Domestic consumption of desalinated water in the region is not only carbon-intensive but contributes to making the Arabian Gulf one of the world’s most salty and potentially most uninhabitable bodies of water, experts say. According to the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, 96 per cent of domestic consumption of water – from drinking water to showers – comes from one of the 70 desalination plants located […]
ABU DHABI // Tensions between the UAE and Iran escalated on Thursday after the Iranian charge d’affaires was summoned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Dr Abdulrahim Al Awadi, the ministry’s assistant minister for legal affairs, handed him a note of protest on “Iran’s illegal provision of weapons to the coup militia against the legitimacy in Yemen”. “Iran’s move is in violation of United […]
Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan said a government efficiency office created last year to review state projects has saved the kingdom 80 billion riyals ($21 billion) on costs, according to the ministry’s official Twitter account. Jadaan expects increased savings this year and in future years to have a positive impact on the kingdom’s finances and the ministry has set up a mechanism to reimburse contractors within 60 […]
Saudi Aramco is likely to list its shares simultaneously on more than one exchange but this is still under evaluation, Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said on Thursday. Asked by reporters if Aramco would list first on the Saudi bourse and then on another exchange abroad, Falih said: “It will probably be done concurrently, but we have not announced. We are evaluating. All our options are open.” The […]
Designs have been unveiled for largest tertiary children’s hospital, the largest hospital of its kind in the world, which is to be built in Kuwait. Design firm SSH was appointed by Kuwait’s Ministry of Health and Ministry of Public Works last year, with the project being undertaken by SSH in association with global architects HKS and engineering firm WSP. The hospital will feature a total of 792 […]
Saudi Arabia will invite international and domestic companies to bid for renewable energy projects in April, the energy minister said on Wednesday, adding that he expected to award the deals in September. Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih, speaking at a news conference in Riyadh said the projects would include two new solar and wind power plants with a capacity to produce 700 megawatts of power. The projects are […]
Donald Trump’s administration declared that it was putting Iran “on notice” on Wednesday, signalling both a tougher US line with Tehran and a new test of relations after a weekend missile test by the Islamic republic. During his campaign, Mr Trump vowed to rip up a 2015 nuclear deal negotiated by the Obama administration and other world powers with Tehran but has taken no public steps to […]
By Steve Holland | WASHINGTON WASHINGTON A top adviser to President Donald Trump delivered a tough warning to Iran on Wednesday for test-firing a ballistic missile and declared “we are officially putting Iran on notice” for what he called a provocation. A statement from White House national security adviser Michael Flynn condemning the test was an example of a more muscular U.S. foreign policy that Trump has […]
Dubai Islamic Bank, the largest sharia-compliant bank in the United Arab Emirates, has appointed banks ahead of a potential benchmark-sized US dollar sukuk sale, banking sources familiar with the situation said on Wednesday. The group of banks arranging the deal includes Bank ABC, Boubyan Bank, Emirates NBD, HSBC, Maybank, National Bank of Abu Dhabi, Sharjah Islamic Bank and Standard Chartered, the sources said, speaking on condition of […]
The UAE’s non-oil foreign trade totalled AED1.172 trillion ($320 billion) for the first nine months of 2016, up by 0.1 percent on the same period in the previous year. Preliminary data of the Federal Customs Authority (FCA) indicated that the share of imports in the UAE’s total non-oil trade amounted to AED721.2 billion, a rise of 1 percent. Native gold and semi-processed gold topped the list of […]
The oil industry is zeroing in on a prospective tax shift in Washington that has the potential to upend energy flows around the world. The “border adjustment tax” (BAT) put forth by Republican lawmakers and embraced sporadically by President Donald Trump would radically change the way companies are levied, taxing imports and exempting exports in the world’s biggest economy. While the Trump administration’s stance on BAT has […]
Uber’s self-driving car ambition just got another boost after it signed on the German automaker Daimler in an initiative to develop automated vehicles for its ride-hailing network. Looking at the announcement, however, one is left wondering if the partnership could really lead Uber to build a driverless car on its own. Uber’s Role Uber CEO Travis Kalanick stated that, here, Uber is not going to be involved […]
