Virgin Mobile signed an agreement with Panda Retail Company Tuesday that will see phone credit recharge cards available across retail outlets in Saudi Arabia. Panda is one of Saudi Arabia’s largest grocery chains with at least one version of the shop present in every major retail center in the country, including 63 hypermarkets, 143 supermarkets and 273 Pandati shops. Read More »

Third quarter numbers for Bahrain Islamic Bank (BisB) show a 30 percent jump in net profit over the first nine months of 2014, posting $22.8 million in gains even after a $19.3 million deduction for net provisions. During the same period last year, the financial institution posted $17.5 million in net profits after reserving $16.2 million for net provisions. Read More »

The Kingdom’s strong purchasing power coupled with a growing population and market for fashion makes Saudi Arabia’s off-the-rack clothes sector the largest in the GCC region; Saudi Arabia’s stable economic condition gives it the ability to boost the industry with government stimulus in the form of support for buying commodities and tax exemptions for merchants.  Read More »

An event for Indian businessmen, organized by Abu Dhabi Ports and the Indian Business and Professional Council (IBPC), took place Oct. 20 in Abu Dhabi. The theme for the event was “Opportunities in Abu Dhabi: A Global Trade, Manufacturing and Logistics Hub." During the event, Abu Dhabi Ports gave a presentation about the company's Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi and Khalifa Port. Read More »

Coldwell Banker UAE has opened its fourth office in the Gulf nation. The new location at Jumeirah Village Circle in Dubai comes as the company makes moves to expand business operations in the region. Hesham Elfar said the company aims to grow its presence in the UAE as the Dubai property market continues to explode with new real estate opportunities despite a recent slowdown. Read More »

Oman Air made five new appointments Sunday, putting citizens to work in Qatar, the Philippines, Africa, and Pakistan with another management position being taken in Oman itself. Oman Air is in the midst of making major personnel moves that will see Omani citizens take up senior management positions in foreign markets to advance the airline’s policy of “Omanization” of their workforce. Read More »

Zain Group named Eaman Al Roudhan as CEO of Zain Kuwait, the company’s flagship operation, Sunday. Al Roudhan, a Kuwaiti national herself, will succeed Omar Al Omar as of December 1. Al Omar will stay on at Zain Group as a senior advisor to the company’s CEO. Al Roudhan will bring with her more than 18 years of management and leadership experience as she fills the role. Read More »

RetailNext Inc. partnered with Sun & Sand Sports Oct. 27 to provide  in-store analytics for Sun & Sand.  RetailNext will launch its platform at Sun & Sand's new flagship concept stores, the first two of which are located in the Dubai Mall and City Centre Me'aise. Sun & Sand Sports is the Gulf Cooperation Council's largest retailer and wholesaler of sports products. Read More »

The British Royal Navy broke ground for a new base at Mina Salman Port in Bahrain Saturday in a ceremony attended by the U.K.’s foreign secretary and senior Royal Navy officials. The Mina Salman Port will be the Royal Navy’s first permanent base in Bahrain since the U.K. withdrew British forces from Manama in 1971. The U.S. Navy took over that base for its U.S. Fifth Fleet. Read More »

The Dubai Chamber of Commerce staff gathered Thursday for their monthly meeting. During the gathering, chamber President and CEO Hamad Buamim urged the chamber staff to take part in the bin Rashid Smart Majlis Council, which was recently organized by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president of the United Arab Emirates and prime minister and ruler of Dubai. Read More »

Located in Dubai's Golden Mile in the Palm Jumeirah residential development, this stylish apartment boasts an open floor plan with 1,800 square feet of living space and beautiful park views. The apartment has a large combination living and dining room, a spacious balcony and a tasteful modern kitchen with striking countertops and handsome cabinetry. There is also a maid's room. Read More »

A three-bedroom apartment is available in Ajman One Towers.  The 1,819-square-foot unfurnished property offers three bedrooms, five bathrooms and a spectacular full-sea view since it is on the 25th floor of the Ajman One Tower 12 building. There’s a maid’s room and a closed kitchen, which is fully outfitted with appliances. This is a great apartment for a growing family. Read More »

In an effort to make patient care better as well as to increase the quality of research and education, major healthcare systems University of Pennsylvania Health System and VPS Healthcare of Abu Dhabi partnered Monday. The partnership's components will include educational sessions, patient care standards and further education for medical personnel including physicians and nurses. Read More »

A new partnership between Emirates Airlines and Oxford University will evaluate new ways to predict demand as well as to optimize seating options across Emirates' global network. The collaboration will employ a group of top scientists, engineers, social scientists and domain experts from the airline and the university. Work will be conducted at the Oxford-Emirates Data Science Lab. Read More »

In a push to promote Qatar as a tourist destination, the Qatar Tourism Authority recently launched the Qatar Destination Brand at the World Travel Market in London. The brand features photo and video elements as well as distinctive print advertising components to attract locals, youth, residents, artists and tourists. Issa bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi remarked on the brand. Read More »

Saahtain Foods is sending its Tayyib ready-to-eat meals to refugee camps in Southern Europe. The Halal meals are precooked before packaging to offer nutritious food that meets all religious standards and needs no kitchen to prepare. The brand is already widely used by pilgrims visiting Saudi Arabia’s holy sites. The meals are purchased in bulk for many refugees fleeing violence. Read More »

QNB Group recently won two major awards at the Global Investor/ISF Middle East Summit Awards 2015 in Dubai. QNB’s Asset Management arm went home with the title of “Asset Manager of the Year in Qatar,” while the institution’s financial services brokerage subsidiary won an award for “Best Broker in Qatar.” QNB’s Asset Management and Financial Services took the honors last year. Read More »

Oman is kicking off a celebration at the World Travel Market (WTM) exhibition in London recognizing the great strides made the sultanate’s tourism industry since Sultan Qaboos bin Said took the throne 45 years ago. The Gulf nation now boasts impressive tourism infrastructure including world class hotels, cruises and adventure desert travel. Read More »

A three-bedroom villa in Riffa Views is available for purchase, listed by Star Real Estate for $516,898. Although the master is the only bedroom with an en suite bathroom, there are three bathrooms in the two-story detached villa. Residents will enjoy the balcony with a view and the garden space. An intercom and central air conditioning are also installed in the villa. Read More »

Perfect for a growing family or large group of friends, a five-bedroom villa in the Oasis Estate area of Riffa Views has recently been listed by Bahrain World Real Estate. Fully installed appliances are sure to grab the attention of new residents. The villa also includes a fountain, garage shutter, garage door and wooden curtains. There are two covered parking spaces. Read More »