Saudi cabinet defers decision on 40-hour work week

The ministry said the cabinet had delayed its decision in light of feedback from business owners

Death toll in Saudi haj disaster at least 2,070

The figure is based on information provided by the state and religious authorities and local media reports in the home countries of the victims

Exclusive: Dubai Duty Free’s Colm McLoughlin on building a successful business

Having been in his post since 1984, executive vice chairman Colm McLoughlin talks about the leadership and innovation necessary to create an efficient business

Saudi’s tourism industry banks on niche market for growth

As other regional economies target the mass market, Saudi Arabia is banking on religious travellers and staycationers to grow its tourism industry

Saudi blogger Raif Badawi wins EU’s Sakharov rights prize

Badawi has been sentenced by a Saudi court to 1,000 lashes and 10 years in jail for insulting Islam and for cyber crime

Iranian visitor numbers to Dubai up by 41% in 2014

Dubai also saw a growth in visitors from China while tourists from Russia and Germany slumped last year, a report says

Saudi advisory council to discuss land tax, MSCI inclusion

The Shura Council advises the government on legislation

Auditors, HR professionals in UAE to see highest salary rises in 2016

Average salaries for professional occupations are set to rise by 1.7 per cent next year, finds Robert Half report

Abu Dhabi airport passenger traffic up 18% in nine months of 2015

The airport saw the steepest growth in passenger traffic from the US routes, with a 44 per cent surge in travellers

Saudi foreign assets fall to their lowest since 2012

Net foreign assets at Saudi Arabia’s central bank fell 1.2 per cent from the previous month in September

Delta cancels Dubai-Atlanta flights as subsidy row heats up

The cancellation of the service will be effective from February 11, 2016, the airline said

Saudi public spending slowdown will impact banks – Moody’s

Moderation in government spending will slow credit growth, tighten funding and weaken asset quality

Qatar Investment Authority backs $8.6bn New York development

The Qatari fund has acquired a 44 per cent stake in the Manhattan West project from Brookfield Property Partners

Qatar rules out military intervention in Syria

Qatar has helped in arming, training and giving political support to the rebels throughout most of the four-year-old war

Briton arrested for alcohol in Saudi expected to be released

Karl Andree, 74, faced 350 lashes after being caught for producing and possessing wine

Saudi foreign minister says sees signs Yemen war nearing end

Most of Yemen’s territory that was captured by the Houthi rebels has been recaptured, he said

Dubai’s Aramex targets acquisitions in range of $150m

Acquisitions are expected to help increase the firm’s presence in growth markets

Emirates Global Aluminium in talks for $5bn loan to refinance debt – sources

The company is seeking funds to refinance loans taken for the Emal projects, sources said

Etihad Rail awaiting regulatory nod to start operations on Stage 1

Authorities are also in the final stage of tender evaluation process for the second phase of Etihad Rail, an official said

Tight liquidity may force UAE bank NBAD to raise borrowing rates -CEO

Rising rates might also impact the bank’s third quarter earnings, the lender’s chief executive said

Dubai’s Emaar Malls Q3 net profit rises 17%

Emaar Malls made a net profit of Dhs 376m in the three months to Sept. 30

Abu Dhabi’s Reem Mall plans world’s largest indoor snow-play park

The 125,000 sq ft attraction will include family-oriented activities and experiences such as sledging, zorbing and luge

Nakheel’s Golden Mile Galleria opens on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah

New development has 70 shops, restaurants and cafes

Dubai airport passenger traffic up 8.2% in September

The airport’s traffic during the first nine months of 2015 rose 12 per cent to around 58.7 million passengers

UAE lowers petrol, diesel prices for November

The price of a litre of octane 95 gasoline will drop 5 per cent to Dhs 1.7 from Dhs 1.79 in October

UAE’s Etisalat Q3 net profit falls 8.6%

The telecom operator made a net profit of Dhs 1.95bn in the three months to September 30

RAKBank launches Elite tier

The new premium banking offering will provide customers with a dedicated relationship manager available 24/7

UAE ranked first in MENA for ease of doing business – World Bank

The UAE increased its global ranking by one spot to reach 31 among 189 countries

Michael Dell: ‘I am just on a really big adventure’

Dell CEO says he is ‘tremendously excited’ about pending $67bn acquisition of EMC

International Olympic Committee bans Kuwait over govt interference

Kuwait was also banned in 2010 over a similar dispute but was reinstated before the 2012 London Olympics