Ooredoo Kuwait offers free WhatsApp, Skype as it mounts recovery

The telecom operator is hoping to attract more subscribers and ultimately raise average user revenues

Accor announces first Majlis Grand Mercure hotel in Qatar

The new upscale property in Doha, set to open in 2018, is being developed in partnership with the Al Jassim Group

Apple Watch launches in the UAE – should you buy it?

The smart watch is priced from Dhs 1,399 upwards in the UAE

Revealed: Worst countries for expats to live and work in

Kuwait was ranked the worst country for expats to live and work in, a new survey showed

Bahrain charges 24 with trying to set up ISIL branch in kingdom

Eight of the 24 accused have been arrested and the rest remain at large, according to a statement by Public Prosecutor Ahmed al-Hammadi

Qatar says could intervene militarily in Syria but prefers political solution

Qatar has been a leading supporter of anti-Assad rebel groups, providing arms and financial and political backing

UAE’s National Food Products Co eyes $1.5bn stake sale – sources

The company markets brands including Milco, Lacnor and Oasis bottled water

Saudi appoints former investment chief as new US ambassador

Prince Abdullah bin Faisal bin Turki Al Saud served as governor of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority from 2000-2004

Emaar launches second phase of Maple townhouses in Dubai

Maple 2 will consist of 666 contemporary-styled townhouses ranging from three to five bedrooms

Dubai’s Mashreq Q3 net profit slips 7.6% as fee incomes fall

A rise in expenses meant net fee and commission income dropped by 4 per cent in the third quarter

Nakheel reports 39% net profit rise for first nine months of 2015

The developer said property handovers and strong performance by its retail, leasing and leisure businesses boosted profit

Russia overtakes Saudi Arabia for second time in China crude supply

China bought 983,590 bpd from Russia last month, up 42 per cent year-on-year, while imports from Saudi were down 16.5 per cent at 961,710 bpd

Abu Dhabi’s new financial freezone begins operations

Abu Dhabi Global Market will initially focus on sectors such as wealth management, asset management and private banking

Revealed: Top 10 countries with the most number of millionaires

The United States tops the list while the UAE and Saudi Arabia feature among the top 15

Dell to hire extensively in Dubai as it expands Middle East presence

The company is increasing manpower within its healthcare, security and IoT businesses

Abu Dhabi court delivers final verdict on school bus death case

Three-year old Nizaha Ala’a suffocated to death after she fell asleep and remained locked inside a school bus in October 2014

Saudi Prince Alwaleed’s Kingdom Holding reports 10% increase in Q3 net profit

Kingdom Holding made a net profit of SAR 291.55m in the third quarter of 2015, up from SAR 265m in the same period a year earlier

Saudis looking at wide range of fiscal reforms -IMF official

The IMF estimates Riyadh faces a record budget deficit of well over $100bn this year, amounting to 21.6 per cent of gross domestic product

Kuwait plans new terminal as stop-gap for delayed airport expansion

The new terminal will lift capacity at Kuwait International Airport to 10 million passengers a year

France nears 2.5 bn euros of defence deals with Kuwait

The deal for 24 Caracal heavy helicopters has been in the works since June, when French officials said it had been provisionally agreed

UN right experts urge Qatar to free man jailed for critical poem

Mohammed al-Ajami, 39, was detained in 2012 and initially sentenced to life imprisonment but later got his sentence reduced

Kuwait Airways expects to make a profit in two to three years

Kuwait’s government has approved plans to privatise the airline

Dubai Medical District inks deal with du to develop smart services

Du will create and establish infrastructure made of optical fiber in Dubai Medical District, in addition to improving the signal’s range

Saudi rights activists sentenced to years in prison – Amnesty

All 11 founding members of the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association are either jailed or awaiting trial

Emirates NBD partners with Starwood for World MasterCard

Cardholders are being enticed with instant SPG Gold status – which normally requires around 25 nights per year – as well as 25,000 Starpoints on activation

Iran returns Saudi accusations of cross-border meddling

Saudi’s foreign minister said this week that Iran’s military role in Syria disqualified it from playing a role in peacemaking efforts there

Marka to launch French jewellery brand dinh van in Dubai

House of dinh van is expected to open its first Dubai outlet in November at City Walk

Low oil prices continue to hurt GCC economies, more subsidy reforms expected– Moody’s

The agency has downgraded its oil price forecast and expects brent to average $53 per barrel in 2016 and $60 in 2017

PineBridge Investments to close Middle East business -sources

The company’s Middle East headquarters in Bahrain will close and a process is underway to wind down the business, the sources said

Damac chief slams reports of oversupply in Dubai’s property market

False reports of oversupply are damaging market sentiment, says Damac managing director Ziad El Chaar