UAE. The Dubai Technology & Media Free Zone (the DTMFZ), commonly known as TECOM, is a Free Zone in Dubai comprised of a number of well-known business parks including Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Dubai Design District, Knowledge Village and various others. The DTMFZ was re-launched on Tuesday under the new name Dubai Creative Clusters (the DCC). At the same time, the Dubai Technology & Media […]
UAE. Dubai and Abu Dhabi have been ranked as the 23rd and 33rd most expensive cities to live in (respectively) according to Mercer’s 2015 Cost of Living Survey. The two cities have experienced a significant jump compared to 2014, with Dubai soaring 44 places from last year’s position at 67 and Abu Dhabi going up 35 places 68th in 2014. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are the most […]
LEBANON. Economena Analytics, a specialized economic information provider, released its Lebanese Economic Outlook (LEO) for the second quarter of 2015. Key forecast findings show heightened levels of pessimism in recent months, with growth forecasts for 2015 falling to 1.5% in the Q2 survey from 2% at the start of the year. The findings are based on the views of 17 leading Lebanese economists. None of the surveyed […]
ABU DHABI // The prices of meat and vegetables increased by 20 per cent and 5 per cent respectively by vendors in Mina Market on the eve of Ramadan. According to Al Ittihad, The National’s Ararbic sister publication, workers at Mina Market expressed their anger at the price rise, which they claim happens every year on this occasion. They said some vegetable and meat vendors were deliberately […]
San Francisco Nearly 20 percent of Apple Watch buyers are not only shelling out hundreds of dollars for the timepiece but are springing for a spare band too, giving the tech giant a profitable second dip into customers’ wallets, according to data provided exclusively to Reuters. The data from Slice Intelligence, a research firm that mines e-mail receipts, offers a rare window into the money-making potential of […]
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis on Thursday called for a radical transformation of politics, economics and individual lifestyles to confront environmental degradation and climate change, as his much-awaited papal encyclical blended a biting critique of consumerism and irresponsible development with a plea for swift and unified global action. The vision that Francis outlined in the 184-page encyclical is sweeping in ambition and scope: He described a relentless […]
MUMBAI India’s oldest and most distinguished IT firms are doing what would have been almost sacrilegious a few years ago – holding coding marathons to develop innovative fixes and deploying “commando” units to resolve clients’ IT woes within hours. Infosys (INFY.NS), Wipro (WIPR.NS) and other Indian IT giants, which rose to prominence during the outsourcing boom in the 1990s and 2000s, have struggled to keep pace with […]
MRC Global announced that its subsidiary, MRC Transmark Middle East FZE, has signed a framework agreement with Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), naming MRC Transmark Middle East as one of SABIC’s primary valve suppliers to SABIC’s operations in Saudi Arabia. SABIC, headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, ranks among the world’s top petrochemical companies. It operates from more than 50 countries and has more than 60 manufacturing and […]
File photo of Stephen Elop introducing the Nokia Lumia 930 mobile phone during Microsoft’s ”build” conference in San Francisco, California April 2, 2014. Reuters/Robert Galbraith/Files SEATTLE Stephen Elop, the former top boss at phone-maker Nokia, is one of four high-level executives leaving Microsoft Corp as the company sharpens its focus on software services and the cloud, Chief Executive Satya Nadella announced on Wednesday. The departure of Elop, […]
ME firms facing challenges in human capital trends BEIRUT, 1 days ago The readiness to address challenges in learning & development, reinventing human resources (HR), leadership, and culture & engagement is decreasing in Middle East organisations, a report said. This raises the question of whether leaders are doing enough to prepare their organisations to respond to today’s most pressing business and human capital needs, added the Global […]
UAE. Private wealth in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) showed solid growth in 2014 (8.4 percent), according to a new report by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Global Wealth 2015: Winning the Growth Game, being released today. In the UAE, the growth of private wealth was driven mainly by equities. After all, between 2013 and 2014, the amount of wealth held in equities rose by 13.8 percent […]
UAE. EY’s Europe, Middle East, India and Africa (EMEIA) Fraud Survey, Fraud and corruption – the easy option for growth?, has found that many businesses still do not have the basic building blocks in place for effective compliance. Only 52% of MENA respondents stated they had an anti-bribery or anti-corruption (ABAC) policy and code of conduct in place. The survey, which polled 3,800 employees of large businesses […]
