DUBAI, UAE – Dubai Chambers is taking a big initiative for ensuring that businesses in the emirate provide excellent customer service.The Service Excellence Program (SEP) will evaluate the quality of customer experience delivered by private sector companies through mystery shopper reports.The initiative will ensure the implementation of global best practices...

A minority stake in Breakwater Energy cost it US$100m.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia--ROSHN, the Saudi real estate developer, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Expenditure and Project Efficiency Authority, known as Expro, to develop real estate in the kingdom. The MoU looks to improve the efficiency and sustainability of the Public Investment Fund-backed giga-project, as well as boost its...

Tehran, Iran-- After years of frosty relations between the two countries, Egypt and Iran are set to restore ties with the visit of Iranian tourists to the North African country.According to the Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Ahmed Issa, Iranian tourists will soon travel to the country through Egypt's...

The Iraqi prime minister said the decision to pay for Iranian gas imports with oil corresponds with the mechanism agreed with the US in order not to violate the sanctions. Gas is crucial for Iraq's electricity generation, but US sanctions on Iranian oil and gas impose restrictions on how Baghdad...

Vienna, Austria-- Looking to ramp up trade and business relations, the United Arab Emirates has signed an air transport services agreement with Austria at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the capital, Vienna.The agreement, which aims to strengthen air transport relations between the two countries, was signed on behalf of...

Dubai, UAE--Dubai Investments and E20 Investment have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to develop 3,750 Ha of agricultural land in Angola, harnessing the potential of the country’s agricultural sector for sustainable growth and economic development.E20 Investment, specializes in investing in and operating farms and processing facilities across the globe,...

The economy has been stricken by a balance-of-payments crisis as it attempts to service crippling external debt, while months of political chaos have scared off foreign investment. Inflation has rocketed, the rupee has reached a record low against the dollar, and the country is struggling to afford imports, causing a...

Ulaanbaatar, Mangolia--The UAE and Mongolia are looking to boost trade and investment cooperation with a focus on the agriculture sector.The two countries held discussions to ramp up collaboration during the visit of Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, to Mongolia. He is leading a...

Abu Dhabi, UAE-- Some 5,000 new jobs have been opened up in the healthcare facilities by the Department of Health, Abu Dhabi under its "Tawteen" program for UAE nationals.All healthcare facilities in Abu Dhabi will provide the jobs for UAE nationals by the end of 2025.DoH called on all healthcare...

GFCF will triple its production after setting up its Phase II in Musasafah.

Lower oil prices and volumes attributed to the estimated deficit, according to a newspaper report. MP Osama Al-Zaid said the draft budget estimates oil revenues of 17 billion dinars, a 19.5 percent decrease from the previous budget.

ABU DHABI, UAE - The UAE ranked seventh in the world in terms of per capita national income, according to the latest data released by the World Bank.The per capita income in the UAE, based on purchasing power parity (PPP) in current international dollars, rose to Int$87,729 in July 2022,...

Funds will be used to finance working capital for projects.

A TRENDS exclusive report takes a hard look at how tens of thousands of white-collar workers in Middle East are falling victim to burnout brought about by workplace stress.

The Egyptian pound has lost half its value against the dollar since early last year, shooting prices upward and adding to the burden of families struggling to make ends meet in the import-dependent country. The latest figures, a rise of almost 37 percent from June last year, also showed a...

The health ministry reported "22 dead and a large number of wounded among the civilians" from what it described as an air strike Saturday on Khartoum's sister city Omdurman, in the district of Dar al-Salam, which means "House of Peace" in Arabic. After nearly three months of war between Sudan's...

A TRENDS exclusive report takes a hard look at how tens of thousands of white-collar workers in Middle East are falling victim to burnout brought about by workplace stress.

Dubai, UAE-- Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has reported a 10 percent increase in revenues for 2022 to $953 million from its digital channels.The company has also recorded 814 million digital transactions up from 676 million in 2021, a 20 percent growth rate. The company also reported a 30...

