Amnesty calls for release of Bahrain opposition leader

Sheikh Ali Salman, head of the opposition al Wefaq Islamic Society, was arrested in December

Top tips when hiring new recruits in the UAE

New survey finds one in 10 recruits are regarded as a ‘poor hiring decision’ by HR directors

Qatar Airways places $4.8bn order for 10 Boeing 777-8Xs, four 777 freighters

The orders were placed on the first day of the Paris Airshow

Saudi bourse CEO sees flurry of foreign investor licenses soon

Saudi’s market regulator has said foreign institutions can buy stocks directly from June 15, but it has not so far announced the award of any licences

Dragon Oil agrees to ENOC’s increased takeover bid

Dubai-based ENOC’s offer values Dragon Oil at around $5.75bn

Saudi Arabian Airlines purchases 50 Airbus aircraft

The company did not disclose the value of the deal but other media reports valued it at $8.2 billion.

UAE announces Ramadan working hours for private sector

Working hours for private sector employees will be reduced by two hours with no change in salaries.

Sheikh Mohammed forms Dubai Creative Clusters Authority to oversee freezones

The authority was previously called Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone Authority.

UAE’s NMC Health seals latest buy with $160.6m ProVita deal

NMC will acquire 100 per cent of ProVita for cash from TVM Capital Healthcare Partners, Saudi Arabia’s Olayan Group, Al Zarooni Emirates Investment and other minority shareholders

UAE oil minister says studying fuel subsidies, report ready soon

Suhail bin Mohammed al-Mazroui said that the government had requested a report after there were questions over why domestic fuel prices didn’t drop after global oil prices fell

Saudi opening may be non-event with no licences awarded yet

Saudi Arabia’s Capital Market Authority has indicated it does not want or expect large, sudden fund inflows

Limitless awards Dhs 285m deal for downtown Jebel Ali project

The deal was awarded to UAE-based Arco General Contracting for carrying out community infrastructure work on the project

Airbus in talks to sell up to 50 planes to Saudi Arabian Airlines

The deal could include 30 A320neo planes and up to 20 A330 aircraft, sources said

Etihad Airways eyes $1bn through debut bond issue

The Abu Dhabi airline is planning to launch its bond through a unit or special purpose vehicle

UAE Banks Federation approves mobile wallet programme

The programme needs to have a final approval from the UAE Central Bank before it goes live, the federation said

UAE sets up moon sighting committee for Ramadan, announces public sector timings

Employees at ministries and other federal authorities will work from 9am to 2pm during Ramadan

Bahrain jails 57 for plotting bomb attacks

The accused were charged with plans to bomb various sites across Bahrain and for receiving training to carry out such acts from a foreign country

Abu Dhabi’s new financial freezone starts accepting licence applications

Abu Dhabi Global Market is preparing for its launch in the second half of 2015

Saudi Arabia to reconsider applying Nitaqat system in select sectors

The government said that it will rethink quotas in some sectors which failed to attract citizens due to the nature of work involved

Open skies with GCC crucial for US economy – senior Boeing official

Three US carriers are calling for an end to the US’ open skies agreement with the UAE and Qatar over a subsidies row

Kuwaiti opposition figure arrested, sent to serve two-year jail sentence

Musallam al-Barrak, a former member of parliament, has long been at odds with the authorities over changes made in 2012 to the election law.

Will the Tadawul’s opening be a turning point for Saudi’s economy?

The region is holding its breath as Saudi Arabia finally opens up the Tadawul to foreign investors, but are the doors fully ajar?

Crunch time coming for Saudi campaign as options narrow in Yemen

Riyadh may soon have to face a choice: accept the de facto control of its foes over Sanaa and cut a deal, or keep fighting with the risk of Yemen sinking into total chaos.

Dubai hotels: Doors wide open, but are people coming?

Dubai’s hotel operators have traditionally seen high levels of occupancy. But with currency devaluation and growing supply, how is the industry coping?

Saudi Aramco says no cut in oil exports despite local demand

The company officials said while Chinese oil demand was stabilizing, the highest growth was likely to come from India in the second half of this year.

Nakheel makes Dhs220m sukuk profit payment

The profit payment will be made to all sukuk holders on June 15, 2015 against the sukuk issued amount of Dhs4.4 billion

Dubai hotels saw revenues drop between Jan-Apr – EY

The recent drop in oil prices along with a decrease in travel from Russia and Europe caused the slump

Gulf states defend Qatar 2022 World Cup

The UAE’s and Qatar’s official news agencies said Gulf information ministers had called Qatar’s winning of the hosting rights “a success for all the states of the GCC”.

Jean-Georges Dubai Opens JG Dining Room

Michelin-star chef’s arrival raises the stakes in city’s competitive F&B scene

Luxury Belgian chocolatier Godiva plans major UAE, Saudi expansion

The company aims to double the number of outlets in the UAE and Saudi Arabia in the next six to 12 months