Dubai’s MAF to open cinemas, entertainment destinations from May 27

This move is in line with the recent ruling permitting businesses in Dubai to gradually reopen

Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala to waive Q2 rent for retail tenants at its Galleria mall

The Galleria mall reopened and welcomed guests earlier this month

Facebook Shops

Facebook, Instagram unveil ‘Shops’ platform to facilitate e-commerce

The new product will be introduced this summer in the US, and will be subsequently rolled out in other markets worldwide

Saudi Arabia

Saudi declares complete curfew across the kingdom during Eid Al Fitr holidays

Until May 22, residents can continue to move freely between 9am-5pm in the regions where the curfew has been eased

Dubai reveals ‘reopening’ plan post Ramadan for malls, offices

Malls will be allowed to stay open longer but restrictions on children, elderly to continue

Abu Dhabi launches digital service for rent refunds on commercial leases

The new online service has been activated in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Department of Finance

UAE’s Majid Al Futtaim to launch City Centre Al Zahia in March 2021

The upcoming mall spans 136,200 sqm of gross leasable space and will become the largest mall in the Northern Emirates once inaugurated

Dubai’s Damas Jewellery appoints new chairman and CEO

Perramond replaces Damas’ first female CEO, Asil Attar, who was appointed to the role in February last year

Saudi mall operator Arabian Centres to reopen 20 shopping centres this week

The kingdom has allowed malls in most regions to reopen during Ramadan

Majid Al Futtaim launches Dubai’s ‘first’ in-store hydroponic farm

The farm spans 24 square metres and can accommodate up to 16 varieties of leafy greens and herbs

Abu Dhabi mall employees to be tested for Covid-19; new guidelines for customers visiting shopping centres

The testing of the employees would be carried out in coordination with the Department of Health (DoH)

Bahrain launches virtual mall with 100 stores amid Covid-19 concerns

The government-run website showcases products from over 100 local businesses

UAE retailer Majid Al Futtaim launches online marketplace through Carrefour

The platform has been successfully piloted for six months with third-party sellers and is now available on the Carrefour mobile app and website

Abu Dhabi Sheikh invests $1bn in top grocer LuLu

LuLu operates shopping malls and other businesses such as hospitality and real estate, and had an annual turnover of about $7.4bn

Revealed: Dubai issues list of guidelines for reopening malls, offices

The official date for reopening businesses is expected to be “announced shortly”

Abu Dhabi considers reopening malls with precautionary measures in place

Shoppers will be required to wear masks and gloves and maintain social distancing

DP World manasah

DP World launches online marketplace to support artisans and small businesses during Ramadan

Sellers can register on manasah.com for free

Dubai Silicon Oasis offers rent waivers, deferred payments to residents, startups and retailers

Existing residential tenants at Dubai Silicon Oasis can now make monthly payments towards their rent

Dubai Mall launches virtual store on noon’s online portal

Deliveries will be fulfilled by noon.com across the UAE including next-day delivery on select orders

Certain food stores allowed to operate in Dubai, outlets fined for inflating face mask prices

Meat, fruits, vegetables, roaster, mills, fish, coffee, tea trading stores can stay open from morning to night

Talabat rider

Talabat now offers 24×7 grocery delivery service in Dubai

The company said that it fulfils deliveries within an hour and offers groceries at hypermarket prices

Dubai clarifies directive on closure of commercial establishments

Dubai Economy has outlined businesses which are affected by this decision, the exemptions and the duration of the closure too

carrefour mobimart

UAE retailer Majid Al Futtaim to reassign over 1,000 employees to Carrefour

Ahead of the redeployment, employees have completed the requisite training

UAE supermarkets and pharmacies can remain open 24 hours a day

The percentage of shoppers in each of these establishments at any time must not exceed 30 per cent of its total capacity

UAE’s TRA shares list of ‘online grocery’ apps

The online stores on the list include large shopping centres and cooperatives, as well as grocery stores, meat and vegetable shops, and other services

UAE supermarkets confirm that they remain open, are ‘fully stocked’

Supermarkets also confirmed that they are carrying out regular sanitisation procedures

UAE’s Al-Futtaim to provide mall tenants three-month free occupancy

Al-Futtaim’s local mall portfolio consists of Dubai Festival City Mall and the Festival Plaza mall

Covid-19: Timings of shopping malls in the UAE reduced

The reduced operating hours do not apply to Carrefour, pharmacies or clinics within the malls

plastic bags

Abu Dhabi plans to ban single-use plastic bags by 2021

The phased programme will include the development of legislation and levying of fees to discourage the use of avoidable plastics

carrefour mobimart

Carrefour launches mobile grocery bus in Dubai

Customers can check daily route schedules and timings of the Mobimart bus on Carrefour’s website