#GCC

Qatar

Qatar updates Covid-19 PCR testing rules for inbound citizens and residents

Vaccinated citizens and residents are not required to conduct a pre-departure PCR test before travelling to Qatar, provided that the country they are departing from is not on the red list

Rising momentum of the region’s banking sector

GCC banks are paving the way for a promising year

VisitBritain launches GBP10m global tourism campaign in Dubai

The campaign aims to drive inbound tourism, as Britain gears up for a year of landmark events

Dubai received 7.28 million overnight visitors in 2021

Hotels in the emirate recorded average occupancy levels of 67 per cent last year

UK inflation at new 40-year high worsens living standards crisis

UK, GCC may sign post-Brexit trade deal this year, Bahrain says

Negotiations between the GCC and the UK have begun

Banking across the GCC: Carving out a new future

Growing customer awareness and the recent global health crisis have encouraged regional banks to ramp up their offerings 

Roland Berger and Start-Up Nation Central partner to tap opportunities in the GCC

The organisations will collaborate on strategic initiatives to promote business agreements between Israeli companies and GCC-based government and commercial entities

Qatar capital Doha

Qatar pushes Gulf Arab energy company borrowing to record high

Gulf Arab energy firms borrowed $30.5bn in 2021, the highest level in at least 25 years

Where is the GCC’s confectionery market headed?

Even though wellness is on the rise, there will always be a place in the market for confectionery, says Tyrone Reid, CEO, Alabbar Enterprises

GCC-UK strategic partnership to create jobs and drive economic growth in the Middle East

The GCC and UK already cooperate in many areas including security, foreign policy, trade and investment

Gulf leaders stress need for joint security, approve establishment of GCC Railways Authority

The GCC Supreme Council also urged for the need to accelerate the establishment of a joint customs union and the GCC Common Market

How the OPPO Reno6 Series raises the bar for smartphone cameras

OPPO, one of the fastest-growing smartphone companies globally, launched the Reno6 Series which features enhanced photography and videography capabilities

Bahrain parliament approves decision to double VAT to 10%

The bill has now been sent to the Shura Council, the upper house of the National Assembly

Saudi Crown Prince arrives in Oman on official visit

On the sidelines of the visit, Saudi Arabia and Oman signed 13 memoranda of understanding across different sectors

Human Logic - Gamalearn partnership

Human Logic, Gamalearn collaborate to support region’s education sector

The organisations plan to integrate their technological solutions to boost the growth of the education industry

Bahrain’s financial group acquires US medical offices for $200m

Spread across seven states, the medical offices portfolio consists of 11 assets and 400,000 square feet of space

UAE: Over 60% of clients set to approach their banks for new services

A recent report advices banks to quickly redesign their respective diversification strategies to remain relevant in the future

Newage Learning, infoShare Academy to launch software coding education programmes in GCC

With technology being increasingly critical in every facet of business, all organisations recognise the need to accelerate development of digital solutions to be competitive

Climate change: What is the GCC’s role in this equation

The region needs to capitalise on the economic benefits of the sustainable energy industry

Saudi sees ‘no useful purpose’ in engaging with Lebanon

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain have all recalled their diplomats from Lebanon

ASUS Business

Here’s how ASUS Business is bridging the technological gap in education

The company is also aggressively launching new products, solutions and initiatives in 2022

Over half of Arab youth say they will boycott brands that damage the environment

The region’s youth is keen to ensure governments and businesses act responsibly when it comes to climate action

Gitex Global

Gitex Global: Here’s how the region’s tech landscape is changing

The Middle East and Africa region appears to be on its way to becoming a significant leader in the adoption of technologies

PubG

GCC’s biggest PUBG Mobile championship launched

As the official smartphone partner of PUBG Mobile Esports in the Middle East and Africa in 2021, OPPO will play an active part in the company’s esports championships

Here’s how blockchain has revolutionised the regional financial sector

While blockchain technology is still in its early stages in the Middle East, public and private sectors are aggressively using it to streamline operations

Rivoli Vision

Rivoli launches dedicated eyewear division in the GCC

Rivoli Vision expects 100 stores to be opened by early 2022 across its three eyewear retail concepts: Avanti, Rivoli Eyezone and Style 88

Healthy prospects: Dubai-based startup Med Reach on plans ahead

The healthtech startup is aiming to close communication gaps in the healthcare market, say founders Mohammad Shalaby, Abdulkader Tatari and Firas Anjarini

Boardroom connection: How to best manage family members

There are a few steps family boards can embrace for the long-term success

Playkey cloud gaming

Playkey.me is now available in the Middle East

The playkey.me application is compatible with Mac OS X 10.7 and higher and Windows 32- and 64-bit

data centre

Charging the future

With the increasing use of lithium-ion batteries in data centres, the market is expected to grow significantly by 2025