Analysis Employment Tighter Omanisation rules for state contracts Companies operating in Oman have just under a year to adhere to Omanisation quotas or face being banned from applying for government contracts, as the Gulf state strives to increase opportunities for new Omani graduates. The decision was announced on June 2. It means companies tendering for contracts have a deadline of May 31, 2026 […] June 13, 2025
Food & Drink China’s online food delivery giant Keeta to enter Kuwait Keeta, the international arm of China’s biggest food delivery app, reportedly plans to launch operations in Kuwait. The recruiting process is nearing completion, with the launch expected in the second half of 2025 or early 2026, Al Qabas, an Arabic daily, reported, citing unnamed sources. The report said that the Chinese company may consider acquiring […] June 13, 2025
Tourism Kuwait’s UREC to build island tourism complex in Oman Kuwaiti developer United Real Estate Company (UREC) is planning to create an island tourism complex in Oman, as the sultanate strives to develop its tourism sector and catch up with its Gulf neighbours. UREC said in a bourse statement on Wednesday that its subsidiary in the sultanate UREC Oman has signed a contract for the […] June 12, 2025
Analysis Tech Humanoid robots: coming soon to a workplace near you Nursing, tourism and leisure, even performing arts, and anything dull, dangerous and dirty: the technology world is increasingly bullish on what humanoid robots can do. Humanoid robots are already greeting visitors at Dubai’s Museum of the Future and patrolling the emirate’s beaches, handing out fines and monitoring the use of scooters and bicycles. Jensen Huang, […] June 12, 2025
Construction Omani development secures $160m loan for expansion Al Mouj Muscat, an Omani waterfront community development part owned by the government and Dubai’s Majid Al Futtaim, has finalised a $160 million loan to fund its expansion plans. “The loan will finance our expansion plans to expand our properties to 10,000 units and enlarge our marina and shopping complex,” Saleh Al Siyabi, Al Mouj […] June 11, 2025
Tourism European tourists push up Oman hotel revenues European tourists helped the Oman hotel industry reach a record number of stays year on year in April, thanks to an aggressive marketing campaign. Hotel occupancy rose 9 percent year on year to reach 831,751 guests in April 2025, with around 40 percent of the guests coming from Europe, the National Center for Statistical Information […] June 11, 2025
Retail Turkey opens inquiry into Coca-Cola distributor Turkey has opened a formal investigation into Coca-Cola Satış ve Dağıtım AŞ (CCSD) over potential violations of competition law. The move follows a preliminary inquiry that examined allegations the Coca-Cola distributor was imposing exclusivity on retailers and excluding competitors from these outlets, the Turkish Competition Authority said in a statement. The competition board found the allegations […] June 11, 2025
Analysis Retail Majid Al Futtaim IPO could ease succession strains Taking Majid Al Futtaim Holding public could provide a way to resolve the succession challenges facing the Dubai-based family conglomerate, but also risks fracturing the tight-knit structure that has long defined one of the Gulf’s most prominent family businesses. “The best way to solve family disputes is [to] list all the shares,” says Obediah Ayton, […] June 10, 2025
Retail Dubai gold sales rise 10% during Eid al-Adha Gold sales in Dubai reportedly registered double-digit growth during Eid al-Adha, defying a rise in global prices. Sales of the precious metal rose by 10 percent year on year during the Eid holiday period, driven by strong demand from locals and tourists, Tawhid Abdullah, chairman of the Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group, told Al Bayan, […] June 9, 2025
Business of Sport PIF backs Fifa Club World Cup in the US Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) will be the official partner of the month-long Fifa Club World Cup 2025, which will take place in the US from June 14. The sovereign wealth fund has signed an agreement with football’s governing body, Fifa, to fuel growth and engagement in football, the $940 billion Saudi sovereign wealth […] June 6, 2025
Infrastructure Startups invited to solve Medina’s challenges Saudi Arabia is inviting startups to tackle infrastructure challenges in Medina, one of Islam’s holiest cities, as it ramps up efforts to expand religious tourism. Madinah-Tech, an accelerator backed by the regional municipality and private investors, has opened applications for its first cohort as the city struggles to keep pace with growing visitor numbers. The […] June 5, 2025
Analysis Tourism Oman smart city projects face pushback on heritage Oman may be investing more than $15 billion in developing digitally smart urban areas but critics say the ambition could contravene the country’s heritage priorities. The sultanate has mobilised urban plans that could cost more than $15 billion, starting with Sultan Haitham City, work on which is in full swing on the outskirts of the […] June 4, 2025
Opinion Leisure & Hospitality Peak Dubai: Jumeirah’s Marsa Al Arab draws the crowds Whilst setting a new standard for Dubai luxury, the hotel's popularity is creating a traffic nightmare May 30, 2025
Tourism PIF unit commits millions to back Aseer province growth Ardara, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), is making multi-million-dollar investment in Aseer province in the south of the kingdom to support urban development in line with Vision 2030. Work was launched this week on AlWadi – meaning “the valley”– after it was first announced in October 2023, the state-run Saudi Press […] May 30, 2025
Opinion Business of Sport Final whistle for Ronaldo in Riyadh: was it worth it? A sporting icon departs Al Nassr after raising the profile of Saudi football May 29, 2025
Leisure & Hospitality China grants visa-free status for all GCC citizens China has implemented a visa-free status for all GCC countries, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson has confirmed. “China decided to include more countries in its visa waiver programme and extend the visa-free policy to ordinary passport holders from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain on a trial basis from June 9, 2025, to June 8, […] May 28, 2025
Analysis Tourism UAE hotels hit by talent crunch as growth outpaces staffing UAE hoteliers are warning of an intensifying shortage of qualified staff as the country’s tourism sector expands. About 809,000 people were employed in hospitality and tourism in the Emirates in 2023 – more than 12 percent of the workforce, according to the latest government data. But relatively high staff turnover and limited investment in training […] May 28, 2025
Retail France’s Casino Group to open 210 stores in Morocco French convenience store retailer Casino Group will open 210 stores in Morocco over the next decade as part of its international expansion strategy. The company has partnered with Morocco’s H&S Invest Holding to open Franprix and Monoprix branded outlets, the companies said in a joint statement. Franprix specialises in urban convenience stores, while Monoprix provides […] May 28, 2025
Tourism Saudi Arabia ‘has no plans to allow sale of alcohol’ Saudi Arabia has denied media reports saying that it plans to license alcohol sales next year. “These claims lack any official confirmation from relevant authorities and do not reflect existing policies or regulations in Saudi Arabia,” Arab News reported, citing informed sources. A post on a wine blog last week suggested that the Saudi authorities […] May 27, 2025
Opinion Business of Sport Gulf states get serious with sports spending The likes of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi are fast becoming more strategic about their commitments May 27, 2025
Retail Investcorp nets fourfold gain on exit from India’s Citykart Bahrain-based asset manager Investcorp has reportedly sold its entire stake in Citykart, an Indian fashion retailer, making a fourfold return on its 2019 investment. The stake sale was part of the startup’s series B funding round, which saw Citykart raise INR5.4 billion ($63 million), local media reported. Investcorp acquired the stake from the asset management […] May 27, 2025
Retail Kuwaiti rapid-delivery app raises £6m for expansion Kuwaiti quick-commerce platform Circle has raised $6 million to fund local and regional expansion, it has announced. Founded in 2020, the Circle app offers deliveries of groceries and other essentials from “dark stores” across Kuwait. It aims for delivery in less than 20 minutes. The company says it has grown its revenue sevenfold in just […] May 26, 2025
