#News

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Sheikh Mohammed restructures Dubai government; approves five-year foreign trade plan

Three new chambers of commerce will be created and the five-year plan seeks to increase Dubai’s foreign trade from Dhs1.4 trillion to Dhs2 trillion

Kuwait city

Kuwait eases Covid-19 restrictions, exempts vaccinated arrivals from institutional quarantine

The nightly curfew timing has been reduced by one hour

Saudi’s Nazaha arrests several people on corruption, embezzlement charges

Legal procedures against the accused are currently underway

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

UAE announces new remote working residency visa, multiple-entry tourist visas

The decision was reached on Sunday during a cabinet meeting chaired by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Arabtec Holding

Arabtec confirms filing for bankruptcy in Dubai Court

The bankruptcy judge decided to appoint a panel consisting of seven experts to examine the application

Ban on entry of foreigners into Kuwait remains in effect – civil aviation authority

The ban was imposed by the country on February 7 as part of measures to curb the spike in the number of coronavirus cases

UAE Covid-19 Vaccine

Free Covid-19 vaccinations in UAE reopened to all residents aged 16 and above

Barring vulnerable categories, prior appointments required for everyone else seeking to receive the jab

UAE schools

No decision yet on model for next academic year – UAE Ministry of Education

It came after media reports this week stated that the authorities in the country had decided to extend the hybrid learning system into the next academic year

Walid El-Hindi Shuaa Capital

Shuaa Capital appoints Walid El-Hindi as CEO of real estate division

Shuaa’s real estate investment portfolio is reported to be worth over $11bn

Kuwait Airways

Kuwait: Covid-19 PCR tests only from designated labs for incoming UAE passengers

Airlines must verify the tests were undertaken at pre-approved labs and that the results are not older than 72 hours

Abu Dhabi court fines four people, jewellery firm Dhs90m for money laundering, fraud

Each of the four defendants has been handed a five-year imprisonment term followed by deportation and a fine of Dhs10m

Ramadan 2021 UAE

New Covid-19 rules announced for Ramadan 2021 in UAE

Officials advised that only members of a family living in the same household should share meals

Meyan Mall Dubai

New Meyan Mall near Burj Al Arab in Dubai to open in April 2022

The mall consists of a ground level, two floors above it and two levels of basement parking

Kuwait masks

Kuwait: Schools to reopen in Sept, cinema entry only for vaccinated people post Ramadan

Some two million people in Kuwait are expected to receive Covid-19 vaccination by September

Sheikh Nawaf

Kuwait’s Emir travels to Europe after medical check-ups in the US

Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah travelled to the US on March 4

Dubai Courts DHA

DHA to issue electronic copies of pre-marital certificate to Dubai Courts

The three-year MoU signed between DHA and Dubai Courts will allow for other certificates and processes to be shared digitally between the two entities too

Saudi’s labour reforms take effect with expats now having greater rights

The new initiative offers expatriate workers labour mobility and amends existing exit procedures

Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan

Sheikh Mohammed launches mega Dubai 2040 urban development plan

Nature reserves and rural natural areas will constitute 60 per cent of the emirate’s total area, while land used for hotels and tourist activities will increase by 134 per cent

Israel UAE Travel Corridor

UAE, Israel consider quarantine-free travel corridor for fully vaccinated individuals

The two countries are expected to reach an agreement by next month

Hamdan bin Mohammed chairs Executive Council meeting june 2019

Freeze on Dubai government fees extended until early 2023

The three-year freeze on government fees was first announced by Sheikh Hamdan in March 2018

Abu Dhabi International Airport Covid-19 PCR Test

Free Covid-19 PCR tests at new lab inside Abu Dhabi International Airport

The 4,000-square-metre facility with 190 staff is capable of conducting over 20,000 tests per day, with results available in approximately 90 minutes

Sharjah Airport

Sharjah Airport handled 4.2 million passengers in 2020, down 69%

Cargo traffic through the airport reached 99,600 tons, and the airport achieved an increase in the volume of non-scheduled flights by 635.9 per cent year-on-year

Dubai Police foils plot to steal and smuggle Dhs1.3m Lamborghini car out of the country

In a raid, officials took down four suspects and seized forged car plates and forging tools at their residence

Saudi Aramco makes second highest profit on surging oil prices

Key Saudi Arabian oil site attacked, sending crude prices surging above $71

A storage tank in the Ras Tanura terminal was attacked by a drone while a missile also landed near a residential compound for Saudi Aramco employees in Dhahran

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia lifts restrictions on cinemas, gyms and restaurants

Most of the Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted starting Sunday, March 7

Etihad

Abu Dhabi’s Etihad reports $1.7bn loss for 2020, passenger traffic down 76%

The airline reported $1.2bn in passenger revenues in 2020, down by 74 per cent from $4.8bn the previous year

KUWAIT-HEALTH-VIRUS

Kuwait eases visa transfer restrictions for expats

The new decision allows expat government employees and those on dependent visas to transfer to jobs in the private sector

covid-19 vaccine dubai

Dubai expands Covid-19 vaccine eligibility criteria

Those aged 60 and above with a resident visa issued in any emirate, but residing in Dubai, can register for the vaccine

Dubai-listed Emaar Properties and Emaar Malls announce merger plans

As part of the transaction, the existing business of Emaar Malls will be reconstituted in a wholly owned subsidiary of Emaar Properties

ADNOC Abu Dhabi

UAE’s ADNOC appoints new managing director, restructures to form executive board of directors

Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber has been appointed as managing director of ADNOC, in addition to his current position as CEO