Omani CEOs confident about growth despite low oil prices – KPMG

Oman businesses are far more optimistic than their global counterparts

Amazon, Meta join ranks of tech companies slashing thousands of jobs

Job cuts expected to continue in Saudi this year – survey

Up to 45 per cent of surveyed firms in Saudi expect headcount reductions in 2017

Kuwait projects $25.9bn budget deficit next fiscal year

The forecast assumes an average oil price during the year of $45 a barrel

Dubai launches new ratings system to help SMEs get loans, contracts

Those SMEs interested in joining the system will have to pay Dhs5,000 and register online

Despite diversification efforts, oil revenues vital for Saudi’s growth

The increase in oil prices is expected to help the country narrow its budget deficit this year

IMF praises Saudi budget plans, says implementation key

The IMF slashed its prediction for Saudi’s economic growth in 2017 to 0.4 per cent

Saudi’s top cleric says cinemas, song concerts harmful

Round-the-clock entertainment could open the door to “atheistic or rotten” foreign films and encourage the mixing of the sexes

Dubai issues over 26,700 new business licences in 2016

The number of licences renewed in 2016 stood at 107,043

Over 95% of UAE private firms plan to keep staff levels unchanged – poll

The monthly Emirates NBD survey indicated a rise in business activity on the back of new export orders

Saudi Q3 GDP growth slowest in over three years

Saudi’s GDP, adjusted for inflation, grew 0.9 per cent from a year earlier

Oman 2017 budget projects smaller deficit as govt plans tax hikes

The government is mulling changes to income tax and changes to fees charged for hiring foreign workers

Saudi appoints board for newly created entertainment entity

The new entity will develop, promote, regulate and fund Saudi’s entertainment industry

Saudi budget likely to raise labour costs for corporates

The introduction of various taxes on expat visas will increase labour costs in the kingdom, says report

Saudi plans to pump $53bn into the private sector to boost diversification

An investment fund will be established to provide the capital

Women should be allowed to work as paramedics, opticians – Saudi officials

The government aims to increase the number of women in the workforce by 2020

Saudi’s King Salman acknowledges restructuring measures are ‘painful’

The plunge in oil prices since mid-2014 has pushed Saudi to rein in public spending

Dubai’s tourism sector gets boost from visas-on-arrival for Chinese

The UAE introduced visas-on-arrival for Chinese nationals in September

UAE private sector job growth hits four-month high

The UAE’s non-oil private sector regained growth in November for the first time in four months

Saudi government injects cash into economy following oil-linked slowdown

Riyadh raised $17.5bn last month in its first international bond issue

Saudi’s new nationalisation scheme aims to create over one million jobs

The programme will come up for voting in the Shoura Council this week

Iran will issue visa on arrival to all but 9 countries

Iran and the global economy: Have things changed?

The lifting of sanctions against Iran in January is yet to have the impact many had hoped for

Saudi to set up national water and energy efficiency programme

Saudi aims to reduce electricity and water subsidies by SAR200bn by 2020

Bahrain approaches banks about sukuk sale in Q1 2017

The kingdom has some $5bn-equivalent in debt maturing in 2017

Saudi central bank predicts 1.8% GDP growth this year

The non-oil sector is expected to expand 2.5 per cent

Oman’s National Gas Company terminates CEO

S&P downgrades outlook for Oman to ‘negative’

Oman’s fiscal consolidation could take longer than expected, says rating agency

Dubai firms remain ‘cautious’ on hiring despite strong growth

Dubai’s private sector economy registered an improvement in business conditions in October

UAE to have new framework for public-private partnerships

The documentation will be used instead of drafting a new PPP law

Sharjah ruler’s wife calls for new UAE ministry for women

The move will further empower women in the country, she said

UAE’s economy has doubled in the last 10 years – Sheikh Mohammed

The non-oil sector’s contribution to the UAE’s GDP now stands at 77 per cent

Kuwait raises minimum salary requirement for family visas

Expatriates now have to earn at least KD450 per month to sponsor their families