Leaders in the United Arab Emirates are building a new set of scientific laboratories in Dubai's Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park to help continue innovation in aerospace and other manufacturing industries. A set of 3-D printed laboratories are slated to be built as part of the research and development center there, and the labs also will conduct research on drones. Read More »

As some Dubai neighborhoods become sanctuaries for high-class culinary experiences, a new Mexican restaurant is bringing authentic flavor to the Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard downtown. Read More »

Nearly half of Lebanese workers, 44 percent, went without a pay raise in 2015, according to a recent study by Middle Eastern job site Bayt.com and market research firm YouGov. In addition to the dearth of pay increases across the country last year, the study presented other numbers about the economic position of Lebanese professionals and their outlook for the future. Read More »

Market events this spring showed that middle-income homes are becoming desirable for buyers in the United Arab Emirates. Vendors and other exhibitors came to Dubai last month for the 12th International Property Show at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibit Center. One thing they found is that first-time buyers were interested in housing that suits their needs. Read More »

 A recent report from Monster.com shows poor employment numbers for various Gulf countries and the first negative growth in the region since January 2015, with a year-over-year decline. E-recruitment activity in April was also 10 percent lower than in March. The study blames global oil prices, political instability and other factors for problems in the region. Read More »

As part of a greater plan to spur Dubai's economy, improve public planning and enhance the quality of life, Dubai leaders announced that the UAE government plans to make one quarter of all transportation in the city driverless by 2030. Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE, took to Twitter in April to announce the new benchmark. Read More »

As Ras Al Khaimah works to build its status as a worldwide luxury destination, one new hotel is getting a lot of attention, partially based on where it’s being built. Global developer SuperCasa is building a five-star hotel on Al Marjan Island. The hotel is happening as the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority stakes out plans to bring more visitors to the emirate. Read More »

Doha is getting the first Angry Birds playground at Doha Festival City’s Family Entertainment Complex. With Qatari officials so proud to introduce the Finnish gaming company’s characters to one of their central entertainment attractions, it begs the question of how much Western and international iconography might get built into cities and what type of tourism the region is trying to attract. Read More »

New banking services offered by the Oman Arab Bank (OAB) may help companies to achieve greater control of their supply chains. OAB says the Oman Visa Smart Commercial Card is “designed to reduce administrative costs and simplify the purchase-to-pay process while giving companies enhanced capabilities when managing their business transactions.” Read More »

Leadership teams on both sides of the Atlantic are building stronger trade relationships between Orange County, Florida, and Dubai.The Dubai Investment Development Agency (Dubai FDI), which is part of the Department of Economic Development, hosted a VIP lunch for Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs and Barbara Leaf, U.S. ambassador to the UAE, earlier this month. Read More »

Private sector and government leaders in Gulf countries are trying to push highly evolved networks to overcome some of what some experts call “last mile challenges” around telecom and data transfer services. To that end, Ooredoo recently partnered with the Omani Information Technology Authority to work on a next-generation high-speed network to deliver faster communications. Read More »

Fisch Asset Management says changes to bond ratings in Saudi Arabia and around the Gulf could portend greater financial disaster in the region. In a press release last week, Fisch said the top takeaways were that Middle East credit ratings are likely to come under further pressure due to low oil prices and an increase in primary issuance will support market liquidity. Read More »

RAK Hospitality Group, a major asset owner and portfolio manager for the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, is preparing to unveil a new set of American restaurants in the United Arab Emirates. One such restaurant is Kona Grill, an American grill and sushi bar categorized as “premier casual dining." RAK Hospitality Group will develop these restaurants through its subsidiary, Hakaya Collection. Read More »

In a general meeting of Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (du) in March, leaders announced a dividend of $0.05 per share for the second half of 2015 - total annual dividend for the company's stock is now $0.12 per share. Since then, company leaders have continued to work on delivering some of the aspects of their mission statements and goals that they have put online. Read More »

Fitch Ratings downgraded the long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings of Saudi Arabia from AA to AA- as analysts cited a downward revision on oil price estimates and a widening of the central government deficit from 2.3 percent of GDP in 2014 to 14.8 percent in 2015. Fitch said the government will meet some of its financial needs by getting rid of foreign assets and borrowing. Read More »

Ras Al Khaimah, the northern emirate of the UAE, has a significant Persian Gulf coastline and its own tourism office, one that’s working hard to promote the area’s many attractions for visitors.At the end of April, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) representatives visited the Arabian Travel Market to show off some of the agency's work in recent years. Read More »

The Al Jazeera America network has shut its doors. The network started out with a mission to pursue long-form journalism and “smart” reporting, but the big audience never came, and, plagued by economic problems, the network shut down earlier this year. The network is still wrestling with a lawsuit filed by a former executive who says he was shortchanged by the network. Read More »

In April, the screens went dark on Al Jazeera America as the network, owned by Al Jazeera Media Network in Qatar, stopped broadcasting; its short-lived stint as a Western alternative media source was tumultuous and marked by drama and controversy. Some staffers alleged a misogynistic and anti-Semitic environment, and the network also faced economic and audience challenges. Read More »

The Ajman Palace Hotel in the UAEs showed strong first-quarter revenues for the hotel, but in comments on the region’s tourism industry, some are questioning whether that rosy outlook will continue. Thomas Lippman, an author and journalist specializing in Middle Eastern affairs, believes the tourism business in the general region faces some headwinds. Read More »

The Dubai Health Authority Regulations Department has implemented VIP licensing for medical  professionals, one of a number of efforts aimed at revitalizing the health care economy in the Middle East. In Qatar, leaders are courting outside professionals and trying to facilitate more vibrant health networks. These efforts are often evident to those who travel there. Read More »