Qatar's main healthcare provider has suspended leave for all medical and administrative staff dealing with Covid, as infections surge across the Gulf. The six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states -- Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as Qatar -- have been recording their highest...

As ecommerce expands, companies are becoming more aware of the region's shifting consumer behavior and needs, say experts.

During the meeting, the Canadian ambassador was briefed about the initiatives launched by the UAE to strengthen women's rights.

The UAE is one of the most attractive Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries for GCC citizens to work in, according to the 2021 statistics released by the General Pension and Social Security Authority (GPSSA). A total of 6,903 employees from GCC countries work in the UAE, out of the total...

The UAE is the most popular destination in the world for Indian tourists, according to figures submitted to Indian Parliament by the Minister of State for External Affairs, V Muraleedharan. The Minister Muraleedharan confirmed that 314,495 Indians left on tourist visas for the UAE in the first quarter of this...

India's Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal has said that his country's goal is to become the UAE's number one trading partner. Goyal talked with industry executives and leaders of Export Promotion Councils in Mumbai on Saturday on using available opportunities to widen their global impression by grasping business...

Etihad Airways has announced a new travel solution aimed at corporate and frequent travelers booking from the UAE, said local media. The newly launched Etihad WorldPass allows the airline’s customers to purchase a travel subscription which offers complete flexibility and ease with rearranging bookings throughout the year, said sources. Etihad...

Factors ranging from internet penetration to smartphone ownership to bank-account holdings, and more are coming together to make Saudi Arabia an ecommerce powerhouse.

The 18th edition of the show, organised by Messe Frankfurt Middle East, has exhibitors from 47 countries and 12 national pavilions

The GCC leaders discuss political issues and security challenges that require intensified efforts to enhance regional solidarity.

The National Centre for Statistics and Information says domestic guest have supported the Oman's hotels.

Companies are increasingly focusing on health and wellness in products and services, says Mohammad A Baker, Deputy Chairman and CEO of Dubai-based conglomerate GMG Group.

Female representation on boards and at higher levels across the Gulf is trailing behind much of the rest of the world

The UAE’s newly-announced working week will not have any negative impact on the UAE and Gulf countries’ business relations, say experts.

UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan conferred the “Order of Zayed” on Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman in Abu Dhabi.

Moody’s has forecast a stable outlook for GCC banks during the next 12 to 18 months, primarily due to economic recovery in the region and higher oil prices.

The union amongst Emirates is just fine despite being a new experience for us. We did not adopt our neighbors’ experiences. We rather counted on our faith in our brethren rulers of the Emirates and in the importance of the union as a cordial solution to the problems of disintegration,...

A total of 44 GCC brands, which include Emirates, Aljazeera, and ADNOC Distribution, figure in the 2021-2022 World Branding Awards. More than 5,300 brands from over 60 countries were nominated for the awards across multiple categories. Of these, only 500 brands were declared winners. The Virtual Awards Ceremony welcomed over...

Barry Greenberg, Of Counsel at BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associated, breaks down what a landmark bankruptcy ruling means for regional companies.

A meeting of the GCC triathlon federations was held in Doha to discuss proposals for the development of sports in the region.

The opening was also attended by GCC defense ministers, and GCC Secretary General Dr. Nayef Falah Mubarak Al-Hajraf.

On a monthly level, the tourism revenues during October of 2021 rose by $302 million, reaching $352 million, compared with the same month of last year, owing to an increase of tourist numbers by about 278,000 visitors, raising the total to 322,000, the figures revealed.

However, the recent developments show that Europe has shed this energy-supplier image of the Gulf for a more realistic and pragmatic approach to strengthen the strategic partnership between the 27-member bloc and the GCC. In the new positive climate in EU-Gulf ties, talks on the FTA are likely to resume...

So far more than two million visitors have marked their presence in the five-month long arts and culture festival.

