Abu Dhabi-based investment and development company Mubadala recently entered into an agreement to buy 20 percent of Bahrain's alternative investment firm Investcorp. "We welcome the opportunity to become a shareholder in Investcorp," Mubadala Development Company Group CEO Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak said. The deal with Mubadala is expected to strengthen Investcorp's shareholder base. Read More »

The Industrial Sector Committee of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), in partnership with PricewaterhouseCoopers Bahrain (PwC), held a value-added tax (VAT) seminar last week in Bahrain. Topics covered in the seminar included the central characteristics of VAT, possible VAT treatments of particular industries and VAT compliance and documentation requirements.  Read More »

Qatar Airways said last week it now holds a 20.01 percent share of London-based International Airlines Group (IAG). "The recent market valuation of one of the world's leading airline groups has provided what we believe is an attractive opportunity to increase our shareholding in IAG," Akbar Al Baker, group chief executive of Qatar Airways, said. Read More »

In order to better the partnership within the Center for Documentation of Cultural and Natural Heritage (CULTNAT), one of the research centers of the academic research sector at Bibliotheca Alexandrina, and YUSRE Vocational & Managerial Training HR & BS Consultancy, a YUSRE team developed a recent two-day training program titled "The Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace." Read More »

The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently held a workshop in conjunction with Coface Emirates Services aimed at helping its members expand into the African market and providing them informative business services.The workshop, focused on opportunities in Kenya, was part of the Business Beyond Borders Series. Read More »

Star Real Estate has listed a luxury four-bedroom apartment in Black Tower in Abraj Al Lulu in Manama for $689,472. The four bedrooms each have a bathroom, and the apartment offers a gorgeous view of the city and financial harbor. The complex includes a shared swimming pool and a shared gym, parking spaces for two vehicles and security available 24 hours a day. Read More »

Commercial Bank Q.S.C., Qatar’s first private bank, has become the country's first bank to utilize biometric authentication offered by NCR. NCR has also signed an agreement with the bank to provide innovative software and technology over the next few years. The new technology allows Commercial Bank to add another level of authentication to ATM usage beyond standard PIN verification. Read More »

Ajman University of Science and Technology was honored by the Ajmani Charity Foundation in recognition of the school’s humanitarian efforts and influence in the region. Ajmani Charity Foundation General Manager Khadeeja Nasir Al Hasooni expressed gratitude to Ajman University Acting Chancellor and Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs and Community Services Abdul Haq Basheer Al Nuaimi. Read More »

River West Properties has listed a large, luxurious villa in Hamala for $1.37 million.Privacy, safety and security are all a given for residents of this five-bedroom, six-bathroom villa. Nestled in a gated community, the apartment offers 8,611 square feet of living space. There's a private pool, private garden and walk-in closets in the bedrooms. Read More »

Etihad Airways recently won all three awards in the First Class categories at the Skytrax World Airline Awards. This is the second time the UAE national airline was recognized as Best First Class Airline, Best First Class Airline Seat and Best First Class Onboard Catering. The Skytrax World Airline Awards are given based on the choices of more than 18 million airline passengers. Read More »

A two-bedroom apartment in Zone 8 of Hydra Village is listed for $225,972 by Skyline Real Estate. The apartment offers 1,884 square feet of living space. Built-in wardrobes, a kitchen with cupboards and a private garage are just a few of this apartment's amenities. The apartment is also equipped with central air. Read More »

Big commercial improvements in the city of Dubai have been generating a lot of headlines, but now industry leaders are suggesting that investors should be paying attention to residential real estate as well. Read More »

Faster broadband speeds are coming to Lebanon as consumers get ready for the country’s first 4G LTE-Advanced network. The new network offers download speeds up to approximately 260 Mb per second, combining multiple spectrums in order to improve efficiency. Read More »

A full-service marketing company called Langoor has arrived in the city of Dubai, looking to invest $1 million AED in a local office bent on delivering more return on investment for business clients. Langoor has installed Rebecca Jacobsson as head of client services at the Dubai office, as well as bringing other resources to bear on a central cosmopolitan city that's become a leader in the Middle Eastern region. Read More »

In the Middle East, where banks and financial companies are going through rapid modernization processes, some regional conferences and industry meetings are reinforcing these concepts by helping banks and other commercial businesses brainstorm about where to take their models in the coming years, as technologies like Blockchain continue to evolve, and digital payment technologies keep coming up like daisies. Read More »

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Justice, along with its official Shoura Councils, seems to be moving in the direction of creating a codified personal status law for the first time in that country's history. As of late July the new law was reportedly being prepared with the participation of various human rights groups and the national Family Security Program. The new law will cover issues such as proof of marriage, divorce, custody rights, alimony and inheritance, as well as other legal issues. Read More »

The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently released an industry special report that showcases how the UAE is becoming increasingly competitive in Saudi Arabia’s import market.  Read More »

Emaar Properties, a global developer with multiple projects in Dubai, recently released financial information that highlights the company’s 12 percent increase in net profit for the first half of 2016. Read More »

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) recently announced that it has completed the training of 15 specialists and officials, setting them up to lead the developmental drive of transforming Dubai’s medical health system.  Read More »

The Dubai Health Authority recently announced that Al Mizhar Health Center would open a state-of-the-art, community-based physiotherapy unit to help those with disabilities as well as the elderly and children in need of long-term care. Read More »