The European Union and New Zealand signed a free trade agreement which Brussels says can lift exchanges between the two by 30 percent with a decade. The deal, agreed in June 2022 after four years of tough negotiations, is "ambitious", said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

DUBAI, UAE- Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) aims to grow the city’s network of public charging stations by 170 percent in less than three years, local media reports said.This is in accordance with Dubai's plan to expand its electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.By 2025, EV Green Charging Stations in...

DUBAI, UAE -  Around 79,000 UAE nationals are working in the private sector, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization (MoHRE) revealed on Sunday as the deadline for companies with 50 employees or more to achieve a one percent Emiratization growth in skilled jobs has ended.These numbers reflect the highest-ever...

Hunt, whose official title is chancellor of the exchequer, will lay out plans for an "entirely new kind of stock market" that will allow private companies to access capital markets without floating. He is also expected to detail plans to simplify the rules for buying and selling shares.

Paris, France--Global trade in agricultural commodities is projected to expand by 1.3 percent annually - half the pace recorded in the past decade - due mostly to slower growth in demand by middle-income countries, according to a report released by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)...

The kingdom of Jordan prides itself on its 19 different types of honey, including citrus, eucalyptus and maple varieties, depending on which plants the bees pollinate. Jordanian honey sells for 15 to 30 dinars ($21 to $42) per kilogram, depending on the type.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia--Saudi Arabia and France have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to cooperate in the field of energy, with a focus on renewable resources.In this connection, Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman and his French counterpart, Agnes Pannier-Runacher, signed the agreement.The two countries released a joint statement...

TRIPOLI, LIBYA- Rivals in politically divided Libya have agreed to form a committee on sharing oil revenues, a move welcomed on Saturday by the UN, after military strongman Khalifa Haftar sought a "fair" split.Haftar, who backs the country's eastern administration, had last Monday called for a committee to address the issue....

PARIS, FRANCE - Greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture are expected to increase by 7.5 percent in the next decade, said a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).The projected greenhouse gas emissions are just less than half the projected output...

Mumbai, India--The UAE’s Minister of State for Public Education and Advanced Technology Sarah Al Amiri has urged the global community to collaborate more closely in the field of research and innovation in order to find solutions to international challenges.Addressing ministers at the G20 Research and Innovation Initiative Gathering (RIIG) Research...

Tehran, Iran--Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has claimed that health tourism in the country has attracted patients from neighboring countries and even Central Asian states who prefer to get medical care in Iran rather than in Europe.Raisi made the remarks on Friday as he inaugurated Ghadir Major Hospital in the north...

Dubai, UAE--Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has exhorted community members to ensure that safety standards are always in place in their homes, especially before traveling or being away for long periods. DEWA urged its customers to follow its tips and guidelines to improve the efficiency of electricity and water...

Abu Dhabi, UAE-- In order to protect natural rangelands and promote sustainable traditional grazing practices, the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has begun issuing licenses to owners and breeders of livestock to regulate grazing and all related activities in Abu Dhabi. The licensing policy has been introduced to ensure...

Dubai, UAE -- The World Price Index of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) fell last June to its lowest level in more than two years, driven by the lower cost of sugar, vegetable oils, cereals and dairy products.The organization's index that tracks the prices of...

Asian stocks tumbled again after another round of strong US data reinforced expectations the Federal Reserve will resume its interest rate hikes as officials wrestle with stubbornly high inflation. After a strong start to the week fueled by signs that US prices were stabilizing, regional markets have taken a turn...

BEIRUT, LEBANON - The vice-governors of Lebanon's central bank plan to resign unless politicians swiftly name an incoming governor, two senior officials at the crisis-hit country's top financial body told AFP on Thursday.The term of embattled three-decade chief Riad Salameh ends this month with no successor in sight, setting the stage...

