Miscellaneous

UAE: Private sector holiday for birthday of Prophet Muhammad announced

Earlier, it was announced that the public sector, too, would get a holiday on Sunday to mark the occasion

Saudi private sector employment surges to over 11.5 million workers in August 2024

The number of residents employed in the private sector stood at 9,202,580, with 8,812,758 men and 389,822 women

Saudi Arabia to cut export and import customs fees starting October 6

Changes introduced to streamline trade processes and support business operations

Sheikh Mohammed launches Dubai National University with $1.23 billion investment

Launch seeks to raise Dubai's position among the top 10 cities globally with the best quality of education

UAE targets $27.2 billion in tourism investments by 2031, increasing GDP contribution to $122.5 billion 

In 2023, tourism accounted for 11.7 percent of the UAE’s GDP, amounting to $59.9 billion

Dubai Metro marks 15 years of success: Over 2.4 billion passengers and 4.3 million trips with 99.7 percent punctuality

Currently, the metro serves around 730,000 passengers daily, making it the preferred transportation choice for many

Four-day holiday for Saudi Arabia’s 94th National Day

The theme of this year’s National Day is ‘We dream, we achieve’

Prophet Muhammad’s birthday: UAE announces holiday on September 15

The birthday of Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) is observed on the 12th of Rabi Al Awwal

Saudi Arabia cancels hotel licensing fees to boost tourism investment 

This change, effective September 4, aims to position the Kingdom as a global tourism leader

Qatar introduces flexible remote work for government sector effective September 9, 2024

This initiative helps employees balance work and family, supporting vulnerable groups like working mothers and those with disabilities

Softlogic partners with Daikin to advance UAE’s commercial air conditioning industry

The partnership is formed amidst a booming UAE air conditioning market worth over $650 million, driven by real estate growth

UAE visa amnesty: Want a job in the country? Here’s what to do

MOHRE has steps to follow depending on whether the individual has a work permit or not, and whether he/she wants to change their employer

Dubai welcomes 10.62 million international tourists in first 7 months of 2024

Western European countries topped the list of tourists to Dubai, with about 2.086 million visitors

UAE marks International Day of Charity: Foreign aid exceeds $98 billion by mid-2024

The day highlights the importance of supporting public services in health, education, and housing and assisting communities in need

Abu Dhabi’s Masdar’s $1 billion green bond issuance drew $4.6 billion in demand, oversubscribed 4.6x

In July 2024, Masdar successfully raised $1 billion through its green bond issuance under its Green Finance Framework

Dubai RTA completes 4.6 km Umm Suqeim improvement project, reducing traffic by 40 percent during peak hours

The authority launched 200 new temporary parking slots and a 500-meter roadway

UAE, Kuwait strengthen bilateral ties with MoUs on standardization, infrastructure, and cybersecurity

Other notable agreements included collaboration in communications and information technology

Sobha Realty, Arsenal commit to inspiring and supporting women in new film

Film demonstrates the importance of laying a solid foundation for the future, building legacies, and nurturing tomorrow’s leaders

Travel industry set to add record $11 trillion to global GDP in 2024

The industry's contribution to global GDP is expected to rise by 12.1 percent year-over-year

UAE passport climbs to 8th position in 2024 from 15th

The UAE passport is one of the strongest in the world, granting travel to 187 countries, according to the Get Golden Visa index

Prophet’s birthday: Next UAE holiday is less than two weeks away

Of the seven official holidays announced by the UAE cabinet, we have already observed five