Trade and real estate were top performing sectors in 2018
Expenditures amounted to Dhs388.147bn, while revenues reached Dhs455.5bn
Muscat, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh featured among the top 10 cities that saw the biggest move upwards in the ranking
It attributed the increase mainly to higher oil prices
While global debt levels are higher than a decade ago, contagion risk is lower, finds report
The freezone has also received approval for an exclusion of VAT in designated zones
The UAE’s central bank said economic activity in the non-oil sector would improve further in 2019
A fiscal balance programme and $10bn in aid “marks a major step in Bahrain’s reform agenda” said the IMF
Fitch and S&P had both downgraded Oman to junk earlier
The initiatives also seek to boost public-private partnerships in the emirate
Saudi, Kuwait and the UAE put together a $2.5bn package in June to help shore up Jordan’s struggling economy
The GCC state released a plan last year to fix its debt-burdened finances after securing a $10bn Gulf aid pledge
Prices had continued to rise throughout 2018 after the introduction of VAT
Rating agencies Fitch and S&P both class Oman’s bonds as ‘junk’
Deals worth billions are anticipated to be signed during the two-day visit
Only companies that had a higher or equal number of Saudi employees versus expats will be eligible for the reimbursement or waiver of fees
A number of global theatrical shows such as ‘Thriller’ have been planned
The kingdom said had recovered more than $106bn through settlements with senior princes, ministers and top businessmen
The Gulf state’s non-oil growth is projected to increase to about 3.5 per cent in 2020
The number of expats working in the kingdom reduced from 10.18 million in Q1 to 9.5 million in Q3
The law has also been amended to allow trade agencies that allows them to become public and private shareholding companies
The programme will cover project in industry, mining, energy, logistics, military, chemicals and small businesses industries
Lebanon has one of the world’s highest levels of public debt as a proportion of national output
Saudi, Kuwait and the UAE pledged to give $10bn to Bahrain to avoid the risk of a debt crisis
Kuwait said the new plan aims to drive economic growth by maintaining a capital expenditure ratio of 17 per cent of the budget
The kingdom’s finance ministry says it remains committed to making payments on time
The seven new measures cover integration in the fields of financial markets, tourism, aviation, entrepreneurship, customs and security
A hard landing is likely unless something happens to kickstart global growth, writes Reuters columnist John Kemp
The work on the first phase of NEOM Bay, an urban project, will be completed in 2020
The Emirates NBD Dubai economy tracker index fell to its second-lowest reading in over two years in December