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: […]
Foreign financial support to the Palestinian budget is running at about half the forecast level, the Palestinian prime minister told local media on Tuesday, meaning deep cuts will have to be made to the budget this year. At its cabinet meeting, the government said it expected to run a budget deficit of 4.12 billion shekels in 2017 ($1.06 billion), approaching 15 percent of gross domestic product. “We […]
ISLAMABAD – One day before the hearing of the Panama leaks, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf yeserday filed fresh evidence before the Supreme Court. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his children also filed applications for changing their counsels. In place of Salman Aslam Butt now Makhdoom Ali Khan would represent the PM, while Salman Akram Raja would appear instead of Akram Sheikh on behalf of Hassan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz. […]
Dubai Financial Market (DFM) , the Gulf’s only listed stock exchange, said on Tuesday that it planned to introduce covered short-selling, a move that could increase trading liquidity. “DFM is planning implementation of regulated short-selling on a selected list of eligible securities in accordance with international recommendations under local market conditions in the coming months, subject to regulatory approvals of its rules,” it said in a statement […]
Saudi Arabia’s Council of Ministers has approved the organisational procedures for the General Authority of Sports in order to promote athleticism in the Kingdom. The newly approved measures also aim to organize and develop the sports sector, the Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Adel Al-Turaifi told the Saudi Press Agency following a Cabinet session headed by King Salman in Riyadh. Al-Turaifi said the authority would work […]
|By Matein Khalid|“Few individuals alter the course of history. Fewer still change the map of the world. Hardly anyone creates a nation state. Mohammed Ali Jinnah did all three”. Dr. Stanley Wolpert’s words still give me goose pimples two decades after I first read his book. Mr. Jinnah founded Pakistan and was also my ancestral kinsman. I too was born in Karachi, the city by the sea, […]
Saudi Arabia stressed on Monday the importance of co-operation among oil producers to abide by a decision in November to cut production. OPEC agreed in November its first oil output cuts since 2008 after Saudi Arabia accepted “a big hit” on its production and dropped its demand that arch-rival Iran slash output. “The council (of ministers)…asserted the importance of stability and coordination and increased cooperation between member […]
The Abu Dhabi Government has announced the list of public holidays planned for 2017. “The following list shows the public holidays in the UAE for the year 2017. The official reference to determine Islamic occasions, such as the beginning of Ramadan or Haj, is the Hijri Calendar. It is based on the phases of the moon. Hence, the exact dates of Islamic events vary from one Gregorian […]
JEDDAH: Citizens of the UAE have been warned against traveling to Turkey following the deadly Daesh-claimed attack on a packed Istanbul nightclub, in which 39 people were killed.The news came as a travel expert warned that Turkey’s tourism industry will suffer after a string of terror strikes in Istanbul and elsewhere.The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation issued the travel warning to its citizens on […]
Saudi Arabia’s Yamama Cement Company has secured 1 billion riyals ($266.6 million) in Islamic financing to partially fund the building of a new factory, it said on Monday. The three-year financing includes 750 million riyals from National Commercial Bank and 250 million riyals from Samba Financial Group, it said in the statement. The company signed a 4.2 billion riyal contract with Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions in November […]
By Yara Abi Nader and Humeyra Pamuk | ISTANBUL ISTANBUL Shot in the arm and slumped behind a table, Francois al-Asmar played dead as the gunman walked through the exclusive Istanbul nightclub shooting the wounded as they lay on the ground. Like most of the 39 people killed at a New Year’s party in Reina, a hang-out for the Turkish jet set and moneyed foreigners, the Lebanese […]
The awards celebrates the top global banks on their performance through the year. Saudi Arabia, 2 January 2017 Alawwal Bank won The Banker’s ‘Bank of the Year’ (Saudi Arabia) at a ceremony hosted in London, England. The award win caps off a momentous year for the bank and follows a series of award wins in 2016 including ‘Best Mobile Application for Banking’ and ‘Best Call Center’. The […]
Saudi Arabia’s gross domestic product (GDP), adjusted for inflation, grew by just 0.9 percent from a year earlier in the third quarter of 2016. This compared to the 1.4 percent growth seen in the second quarter, according to data from the Central Department of Statistics showed. The Q3 growth was the slowest recorded since 0.3 percent in the first quarter of 2013. The slowdown comes as Saudi […]
MANAMA, BAHRAIN – 02 January 2017 Ithmaar Bank B.S.C., a Bahrain-based Islamic retail bank, announced today (ed note: 020117) that it has obtained final approval from the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), the Kingdom’s banking and financial services regulator on the completion of all requirements with respect to the reorganisation plan. This aims to further develop the growth achieved in Ithmaar Bank’s core retail banking business, the […]
The UAE has moved up a global list of the best destinations for expats to enjoy a successful career while Bahrain is also in the world’s top 10 places to move to. The UAE now ranks as the fourth best destination after moving up two places on 2015 in the new data released by HSBC. Bahrain, ranked 10th, fell three places compared to last year’s list, while […]
