Abu, Dhabi, UAE -- A new UAE law contributes to enhancing insured Emiratis chance in obtaining a retirement pension by merging employment years at no cost, which increases the possibility of obtaining a pension and/or end-of-service gratuity once ready to retire. Announced by the General Pension and Social Security Authority...

Dubai, UAE -- Three toolkits have been developed for family-owned businesses, which make up approximately 90 percent of the UAE’s private sector, by the Dubai Centre for Family Businesses. The toolkits – Succession Planning for Family Businesses, Family Office and Fostering Productivity through Streamlined Family Communication-- focus on key areas...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources is set to launch nearly 35 renewable energy projects in 2024, Minister Bandar AlKhorayef said. The coming year will witness the execution of a big number of projects as well as investments, AlKhorayef added on the sidelines of the...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Aramco Digital Co. and Intel have unveiled plans to establish Saudi Arabia’s first open radio access networks (RAN) development center. The step aims to drive innovation, promote technological advancement, and contribute to Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation, according to a statement by both companies. This collaboration will...

Manama, Bahrain--National accounts estimates issued by the Information eGovernment Authority of the Kingdom of Bahrain showed that the real GDP of the Kingdom increased by 2.45% at constant prices and by 1.09% at current prices during the third quarter of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. Bahrain News...

MOSCOW, RUSSIA - The Russian government has extended the ban on the entry of trucks from the European Union, the UK, Norway and Ukraine to the country. “The restriction will remain in effect until the circumstances that served as the basis for its introduction are eliminated,” the Cabinet noted on...

Abu Dhabi, UAE -- Institutional investors boosted their acquisition of domestic stocks in 2023, purchasing nearly AED 7 billion ($1.9 billion) in local stocks from January to December 2023. This figure reflects a total purchase of AED 302.7 billion compared to total sales of approximately AED 295.8 billion. Institutional investors...

ABU DHABI, UAE - Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), represented by Industrial Development Bureau (IDB), and Siemens Energy have joined hands to further decarbonize the Emirate’s booming industrial sector. The collaboration supports Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy's vision to establish the Emirate as the most competitive industrial hub in...

Dubai, UAE -- Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Monday issued a decree for the formation of the Board of Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services chaired by the Director-General of Dubai Health Authority. The Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Excellence and Pioneering Affairs of Dubai Police will serve as the...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia jumped 10 ranks to second place among the G20 countries according to International Telecommunication Union’s ICT Development Index (IDI) 2023. The Information and Telecommunication Technology index monitors the economies of 169 countries to measure their progress in ICT services through two main pillars ‘universal...

Riyad, Saudi Arabia -- Key regional players have welcomed the agreement – involving a comprehensive set of measures aimed at establishing a ceasefire, improving living conditions, and resuming political dialogue under the auspices of the United Nations (UN) – reached by the warring parties in Yemen.  Jassem Mohamed Albudaiwi, the...

The Houthis welcomed Spain's stance, with deputy foreign minister Hussein al-Ezzi saying "we highly appreciate Spain's refusal to be drawn into American and British lies on the issue of maritime navigation". The Iran-backed Houthis have carried out several strikes on Red Sea shipping in what they say is in support...

In recent weeks, the army has faced international criticism after viral footage of detainees stripped down to their underwear and blindfolded with their hands tied behind the backs.

More than 260 prominent Tunisian figures had signed a petition against what they called a "useless" election, saying Saied's government "continues to implement its political project imposed on" people in the country. They alleged the aim of the election was to "weaken local power, disperse it, and make it another...

NEW YORK, US - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Sunday that 136 United Nations employees in Gaza Strip had died in 75 days, something the global organization had "never seen" in its history. "Most of our staff have been forced from their homes," the UN chief added in a...

Dubai, UAE -- The Arkiz Agricultural Project in Mauritania, which has been financed by the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) with a $34 million loan, has been inaugurated to enhance water and food security in the country and contribute to the development of key developmental sectors. Saudi Fund for Development...

The emirate recorded a total of 3,785 real estate transactions worth AED 16.6bn ($4.51 billion) during the week ending 22 December 2023. Palm Jabal Ali recorded the most transactions for this week with 35 sales transactions worth AED 850.21 million.

