Saudi Arabia signs $8.3bn economic pact with South Korea

The agreement includes a $6bn deal between Saudi Aramco and Korean firm S-Oil

Abu Dhabi reveals nine new initiatives to boost the private sector

Ecotourism incentives, SME loans and instant licences are among the new initiatives

Burj Khalifa[2] dubai

Dubai issues close to 2,600 new business licences in May, creating over 8,300 jobs

Real estate, leasing and business services accounted for 35 per cent of the new licences issued in May

Saudi consumer prices fall year-on-year in May for fifth month in a row

While prices for housing, water, electricity, gas and fuel fell, prices for food and drinks and education rose

Dubai finalising project to issue business licences without residency

Dubai’s DED issued 9,489 business licences between January to April, up 35 per cent year-on-year

Burj Khalifa[2] dubai

Business activity in Dubai’s private sector grows at strongest rate since 2010

Employment growth continued to remain marginal in May

Saudi to finalise $533m privatisation deals this year – Crown Prince

The expected deals will be in sectors that include rain silos, medical and shipping services

Global economy on leading edge of recession

It seems more likely than not the downturn will deepen in the next six months unless action is taken to turn it around, writes Reuters columnist John Kemp

UAE’s private sector growth at the highest level since October 2014, hiring stagnant

Although both new orders and business activity increased, employment and salary growth remained broadly unchanged

Saudi Arabia’s central bank warns global slowdown may hit growth

The kingdom’s economy grew by 2.2 per cent in 2018, compared to a decline of 0.7 per cent in 2017

UAE economic growth expected at 2% in 2019 – central bank

Economic growth from the oil sector is expected to be 2.7 per cent, against 2.8 per cent last year, because of lower production

Burj Khalifa[2] dubai

UAE to amend, waive fees for over 1,500 government services

The move covers services provided by the ministries of Interior, Economy and Human Resources and Emiratisation

MENA fund managers increase investments in Egypt, UAE

Dubai was one of the worst-performing markets globally last year, but has rebounded somewhat this year

Saudi consumer prices fall in April for fourth month in a row

Housing, water, electricity, gas and fuel prices were down 7.8 per cent from a year earlier

Oman’s National Gas Company terminates CEO

Oman hires banks for bond issue, deal could raise $2bn

The government has been preparing the debt sale for quite some time

Bahrain receives first instalment of GCC aid

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE agreed last year to give Bahrain $10bn to support the country’s funding requirements

Bahrain, Manama, Cityscape view of Bahrain World Trade Center and Bahrain Financial Harbor

Bahrain ditches subsidy reform plan as political tensions simmer

Bahrain has had to introduce austerity measures in recent years such as VAT and higher water and power prices

Abu Dhabi launches $145.7m venture capital, start-up fund

The fund has been set up as part of the Abu Dhabi government’s Dhs50bn stimulus initiative Ghadan 21

UAE’s private sector sees ‘sharpest improvement’ since Dec 2017

Despite an increase in new orders, hiring remained stagnant in April, finds monthly index

Revenues boost Saudi Arabia’s Q1 budget, expenditure up 8%

Revenues were boosted by both the kingdom’s oil and non-oil sectors

Saudi’s economy may grow faster in 2019 that previously forecast – IMF

The non-oil sector is expanding faster than the wider economy

Different Arab money

Growth outlook lowered for GCC economies this year – poll

The pace of recovery should accelerate in 2020 and 2021 compared with this year – analyst

Saudi Arabia reports first quarterly budget surplus since 2014

Saudi Arabia plans to increase state spending by 7 per cent this year

Saudi Arabia’s economy to grow at least 2% in 2019

Credit growth accelerated in the first quarter at its fastest pace in more than two years

Saudi consumer prices fall for third straight month in March

Property rental prices are falling in the kingdom as a result of job losses in the market

Dubai expects 2.1% growth in 2019 on Expo preparation

Recently announced stimulus policies and investments are also set to help the economy

Dubai’s foreign direct investment increased 41% in 2018

The emirate received Dhs38.5bn ($10.5bn) in FDI capital flows last year

Saudi pledges $1bn for Iraq at start of economic visit

A delegation including the Saudi energy and investment ministers arrived in Iraq on Wednesday

Kuwait signs financial aid agreement for Bahrain

Kuwait, along with Saudi Arabia and the UAE, pledged $10bn in financial aid to Bahrain last year

Saudi economy expands in Q4 on boost from crude; non-oil growth slows

Fourth-quarter gross domestic product grew by 3.59 per cent from a year earlier