WASHINGTON: Iran’s ballistic missile launch on Sunday was Tehran’s “first litmus test” for the Donald Trump administration as much as it was a regional show of force, according to experts.With the launch coming just nine days into the Trump presidency, Iran-watchers expect the new administration to respond through the different levers at its disposal.A more aggressive retaliation could, however, backfire, and lead to an unintended escalation in […]
The three largest Omani banks – BankMuscat, Bank Dhofar and National Bank of Oman – face pressure on profitability from slowing economic growth and increased demand for Islamic finance, Moody’s warned on Tuesday. Growing appetite for Islamic finance is intensifying competition for products and placing the banks under pressure, a report from the rating agency argued. However, it added that BankMuscat, Oman’s largest bank by assets, was […]
Written by Anees Jillani | Published:February 1, 2017 12:31 am Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (File Photo) Since January 4, a five-member Bench headed by the second seniormost judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan has been hearing for three hours every day petitions alleging corruption by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, filed by the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Imran Khan, and the head of the […]
BD 1.2 million (US$3.2 million) net profit for the three months ending 31 December, 2016 BD 4.3 million 2016 profit as customer base nears one million milestone BD 1.2 million (US$3.2 million) net profit for the three months ending 31 December, 2016 Manama – 31 January, 2016 Zain Bahrain (Ticker: ZAINBH), a telecom innovator focused on enhancing customer experience, reported a 22% surge in its customer […]
RIYADH The top U.N. humanitarian official in Yemen said on Tuesday he feared for the lives of civilians in two Red Sea coast cities where Yemeni government forces and their Gulf Arab backers are on an offensive to oust Iran-allied Houthi militia. Coalition-supported Yemeni army forces advanced northward into al-Mokha and Dhubab last week in a bid to deprive the Houthis of strategic Red Sea ports. “I […]
DUBAI // “Bubble babies” at risk from the slightest infection as a result of rare genetic conditions will soon benefit from treatment unveiled at the Arab Health Congress on Tuesday. Gene therapy will provide a lifeline for young children in the Middle East, which suffers from the highest rates of genetic diseases in the world. The process involves ineffective genes copied and replaced in a patient’s body […]
Dubai-based Majid Al Futtaim on Tuesday reported a 9 percent increase in group revenues to $8.14 billion (AED29.9bn) in 2016 compared to $7.43bn (AED27.3bn) in 2015. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 8 percent, reaching $1.11bn (AED4.1bn), driven by additional hypermarkets, supermarkets and family entertainment centres. Alain Bejjani, Majid Al Futtaim Holding CEO, said the company will continue on its growth trajectory in […]
A Saudi prince reportedly booked out an entire row on passenger aircraft to transport his falcons back home. A picture posted on social media website Reddit shows what’s believed to be 80 falcons sitting on platforms placed on seating in the centre row of an aircraft. Each of the falcons, who have their wings tied so as to prevent movement, appear to be taking up one seat […]
By Praveen Menon and Pairat Temphairojana | KUALA LUMPUR/BANGKOK KUALA LUMPUR/BANGKOK Seeking to capitalise on U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial new travel restrictions, companies and officials in Asia said they would target greater tourism and education ties with Muslims worried about the curbs. Trump’s Friday directive put a 120-day hold on allowing refugees into the country, an indefinite ban on refugees from Syria and a 90-day bar […]
Your daily guide to community and cultural activities across the Emirates for January 31, 2017, including performances, festivals, art exhibitions, film screenings, health and fitness events, talks, classes, workshops and family fun. newslide Abu Dhabi Fitness offer Bodytree Studio will celebrate Valentine’s Day throughout February with Bring a Buddy to Bodytree, which offers two-for-one prices for drop-in classes, including all morning yoga classes, from Sundays to Thursdays […]
President Donald Trump has attacked airlines, the media and Democrats over the protests and criticism of his administration that emerged over the way he executed a ban on people from seven Muslim-majority nations entering the US. In a series of tweets and comments at the White House, Mr Trump tried to shift the blame for the chaos that ensued after more than 100 refugees and migrants from […]
Pakistan’s interior minister on Monday criticized President Donald Trump’s restrictions on immigration from several Muslim-majority countries, saying the move would harm the global fight against terrorism, amid concerns that Pakistanis may also be impacted. Mr. Trump issued an executive order Friday, suspending the U.S. refugee program for four months and banning the entry of citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. […]