Manama, Bahrain--Export Bahrain and Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) have signed a strategic partnership agreement to strengthen trade ties and create new avenues of opportunity for small and medium-sized enterprises in the Kingdom of Bahrain.  The strategic partnership agreement seeks to foster mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation. It...

Ankara, Turkey - Six Turkish soldiers were killed and one wounded when their base in northern Iraq was attacked by members of a Kurdish party outlawed by Ankara, the defense ministry said on Saturday. Turkey has operated several dozen military posts in northern Iraq for the past 25 years in its...

Doha, Qatar--The General Authority of Customs and the General Tax Authority have announced the launch of the interconnection between their electronic services, as part of the efforts to facilitate procedures for business owners and benefit from the development of the digital infrastructure in Qatar. The interconnection launch announcement comes to...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — UK's Secretary of State for Defense Grant Shapps welcomed Saudi Arabia's Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman at Lancaster House Palace in London on Thursday. Upon Prince Khalid bin Salman's arrival, a formal reception ceremony was held, featuring a review of the guard of honor, Saudi...

Abu Dhabi, UAE - The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has said that the UAE insurance sector continued to grow in Q3 2023, as reflected by the increase in the number of insurance policies in line with the increase in the gross written premiums (GWP). In its report, CBUAE...

Abu Dhabi, UAE – A wave of 44 large direct deals swept over the International Holding Company (IHC) shares on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) on Thursday. According to ADX data, the deals were executed on 11.159 million stocks worth AED4.458 billion ($1.205 billion) at a price of AED399.5...

Dubai, UAE - Savings Deposits in the banking sector in the UAE, excluding interbank deposits, hit $71.87 billion by the end of October 2023, showing an annual increase of 7.8 percent, equivalent to about $5.17 billion, compared to approximately $66.59 billion in October 2022. The local currency, the dirham, accounted...

Dubai, UAE -- Consumer spending in the UAE is expected to increase by 5 percent in 2024, while consumers and businesses will face crucial decisions about spending and investing, where price differentials and interest rates have burrowed into budgets, informing the resources available with less wiggle room, according to the...

Abu Dhabi, UAE -- The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department has introduced a new service that allows marriage contracts to be delivered instantly through text messages and approved electronic channels. This is the first service of its kind and it enables the marriage contract to be sent directly to the spouses...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia’s holdings of US Treasuries reached $117.5 billion in October 2023, up $399 million month-on-month and the highest level since December 2022, new data released by the US Treasury showed. The Kingdom kept the 17th place among the largest holders of US Treasuries for the...

Abu Dhabi, UAE - The popular traditional food Harees is now inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi announced on Wednesday. Harees is a porridge-like dish that is most often eaten during important family gatherings, such as weddings,...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - "From the Ashes," a Saudi film inspired by true events, is poised to debut on Netflix on January 18, 2024. The film intricately unfolds within the confines of an all-girls' school, where a seemingly routine day takes a harrowing turn when a fire erupts in the...

Officially taking over from his half-brother Sheikh Nawaf, who passed away on Saturday, Sheikh Meshal is faced with the task of pulling the country out of longstanding political paralysis and reforming a bloated public sector that have turned Kuwait into one of the Gulf's most laggard states.

"Delivering food from Jordan, to Gaza through Kerem Shalom crossing, will increase the volume and speed of food reaching the Gaza Strip, as millions face the risk of starvation," WFP said. Israel last Friday approved the temporary delivery of aid into Gaza via its Kerem Shalom border crossing, opening a...

At UNCTAD eWeek 2023, experts stress the importance of aligning AI development with Sustainable Development Goals to mitigate risks and ensure a secure digital future.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- The total value of assets held by public and private investment funds in Saudi Arabia decreased by 1 percent quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) to SAR 507.7 billion ($135.32 billion) by the end of the third quarter of 2023. The number of investment funds rose to 1,209 by the...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia on Tuesday introduced 'KSA VISA,' a unified visa platform aimed at streamlining visa application processes. The initiative is a step in the kingdom's strategy to bolster tourism in the forthcoming years. Abdul Hadi Al-Mansouri, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Executive Affairs, unveiled the...