The region’s financial regulators must be extra vigilant to avoid catastrophic debt crises, Khalid Abdulla-Janahi, chairman of Vision 3, UAE, tells TRENDS

Soudah Development Company, a real estate development company owned by PIF, Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, has announced it will join the UN Mountain Partnership to realize its environmental sustainability goals. Soudah Development is involved in driving the development of Soudah and parts of Rijal Alma’a Governorate in the Asir...

The annual growth rate of the Middle East AI market is about 20 to 34 percent, led by the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Accenture will help L'Oréal Middle East improve its consumer experience.

“The governments of the UAE and Bahrain, in light of the fraternal ties and long-term mutual interests between the two countries, consider their joint objectives and interests embodied in the articles of incorporation of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC),” said a joint statement quoted by Reuters.

Iran said Monday any new talks with Saudi Arabia will depend on Riyadh's willingness to move ahead and be more "serious" to ease tensions after a five-year rift. The regional powers have been engaged in talks since April with the aim of improving ties, with four rounds of discussions taking...

Real estate transactions worth AED5.7 billion ($1.55 billion) were recorded in Sharjah during the third quarter of 2021, an increase of 22.7 percent compared to the same period last year. A report by the Sharjah Real Estate Registration Department said the rise in the number of transactions indicated a retreat...

The economy of Lebanon is in crisis. Here’s a look at which countries it depends on for trade and aid, and how much.

Merely producing great quantities of oil or having a shortage does not dictate whether a country will have the cheapest or costliest gasoline.

The oil prices would average US$70 per barrel in 2021, Garbis Iradian, chief economist for MENA at IIF, tells TRENDS in an exclusive interview.

Japan aims to attract 60 million visitors annually by 2030 and it is looking to draw a large number of them from the Middle East.

As GCC shifts away from dependence on oil and gas revenues, 5G is set to fuel tech growth and ease lifestyle, says Zoran Lazarevic, CTO for Ericsson Middle East and Africa.

This was agreed upon during a session of talks held in Athens on Friday between the GCC Secretary General and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece Nikos Dendias.

In the UAE, the Abu Dhabi index added 0.2% with the International Holding Company gaining 0.7%. Dubai index ended the week 0.1 percent down.

At a time when the future of the global economy is going to change following the trends from regional economies, TRENDS Infographic of this week reviews the region's performance in terms of GDP growth between 1975 and 2021.

About 61% of the UAE consumers are opting for cards or digital wallets instead of paying in cash, a joint study by Dubai Economy and Visa has pointed out.

The combined current account balance of oil exporters in the GCC region is likely to shift from a deficit of $6 billion in 2020 to surpluses of $165 billion in 2021.

Over 3,000 government officials, business leaders and industry experts representing 91 countries took part in the 6th Global Business Forum (GBF) Africa in Dubai, conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit, which featured two days of thought-provoking sessions highlighting business opportunities emerging across the continent.

The country's National Food Security Strategy 2018-2023 is geared to increase the strategic stock of food commodities to ensure food security

Sukuk momentum is expected to continue over the medium term supported by intact investor appetite, funding diversification and refinancing needs, Fitch Ratings has said in a report. “Sukuk supply-demand imbalance will continue to be a key growth factor but not without headwinds,” said Bashar Al-Natoor, Global Head of Islamic Finance,...

FAB is the first bank in the UAE and GCC to join the NZBA.

Qatar and Saudi Arabia lead the GCC countries when it comes to spending on education.

Saudi Arabia is planning to invest US$36bn in logistics and aims to become a regional hub for the shipping sector, a position enjoyed by the UAE for many years.

"It brings me great joy and pleasure to officially announce the official launch of FTA negotiations between GCC countries and UK today," Zayed bin Rashid al-Zayani, Bahrain's minister of industry, commerce and tourism, said late Friday.

The region’s average real GDP per capita is forecast to increase by only 1.1 percent in 2021 after declining an estimated 5.4 percent in 2020.

An NFT is a digital asset that represents real-world objects like art, music, in-game items and videos. They are bought and sold online