Analysis Employment Alstom breaks mould as Gulf lags on hiring women as CEOs Dalya Al Muthanna is a member of an exclusive club. In January she became Gulf CEO for the transport giant Alstom, the company behind tram systems in Dubai and Qatar. She was previously a senior executive at GE in the UAE, bucking the trend of men dominating senior C-suite jobs in the Gulf. Just 5 […] March 8, 2024
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
Food & Drink Kuwait’s Alshaya lays off Mena Starbucks staff Kuwait’s Alshaya Group, one of the Gulf’s largest franchise owners, is cutting jobs at its Starbucks outlets. The coffee brand has suffered from calls for a boycott since the start of the Gaza conflict. “As a result of the continually challenging trading conditions over the last six months, we have taken the sad and very […] March 5, 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 Education Saudi Arabia needs a sea change in higher education Newer fields of study must be encouraged to meet employment market demands February 12, 2024
Employment Morocco job market hit by rise in rural unemployment Morocco’s unemployment rate increased by 13 percent to nearly 1.6 million last year as the country’s rural areas haemorrhaged jobs. Between 2022 and 2023, the national economy lost 157,000 jobs, according to the latest figures from the Higher Commission of Planning. Although urban areas recorded an increase of 41,000 jobs, employment in rural parts of […] February 7, 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’s $136m boost to drive global growth of SMEs Dubai has allocated AED500 million ($136.13 million) to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with ambitions to scale up globally. The initiative was launched in partnership with Emirates NBD, the UAE state-run Wam news agency reported. The Dubai international growth initiative will support the global expansion of SMEs founded in the emirate, Dubai Crown Prince […] 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 Aviation A cabin crew shortage could mean higher ticket prices Rapid expansion with high levels of staff attrition mean airlines are locked in a hiring battle January 26, 2024
Employment UAE reverses stance on diversity rule for visas The UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has reversed its stance on a demographic diversity rule, previously cited by companies as the cause for multiple work visa rejections based on nationality. The policy is still expected to be implemented at a later date. AGBI recently reported that businesses in the UAE were encountering difficulties […] January 25, 2024
Aviation Saudi will top Gulf business travel chart, says Wego boss Business travel to and from Saudi Arabia is expected to surpass neighbouring UAE, according to the CEO and co-founder of online travel marketplace Wego. As of the start of this month, foreign companies hoping to gain access to billions of dollars worth of government contracts must have their regional headquarters in Riyadh. The regional HQ […] January 25, 2024
Video length: 06:59 Employment UAE diversity law causing visa issues for businesses UAE businesses are encountering difficulties getting work visas for new employees of South Asian nationalities following the enforcement of a government directive to boost diversity in the workforce. Abeer Al Husseini, a Dubai-based partner at immigration law practice Fragomen, told AGBI that the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has “reinstated” its demographic diversification regulation. […] January 19, 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
Opinion People & Lifestyle The world is moving to Saudi Arabia The kingdom could supplant the UAE as the GCC destination of choice for both tourists and migrants January 16, 2024
Employment New Saudi visas aim to lure ‘high-wealth investors’ Saudi Arabia’s new long-term residency visas is at attracting “high-wealth investors” to the kingdom, though it may hinder the nurturing of local talent, some analysts have warned. The updated “premium residency” options are designed to lure top global talent to Saudi Arabia as it continues its billion-dollar transformation from a hydrocarbon-based economy. The visas cover […] January 11, 2024
Employment Gulf’s ESG uptake hindered by lack of expertise The Gulf has seen a rise in green bonds and funds, but awareness of environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) reporting and the infrastructure to carry it out is lagging the rest of the world, a leading industry expert says. A survey from the consultancy PwC Middle East revealed that 64 percent of respondents in […] January 3, 2024
Manufacturing Demand fuels price rises in Saudi Arabia’s non-oil sector A surge in demand towards the end of the year saw non-oil companies in Saudi Arabia increase prices for the second month in a row in December. Manufacturing was the standout industry. “A number of firms signalled that increased demand momentum gave them greater confidence to pass on higher input costs to customers,” according to […] January 3, 2024
Employment ‘No loopholes for companies’ to be found in Saudi HQ rules Multinational companies looking for loopholes in Saudi Arabia’s regional headquarters rules will not find them, although the exceptions set out in the small print could affect negotiations, business relocation experts have told AGBI. As of Monday, foreign companies looking to gain access to billions of dollars worth of government contracts must have their regional headquarters […] January 3, 2024
People & Lifestyle Unemployment rate among Saudis climbs to 8.6% The unemployment rate among Saudi citizens rose marginally to 8.6 percent in the third quarter of 2023 from 8.3 percent in the previous quarter, according to data from the General Authority for Statistics. The rate was down from 9.9 percent in the third quarter of 2022. The overall unemployment rate, including Saudis and non-Saudis, reached […] December 29, 2023
Media & Advertising Coming to a movie theatre near you … AlUla It would make the perfect setting for Star Wars or Indiana Jones, but AlUla is developing production facilities that will expand its reach beyond sci-fi and desert adventure movies, making it one of the region’s prime locations for international shoots. The tourist location in northwest Saudi Arabia is fast developing into a mini-city with an […] December 24, 2023