Dubai, UAE --Â Dubai's Emirati Supplier Programme facilitated a record AED1.78 billion ($485 million) in contracts for Emirati-owned small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in 2025, a 38 percent increase from the previous year, as the emirate accelerated efforts to strengthen local businesses under its long-term economic strategy. The programme, managed by...
Privacy remains key concern as facial recognition technology makes GCC travel sector secure, efficient
Face and iris recognition technology vary by country in the region, and expecting it to be implemented in many airports around the world in a short time is unrealistic, says an expert.
US Navy says seizes weapons en route from Iran to Yemen
DUBAI, UAE - The US Navy said Tuesday it had seized over 2,000 assault rifles smuggled on a fishing boat along a maritime route from Iran to Yemen. The cargo was discovered on Friday off the coast of Oman "on a route historically used to traffic illicit cargo to the Huthis...
Israel, Arab allies talk security at Negev Forum in Abu Dhabi
Around 150 representatives from Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, Morocco, the UAE and the United States discussed boosting security cooperation through information sharing as part of the so-called Negev Forum, a gathering born out of recent normalization deals between Arab states and Israel.
Masdar inks deal to produce 1GW of clean energy in Kyrgyzstan
ABU DHABI, UAE - Masdar has announced the signing of an agreement with the Ministry of Energy of Kyrgyz Republic to develop a pipeline of renewable projects in the country. The projects, with a total capacity of up to 1 gigawatt (GW), start with a 200-megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV)...
Abu Dhabi Chamber enhances digital Effortless Certificate of Origin service
ABU DHABI, UAE - Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI) has launched the updated version of its Effortless Certificate of Origin service, which aims to enhance customers’ experience and reduces the time taken for acquiring the service. This comes as part of its participation in the Abu Dhabi...SDPW to support carbon neutrality and zero emissions
Sharjah, UAE--The Sharjah Department of Public Works (SDPW) conducted a workshop on the "Sharjah Ports, Customs and Free Zones Authority Building" project and the lessons learned from the project. Ali bin Shaheen Al Suwaidi, Head of the SDPW, confirmed that the department supports carbon neutrality and zero carbon emissions in...
DIFC hosts over 250 companies managing assets worth $450bn
The contribution of financial companies operating from DIFC to the financial services sector in the country exceeded 13% of the nominal GDP of Dubai during 2021, Amiri said.
ESG may witness higher traction across GCC this year
Some investment trends that emerged at the tail end of 2022 — clean energy, consumer staples, retail, and infrastructure — will gain further impetus in 2023, says an expert.
UAE, Oman education ministers discuss cooperation in the sector
MUSCAT, OMAN -Â UAE Minister of Education Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi and Oman Minister of Education Dr. Madiha bint Ahmed Al Shaibaniyah discussed advancing the cooperation between the two countries in the education sector. Â The meeting was held in Muscat and aimed at boosting the coordination and cooperation...
UAE’s economic diversification strategy goes hand in hand with growth and expansion of its foreign trade
The UAE's keenness to open up to the world and work to stamp out obstacles to trade and investment flows translates into a consistent Emirati approach, as trade has always represented an integral part of the history and heritage of the country, he adds in an Op-Ed published by Emirates...
UAE, Pakistan advancing parliamentary cooperation
A delegation of the UAE Federal National Council's Parliamentary Division, led by Dr. Nidal Mohamed Al-Tunaiji met with Nuzhat Sadiq, Member of the Senate of Pakistan.UAE’s FNC participates in Asian Parliamentary Assembly meet
ANTALYA, TURKEY - The UAE Parliamentary Division of the Federal National Council (FNC), participated in the meeting of the Standing Committee on Political Affairs of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA). The FNC delegation was represented by Dr. Nidal Mohammed Al Tunaiji, Head of the UAE Parliamentary Division at APA, and...Sharjah Consultative Council reviews districts and villages department’s work
SHARJAH, UAE - The Sharjah Consultative Council (SCC), in its seventh session, held as part of the fourth regular session of the tenth legislative term discussed the policy of the Districts and Villages Affairs Department (DVAD). The SCC meeting, at its headquarters in Sharjah, was chaired by Ali Mehd Al...
DEWA completes 77 percent work in Hatta Water Reservoir
DUBAI, UAE Â - DEWA has completed 76.8 percent work on the water reservoir project in Hatta. The project has a storage capacity of 30 million imperial gallons (MIG) and is being built at a cost of approximately US$23 million (AED86 million). It is expected to be completed in April 2023....KSA, UAE lead GCC in food security initiatives
Reduction in hunger, provision of food security and improved nutrition, and promotion of sustainable agriculture contribute to sustainable development in the region, says an expert.
Dubai records over US$2.72bn in weeklong real estate transactions
DUBAI, UAE - A total of 2,173 real estate transactions worth over US$2.72 billion (AED 10 billion) were conducted during the week ending January 6, 2023, according to figures released by the Dubai Land Department (DLD). A total of 270 plots were sold for $612 million (AED 2.25 billion), 1,903...
Aldar, Diamond Developers launch sustainable city project in Abu Dhabi
The project is underpinned by a central green spine that runs the length of the community, featuring parks, lakes, and biodomes.UAE dispatches generators in aid to power-starved Ukraine
Abu Dhabi, UAE- The UAE has dispatched a second consignment of household generators for the Ukrainian civilians affected by the ongoing war with Russia. In December, the UAE announced that it's sending 2,500 household generators to civilians affected by the ongoing crisis in Ukraine that has disrupted energy infrastructure and...SEWA announces 149% rise in emiratisation in engineering jobs
The company revealed its plan to raise the Emiratisation percentage to 73 percent of the total engineering jobs by the end of 2023.
Market cap of Arab bourses hits US$4trn at end of 2022
Abu Dhabi, UAE--The market cap of Arab stock exchanges has vaulted to $4 trillion by the end of 2022, according to the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF). The AMF said in a statement that the market value of the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange reached $714.6 billion in the reference year, while...
GCC stocks end the week in decline after a few days of gain
Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange finished 2022 with a gain of almost 20 percent, making it the highest performer among GCC indices. In 2023, Saudi and UAE ended the weekly exchange down or stable.
DEWA wins award at Global Excellence Assembly Awards 2022
DUBAI, UAE - Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has been awarded  with the Global Excellence Assembly Awards 2022, based in the USA, in the "Organizational Achievements" category. This is in recognition of DEWA's global achievements in total quality and excellence. DEWA is the only entity worldwide to win this...Dubai records over $762 million in realty transactions Thursday
Dubai, UAE---Dubai real estate market recorded deals worth AED2.8 billion ($762 million) on Thursday, Dubai Land Department said. These included 516 sales transactions worth AED1.73 billion, in addition to 71 mortgage deals of AED596.74 million, and 26 gift deals amounting to AED503.85 million. The sales included 455 villas and apartments...
Sponge cities an answer to Gulf water woes
China, Singapore and Hong Kong are planning to convert 80 percent of their cities into sponge areas by 2030 for various purposes.
UAE leads arrest of the ‘most wanted’ Eritrean trafficker
Kidane Zekarias Habtemariam has been accused of being a smuggling kingpin, running a camp in Libya where hundreds of East African migrants seeking passage to Europe were allegedly kidnapped, raped and extorted. Habtemariam, subject of two Interpol red notices, was arrested on Jan 1 by Sudanese police in coordination with...
Alpha Dhabi and Mubadala form JV
They will co-invest in global credit opportunities.
ADJA delivers training program on drafting contracts, legal memos
ABU DHABI, UAE - The Abu Dhabi Judicial Academy (ADJA) has conducted a specialized training program on drafting and writing contracts and legal memoranda. This was done to develop the skills and competencies of practitioners engaged in the legal professions in the public and private sectors. The program also updates...
ADIB ups ownership in ADIB Egypt
ADIB acquired 9.6m shares from National Investment Bank.
Sharjah lists 4 categories eligible for retirement
The first category, which currently consists of 51 individuals, is for those who have reached the legal retirement age.UAE President and Jordan’s King discuss ties in Abu Dhabi
The UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed has met with Jordan's King Abdullah II in Abu Dhabi and discussed "fraternal relations and cooperation between the two countries." The king was received by the president at Al Shati Palace where the two exchanged new year greetings and prayed for progress and...
GCC investment in non-oil sectors grew in 2022
GCC countries witnessed the launch of massive economic and development projects in various sectors last year as part of their strategy to diversify their economies.
Dubai launches business group to promote renewable energy usage
The UAE Government will invest AED600 billion ($163.36bn) in renewable energy by 2050 to meet the country's growing energy demand from clean and sustainable resources.
Dubai announces plan to ‘double’ the size of economy in next decade
The Gulf emirate's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, unveiled in a series of tweets the Dubai Economic Agenda, dubbed "D33", with targets totalling 32 trillion dirhams ($8.7 trillion). The plan would "double the size of Dubai's economy in the next decade and consolidate its position among the top three...
Pakistan expects a boost in trade with UAE in 2023
Abu Dhabi, UAE--The bilateral trade between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates is expected to double from the US$10.6 billion, according to Pakistan's ambassador to the UAE Faisal Niaz Tirmizi. The last calendar year recorded a US$10.6 billion in trade “the highest volume Pakistan had in the Middle East and...
 Jordanian expats in Qatar sent home $440m in 2022
According to data recently released by the CBJ, Jordanian expatriates' remittances in the first ten months of 2022 increased by 0.6 percent.
Abu Dhabi to host Green Hydrogen Summit in year of climate action for UAE
The summit is being held in partnership with the Hydrogen Council, Atlantic Council, International Renewable Energy Agency and Dii Desert Energy.Sustainability key for next-gen data center models
At present, the data center industry as a whole uses approximately 150 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, which is about 3 percent of the world’s electricity usage.
Ducab partners with Vestas
Ducab's supplying medium voltage and earthing cable.Etihad Cargo to operate three more weekly flights to US from Apr 24
Etihad Cargo currently operates 11 flights per week to John F. Kennedy International Airport, which will increase to 14 weekly flights.Mideast powers condemn Israel minister’s visit to Al-Aqsa compound
The UAE, which launched diplomatic ties with Israel in 2020, "strongly condemned the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque courtyard by an Israeli minister", in a foreign ministry statement. The US ambassador to Israel, Tom Nides, said Washington "has made it clear to the Israeli government it opposes any steps that could...Sharjah EC discusses impact of commercial boards on urban appearance
SHARJAH, UAE - The Sharjah Executive Council (SEC) discussed on Tuesday a report on commercial boards made for economic institutions and their impact on the general urban appearance of the emirate. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Sharjah...
Expo Centre Sharjah all set for SteelFab2023
SHARJAH, UAE - Expo Centre Sharjah (ECS) has announced the completion of all preparations for the 18th edition of the SteelFab (SteelFab 2023) exhibition, the largest event of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa region. The event is being organized by ECS, with the support of the...Over a cuppa of coffee: Global, regional beverage brands to gather in Dubai
The Middle East and Africa coffee market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.5 percent between 2022 and 2027.Regional maritime sector event to be held in the UAE
DUBAI, UAE - Seatrade Maritime Logistics Middle East (SMLME) is set to take place from May 16 to 18 2023, under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, in association with Seatrade Maritime Club. During the event, the region’s maritime sector will come together for valuable business...Abu Dhabi introduces Mobile BSL-3 Laboratory
ABU DHABI, UAE - Abu Dhabi Public Health Center (ADPHC) has introduced the first of its kind mobile BSL-3 (Biosafety level 3) Laboratory in the Emirate. The mobile laboratory will be accessible across four sites in Abu Dhabi, including Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), Al Rahba Hospital, Tawam Hospital and...
UAE and Azerbaijan pledge to enhance ties ‘across all fields’
Abu Dhabi, UAE-- The UAE and Azerbaijan have reviewed bilateral relations between the two countries and pledged to deepen ties across all the fields. In this connection, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Jeyhun Bayramov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, reiterated their resolve...
Dubai leads Gulf region in integrating metaverse into economy, society; eyes faster GDP growth, more jobs
Through Dubai Metaverse Strategy, the emirate looks to create 40,000 virtual jobs and add $4 billion to the economy over the next five years.
Over 2m riders used public, shared transport during New Year’s Eve in Dubai
DUBAI, UAE - Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) confirmed that 2,166,821 riders used its public transport, shared mobility means and taxis during the New Year’s Eve 2023. The figure reflects a 33 percent rise from last year’s number, which was 1,632,552 riders. The breakdown of ridership was as follows:...
Clean energy reaches 14 percent of Dubai’s total power production
DUBAI, UAE - MD and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has announced that the production capacity of clean energy has reached 2,027 megawatts (MW) which is about 14 percent of Dubai’s total power production capacity of 14,517 MW. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer made the announcement during his...
World welcomes New Year with fervor and festivities
The Middle East region welcomed 2023 with fireworks at Burj Khalifa as revelers rang in the New Year without being subjected to Covid-related curbs for first time since pandemic.
