Economy Saudi Arabia sets up new business park in Riyadh Saudi Arabia launched a new business park in Riyadh this week, backed by more than SAR1 billion ($270,000) in funding, in an effort to stimulate foreign investment and local job creation. The Boulevard Business Park is located in Riyadh’s Boulevard district which was recently host to the first e-sports ‘World Cup’, adding 60,000 square metres […] August 29, 2024
Analysis Employment Recruitment portals try to ease logjam in Saudi labour market Saudi Arabia presents a golden opportunity for recruitment platforms that seek to match multitudes of job seekers with a plethora of employers looking to hire, labour market specialists say. There are around 168 Public Investment Fund companies working on the $1.25 trillion Vision 2030 economic diversification programme, as well as foreign companies setting up offices […] August 26, 2024
People & Lifestyle Oman achieves 54% of 2024 employment plan in first half The Omani government has achieved 54 percent of its 2024 employment plan in the first six months, a news report said. A total of 14,074 Omanis were employed in the public and private sectors through direct employment or replacement of expatriates, the state-run Oman News Agency said citing a ministry of labour statement. The ministry […] August 18, 2024
Opinion Economy Oman’s planned income tax is an economic gamble High earning expats might be tempted to move to the sultanate's tax-free neighbours August 13, 2024
Employment Improved labour laws benefit Saudi workers Saudi Arabia has enacted amendments to its labour laws to establish more clarity on hiring and firing and improve employee rights. The regulations, which cabinet approved on August 6, will “enhance job stability, protect the rights of all parties involved in employment contracts and increase job opportunities for Saudi citizens”, the state-owned Saudi Press Agency […] August 8, 2024
Employment 35,000 Saudi citizens take up private sector jobs in July The number of Saudi citizens taking up jobs in the private sector doubled to more than 34,600 in July, up from 16,500 in June, as the kingdom looks to diversify employment away from government sectors. The total number of private sector workers reached 11.473 million in July, up slightly from 11.409 million in June, the […] August 7, 2024
Construction Housing regulations amplify costs for Kuwait real estate Kuwait’s real estate industry is grappling with increased construction and labour costs as a result of stricter housing regulations. Authorities have clamped down on basements and ground floor areas being used for worker accommodation, leading to a shortage of affordable housing for low-paid expatriate construction workers in central areas. The change has led to an […] August 5, 2024
Opinion Employment Choosing the right consultant is more important than you think The Big4 offer brand-name credibility but choose a master craftsman for bespoke service July 25, 2024
Employment Aviation workforce in Morocco to double by 2030 Morocco has announced plans to provide employment for young people by doubling the number of people employed in the country’s aviation sector by 2030. The aerospace industry in Morocco currently includes some 142 companies, employing a workforce of 17,000, and has an annual turnover in the region of $2 billion in exports. Ryad Mezzour, the […] July 24, 2024
Analysis Aviation Middle East airlines in race to recruit as pilot shortage bites A shortage of pilots is threatening the ambitions of the Middle East’s growing aviation industry, analysts have warned, forcing airlines to bolster their recruitment efforts. The global industry will be short nearly 80,000 pilots by 2032, according to management consultancy Oliver Wyman. The Middle East is projected to account for up to 18,000 of that […] July 4, 2024
Employment Companies in Kuwait hiring staff at record rate Companies in Kuwait are expected to embark on a staff hiring spree, after a rapid rise in new orders in June. New business increased for the 17th month in a row, the latest business sentiment survey from S&P Global shows, with a particular emphasis on orders from overseas. “The expansion was the fastest since the […] July 3, 2024
Economy UAE businesses increase prices to protect margins Companies in the UAE were forced to hike prices for a second month in succession in June, according to the latest business sentiment survey from ratings agency S&P Global. S&P attributed the sharp rise in input prices to material costs, shipping fees and overheads. Wages also grew marginally throughout the month, leading to the fastest […] July 3, 2024
Analysis Employment Abu Dhabi court rulings strengthen UAE arbitration Recent court rulings in Abu Dhabi further tighten the UAE’s embrace of arbitration as the go-to mechanism to resolve commercial disputes, according to industry attorneys. Arbitration in the emirates has gone through a “groundbreaking” evolution ever since the Dubai ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, issued Decree number 34 in September 2021, closing the […] July 2, 2024
People & Lifestyle World Bank to support Jordan’s social sectors The World Bank has approved $700 million programmes to support Jordan’s health, education and social assistance sectors. The $300 million Jordan human capital programme aims to improve the governance and effectiveness of social sectors, as well as safeguard households from the adverse effects of climate change. In addition, the $400 million Masar programme will equip […] July 2, 2024
Employment Saudi unemployment rate falls to 7.6% The unemployment rate among Saudi nationals fell to 7.6 percent in the first quarter of 2024 from 8.7 percent a year ago, official data showed. The quarterly unemployment rate was down from 7.8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2023, according to the General Authority for Statistics labour force survey. The employment-to-population ratio rose to […] July 1, 2024
EXCLUSIVE Tech Aramco adopts heat-sensing construction helmets Saudi Aramco is deploying advanced safety helmets equipped with heat stress sensors to protect workers on some of its construction sites, a critical concern in the Gulf region’s scorching climate. The helmets, developed by Dubai and Saudi Arabia-based construction tech startup WakeCap, utilise internet-of-things (IoT) technology that monitors worker attendance, location, and safety incidents in […] June 23, 2024
Employment Unemployment rate falls in Turkey but warnings persist Turkish unemployment levels fell to their lowest rate in more than 11 years in April, helped by strong first-quarter growth. However, troubling longer-term prospects could mean job queues lengthen again. Turkey’s headline unemployment rate, covering those aged 15 and over, fell to 8.5 percent in April, the lowest since November 2012 and down from 10 […] June 11, 2024
Opinion Employment Private sector may not solve Oman’s rise in unemployment Less pay and longer working hours are not something young graduates are very keen on June 11, 2024
Analysis Real Estate Flexibility and amenities key to UAE office sector’s future As workers globally grow resistant to spending all week at their desks, even the UAE’s strong-performing office sector must rethink its offering to meet shifting demand, industry professionals have told AGBI. “Since the pandemic, people have realised that the workplace has changed for ever. We are not going back to working in the office 80 […] May 27, 2024
Analysis Real Estate UAE offices in demand – in contrast to the West Offices in the UAE are outperforming Western equivalents, with a steady influx of foreign businesses and local developers’ preference for residential projects. “The need for more Grade A office space is becoming increasingly urgent,” Behnam Bargh, managing director at real estate agency CRC, told AGBI. “Addressing this issue will be crucial for maintaining the country’s […] May 24, 2024
Analysis Employment UAE leads GCC on board gender mix but region still lags More than 10 percent of board seats at listed companies in the UAE are filled by women, well ahead of its Gulf neighbours, but still lagging the global average. At the 168 companies listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange and Dubai Financial Market, just 133 out of 1,231 board seats, or 10.8 percent, are […] May 3, 2024
Employment Remittances from UAE to Bangladesh surge 48% Remittances from the UAE to Bangladesh surged 48 percent year on year to $3.3 billion in the first nine months of fiscal year 2023-24, according to data from the country’s central bank. Dhaka receives remittances between $250 million to $300 million per month from the UAE, The Business Standard, a financial newspaper, reported. However, remittances […] April 23, 2024
