The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry has achieved a goal it set to decrease transaction times and reduce waiting periods for members requesting services. In 2008, 53.85 percent of customers waited for 15 minutes; by mid-2014 the Dubai Chamber served 64.6 percent of customers in less than six minutes. In the first eight months of 2015, that rose to 75 percent. Read More »

In keeping with its strategic growth plan and efforts to fund large-scale projects throughout Oman, Maisarah Islamic Banking Services signed an agreement with Shaza Oman to fund the construction of its five-star hotel in Muscat. The agreement was signed by BankDhofar's acting CEO Abdul Hakeem Al Ojaili; Al Madina CEO Abdul Rahman Ba Omar; and GLOREI CEO Mohammad Al Ghassani. Read More »

This 3,809-square-foot villa includes four bedrooms and a maid’s room. The master bedroom has an ensuite bathroom; the kitchen is equipped with granite countertops, installed cooking hood and plenty of cabinetry. Each bedroom includes built-in wardrobes, which provide ample storage. The villa is equipped with air conditioning. Read More »

Siemens has signed an 18-year contract extension with Abu Dhabi-based Dolphin Energy Ltd. to service aero-derivative gas turbine trains operating at the Dolphin Gas Project in Qatar. Under the agreement, Siemens will provide service and maintenance for nine industrial Trent 60 aero-derivative gas turbines with nine Dresser-Rand DATUM centrifugal compressors. Read More »

MPM Properties Dubai has listed a one-bedroom, two-bath apartment in Silicon Oasis for $185,136. The 853-square-foot apartment is equipped with central air and has a balcony with a view. The open kitchen is fully equipped, and the apartment features built-in wardrobes for storage. Read More »

Qatar Airways has entered into a code-share agreement with Sun Air, a Danish branch of British Airways. The airlines will launch code-share flights between Billund, Aalborg and Aarhus in Jutland, the Western part of Denmark, and several European destinations including Oslo, Norway; Brussels, Belgium; Manchester, England; and Munich, Germany. Read More »

Hunt and Harris Real Estate Dubai has a gorgeous three-bedroom Bermuda villa available for purchase in the Ras Al Khaimah, Mina Al Arab area. The 3,773-square-foot villa includes a maid’s room, a family room and a fully equipped kitchen with a cooking hood, ample cabinetry and more. There is a two-car garage, a large balcony and terrace overlooking the community garden. Read More »

The Hamriyah Free Zone Authority recently completed installation of continuous and portable ambient air quality monitoring stations that are in line with international and United Arab Emirates environmental standards. "The system assesses the extent of pollution, evaluates authority's control options and provides data for air quality modeling," Saud Salim Al Mazrouei said. Read More »

Oman's Port of Salalah's General Cargo Terminal handled a record number of metric tons in September, topping 1.2 million. The previous record, set in June, was just over 1.18 metric tons. "The achievement is not easy to accomplish in this industry and requires a great deal of collaboration, planning, and modern management," Port of Salalah CEO David Gledhill said. Read More »

Located in Dubai's Jumeirah Beach Residence – within walking distance of the beach – this spacious apartment boasts an open floor plan, stylish amenities and lovely partial marina views. The apartment has an elegant combination living and dining room with large windows and sliding glass doors that offer access to a large balcony. Read More »

Qatari telecommunications company Ooredoo has signed a major framework agreement with Nokia to support Ooredoo's long-term development strategy in the Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia. Under the five-year contract, Nokia will provide advanced mobile broadband technologies and professional services to help Ooredoo Group support better 2G, 3G, 4G and LTE-A networks. Read More »

A delegation of United States law enforcement officers led by Los Angeles Police Department Deputy Commander of Special Operations and Anti-Terrorism Bureau Maj. Gen. Horace Frank recently conducted an official visit to the United Arab Emirates. The visit was part of the international expertise exchange program and participation in field operations. Read More »

AFIA International has expanded its operations into the Jeddah Port with an engineering contract awarded to Saudi Arabia-based Tebodin. The project will include a large tank farm, boilers and an administration block. Tebodin will oversee all design work, including architecture, civil and structural engineering, piping, firefighting and electrical design. Read More »

Oman Air has received its first of six Boeing 787 Dreamliners for use on routes to Europe and Saudi Arabia. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner was released in 2011 to offer improved efficiency and has been used on more than 50 new nonstop routes around the world. Oman Air has also contracted with Boeing to support the introduction of 787 Dreamliners into its fleet. Read More »

Beechwood Bermuda International, Ltd. has launched a subsidiary in United Arab Emirates (UAE), Beechwood Bermuda Middle East (BBME). The Beechwood companies provide investment products to clients and life, annuity and long-term care reinsurance to primary insurance companies. BBME will market and distribute Beechwood's Bermuda International investment products throughout the Middle East. Read More »

Amira Nature Foods Ltd, one of the world’s leading providers of specialty Indian rice, has entered into an agreement with KeHE Distributors LLC in order to distribute Amira products throughout the United States; KeHE brings natural, organic, specialty and fresh products to a number of markets in the U.S., including natural food stores, chain grocery stores, independent grocers and other specialty product retailers. Read More »

More than 2,000 people, including policy makers and business leaders from the United Arab Emirates, attended the Global Islamic Economy Summit 2015 at the Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai. The second edition of the event was themed "Driving Innovation, Unlocking Potential," and was promoted by DIEDC in collaboration with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Thomson Reuters. Read More »

During the Global Islamic Economy Summit held last week in Dubai, United Arab Emirates Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum presented the Salaam Gateway, a platform designed for industry-related professionals seeking news, information and data that are useful to strengthen their businesses. Read More »

Etihad Airways has struck a 10-year, $700-billion deal to make IBM the airline’s technology services provider, a move that will allow the airline to enhance its guest online experience, develop world-class infrastructure and security, as well as to improve efficiency; this tech services deal with IBM marks one of the most important strategic collaborations Etihad Airways has entered. Read More »

Saudi Aramco recently hosted a two-day forum in the Chinese financial hub of Shanghai in hopes of boosting Chinese investment in the Gulf nation. The forum promoted Saudi Arabia’s three newly developed industrial platforms of Jazan Economic City, Al-Hasa Energy Industrial City and Ras Al-Khair Industrial City to more than 150 Chinese manufacturers and investors. Read More »