Who would now warn publicly against “Islamic fascism,” when the hard-liners sought to influence elections? Who would state openly that there should be a nuclear compromise? Continue reading the main story Mr. Rafsanjani said things others would not dare to say, all agreed, and his voice had at least created some tolerance for debates. “Hard-liners will be happy, but this is the start of a period of […]
By Mehreen Zahra-Malik | ISLAMABAD ISLAMABAD Pakistan’s recently retired army chief Raheel Sharif has been appointed to lead a new Saudi-military alliance to fight terrorism, Pakistani media have reported. Government officials in Saudi Arabia could not be reached on Sunday to confirm the appointment to head the coalition, the founding of which Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced at a sudden midnight press conference […]
08 January 2017 Ixtel technologies, one of the UAE’s leading digital services provider was recently awarded as the Best SME in GCC for 2016. The awards ceremony organized by the GCC Ministers of Labor council acknowledged the ixtel’s efforts towards innovation & technology transformation initiatives. The award was presented at the 33rd GCC Ministers of Labor council summit that took place in Riyadh. The ceremony was attended […]
More tourists from the Philippines, Pakistan and China visited Dubai in the first 10 months of 2016 compared to the same period last year, official figures from Dubai Tourism reveal. The Philippines reported a 19 percent increase in visitor numbers, growing from 262,000 to 311,000. They were closely followed by Pakistanis which registered 16 percent jump to 489,000 from 421,000. The third on the list were Chinese […]
A year ago Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s deputy crown prince and the power behind the throne, electrified the global energy industry by revealing plans to float the world’s largest oil producer. The ambitious proposal for an initial public offering in state-owned Saudi Aramco is the centrepiece of the hard-charging 31-year-old’s vision to overhaul an economy seen as too heavily dependent on natural resources. One year on […]
Banks and petrochemicals stocks could be relative strong performers in the GCC in 2017 thanks to benchmark interest rate rises and a recovery in the global crude oil price, although slowing economic growth may weigh on regional markets. Both sectors have suffered in the last couple of years due to the dramatic oil price decline. The knock-on effect of lower investment and economic growth hit banks, with […]
How’s your weekend going? Redditor, Law School Graduate, and nimble navigator William Craddick (/u/PleadingtheYiff / brand new Twitter handle @williamcraddick) has made quite the name for himself on Reddit’s “The_Donald” forum. In just three short months, Craddick has managed to rack up over 153,000 “post karma” and 48k “comment karma,” which (if you’re not familiar) is impressive. The guy is an incredibly effective dot-connector, perhaps owing it to his legal training – often posting lengthy reads that […]
Oil started the first week of 2017 with a bang but ended it with a whimper, as the Opec fireworks that dominated the last quarter gave way to the more mundane reality of monitoring if the cartel will make good on its pledged cuts. Brent crude oil briefly touched an 18-month high above $58 a barrel on the first day of trading but there was little fresh […]
Saudi Arabia is a historically entrepreneurial country. Jeddah has been a mercantile centre for centuries. Even Riyadh and the Holy Cities of Makkah and Madinah began as trading stations on the spice and silk trails. What has changed since the rise of the oil industry? Not the entrepreneurial spirit of the country but the institutional environment for entrepreneurship to flourish. As we contemplate the country’s future as […]
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: 5 January 2017 Thomson Reuters, the world’s leading source of news and information for professional markets and the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), will co-host the 11th MENA Regulatory Summit on February 5th & 6th in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Held under the patronage of the UAE Minister of Economy, H.E Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, the summit will debate key challenges that […]
Saudi Arabia’s non-oil private sector strengthened again in December after touching record lows in October, according to a new business survey. Data from the Emirates NBD Saudi Arabia Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) showed that output rose at the sharpest rate since August, while new orders increased at a marked, albeit slightly slower, rate. Companies responded to increased requirements by raising their purchasing activity and boosting inventories amid […]
Abu Dhabi-based Mubadala Development Co is reportedly mulling plans to commit up to $15 billion to partner with a new fund to invest in global technology. Bloomberg reported that Mubadala is looking to partner with SoftBank Group Corp and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund in the SoftBank Vision Fund which is set to close in January and will be capped at $100 billion, citing people familiar with […]