LONDON, UK - Shell's chief executive told the BBC on Thursday that cutting gas and oil output would be "irresponsible" because it could further lift energy bills and worsen the cost-of-living crisis.Wael Sawan was asked about recent comments from UN head Antonio Guterres, who had declared it was "moral and economic...

DUBAI, UAE  - Dubai's real estate market recorded 669 sales transactions worth US$792 million (AED2.91 billion) on Thursday, data released by Dubai's Land Department (DLD) showed.DLD said 134 mortgage deals totaling US$73 million (AED268.19 million), and 89 gift deals amounting to US$27 million (AED101.47 million).The sales included 567 villas and...

Doha, Qatar -- International reserves and foreign currency liquidity of Qatar Central Bank (QCB) rose to reach QR 240.742 billion ($66.11 billion) in June, an increase of 14 percent, compared to QR 211.176 billion last year, Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported.The figures issued Thursday by QCB showed an increase in...

"The UNCTAD report for 2022 reaffirms the remarkable and unprecedented achievements resulting from the cumulative balance of FDIs flows in the UAE. These outcomes serve as a testament to the insightful guidance and foresight of our wise leadership in fostering a robust and sustainable national economy," UAE Minister of Economy...

Abu Dhabi, UAE-- AD Ports Logistics (ADPL) has signed an agreement with Acino to provide the Swiss company with global freight-forwarding services, inclusive of sea and air transport in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.The agreement will see ADPL leverage its fully integrated and GDP-certified end-to-end pharma cold...

London, UK--Bahrain and the United Kingdom have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on biodiversity and marine pollution.The MoU aims to create a framework of action between Bahrain’s Supreme Council for Environment (SCE) and Britain’s Cefas by allowing them to explore areas of cooperation in monitoring the environment, marine life,...

Tehran, Iran-- Iran has signed oil contracts worth $40 billion with domestic and foreign companies during the last 20 months.Speaking at the second ministerial session of the 8th OPEC International Seminar entitled “Investments, finance and inclusive petroleum growth strategies” at the Austrian capital, Iran’s oil minister Javad Owji said Iran’s...

Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber believes that the Caribbean region will have a key role at COP28 in bringing countries together and contributing to a consensus-driven approach across "every climate pillar." He affirmed a just energy transition can be delivered that embraces clean technologies, without sacrificing energy security or...

Abu Dhabi, UAE - The total direct and indirect economic impact is estimated at AED 48 billion ($13 billion) the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi told  the Emirates News Agency (WAM). Al Zeyoudi said that the UAE is one of the largest re-export...

Its net profit dropped 21% to US$1.21bn in 2022-2023.

The country received the fourth largest number of greenfield projects (997), an 84 per cent increase, behind only India (1008), the UK (1230) and the US (2075), according to the UN Investment Report 2023. UAE's impressive numbers led to an increase of the projects in West Asia by two thirds.

According to the TUIK state statics agency, the rate slowed from 39.6% in May. But a separate study released by independent economists from the ENAG group who question the official data put the June figure at 108.6 percent, up from 105.2% in May. The official rate has been steadily dropping...

Baghdad, Iraq-- Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid has emphasized the need for reinforcing partnership with Iran in the fields of trade and energy.The president made the remarks during a meeting with an Iranian delegation headed by deputy foreign minister Bagheri Kani in Baghdad.Rashid accentuated the imperative of reinforcing partnerships in...

Vienna, Austria-- Egypt plans to drill new gas wells in the Mediterranean Sea and the Nile Delta as part of its ambitious $1.8 billion offshore exploration program.According to Tarek El Molla, Egypt's Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, the country is developing several exp fields in the Mediterranean Sea, Nile...

Making a strong push for transition to a green economy by building a clean energy infrastructure, Dubai saw the launch of the first phase of the plant at Warsan. Speaking at the site, the crown prince of Dubai said that the emirate has steadily expanded its capacity to produce energy...