Employment UAE to invest $1.7bn to place more Emiratis in private sector jobs The UAE is aiming to add 36,000 Emiratis to the private sector workforce this year and has approved a $1.7 billion budget to support Emiratisation. The number of UAE nationals working in the private sector was about 92,000 by the end of 2023, according to the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council. Nearly 42,000 joined private businesses […] March 6, 2024
Banking & Finance Saudi remittances fall as expats invest domestically Expatriate remittances from Saudi Arabia have fallen over the past two years, despite a rise in the number of overseas workers needed to develop the kingdom’s slate of huge giga-projects. Some experts have predicted the slump in funds sent back home could be as a result of improved investment opportunities inside the kingdom. Yearly remittances […] February 22, 2024
Opinion Leisure & Hospitality A pleasant stroll through The Village, Dubai-style If you were to stop at each restaurant, bar or hotel along the way, a week would not be enough February 9, 2024
Real Estate Millennial ‘co-living’ concept gains momentum in Gulf The appetite for “co-living”, a form of communal housing that offers private rooms and shared spaces, is on the rise in the GCC, and more investors are entering the sector. Co-living as a sub-segment of residential property has gained in popularity in markets such as the UK and the US, as developers seek to provide […] February 2, 2024
Opinion Education Dubai v Dublin: UAE and Ireland battle for teachers Irish teachers are in demand both in the Gulf and at home January 31, 2024
People & Lifestyle Kuwait and Bahrain propose changes to working week Lawmakers in Kuwait and Bahrain are pushing for major amendments to the working week, aiming to improve workers’ rights and boost the work-life balance in the two Gulf states. In Bahrain, the focus is on extending the weekend to three days: Friday, Saturday and Sunday. “There is an urgent need to keep pace with global […] January 29, 2024
Employment Dubai launches small business plan to support Emirati retirees Retired emiratis are being incentivised to run their own companies after the launch of the Dubai Retiree Projects Support programme this week. The scheme is part of the Dubai Social Agenda 33, which aims to create a more proactive social system. Benefits include priority for government contracts, financing of future projects, exemption from service fees […] January 26, 2024
Opinion Employment Gulf must pioneer on pension reform There is a unique opportunity to set a new global standard in retirement savings January 18, 2024
Opinion Employment The five trends defining Dubai’s business landscape This year presents an opportunity for employers to explore an untapped talent pool January 18, 2024
Video length: 07:13 Opinion Real Estate Something has gone wrong in Dubai residential real estate Policymakers must remember what makes the emirate attractive: value for money and quality of life January 5, 2024
Construction The Avenues – Khobar to be built by Kuwait developer Kuwaiti developer Shomoul Holding this week launched a retail and residential project in the eastern Saudi city of Khobar worth SAR7.2 billion ($1.92 billion), securing a SAR4.35 billion loan for the first stage of construction. The government’s Tourism Development Fund, set up in 2020, provided the loan along with a consortium led by National Arab […] December 22, 2023
Opinion Employment Women are integral to Oman vision: now to bring them in Omani women are highly educated, so why aren’t they represented in the workplace? December 21, 2023
Opinion Employment Get creative to lure workers back to the office The look and feel of agency offices can help define the work that comes out of them December 11, 2023
Opinion Employment Clocking off: the pros and cons of a four-day week A shorter working week can boost productivity but will companies take the plunge? December 7, 2023
Employment Zurich Middle East plots growth on needs of expats Zurich International Life, the Middle East division of Switzerland’s Zurich Insurance Group, is expanding its core business in response to rising demand from expatriates. With expats staying in the region for longer, there is a growing need for products and services such as life insurance, workplace savings plans and critical illness cover. There is also […] November 3, 2023
People & Lifestyle Saudi Arabia shifts to Western calendar Saudi Arabia is to shift towards using the Gregorian calendar in all official transactions, reserving the Islamic system only for religious occasions, the cabinet said this week, in a move that could presage aligning the weekend with international norms. A statement was issued on October 31 after a cabinet meeting chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed […] November 1, 2023
Construction Aldar to break ground on first Dubai project next year Aldar Properties, Abu Dhabi’s largest developer, has launched its first Dubai residential project, Haven, with construction of the first phase starting in the second quarter of 2024. The project will be developed with its joint venture partner Dubai Holding on the land opposite Al Habtoor Polo Resort in Dubailand. Aldar’s Haven will be built in […] October 27, 2023
Employment Expats in UAE get ready to leave ‘golden goodbye’ behind The “golden goodbye” has long been a staple of UAE office life. Expat staff are handed a lump sum by their employer when they leave, based on a percentage of their salary and length of service. But the practice is starting to change. More companies are looking to set up workplace pension and saving plans instead. […] September 25, 2023
Real Estate Dubai real estate is ‘fairly valued’ says UBS Dubai real estate still offers value for money compared with some of its global peers, a new report by investment bank UBS has claimed. But according to one real estate expert, residents in the emirate could soon be priced out of the market if the ongoing supply and demand imbalance continues. In the year leading […] September 22, 2023
Opinion People & Lifestyle Dosc: a welcome slice of nostalgia amid Dubai’s bling Legendary networking spot harks back to early days of the Emirates August 25, 2023
Opinion Employment The gulf between remote workers and office advocates A legacy of the pandemic is forcing governments to redesign working practices August 21, 2023
People & Lifestyle UAE decking out offices to promote worker wellbeing The UAE is increasingly adopting building standards that meet employee demand for office conditions that enhance wellbeing. The Middle East has witnessed a 24-fold increase in Well Building Standard adoption over the last 19 months, with a large majority coming from the UAE. The Well Building Standard is an international system that measures, monitors and […] August 17, 2023