INTERNATIONAL. Oil production from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) totaled 31.11 million barrels per day (b/d) in May, up 180,000 b/d from April and the group’s highest monthly volume since October 2012, according to the latest Platts survey of OPEC and oil industry officials and analysts. “OPEC’s communique after the June 5 meeting mentioned that members had been urged to adhere to its production […]
ABU DHABI // A vehicle testing and registration centre in Dubai can service an additional 60,000 cars every year after renovations were completed. The Tasjeel centre in Al Barsha has added an additional test lane, a vacuum system to deliver documents and vehicle keys from test bays to the registration building, a larger waiting area and a new VIP section. “With the new extended capacity, we will […]
The online file-sharing service Box on Tuesday announced a “deep integration” with Microsoft Office Online that will let users more easily open, edit and save Office documents. Box users will now be able to manage Office files directly from Box and automatically save any changes in real time without having to open other applications installed on their devices. The new integration eliminates the need for users to […]
The black flag of the Islamic State, left, flew over Tal Abyad, Syria, on Tuesday. After Kurdish and rebel fighters took over the town later Tuesday, they hoisted a Kurdish militia flag. By BEN HUBBARD June 16, 2015 ISTANBUL — Kurdish militias and rebel fighters on Tuesday took full control of the strategic Syrian town of Tal Abyad on Turkey’s border, striking a blow against the Islamic State and expanding […]
With the debate continuing over how Android security compares to the security of other mobile platforms, Google is getting more proactive. The mobile operating system maker just launched Android Security Rewards, complete with cash incentives to encourage security researchers to keep digging for — and reporting — flaws. Google will provide both money and public recognition to security researchers who discover and disclose vulnerabilities to the Android […]
OMA Emirates implements Ingenio terminal for NBO SHARJAH, 14 hours, 16 minutes ago OMA Emirates, a provider of cutting edge technology for the payment industry, has implemented its Ingenico Point of Sales (POS) solution for National Bank of Oman (NBO). The technologically advanced payment terminal from Ingenico used by OMA Emirates – Solution Gulf that works on multi communication protocol will make it possible for mobile and […]
The Chinese delegates at the EDB office New China push to spur Bahrain trade MANAMA, 16 hours, 32 minutes ago A delegation from the China Arab Council for Investment Promotion (CACIP) has arrived on a three-day visit to Bahrain as part of its mandate to promote investment co-operation between China and the Arab states. Organised by the Economic Development Board (EDB), the visit is aimed at strengthening […]
The Twitter logo is shown at its corporate headquarters in San Francisco, California April 28, 2015. Reuters/Robert Galbraith/Files SAN FRANCISCO Twitter Inc’s (TWTR.N) next chief executive officer faces a crucial challenge as the company seeks to appease Wall Street after this week’s management shakeup – helping disaffected advertisers connect with users. And many advertisers, analysts and investors say Twitter already has the right person for the job: […]
Denis Flierl | Jun 15, 2015 | 0 comments 2015 Volvo V60 T5 AWD Cross Country Have you ever sat in a driver’s seat that was so comfortable it made you forget about the craziness outside? We have experienced a front seat that is so amazing, you will want to go to a Volvo dealer and sit in the driver’s seat just to see for yourself. The […]
Reliance eyes Dec start for 4G phone service MUMBAI, 13 hours, 47 minutes ago After five years and more than $15 billion of investments, Mukesh Ambani said his Reliance Industries could be ready to begin 4G phone services in December. Reliance, India’s second-largest company by market value and led by India’s richest man, derives most of its revenue from its sprawling energy empire, but has over the […]
BAHRAIN. On June 12, 2015, Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services affirmed its long- and short-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings on the Kingdom of Bahrain at ‘BBB-/A-3’. We also affirmed our long- and short-term foreign and local currency credit ratings on the Central Bank of Bahrain at ‘BBB-/A-3’. The outlooks on both Bahrain and its central bank remain negative. RATIONALE We expect that Bahrain’s fiscal […]
“I don’t discriminate with music,” says Mannan Alawar with a laugh, “as long as it’s good.” Whether he is reinventing the UAE national anthem on electric guitar for a YouTube audience or leaping into a crowd mid-solo, Alawar is hardly the average Emirati banker. The 24-year-old is a musician at heart, dividing his time between his day job, several bands and finishing a business degree. When he […]
