Oman Arab Bank (OAB) marked Earth Day by introducing its new electronic banking statement service in an effort to promote environmental awareness. Instead of waiting for printed documents from local postal services, Omani consumers can obtain information on their accounts instantly online through the e-statements as OAB strives to reduce paper consumption. Read More »

The Dubai Smartpreneur Competition to inspire initiatives based on intelligent living to transform Dubai into a smart city is open to applicants through May 7. The goal of the competition, co-sponsored by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Smart Dubai Office, is to encourage a high comfort level with technology. The contest is designed to inspire innovative approaches. Read More »

Kuwait-based Warba Bank participated in the American University of the Middle East (AUM) career fair to help educate youth about Islamic banking. During the fair, bank representatives provided students with information about the Islamic work field and about Warba. The bank is eager to support youth capabilities and pave the way for graduates to join its workforce. Read More »

A recent meeting between Qatar Chamber Vice Chairman Mohamed bin Ahmed bin Twar and Undersecretary of State of the Republic of Poland Katarzyna Kacperczyk focused on increasing trade between the two countries. The meeting concentrated on the need for stronger economic relations, better collaboration between business executives and boosting investment opportunities. Read More »

The Council of Saudi Chambers said it will orchestrate a Saudi-Canadian meeting next week in Riyadh with business leaders from both nations. Emad Al Thukair, who serves as chair of the Saudi-Canadian Business Council (SCBC), said he was optimistic about the increasingly cooperative climate between the two nations with regard to economic collaboration. Read More »

Oman's Bank Nizwa has introduced its "branch-on-wheels," a mobile financial unit, in an effort to share Shariah-compliant banking with more customers. With a goal of introducing the product line offered by an Islamic bank, the mobile financial unit will travel throughout Oman providing a variety of products and services over the next six months. Read More »

The Social Development Center (SDC) and Qatar Finance and Business Academy (QFBA) recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) about empowering youth and helping broaden their professional choices, standards and capacities. The MoU is to help achieve the aspirations of Qatar National Vision 2030, which focuses on youth as a means and an end for development. Read More »

Al Asmakh Real Estate Luxury Sales has listed a two-bedroom apartment with an office in Porto Arabia for $686,519. The 2,217-square-foot apartment features two exits to the apartment’s large balcony, an office and a maid’s quarters. The kitchen is fully equipped with a stainless-steel oven and range hood. Each bedroom has an en suite bathroom. Read More »

Milaha (Qatar Navigation) has signed an extension to its previous agreement with Qatar Chemical and Petrochemical Marketing and Distribution Company (Muntajat) to transport up to 150,000 twenty-foot equivalent units in petrochemicals from Qatar. The contract extension, which will last through March 31, 2017, adds one year to a previous two-year feeder contract. Read More »

Bank Dhofar has established a $500 million Euro Medium Term Note (EMTN) program and was recently advised by Dentons that the program has been assigned long-term senior unsecured provisional ratings of (P) Baa1 by Moody's and BBB (EXP) by Fitch. The National Bank of Abu Dhabi and HSBC partnered with Bank ABC, Credit Agricole CIB and BNP Paribas to arrange the program. Read More »

The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently introduced its Human Capital Management (HCM) smart app, part of Dubai’s Smart City initiative which is championed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE vice president and prime minister and ruler of Dubai. The HCM app is part of the chamber’s strategy to spur creativity and innovation in the private sector. Read More »

The Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) was recently awarded Deal of the Year in the corporate finance category in Dubai by the Islamic Finance News and 2015 Best Syndicated Loan in the Middle East at the EMEA Finance awards. The ENOC won Deal of the Year award for its nine-year, $1.5 billion dual currency syndicated debt transaction completed last year. Read More »

Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Italian representatives met recently for a special forum called Lombardy and Dubai Economic Cooperation, Investment and Business Opportunities. Dubai Chamber Chairman Majid Saif Al Ghurair  received the Lombardy regional government and economic delegation, led by Fabrizio Sala, vice president of the Lombardy region. Read More »

Estate Real Estate Management has listed a first-floor apartment in a newly constructed development in the middle of Amwaj Island for $488,585. The apartment spans 1,879 square feet and includes a balcony. Residents can take advantage of a squash court, sauna, steam rooms, multiple gyms for workouts, a swimming pool for children and a large swimming pool for adults. Read More »

Insurance is about more than covering the costs of damages, people often forget about the unspoken benefits of the sector, Qatar Insurance Company (QIC) Deputy Group President and CEO of the MENA region Salem Al Mannai said. The insurance industry is also a driving force in opening the doors of startups, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and support project funding. Read More »

A recent Wall Street Journal article indicates various community colleges and other American educational institutions are trying out the idea of satellite campuses in the Gulf region. Houston Community College Vice Chancellor Edmund Herod said there are certain challenges to these kinds of ventures, but he is ultimately positive about the way these projects can work. Read More »

Raising awareness about issues related to patient safety, the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), recently hosted the first edition of the Global Academy for Emerging Leaders in Patient Safety in Doha. Held in association with Weill Cornell Medicine, Qatar, and Sidra Medical and Research Center, the academy educated nearly 100 Qatar-based faculty and health science students on the best practices in patient safety. Read More »

Dubai Health Authority (DHA) recently won the "Outstanding Joint Government Project" category for its Mobile Eye Clinic at the Dubai Government Excellence Program Award. The aim of the Mobile Eye Clinic is to provide vision care to those in Dubai who cannot afford the screenings themselves. Visitors to the clinic often include school children, bus drivers, laborers and the elderly. Read More »

Ion Exchange, an India-based company that is one of the largest providers of environment solutions in Asia, has announced the opening of a new chemical facility in Bahrain. The new facility will be built in the Bahrain Investment Wharf and will act as the export hub for chemicals for the surrounding regions and the North Arab states. Read More »

A new Amnesty International report is shedding light on the status of the Gulf state of Qatar, a small country that’s been under fire because of various human rights issues within its borders. Read More »