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL - One of the last remaining hospitals in the northern Gaza Strip stopped operating on Tuesday after being stormed by the Israeli army, its director said. Fadel Naim told AFP Israeli troops had attacked the Al-Ahli hospital and arrested doctors, medical staff and patients, destroying part of...

Geneva, Switzerland - Gaza is "the most dangerous place in the world" for a child, the UN children's agency spokesperson said Tuesday, expressing his rage at the situation there after returning from the Palestinian territory. "I'm furious that those with power shrug at the humanitarian nightmares unleashed on a million children,"...

Dubai, UAE -- More than 200 start-ups graduating from the programs of DIFC Innovation Hub in 2023 have collectively raised more than $600 million in funding, said Mohammad AlBlooshi, CEO of the Hub. AlBlooshi was speaking at the DIFC's flagship Investor Day, which was attended by over 500 people, including...

ABU DHABI, UAE – Airports in the country witnessed a 15 percent increase in air traffic during the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) held at Expo City Dubai, said Director-General of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi. In a statement to the Emirates News Agency...

Dubai, UAE – About 79 percent of UAE employees believe digital skills are crucial for business success, and 84 percent feel that new technologies are empowering them to reach their potential, according to a latest ServiceNow survey .  The survey, which included over 5,500 working adults from the UAE, France,...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia aims to increase the media sector's economic contribution, targeting a GDP share of 47 billion riyals ($13 billion) by the end of the decade. The goal underlines the country's intent to diversify its economy and bolster the non-oil GDP, Saudi Press Agency reported. Recent...

Dubai, UAE – Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, particularly Dubai, have secured top positions for residential property investment in 2024, the inaugural "Housearch Investment Index" highlighted in its report. The trend underscores the region's appeal as a stable and reliable investment haven, especially amidst cooling property markets in...

ABU DHABI, UAE - The UAE Government has issued a federal decree which aims to regulate and organize media in the UAE. The decree also aims to promote the UAE as a global media hub and establish an enabling environment to catalyze the growth and prosperity of the sector. The...

The outcome of the December 10-12 poll was widely expected after the former army chief with a fondness for infrastructure mega-projects campaigned against a small field of relative unknowns. It secures 69-year-old Sisi his third and, according to the Egyptian constitution, final term in office, starting in April and set...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Noor Riyadh Festival 2023 has secured six new Guinness World Records, making it its third consecutive year of record-breaking achievements.The records were set during the closing presentation of an art installation, after the 17 days of celebration, held from November 30 to December 16, 2023.The festival's...

Dubai, UAE -- Saudi-listed renewable energy giant ACWA Power has signed a $800 million power purchase agreement for ACWA Power Project DAO, South Africa's largest (150MW) hybrid dispatchable renewable energy project. South Africa's Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, signed the Implementation Agreement and Segomoco Scheppers from Eskom signed...

Nice, France - Algerian international footballer Youcef Atal goes on trial in France on Monday accused of inciting hatred after posting a video in which a Palestinian preacher purportedly threatens Israel with a "black day". Atal, who plays for Ligue 1 side Nice, shared the video on his Instagram account, which...

Seoul, South Korea - Saudi Arabia and South Korea on Sunday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate in manufacturing vaccines and biotech solutions.  The agreement was inked between the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (MODON) and the South Korean GL Rapha Holding Company, Saudi Gazette...

Dubai, UAE -- The UAE has ranked first in the Middle East and fourth globally as a leading destination for remote work, according to a new ranking by VisaGuide.World. The VisaGuide.World website specialises in monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of visa systems. The website also measures countries' progress in providing...

KUWAIT CITY, KUWAIT - Kuwait's emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, who was defense minister when Iraq invaded the oil-rich country in 1990, was laid to rest Sunday in a low-key funeral, a day after he died aged 86. Foreign leaders and envoys later paid their final respects, including the Saudi crown...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, King Fahd International Airport, Abha International Airport, Al-Ahsa International Airport and Gurayat Airport are among the top performers on the General Authority of Civil Aviation's monthly performance reports of the Kingdom's airports in November. The airports are assessed according to...