Argentina is looking to sell up to $10bn of debt, taking advantage of calmer conditions across bond markets and a pullback in the US dollar. The year-old government of Mauricio Macri is just one of a host of other emerging markets, including Brazil, Saudi Arabia and Nigeria, all racing to raise finance soon to mitigate risks stemming from the uncertainty over the direction of US policy, with […]
Three women in black niqabs covering their hair and faces skateboard down a street, their scarves and colorful dresses flowing behind them. A catchy tune with provocative lyrics — “May all men sink into oblivion” and “If only God would rid us of men” — plays as the women alternately glide on in-line skates, cruise on scooters and parade down the street in vibrant outfits, all things […]
For the tourists visiting Abu Dhabi from around the world, buying dates is a top priority when searching for a taste of the UAE to take back home as gifts for family and friends. ABU DHABI // Date traders are in their element during the winter months at Mina Dates Market because the influx of tourists means they are doing brisk business. It seems the little fruit […]
The United States on Thursday officially listed a son of Osama bin Laden as a “global terrorist,” and warned that the younger man, who has called for attacks around the world, poses a risk to American national security. The son, Hamza bin Laden, who has pledged to take up Osama bin Laden’s violent mantle and avenge his death, is “actively engaged in terrorism,” the State Department said, […]
ABU DHABI // UAE doctors have begun a humanitarian mission in several African countries, providing medical treatment for children and the elderly. The Zayed Giving medical convoys will cover areas in Sudan, Egypt, Tanzania, Mauritania and Morocco, under the supervision of volunteer doctors in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Prevention, reported Wam, the state news agency. The Saudi-German Hospital, Dar Al Ber Society and the […]
Increased number of visitors and hotel occupancy seen during Hajj and Umrah season January 05, 2017 Elaf Group, a SEDCO holding company, and a leading provider of travel, tourism and hospitality services, has recently seen growth spikes in the tourism sector of Saudi Arabia during the Umrah season and the recent celebration of Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) birthday. This was evident in the increase of occupancy rate in […]
OPEC’s oil output in December fell from a record high ahead of a deal to cut production, a Reuters survey found on Thursday, helped by attacks on Nigeria’s oil industry and top exporter Saudi Arabia trimming exports. The decline, the first since May according to Reuters surveys, occurred despite higher exports from second-largest OPEC producer Iraq and a further upward trend in Libyan output. Supply from OPEC […]
Justin Bieber’s “Let me love you!” blared from giant speakers to greet the arriving audience. Once settled, there were gasps and laughter at the antics of two American magicians before people sat back to savor some opera, mime and dance. The scene could have been from any variety performance on any weekend just about anywhere in the world, at least on the surface. But this is Saudi […]
ADEN At least three soldiers were killed in clashes with al Qaeda militants in southern Yemen in an operation launched by the internationally recognised government of President Abd-Rabu Mansour Hadi, security sources said. They said at least 10 other soldiers were wounded when troops were ambushed east of the coastal city of Shuqra on Tuesday. Intense clashes were continuing on Wednesday. The sources said that Hadi forces, […]
A music video featuring a group of niqab-clad women skateboarding, playing basketball and driving bumper cars has become a YouTube sensation. According to The Washington Post, the video titled “Hwages” (which loosely translates to concerns) was released on December 23. It is a talking point in Saudi Arabia and was put together by Saudi singer Majed Al-Esa of Saudi production company 8ies Studios. A similar video went […]
CAIRO: A report alleging human rights violations in Yemen by Houthi rebels has recorded 949 cases of damaged public property and 2,673 instances of private property damage, the Saudi Embassy here reported on Tuesday.The damage varied between complete and partial by bombardment from Houthi militants and loyalists of deposed President Abdullah Saleh against civilian homes and government and private facilities, according to a statement released on Tuesday […]
04 January 2017 BBK has recently announced new appointments in its Executive Management as part of a re-organization plan recently approved by the Bank’s Board of Directors and the Central Bank of Bahrain. The new structure aims to foster the Bank’s three years strategy (2016-2018), in addition to achieving the future vision and expectations of the Bank’s shareholders and stakeholders. The new organization included the following appointments: […]
