Sheikh Mishaal Al Ahmad Al Sabah

Kuwait Assembly approves Sheikh Mishal as Crown Prince

In a special session held on October 8, all 59 members blessed the new Crown Prince

UAE top 10 banks see profits drop by 38.9% in H1 2020: KPMG

Non-performing loan ratio increases from 3.8% in December 2019 to 4.1% in June 2020

Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi Investment Office signs bilateral trade agreement with Israel Export Institute

ADIO will help connect Israeli companies with strategic entities and grant them access to resources in Abu Dhabi

uae currency dirhams

UAE Public Prosecution warns of life imprisonment for counterfeiting currency

Those found guilty will also be liable to pay a fine of not less than Dhs200,000

Dubai

Dubai repays 10-year $750m bonds certificates

The 10-year Euro Medium Term Note Programme reached maturity on October 5

Arab youth

UAE once again chosen as the ‘top country to live in’ by Arab youth

Nearly half of young Arabs have considered leaving their country, due to lack of opportunities and corrupt governance, finds annual Asda’a BCW survey

Emirates Islamic Nasdaq Dubai Sukuk

Emirates Islamic lists $500m sukuk on Nasdaq Dubai

The latest listing brings the bank’s current sukuk value on the exchange to $1.5bn

Emirates NBD

Dubai’s Emirates NBD launches new digital supply chain financing platform

The smartSCF platform will provide automated tools to optimise working capital and reduce transaction costs

Dubai-world-trade-centre-DWTC

Dubai World Trade Centre signs agreement with Israel for large-scale conferences and exhibitions

The commercial potential of agreements between the UAE and Israel is estimated at $500m per annum across several key sectors

Saudi to localise IT, communication jobs in kingdom

The localisation will help create 9,000 jobs for Saudi citizens

UAE September purchasing managers’ index rises to 11-month high

Output rose for the fourth straight month

UAE-Bahrain trade returning to pre-Covid levels, H1 figures show

Trade between two countries hits $139.6m in June, highest since pandemic struck

DGA

Saudi Arabia scraps VAT for property deals

However, a new tax of 5 per cent – the Real Estate Transaction Tax – will be levied on property deals in place of the VAT

Dubai fines 5 businesses, warns 3 for flouting Covid protocols

The violating establishments were from Nadd Al Hammar, Port Seed and Naif

Galerija-Belgrade-3-852x568

Eagle Hills’ $3bn Belgrade Waterfront project ‘not profit-driven’ – Alabbar

Alabbar, founder of UAE-based Eagle Hills, was speaking at the pre-opening of the mega Galerija mall

Saudi Arabia extends Covid salary aid programme in reduced form

The programme originally covered 70 per cent of Saudi employees in firms with over five workers

Israel seeks 100,000 UAE tourists a year after landmark pact

A record 4.5 million tourists visited Israel in 2019

Dubai Economy fines 10 businesses, warns 11 for flouting Covid-19 guidelines

The violating establishments included four gyms and six retail outlets

remittances

UAE expat remittances amounted to Dhs79.6bn in H1 2020

India was the biggest recipient country of these remittances followed by the Philippines, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, and the US

Ras AL Khaimah

Ras Al Khaimah’s manufacturing sector exports grew 58% in 2019

A total of 137 countries imported products from Ras Al Khaimah

G20 leaders’ summit, set for Riyadh, to now be held ‘virtually’

The agenda this year will focus on protecting lives and restoring growth

Dafza Israel

Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority signs agreement with Israeli Chamber of Commerce

DAFZA will provide incentives to Israeli companies wishing to establish their businesses within the emirate

Kuwaiti minister of Public Works and minister of State for Housing Affairs Rana al-Fares

Kuwait’s Public Works minister to terminate all expat employees – report

While 150 expats have been fired, another 400 are expected to receive termination letters, local media reported

Mustapha Adib Lebanon

Lebanon PM-designate steps down, unable to form government

Mustapha Adib quit on Saturday after a meeting with President Michel Aoun in Baabda near the capital, Beirut

Abu Dhabi Saudi Arabia

Non-oil trade between Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia amounted to Dhs493.8bn over last decade

Last year, the emirate’s exports to Saudi Arabia grew 156.7 per cent to Dhs25.76bn from Dhs10.03bn in 2010

Dubai

Non-oil trade between Dubai and Saudi Arabia amounted to Dhs500bn over last decade

In H1 2020 alone, Dubai’s external trade with Saudi reached Dh24bn

KUWAIT-INDIA-HEALTH-VIRUS amnesty

Kuwait’s National Assembly panel passes law to reduce expat numbers

The draft law gives the government six months to determine the number of expats needed by the country

ADNOC Mubadala ENEC

Abu Dhabi’s ADNOC signs agreement with Mubadala, ENEC to partner on In-Country Value programme

The ICV programme has already driven more than Dhs44bn ($12bn) back into the UAE’s economy and created over 1,500 private-sector jobs for Emiratis

UAE’s Al Habtoor Group chairman meets Israeli conglomerate CEO; reveals plans to open office in Israel

The chairman had previously disclosed that the group had launched talks with Israir Airlines to open direct commercial flights between the UAE and Israel

Dubai closes café; fines 7 businesses, warns 5 for flouting Covid-19 guidelines

As many as 660 businesses were found fully compliant with the precautionary guidelines