monthly salary of Dhs1,697

New York’s Bareburger to open first outlet in Dubai

The store will be launched next month at Festival City mall

Oman asks public, private sector CEOs to help forge new five-year plan

The sultanate is seeking to diversify away from oil after posting a sizeable budget deficit in the first half

Dubai Future Accelerators: Developers of hyperloop, 3D printers among 30 chosen

The 30 companies will work with seven government authorities over a 12-week period

Dubai Transport Corp replaced, granted greater autonomy

Dubai Taxi Corporation will be able to sign franchising and management deals and access credit and loans

Saudi shares drop on Sunday as activity falls to 12-month low

Oil-related companies and banking shares faced declines

Qatar central bank offers $824m of government bonds for sale

This is the central bank’s second domestic bond sale this year

UAE warns Emiratis in New York to avoid public places after blast

The explosion in New York late on Saturday left 29 people injured