Saudi economy grew 2.8% in fourth quarter as Covid impact eased

Saudi Arabia was hit hard last year as a drop in crude prices decimated government revenue while measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus limited economic activity

UAE-HEALTH-VIRUS Sharjah

Covid-19: Sharjah announces restrictions, cuts capacity at malls, gyms and cinemas

Cinemas and entertainment centres as well as gyms and fitness centres are permitted to operate at 50 per cent of their total capacity

First female Emirati common law judge appointed in Dubai’s DIFC Courts

Four new judges have been sworn in at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts

UBS study: 51% of UAE investors expect economy recovery in H1 2021

Covid-19 remains the top concern for UAE investors, followed by climate change

Kuwaiti MPs urge the government to relax Covid-19 restrictions or compensate businesses

Health clubs, salons and barbershops have been closed for a month, while malls and shops need to stay shut from 8pm until 5am

Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange

Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange slashes trading fees by 22%

The value of securities traded on the exchange increased 28 per cent to Dhs72.8bn in 2020 from Dhs56.8bn in 2019

One of world’s richest nations taps wealth fund as cash dries up

To generate liquidity, the government began last year swapping its best assets for cash with the $600bn Future Generations Fund

Dubai Customs

Dubai trade with Indonesia reaches Dhs5.4bn in 2020

It included Dhs4.42bn of imports, Dhs600m of exports, and Dhs380m of re-exports

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Invest in Dubai

Sheikh Mohammed launches ‘Invest in Dubai’ platform to ease process of establishing businesses

The centralised portal offers services such as commercial licensing in which government permits and approvals can be obtained without the need to physically visit any service centre

Central Bank of UAE

UAE’s Central Bank appoints Khaled Al Tameemi as Vice Governor

Al Tameemi has over 30 years of experience in various entities including being a board member in the Central Bank

Saudi’s Public Investment Fund to set up airline company – reports

The company will operate international and domestic flights

Eitan Na’eh, head of mission at the newly established Israeli embassy in Abu Dhabi

Israel wants to build land corridor with UAE for movement of goods

Israel is looking into the potential of trailers and lorries carrying goods from the UAE reaching Israel in three days, and vice versa

Dubai announces new Covid-19 restrictions: Mall capacity reduced, bars closed

The new measures are effective from February 2 until the end of the month

Dubai Financial market

Private utilities company Utico plans Dhs3bn listing on Dubai market in 2021

Utico is the UAE’s only private water and power company

Jebel Ali Port Dubai

Dubai-Israel: Trade hits Dhs1bn in five months

Trade between Israel and Dubai is estimated to grow to Dhs15bn in the next few years and generate over 15,000 jobs

SAUDI-HEALTH-VIRUS-TRAVEL

Saudi extends border closures, travel ban for citizens until May

The extension from the scheduled date of March 31 is due to vaccine delivery delays, officials said

UAE trade volume up more than 13% in Q4 2020: report

Global trade trend activity rises sharply as recovery builds momentum

Saudi arrests businessmen, bank employees in $3.1bn corruption scheme

Those arrested were allegedly involved in a scheme that transferred more than SAR11.5bn outside the country

Oman to impose higher visa fees for employing foreign nationals

The most significant increases will apply to top/senior level, middle level and technical and specialised roles

UAE updates quarantine rules for federal government employees

All federal bodies are to submit a weekly report on the status of their employees

Abraham Accords: Impact on talent synergies between the UAE and Israel

The relations between Israel and the UAE will have omnipresent long-term benefits through their similarities

Kuwait projects $40bn deficit as infighting delays reform

Budgeted capital expenditure is up 20 per cent on the current year’s estimate

Saudi’s Public Investment Fund launches 5-year strategy; assets treble to $400bn

PIF aims to grow its assets under management to over $1.07 trillion by the end of 2025

cryptocurrency

Central Bank of Bahrain licences Sharia-compliant cryptocurrency exchange CoinMENA

At launch, CoinMENA’s platform will be available to residents of Bahrain, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman

Bahrain-GCC trade hits $5.7bn in 2020 despite Covid-19 challenges

Bahrain exports surge 12 per cent in Q4 of 2020 buoyed by manufacturing sector

Sharjah

Sharjah attracted $220m FDI in 2020

There was a 60 per cent increase in the number of FDI projects between Q3 and Q4 in 2020

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank launches one-year healthcare equities note for investors

The structured note which matures in 12 months provides 95 per cent capital protection

Dubai UAE

Dubai responds to “party haven amid pandemic” media report

The state-run Dubai Media Office issued a clarification on Tuesday, January 19

Oman extends visa-free period for citizens of 103 countries for upto 14 days

The step is part of efforts to bolster the tourism sector of the sultanate

Kuwait expats

More than 83,500 expats left Kuwait in Q4 2020 – report

The number of expats in the country’s workforce has now dropped to 1.5 million