Etihad adds capacity on MENA routes to meet summer demand

The Abu Dhabi airline is adding capacity to Dammam, Amman, Beirut, Cairo, Casablanca and Rabat

Interview: Chocolate brand Patchi on its ambitious expansion plans

With a new headquarters, manufacturing plant and boutiques on the horizon, Patchi’s activity in the GCC seems ready to grow

Alabbar-backed VC fund MEVP invests in Turkish fashion retailer Modacruz

An funding round led by MEVP invested $2m in mobile marketplace Modacruz

25 killed in Saudi air strikes on Yemen market – health official

The director of the Houthi-run Health Department office in Saada said the aircraft conducted two raids on al-Mashnaq market in Shada district

Saudi grants six-month visit visa extension for Yemenis

Visit visas for Yemenis were set to expire on June 15

UK set for hung parliamnet after May’s Conservatives lose seats

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn called on Theresa May to resign after the result

At least 13 killed in twin attacks in Tehran

Attackers raided the Iranian parliament early on Wednesday

Middle East airlines forecast to post 63.6% drop in 2017 profit – IATA

The US laptop ban is taking a toll on some key routes, says IATA

Ericsson appoints new GCC head as part of restructuring

Wojciech Bajda will also head Ericsson’s Global Customer Unit (GCU) Zain

Nestlé confident about Middle East market despite current instability

The company officially opened its 18th factory in the region in Dubai last month

Lebanese ministry bans ‘Wonder Woman’ film

The movie has been banned because an Israeli actress plays the lead role

UAE minister warns of ‘new sharp crisis’ in GCC alliance

A war of words has escalated between Qatari media on one side and Saudi and Emirati media on the other

Iran’s Khamenei says Saudis face ‘downfall’, Rouhani calls for better ties with the GCC

Iran and the GCC states are backing opposing sides in the wars in Syria and Yemen, and the unrest in Bahrain

Grief, rage in Egyptian church after at least 29 Copts killed attacked by gunmen

Gunmen attacked a group of Coptic Christians travelling to a monastery in central Egypt on Friday

Trump says concerns about Iran driving Israel, Arab states closer

Trump has vowed to do whatever necessary to broker peace between Israel and the Palestinians

Manchester concert attack: At least 22 killed, no official claim as yet

British police are treating the blast – which took place at the end of a concert by US singer Ariana Grande – as a “terrorist incident”

GCC states, US to sign agreement against terror financing

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will sign the MoU in Riyadh

Re-elected Iranian President Rouhani pledges to continue reforms

Rouhani won the election with more than 57 per cent of the vote

Iran elections: Millions queue up to vote

President Hassan Rouhani faces a strong challenge from hardliner Ebrahim Raisi

The Middle East’s start-up scene: Is funding still the biggest challenge?

The start-up ecosystem has boomed in the region over the last few years, with the recent Amazon deal also signalling the entry of international players

Dubai’s Emaar opens new mega mall in Istanbul

The mall is projected to be welcome 25 million visitors annually

Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein brand owner to open dozens of new GCC stores

The company said it sees the GCC as an “expansion” region for its brands despite difficult conditions

Kidnapped Indian priest in Yemen pleads for help in video

Father Tom Uzhunnalil was abducted in March 2016

Youth media brand Vice to launch in the MENA region by October

The initial launch will be an Arabic website, with a mixture of video and written content

War in Yemen ‘not an option but a necessity’ – senior Saudi official

Saudi’s ambassador to Yemen says kingdom and its allies are seeking a political solution to Yemen’s crisis

GCC finance ministers to discuss unified VAT regulations in Bahrain

All the six GCC states are anticipated to introduce a 5 per cent VAT simultaneously from January 2018

Seven GCC hospitality projects worth $1.1bn put on hold in March

The total value of hospitality projects in the GCC exceeded $148.4n in Q1

Japan’s ASICS eyes $75m share of Middle East’s running market

The company has opened a regional subsidiary in Dubai

Top tips for background checks when hiring in the Middle East

The basic steps you should take to ensure you’re making the right hire for your company

China’s Alibaba likely to eye Middle East market for acquisitions – expert

Following Amazon’s acquisition of Souq, the region will see more interest from global players, says Fadi Ghandour