The initiative will focus on the tourism, health, and education sectors
The kingdom’s non-oil firms noted sharp increases in output and new business
Costa Rica has announced the launch of a new embassy in Dubai
A Dhs114m contract for develop infrastructure for the system has been approved
Both countries are significant producers of oil and gas
Oman businesses are far more optimistic than their global counterparts
Up to 45 per cent of surveyed firms in Saudi expect headcount reductions in 2017
The forecast assumes an average oil price during the year of $45 a barrel
Those SMEs interested in joining the system will have to pay Dhs5,000 and register online
The increase in oil prices is expected to help the country narrow its budget deficit this year
The IMF slashed its prediction for Saudi’s economic growth in 2017 to 0.4 per cent
Round-the-clock entertainment could open the door to “atheistic or rotten” foreign films and encourage the mixing of the sexes
The number of licences renewed in 2016 stood at 107,043
The monthly Emirates NBD survey indicated a rise in business activity on the back of new export orders
Saudi’s GDP, adjusted for inflation, grew 0.9 per cent from a year earlier
The government is mulling changes to income tax and changes to fees charged for hiring foreign workers
The new entity will develop, promote, regulate and fund Saudi’s entertainment industry
The introduction of various taxes on expat visas will increase labour costs in the kingdom, says report
An investment fund will be established to provide the capital
The government aims to increase the number of women in the workforce by 2020
The plunge in oil prices since mid-2014 has pushed Saudi to rein in public spending
The UAE introduced visas-on-arrival for Chinese nationals in September
The UAE’s non-oil private sector regained growth in November for the first time in four months
Riyadh raised $17.5bn last month in its first international bond issue
The programme will come up for voting in the Shoura Council this week
The lifting of sanctions against Iran in January is yet to have the impact many had hoped for
Saudi aims to reduce electricity and water subsidies by SAR200bn by 2020
The kingdom has some $5bn-equivalent in debt maturing in 2017
The non-oil sector is expected to expand 2.5 per cent
Oman’s fiscal consolidation could take longer than expected, says rating agency