#Government

India to begin repatriation of stranded citizens, including from UAE, this week

Citizens will be transported via aircraft and naval ships and will be quarantined for 14 days upon arrival at their destination in India

Sharjah extends suspension of all social and sports events

The suspension will be in place until the end of May and could be extended further

Dubai Healthcare City offers relief package of fee waivers and rent reductions

The DHCA announced a 100 per cent waiver on administration fees for all its properties

Dubai South waives first-year licence fees for new customers

It has also offered a 20 per cent reduction on licence fee renewals as part of its economic stimulus package

KUWAIT-INDIA-HEALTH-VIRUS amnesty

Amnesty ends in Kuwait, 30,000 undocumented expats avail scheme – report

The initiative, which was in place from April 1-30, permitted residency violators to leave the country without paying any fines

Sheikh Mohammed

Sheikh Mohammed commissions post-Covid-19 UAE development strategy

He also ordered an emergency plan to be formulated to increase the productivity and competitiveness of the country’s medical sector

Robot technology deployed to disinfect Abu Dhabi airport, screen passengers

The robot will be deployed throughout Abu Dhabi International Airport including staff areas and cargo facilities as well as cabins on passenger aircraft

UAE reports 561 new Covid-19 cases, 121 recoveries as testing intensifies

The new cases were detected following over 36,266 tests conducted to screen for the virus

Message from the top: Hamad Buamim, president and CEO, Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry

As companies across the GCC tackle the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, regional business leaders reveal insights on what their organisations are doing and offer advice on how to deal with the current crisis

Private sector salaries must be paid on time – UAE labour ministry

Employers must abide by the Ministerial Decree No. 739 of 2016 that safeguards employees’ wages and which mandates that employment contracts are honoured

sharjah airport

Registration opens for Indians in the UAE seeking to return home

Officials said the decision on resumption of passenger flights to India “will be taken in due course”

UAE petrol prices for May declared

Super 98 petrol will cost Dhs1.91 per litre, while Special 95 is priced at Dhs1.80 per litre

First Abu Dhabi Bank

First Abu Dhabi Bank reports 22% decrease in year-on-year Q1 2020 net profit

Meanwhile, the value of total assets of the UAE’s largest bank rose 14 per cent to Dhs835bn

Dubai reduces instant licence fee by over 90 per cent to Dhs250

For existing licence holders, the new fee will apply at the time of renewals

Safa Al Hashem kuwait

Kuwaiti MPs call for stricter rules for expats to get driving licences

MP Safa Al-Hashem claimed several expats present fake contracts stipulating high salaries as a means to obtain a driving licence

Saudi signs $265m deal with China to fight virus

The deal will provide the Saudis nine million kits with a capacity to test 50,000 people per day

Dubai’s DIFC says employers can reduce pay during Covid-19 crisis without employee consent

The new directives will remain effective from April 21 – July 31, 2020

AL HOSN UAE app Covid-19

New ‘ALHOSN UAE’ Covid-19 app launched to coordinate efforts to contain the virus

The free app will be the official digital platform for Covid-19 test results in the UAE

Saudi wealth fund seeking ‘any opportunity’ amid virus

The Public Investment Fund has stepped up deal-making in a bid to become the world’s biggest manager of sovereign capital

saudi arabia riyadh

Saudi Arabia eases curfew and business restrictions across the country, except in Makkah

On April 25, Saudi reported 1,197 new Covid-19 cases with the highest number of new cases detected in Makkah

Dubai eases movement restrictions, allows malls and offices to partially reopen

Public transport services, including Dubai Metro services, will resume from Sunday, April 26

coronavirus uae

UAE changes timings of national disinfection drive during Ramadan

Certain stores will now be allowed to operate from 6am until 10pm

Dubai Metro likely to resume services within a “maximum period of one week”

The metro will operate between 7am-7pm during the first phase of the planned reopening of the public transport system

Dubai bans gatherings of more than 10 people during Ramadan

Physical contact including handshakes and hugs are strictly prohibited during these gatherings

DIFC Courts

Dubai’s DIFC Courts introduces video conferencing to register wills online

A testator and two witnesses can join via video conferencing from different locations

UAE telecom operator du reports 21% decrease in net income for Q1 2020

It also reported revenues of Dhs2.99bn for Q1 2020, down 4.8 per cent compared to the corresponding period in 2019

Abu Dhabi City United Arab Emirates

Abu Dhabi launches new committee to protect private sector workers’ rights

The committee will ensure the existence of valid employment contracts and that workers are receiving their salaries

Saudi announces revised curfew hours during Ramadan

Saudi Arabia imposed an evening curfew across the kingdom in March to curb the spread of Covid-19

BIE agrees proposal to postpone Expo 2020 Dubai, final vote by May 29

To confirm the change in dates, the decision will need to receive approval from two-thirds majority of member states of the BIE

Sheikh Mohammed approves draft of new UAE national security law

It involves setting up a taskforce as well as the possibility of converting government buildings into medical facilities