Meraas to become part of conglomerate Dubai Holding

The combined conglomerate will operate across real estate, tourism, hospitality, leisure and entertainment and investments

Oman shifts wealth funds into new entity with $17bn assets

All government companies, except Petroleum Development Oman and the nation’s international investments, will fall under the new entity

Worst may be over for biggest Arab economies as businesses adapt

Following a pandemic-driven plunge, non-oil private sector activity improved in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates

Kuwait doesn’t want to be an expat-majority nation anymore

Foreigners account for nearly 3.4 million of Kuwait’s 4.8 million people

Five steps for GCC countries to resume their economies post Covid-19

Regional governments must undertake key measures to ensure a renewed and sustained approach to economic recovery

Midday work ban in the UAE to begin from June 15

Any establishment that does not comply with the midday work ban will face a fine of Dhs5,000 per worker

Ras Al Khaimah establishes guidelines for reopening of restaurants, cafés and gyms

The measures are aligned with precautions undertaken to ensure the health and safety of customers while ensuring business continuity

KIZAD Truck Plaza

Kizad to build largest truck plaza in the Middle East

The plaza, which will offer refueling and recreational facilities, will cover an area of more than 87,000 square metres

Sheikh Mohammed

Sheikh Mohammed enacts new data protection law for Dubai International Financial Centre

The law will come into effect from July 1, 2020

Kuwait virus

Kuwait begins phased plan to reopen economy, over a million expats remain in lockdown

Mosques across the country are expected to reopen later this week

Women’s wealth in Middle East to rise 9% by 2023 – report

Women’s wealth in the UAE and Saudi Arabia amounts to $103bn and $224bn respectively

Saudi reserves fall more slowly after transfer to sovereign fund

The government is looking to its largest-ever debt programme to keep the depletion of reserves limited to SAR120bn

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Sheikh Mohammed chairs cabinet meeting; announces incentives for the media sector

The government will suspend administrative fines related to bank guarantees provided by media sector owners

Sharjah hires banks for $1bn sukuk sale

A sale could happen as soon as this week and proceeds will be used for general budgetary needs, sources said

Saudi begins phase two of easing lockdown: Mosques reopen, fines revealed for violators

Domestic flights are also allowed to resume in the kingdom

UAE Ministry of Finance reduces fees for certain federal entities

The measures include a 50 per cent reduction in the fees to register suppliers

Abu dhabi uae capital flag

Only 30% of UAE federal government staff to return to workplace from May 31

The decision to increase the number of employees will be reviewed weekly based on the prevailing health conditions

RTA Tamkeen programme

All Dubai government employees to begin working out of offices from June 14

Fifty per cent of these government employees will resume working from the office starting Sunday, May 31

Offices Send Their employees Home

Dubai offices allowed to reopen with 50% capacity; public transport timings revised

Earlier, offices were permitted to reopen with only 30 per cent of their staff in attendance

Oman has a long-running ban on the sale of electronic cigarettes.

UAE defers ban on e-cigarettes, water pipe tobacco products without ‘digital tax stamps’

The ban will now go into effect from January 1, 2021

Russia sees oil market balance in June-July on OPEC+ cuts

Producers have lowered global oil supply by around 14-15 million barrels a day

Dubai to resume business activities from May 27, cinemas, gyms to reopen

There will be no restrictions on movement between 6am and 11pm

KUWAIT-EGYPT-HEALTH-VIRUS

Expat population in some GCC states may drop by up to 10% – report

Employment across the GCC could fall by around 13 per cent due to the impact of the coronavirus

LinkedIn reveals top 5 most applied for jobs in UAE during the pandemic

These roles have seen the highest percentage increase in job applications between March and April 2020

Abu Dhabi wealth fund sees U-shaped global rebound next year

As the pandemic forced factories all over the world to shutter and people to stay home, the global economy has plummeted and oil prices have dropped by almost half since the start of the year

Dubai’s ICD reports 16.9% rise in 2019 profits

Its 2019 revenues dipped 1.9 per cent to Dhs228bn

Global downturn risks becoming prolonged recession – WEF

High unemployment, lack of progress in reducing carbon emissions and exacerbated inequalities are all possible side effects of the pandemic

Oman cuts pay for new civil servants by up to 23%

Oman has resorted to spending cuts to stabilise public finances

Dubai Economy renews 33,874 licences through its ‘Auto Renewal’ service

The Business Registration & Licencing (BRL) sector also recorded a 62 per cent increase in auto renewal transactions during the first four months of 2020, compared to the same period in 2019

Gold climbs to seven-year high as Fed warns on US economic growth

Bullion has surged 16 per cent this year as the spread of the virus curbed economic growth