#Economy

Sheikh-Mohammed Dubai

Sheikh Mohammed outlines new law for family-owned businesses in Dubai

The validity of a family ownership contract can extend up to 15 years, after which it must be renewed

Bahrain, Manama, Cityscape view of Bahrain World Trade Center and Bahrain Financial Harbor

Bahrain awards 769 tenders worth $1.7bn in H1 2020

The construction and engineering sector accounted for the biggest share of contracts in the first six months of the year

Kuwait expats

Kuwait unlikely to extend visas beyond Aug 31, to stop issuing work permits for certain expats aged over 60

Expatriates whose visas expired by the end of May were given a three-month free grace period to renew their documents

Sheikh Mohammed Digital Economy

Sheikh Mohammed says digital economy is next priority for UAE

The digital economy’s contribution to the UAE’s local GDP in 2019 reached 4.3 per cent

jebel-ali-free-zone

Dubai’s foreign trade in medical sterilisers grows 23% to Dhs70m in H1

Exports rose by 20 per cent year-on-year to Dhs31m from Dhs25.7m, while re-exports stood at Dhs6.5m

KUWAIT-HEALTH-VIRUS

Kuwait to move into fourth phase of reopening this week

Salons, gyms, barbershops, tailors, and spas are set to reopen from August 18

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank records 52% decrease in net profit for H1 2020

Its net revenue also declined nearly 11.5 per cent year-on-year to Dhs2.5bn

Dubai-new

Dubai businesses return to growth in July as pandemic impact eases

Construction as well as the wholesale and retail industry are leading the upswing

KUWAIT-HEALTH-VIRUS worker expat

Kuwait mulling plan that could see 360,000 expats deported in the ‘short-term’

The Gulf state is aggressively looking to reduce its expat population

UAE plots new stimulus measures to bolster economy

The UAE’s central bank had provided more than $70bn of stimulus by March to aid businesses

Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi ports’ non-oil foreign trade valued Dhs66.5bn for first four months of 2020

Re-exports fell 24.6 per cent year-on-year to Dhs13bn and non-oil exports by 8.5 per cent to Dhs18.3bn

DAFZA

Exports from Dubai’s DAFZA up 54% in Q1 2020

China accounted for the highest percentage of DAFZA’s trade, with 21 per cent valued at Dhs7.7bn

Dubai attracted around Dhs12bn of FDI in H1 2020

There were 190 FDI projects announced in the emirate in H1 2020, around 50 per cent of them being greenfield initiatives

Dubai UAE

JPMorgan sees virus fallout stoking Middle East deals into 2021

The first six months saw $72bn of bond issuance from the region

china oman

Chinese oil giant CNPC eyes BP’s $1.5bn stake in Oman gas field

China’s state-owned oil giant is reportedly conducting advanced discussions with BP for a 10 per cent stake in the Khazzan natural gas field

ADCB

UAE’s ADCB to lay off around 400 employees – reports

The bank had asserted in March that no employees would be made redundant as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic

Standard Chartered

Standard Chartered appoints new CEO for Saudi Arabia banking division

In February last year, the British bank received approvals from Saudi Arabia’s financial regulator to open a branch in the kingdom

DIFC

China strengthens fintech cooperation with Dubai through new agreement with DIFC

Jiaozi Fintech Dreamworks and DIFC will collaborate on key sectors such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, big data and cloud computing

Dubai

Dubai’s real estate sector records transactions worth Dhs72.5bn in H1 2020

In H1 2020, 4,536 women investors completed 5,112 investments worth Dhs6.6bn

Covid-19 is the chief concern for UAE investors – UBS study

Majority of UAE investors said they were optimistic about the global economy

Saudi Arabia to Bahrain causeway reopens from July 23

The King Fahd Causeway shut on March 7 as part of the precautionary measures

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia refutes reports that it is mulling income tax

An official within the government added that the “issue is fundamentally not for discussion”

Muscat Oman

Oman to reimpose nationwide lockdown to contain spread of Covid-19

The two-week lockdown will commence from July 25

Dubai Food Security

Dubai’s external food trade valued at Dhs32bn in H1 2020

The emirate’s food imports reached Dhs22bn, while exports were recorded at Dhs5.5bn and re-exports amounted to Dhs4.5bn

Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi records Dhs80.23bn non-oil foreign trade in first five months of 2020

Saudi Arabia was the emirate’s top trading partner during the period, accounting for Dhs17.91bn worth of trade

DP World

DP World lists $1.5bn sukuk on Nasdaq Dubai

The capital raised by the sukuk will be used for general corporate and growth purposes including refinancing debt

Abu Dhabi Fund for Development

Covid-19: Abu Dhabi Fund suspends debt repayment for beneficiary countries, companies

It covers the payment of instalments and interests over the period from January 1 to December 31, 2020

Dubai reveals additional stimulus package worth Dhs1.5bn to support businesses

The stimulus package aims to support small and medium enterprises and a number of strategic sectors

UAE residence-visa 2

Expired UAE residence visas, ID cards no longer valid until December-end

UAE citizens, GCC nationals and residents inside the country have a grace period of three months to renew their documents

Abu Dhabi aims to attract skilled expats by making life cheaper

Abu Dhabi is the 39th most expensive place for expatriates, according to New York-based consultant Mercer, more costly than Boston or Milan