#News

Al Hamra Village Ras Al Kaimah

RAK developer offers UAE residency with purchase of homes

Along with the 12-year residency visa, investors will also receive a business licence, an additional partner visa and a flexi-desk to conduct business

kuwait

Kuwait approves emergency use of Pfizer vaccine

As of December 13, Kuwait has reported 146,218 Covid-19 cases including 911 deaths

dirhams

Abu Dhabi jails six, slaps fines of Dhs160m on money laundering charges

The accused, also involved in drug trafficking, were found guilty of using exchange houses to transfer illegal funds to Pakistan

Bahrain

Bahrain to provide free Covid-19 vaccinations to all residents and citizens

All those over the age of 18 will receive the vaccine, with plans in place to initially vaccinate five thousand individuals per day

UAE Public Prosecution

Up to six-month imprisonment or Dhs5,000 fine for insulting people in the UAE

The Public Prosecution said that it would be considered an aggravating circumstance if the libel or insult is addressed to a public servant

Dubai UAE ALSAADA Tourist card

Dubai’s GDRFA unveils new ALSAADA Tourist card

The card will offer exclusive privileges, discounts, and promotions to tourists visiting Dubai and will be distributed free of charge

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai

Sheikh Mohammed launches the UAE’s first federal domestic tourism campaign

The UAE’s domestic tourism sector contributed Dhs41.2bn to the national economy in 2019

Hope Consortium flies two million Covid-19 vaccine doses from Beijing into Abu Dhabi

Etihad Cargo chartered seven Boeing 777-300ER aircraft to fly the temperature-sensitive cargo into Abu Dhabi International Airport

Damac Hotels

Dubai’s Damac Hotels records Q4 occupancy rates of 85%

Currently, around 80 per cent of the guests are based in the UAE, while 20 per cent are foreigners visiting the country

British investments in UAE valued at $20.5bn

The UAE is also one of the 27 top investors in the UK

Oman

Oman to restart issuing tourist visas

Tourist visas will only be issued to those whose visits are organised by hotels or tourism companies

Gitex 2020: UAE to host Israeli tech delegation

Gitex will host the UAE-Israel Future Digital Economy Summit and the Gitex Future Stars Israel Innovation Discovery Day

Yutaka Yano appointed as president of Mitsubishi Motors Middle East and Africa

Yano was previously the general manager for the Middle East at Mitsubishi Motors Corporation in Tokyo

Etihad Beijing Abu Dhabi

Etihad to begin direct weekly flights from Beijing to Abu Dhabi

Etihad will become the only airline in the MENA region to operate non-stop passenger flights departing from both Shanghai and Beijing

Dubai Electricity

Dubai’s DEWA slashes water and electricity surcharges

The reductions will be applied on electricity and water bills from December 1, 2020

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park

Dubai’s Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park to have world’s largest energy storage capacity

The fourth phase will be operational in stages starting from Q3 2021

Flydubai Israel Tel Aviv

Flydubai’s inaugural flight to Israel lands in Tel Aviv

The inaugural flight was flown by Captain Patrick Gonzenbach and Emirati First Officer Abdulla Al Shamsi

Abu Dhabi Hope Consortium

Abu Dhabi’s Hope Consortium to facilitate worldwide distribution of Covid-19 vaccine

The consortium will be able to handle the logistics for over six billion doses of the vaccines manufactured around the world – whether in single or multi doses – in cold and ultra-cold conditions in 2021

Dubai Customs Drugs

Video: Dubai Customs seize over 663kgs of drugs including crystal meth, heroin, opium and cannabis

It was the biggest narcotic smuggling operation intercepted along Dubai’s coast

KUWAIT-INDIA-HEALTH-VIRUS amnesty

Kuwait offers second amnesty this year for undocumented expats

The amnesty will require expats living illegally to either get a valid residency or leave the country after paying their fines to avoid a ban

Nasdaq Dubai Dubai Islamic Bank

Dubai Islamic Bank lists $1bn sukuk on Nasdaq Dubai

Dubai Islamic Bank is now the largest UAE-based sukuk issuer by value on Nasdaq Dubai with a total of $7.3bn listed on the exchange

mosque uae

Mosques in UAE to resume Friday prayers from December 4

Children, senior citizens and those with chronic and respiratory diseases, or those suffering from a weak immunity, must perform their prayers at home

Emirates Hotel Dubai

Emirates to offer complimentary hotel stay in Dubai to select transiting passengers

Eligible Emirates passengers will receive a complimentary night’s stay in a 4 or 5-star hotel in Dubai

Foreign nationals permitted 100% business ownership in the UAE

The rule will be applicable from December 1, 2020, with businesses no longer requiring an Emirati sponsor

UAE-ISRAEL-US-DIPLOMACY

Emiratis can travel to Israel without a visa

The Israeli cabinet has ratified the agreement for Emiratis to visit without pre-approved visas

OMAN-HEALTH-VIRUS-TRAVEL

Over 7,600 expats register to exit Oman as part of its initiative to waive overstay fines

The initiative, which began on November 15, runs until the end of the year

Mubadala

UAE’s Mubadala joins coalition of sovereign wealth funds supporting global climate action

Mubadala has officially become a member of the One Planet Sovereign Wealth Funds

u.ae government website

Record growth in users of official UAE government portal from January-October: TRA

It recorded a 50.73 per cent year-on-year increase over the 6.54 million users recorded in the same period in 2019

G20 leaders

G20: World leaders promise to ensure equality in the race to vaccinate people for Covid-19

“There is very clear recognition from the G20 members that if we leave any country behind, we will be behind” – Saudi minister

Boeing 737 Max UAE

UAE civil aviation authority considering Boeing 737 Max return

It has established a Return to Service Committee that will coordinate with the US Federal Aviation Administration and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency