Category: Latest Updates

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Riyadh Air has secured US permission to operate flights to and from the United States, clearing a key regulatory hurdle for the PIF-owned carrier as it accelerates its challenge to established Gulf aviation rivals.The US Department of Transportation approved the airline’s authority after Riyadh Air applied last month for a foreign air carrier permit and exemption authority covering scheduled and charter services for passengers, property and mail. The decision gives the start-up carrier the legal basis

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai Chambers has used a London business dialogue to press Dubai’s case as a global base for British companies seeking expansion across the Gulf, Africa and Asia, as trade and investment links between the emirate and the United Kingdom gather pace.The session, organised with the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, brought together British investors and business leaders for discussions on market entry, sector opportunities and the support available to companies setting up or scaling operations

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Red Sea Global has opened Four Seasons Resort and Residences AMAALA at Triple Bay, bringing the developer’s second flagship destination into operation and adding a major luxury wellness asset to Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea tourism corridor.The arrival of the first guests at the northwestern coastal property marks the operational start of AMAALA, a planned high-end wellness and lifestyle destination built around Triple Bay. The opening comes as Red Sea Global expands from The Red Sea, which

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai will build 31 pedestrian bridges and tunnels across major corridors by 2030 under a five-year mobility plan aimed at cutting road risk, linking fast-growing communities and supporting a wider shift towards walking, cycling and e-scooter travel.The Roads and Transport Authority has approved the 2026-2030 programme after technical and field studies covering population density, land-use patterns, proximity to tourist and commercial districts, and links with metro, tram, bus and marine transport stations. The new crossings will

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai DMCC has rolled out a business acceleration package aimed at lowering costs, freeing cash flow and giving companies in its 26,000-plus member ecosystem more room to expand as competition for global trade and investment intensifies.The initiative offers licence renewal incentives, penalty waivers, administrative flexibility and set-up discounts for new entrants, positioning the Dubai business district to support established firms and companies weighing entry into the emirate. The measures arrive as businesses face tighter margins, higher compliance

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi’s International Holding Company has begun an AED1.8 billion share repurchase, opening the first tranche of an approved AED5 billion buyback after a sharp rise in first-quarter profit and continued expansion across its investment portfolio.The initial purchase, launched on 12 June, represents 36 per cent of the total programme approved by shareholders at the company’s annual general assembly on 16 March and disclosed later that month. IHC said the programme will be carried out in

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai Future Foundation has graduated 160 students from the second cohort of the Dubai TKS – Knowledge Society programme, marking a sharp expansion of the emirate’s effort to build early-stage talent in artificial intelligence, robotics, climate technology, biotechnology and advanced computing.The students, aged 13 to 17 and drawn from a range of nationalities, completed the 10-month programme at a ceremony held at the Museum of the Future. Enrolment rose 77 per cent from the first edition,

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai L’Oréal Middle East has signed the UAE Climate-Responsible Companies Pledge, placing the beauty group’s regional operations under a national framework that asks private companies to measure emissions, set reduction plans and align business decisions with the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 pathway.The pledge was announced at the third L’Oréal For the Future Summit in Dubai, where the company positioned climate action, refillable products and more sustainable retail operations as central to its next phase of growth

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai has established the Dubai Longevity Authority under Law No. 17 of 2026, setting up a dedicated regulator to oversee one of the fastest-growing areas of healthcare, wellness and life sciences as the emirate seeks to build a global hub for advanced medicine and healthy ageing.The law was issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The new authority will regulate the

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Hafeet Rail has completed 40 per cent of the Oman-UAE railway link, moving the Gulf’s first cross-border rail connection into a more advanced construction phase as work accelerates across tunnels, bridges, earthworks and logistics facilities along the corridor.The company, a joint venture between Etihad Rail, Oman Rail and Mubadala Investment Company, said the milestone covers civil works and major structures on the 238-kilometre line connecting Sohar Port with the UAE national rail network through Al Ain.

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited’s Dubai branch is marketing dual-currency green bonds, offering investors a dollar floating-rate tranche and a renminbi fixed-rate tranche as sustainable debt issuance continues to gain traction across Gulf capital markets.The proposed three-year dollar notes carry initial price guidance at the Secured Overnight Financing Rate plus 90 basis points, while the three-year offshore renminbi tranche is being marketed at a benchmark yield in the 2.15 per cent area. The

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai The OPEC Fund for International Development has mandated a no-grow €500 million five-year fixed-rate benchmark bond, returning to Europe’s public debt market as highly rated supranational borrowers continue to draw demand from investors seeking secure income.Initial price thoughts for the Regulation S senior unsecured issue have been set at mid-swaps plus 29 basis points. The expected issue rating is aligned with the Vienna-based institution’s AA+ issuer ratings from S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings, both carrying

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Oman is moving to convert fiscal repair and regulatory reform into a stronger claim on international capital, positioning the International Financial Centre of Oman as the centrepiece of a drive to attract financial institutions, fund managers and professional services firms.The push comes as Muscat benefits from a restored investment-grade profile after several years of debt reduction, spending restraint and higher policy credibility under Oman Vision 2040. The country has moved from pressure on its sovereign ratings

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Emirates Global Aluminium has built new STEM laboratories in schools and universities across the UAE, expanding an education-industry programme aimed at preparing students for technical careers in manufacturing, engineering and advanced industrial sectors.The facilities have been developed with Al Samha School, Al Rahba School, Al Falahiya School, Dubai National School, Zayed University and the Higher Colleges of Technology. More than 2,600 students a year are expected to benefit directly from the labs, which are designed to

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai UAE nationals building new private homes can claim VAT refunds on a wider range of construction-related expenses under a Federal Tax Authority initiative that broadens relief for citizens at a time of elevated residential building costs.The initiative, now active, applies to eligible refund claims submitted on or after 1 January 2026 and is expected to lift the value of approved homebuilding VAT refunds above AED1 billion this year, compared with about AED754 million in 2025. The

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Wizz Air will introduce Starlink-powered internet across its fleet from 2027, making one of Europe’s most cost-focused airlines the first ultra-low-cost carrier on the continent to commit to satellite connectivity at scale and raising fresh questions over how far budget aviation can stretch beyond its bare-fare model.The Hungary-based airline plans to install the SpaceX service on its next-generation aircraft, offering passengers high-speed, low-latency internet at cruising altitude. The rollout is expected to cover millions of travellers

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Riyadh Air has opened ticket sales for daily flights between Dubai and Riyadh from 18 June, adding a new premium operator to one of the Gulf’s busiest business and leisure corridors as Saudi Arabia accelerates plans to turn its capital into a global aviation hub.Flights will operate between Dubai International Airport and King Khalid International Airport using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, placing wide-body capacity on a route already served heavily by Emirates, flydubai, Saudia, flynas and flyadeal.

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Orange Jordan and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit have convened private-sector roundtables under the PASS programme, widening efforts to connect startups with established companies as Jordan pushes entrepreneurship-led job creation and digital growth.Three sessions were held in Amman, Irbid and Aqaba under the title Private Sector Roundtable – PASS Project, bringing together startups, corporate representatives and ecosystem partners to examine how young businesses can secure market access, supply-chain entry points and commercial partnerships. The discussions focused

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai World Trade Centre generated a record AED25.03 billion in economic output in 2025, underscoring the growing weight of large-scale business events in Dubai’s wider growth strategy and its push to deepen links with global trade, investment and innovation networks.The 2025 performance, equal to about $6.82 billion, marked a 12 per cent year-on-year rise and was driven by 108 large-scale exhibitions, international association conventions and industry conferences. The events drew more than 2.18 million participants, including

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Qatar Airways has raised its Dubai schedule from two to five daily flights, restoring greater capacity on one of the Gulf’s busiest short-haul business and leisure corridors as regional carriers rebuild networks for the summer travel season.The expansion covers services between Hamad International Airport in Doha and Dubai International Airport, with the increase being introduced in stages from 5 June. The airline moved from two to three daily flights at the start of the rollout, with

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Bahrain-based Investcorp has launched an Artificial Intelligence Investment Framework to guide its investment decisions across private equity, real assets and credit, positioning the technology as a central factor in deal screening, portfolio construction and value creation across its global alternatives platform.The framework, set out in a new report, formalises how the Manama-headquartered firm will assess AI-led opportunities and risks at a time when private markets managers are under pressure to show discipline in a sector marked

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai PIF and Talaat Moustafa Group Saudi for Real Estate Development have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore mixed-use real estate projects across Saudi Arabia, advancing the sovereign fund’s push to build liveable urban districts as part of its 2026-2030 strategy.The non-binding agreement covers potential co-operation at PIF-owned developments and projects across the kingdom, including residential, commercial, hospitality, retail and integrated urban communities. The two sides will assess opportunities where PIF’s capital base, investment network and

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Saudi Arabia has set out fresh conditions for non-resident foreign companies seeking to own real estate in the kingdom without carrying out business operations, adding a more formal registration route for overseas entities under the Investor Guide 2026.The update by the Ministry of Investment creates a defined process for companies that want to hold property as an asset, rather than enter the Saudi market through a commercial presence. It requires applicants to submit home-country corporate documents,

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Saudi Arabia has opened talks with Russia’s Sistema investment group in St Petersburg as Riyadh seeks to deepen industrial partnerships, localise advanced technologies and strengthen supply chains under its wider economic diversification programme.Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef met senior Sistema executives during a visit to the Russian city, with discussions centred on cooperation in high-priority industrial sectors and the development of industrial cities in the Kingdom. The talks formed part of Riyadh’s effort

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai KPMG and Anthropic have launched a global alliance that will embed Claude artificial intelligence tools into KPMG’s client delivery platforms, opening new capabilities for companies and public-sector organisations in Qatar as the Gulf state accelerates investment in AI infrastructure, digital government and data-led transformation.The partnership gives KPMG’s global workforce access to Anthropic’s Claude suite and integrates the technology into KPMG Digital Gateway, the firm’s platform for tax, legal and advisory work. The initial focus is on

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Revolut is exploring a secondary share sale that could lift its valuation to about $115 billion, setting up a fresh test of investor appetite for one of Europe’s most valuable private technology groups after a decisive regulatory breakthrough in the UK and a push into US banking.The potential transaction would allow existing shareholders, including employees and early backers, to sell stock without raising new capital for the company. A deal at that level would mark a

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai First Abu Dhabi Bank has entered a strategic partnership with Water. org and WaterEquity, investing in the WaterEquity Everspring Fund to expand access to safe water and sanitation across emerging markets through market-based financing.The Abu Dhabi lender said the agreement creates a platform for continuing collaboration with the global non-profit Water. org and its affiliated impact investment manager WaterEquity. The fund channels capital through local financial institutions, enabling low-income households and small businesses to obtain affordable

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai’s Emirates has promoted Hanan Mohammed Jawad and Bakhita Al Mheiri to captain rank, making them the first UAE national women to reach the command position at the airline and placing both on its Boeing 777 flight deck.The promotion gives the two pilots their fourth stripes after years of training, line flying and command preparation within one of the world’s largest long-haul carriers. Both came through the Emirates Group’s National Cadet Pilot Programme, a structured pathway

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi Exports Office has begun direct site visits to UAE-based manufacturers under its AED1 billion financing partnership with Emirates Development Bank, stepping up efforts to link industrial companies with export funding, working capital support and market-expansion tools.The visits covered MEDECO, Star Paper Mill and Dana Steel, three manufacturers operating in sectors closely tied to the country’s localisation and export-growth agenda. ADEX teams met company leadership to review production capacity, expansion plans, export ambitions, supply-chain pressures

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai UiPath has secured certification from the Dubai Electronic Security Center for its Automation Cloud Commercial UAE region, clearing a key compliance hurdle for wider deployment of its automation and artificial intelligence services across Dubai’s government, semi-government and regulated enterprise sectors.The certification places UiPath’s UAE cloud operations under the DESC Cloud Service Provider Security Standard, a framework required for cloud providers serving Dubai government and semi-government entities. The approval strengthens the company’s position in a market where

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai UAE non-oil private sector activity strengthened in May, but weaker demand, falling export orders and higher transport and material costs kept growth below its long-term trend, signalling a more cautious phase for businesses exposed to regional trade disruption.The headline Purchasing Managers’ Index rose to 52.6 in May from 52.1 in April, remaining above the 50 mark that separates expansion from contraction. The improvement showed that business conditions continued to recover from April’s sharp loss of momentum,

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai Multi Commodities Centre has introduced a targeted acceleration package for its community of more than 26,000 companies, offering licence renewal discounts, penalty waivers and operational flexibility aimed at easing cost pressures and supporting business expansion from Dubai.The initiative is designed to reduce operating costs, improve cash flow and help companies navigate a more competitive global trading environment. It comes as businesses across the UAE continue to balance strong non-oil growth with higher operating expenses, supply-chain

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Al Ansari Exchange recorded a sharp rise in companies using its Wage Protection System platform on June 1, as private-sector employers across the UAE moved to meet tighter salary-payment rules that took effect at the start of the month.The UAE remittance and foreign exchange company said the number of companies processing salaries through its WPS platform rose by more than 151 per cent on the first day of implementation, signalling a swift adjustment by employers to

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Yango Ride and Shell Oman Marketing Company have launched a dedicated benefits programme for partner drivers across Oman, offering fuel discounts, food and beverage deals and vehicle-care offers through Shell’s service-station network.The tie-up gives Yango Ride partner drivers access to exclusive offers at 216 Shell service stations using dedicated promo codes through the Shell Asia App. The package includes discounted fuel, tailored deals at Shell Café outlets and benefits at participating Shell Helix Oil Change Centres,