Dubai Parks and Resorts expansion could include new theme parks and hotels

The project’s chief executive said that the themepark has plans to expand further if visitors grow steadily

Iran’s aviation industry poised for take off ahead of sanction lift

Boeing and Airbus may be rubbing their hands at the prospect of a revitalised Iranian airline industry but Gulf airlines are happy scooping up business in the interim as the world

Middle East’s automotive industry slows, but motor companies remain optimistic

Weak global economy and low oil prices have hit car sales in the region

The business of private jets

Despite some challenges, the outlook for the Middle Eastern private aviation market remains robust

Emirates launches Dubai service to Yinchuan and Zhengzhou

The airline will offer flights to the two cities on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday

Etihad Airways’ passenger numbers grow by 17% in 2015

The airline carried around 17.4 million passengers last year

Saudi Arabia thwarts attacks, puts 532 ISIL suspects on trial

Officials said that the suspects belonged to six cells and were planning to attack security agencies and the US embassy in Riyadh

Saudi Aramco chairman says no concrete plan for listing – report

Khalid al-Falih said studies for a potential IPO were ongoing

oil-big7

Dollar strength could see oil hit $20 – Morgan Stanley

US bank warns of further declines if the currency’s strength continues

Zurich to scale back general insurance business in Middle East

The Swiss insurer said that it will fully close its general insurance business in the Middle East by 2016

Dubai taxi fares increased by 5%

This is the second increase in taxi tariffs in Dubai in the last 12 months

Malware attacks have doubled in the Middle East, reveals report

Saudi Arabia and Turkey witnessed the most number of targeted attacks

GCC seeks private sector funding as oil wealth slows

Gulf countries are turning towards public private partnerships to fund multi- billion dollar rail projects

Huawei hopes for double digit growth in the Middle East next year

The company recently launched its Mate S and SmartWatch W1 in the region

Behind the curtain of… destination marketing

Gulf Business speaks to Insignia Worldwide founder and CEO Gaurav Sinha

Smartphone review: Huawei Mate S

The Chinese manufacturer’s latest device is certainly a looker, but is let down by its high price point

Smartphones behind the rise of loyalty schemes in the UAE – report

Research finds increase in number of coupons being downloaded onto consumers’ phones

Alstom begins train production for Riyadh Metro

Alstom’s Katowice plant in Poland will manufacture 69 of the metro train-sets with delivery set to begin in 2017

GCC digital-only banks more than two years away

An EY survey of GCC consumers found 64 per cent would feel comfortable switching to a digital-first bank

Government support key for making Dubai an Islamic finance hub, say CEOs

Islamic finance experts also push for standardised practices across the industry

Luxury fashion brands in Dubai hit by drop in Russian, Chinese spending

Tourist numbers have fallen from Russia and China due to an economic slowdown in both the countries

In pictures: 10 new cars launched at the 2015 Dubai International Motor Show

New models were unveiled by several top carmakers at the Dubai International Motor show

UAE taxi-app start-up Careem raises $60m from Abraaj-led group

The funding will be used for regional expansion

Canadian planemaker Bombardier says CS100 aircraft testing almost 100% complete

The company said it is on track to have the aircraft certified this year with Transport Canada

Instagram looks forward to growth in the GCC as new advertising feature rolled out

Facebook-owned platform had ‘very promising’ results from early launch

Dubai regulator fines ABN AMRO $640,000 over money laundering rules

The Amsterdam-based lender was penalised after some of its staff were found to have engaged in practices that breached rules set by the regulator

Air Canada begins new direct service between Toronto and Dubai

The thrice-weekly service will be operated on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

Uber to invest $250m in MENA region to boost growth

The platform launched two years ago in the UAE and currently operates in 13 cities across the region

Saudi Electricity Co. signs SAR 2.5bn deal to build green power plant

The 605-megawatt Green Duba power plant will produce 43 MW of solar energy

JadoPado receives $4m funding from Beco Capital, to introduce COD option

The e-commerce firm expects to have up to 20,000 vendors selling 200,000 products on its platform over the next 18 months