Opinion Business of Sport Bad boys of sport can be a good investment for brands Tennis star Nick Kyrgios attracts sponsors and Instagram followers by being maverick August 29, 2022
Business of Sport Brazil soccer clubs poised for gold rush to rival Europe’s elite A new law allowing soccer clubs in Brazil to seek outside investment is attracting hundreds of millions of dollars to a country renowned as football’s biggest source of talent, a change that could see Brazilian teams rival Europe’s top tier. The surge of fresh, mostly foreign, cash coincides with an agreement last May by Brazil’s […] August 29, 2022
Tourism UAE sees dramatic rise in flight bookings from Russia The UAE has seen a hefty rise in flight bookings from Russia as domestic tourists, shut off from most western countries, flock to the emirates for leisure and business. Air travel from Russia to the UAE during the first eight months of the year exceeded pre-pandemic levels by 27 percent, according to London-based ForwardKeys, a […] August 29, 2022
Long read Retail From Chauf-fur to diamond dog collars, UAE pet sector booms Whether it’s on a doggie cut and blow dry, a luxury kennel stay, or the finest food and bling accessories, UAE households spend nearly a quarter of a billion dollars on their four-legged friends every year. Market research firm Euromonitor International estimates that the UAE pet care industry will be valued at around AED854.4 million […] August 29, 2022
Tourism Turks frustrated by ‘deliberate’ visa rejection by European nations Turkish sports presenter Sinem Okten was surprised to see her visa application to Europe’s Schengen area rejected twice, having visited often to cover matches and interview figures like Italian keeper Gianluigi Buffon and Liverpool’s Juergen Klopp. “I applied first to Germany then to France. Both rejected my application,” she said. “I’ve travelled abroad numerous times […] August 29, 2022
Lifestyle ‘House of the Dragon’ renewed for second season “House of the Dragon”, the highly anticipated “Game of Thrones” prequel, has been renewed for a second season after its first episode proved a hit. Based on George RR Martin’s “Fire & Blood”, the drama is set 200 years before the events that played out in “Game of Thrones” and focuses on how the House […] August 28, 2022
Tourism Saudi introduces multi-entry visas for Qatar World Cup 2022 fans Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has introduced a new multi-entry visa for visitors holding the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Hayya card. The ‘Hayya’ card is required for all World Cup attendees and provides entry into Qatar and the stadiums. Holders of the card can apply for the new Saudi visa online and book […] August 28, 2022
Analysis Retail Mall expansion fills ‘lifestyle’ gap in Bahrain retail market A massive new expansion of one of Bahrain’s biggest malls is a sign of renewed confidence in the Gulf kingdom’s retail sector as it looks to attract more Saudi shoppers from across the border, according to experts. The Avenues Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Al-Sorouh Management Company, has announced the appointment of Nass Group […] August 26, 2022
Business of Sport Serena Williams’ massive on-court earnings have no rival Serena Williams enters her final US Open as a long shot to take home the trophy but her title as the biggest earner in the history of women’s tennis will remain for many years to come. Since turning professional in 1995, Williams has amassed a mind-boggling $94.6 million in prize money, more than twice as […] August 26, 2022
Tourism Airlines using Mexico City hub agree to 15% cut in flights Airlines using the Benito Juarez International Airport in Mexico City have agreed to temporarily reduce flights at the hub from 61 per hour to 52 during peak hours, starting Oct. 31, the country’s transportation ministry said on Thursday. The cut, which is almost a 15 percent reduction and still pending final approval, follows previous flight […] August 26, 2022
Tourism Europe’s Wizz Air mulls Saudi operating license European budget carrier Wizz Air is considering basing an airline in Saudi Arabia as part an agreement signed with the government this year to develop the kingdom’s aviation sector, its chief executive said in an interview on Thursday. Wizz Air, which said in May it would explore opportunities in Saudi Arabia, announced on Thursday it […] August 26, 2022
Retail Alabbar to acquire stake in online retailer YOOX Net-A-Porter Richemont Wednesday announced a long-awaited deal to offload most of its online fashion retailer YOOX Net-A-Porter (YNAP), clearing the way for its labels to sign up for technology run by luxury e-commerce specialist Farfetch. The deal, removing from its books a loss-making business that had become a distraction for the Swiss luxury group, was welcomed […] August 25, 2022
Tourism Palestinians urged not to use Israeli airport for concessions The Palestinian Authority urged Palestinians not to take advantage of concessions promised by Israel that would allow them to travel through Ramon airport in southern Israel, saying they should have their own airport. Israel’s Airports Authority this month said Palestinians from the occupied West Bank would be offered special flights from Ramon, near the Red […] August 25, 2022
Business of Sport PGA Tour overhauls schedule, player purses amid LIV threat The PGA Tour’s top golfers have committed to competing against each other on a more regular basis while the bonus pool for players who positively impact the game was doubled to $100 million, Commissioner Jay Monahan said on Wednesday. The changes represent the PGA Tour’s most serious response to the threat posed by the Saudi […] August 25, 2022
Retail UAE’s Majid Al Futtaim sees 73% surge in digital grocery sales UAE retail conglomerate Majid Al Futtaim (MAF) recorded a 73 percent year-on-year rise in digital grocery sales in the first half of 2022, helping its total pre-tax earnings to rise 18 percent. The privately owned company, which operates the Carrefour supermarket brand in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, said earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, […] August 24, 2022
Business of Sport Los Angeles Angels owner to explore selling team Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno on Tuesday said he has begun exploring the possibility of selling the Anaheim-based team he has owned for 20 seasons. “Although this difficult decision was entirely our choice and deserved a great deal of thoughtful consideration, my family and I have ultimately come to the conclusion that now is […] August 24, 2022
Analysis Food & Drink Gulf serves up locally farmed salmon – and better food security From the old man who dredged up a djinn to the boy who netted an emerald, fishermen populate the folk stories of the Arab world. But the dhow fleets of the Gulf no longer provide a lifeline for local economies. By contrast, aquaculture – the farming of fish, shellfish and aquatic plants – has begun […] August 23, 2022
Tourism No flights yet from Israel for West Bank Palestinians A group of Palestinian passengers flew to Cyprus from an Israeli airport on Monday, but the flight was not organised under a promised arrangement easing travel restrictions for residents of the occupied West Bank, an airports authority spokesperson said. Israeli authorities agreed earlier this month, following pressure from the United States, to ease some of […] August 23, 2022
Tourism Foreign tourist arrivals to Turkey soar 53% in July Turkey’s foreign visitors jumped 53 percent in July from a year earlier, exceeding pre-pandemic levels and paving the way for $37 billion in tourism revenues sought by the government in support of President Tayyip Erdogan’s unorthodox economy policy. Foreign visitors to Turkey leapt to 6.67 million in July, mostly on the back of wealthy Russian […] August 23, 2022
Tourism British Airways to cut winter schedule capacity British Airways would make further cancellations up to the end of October and tweak its winter schedule, the airline said on Monday, following Heathrow airport’s decision to cap capacity to tackle widespread disruption. Sky News earlier reported that the IAG-owned carrier’s total capacity for winter schedule until the end of March would be reduced by […] August 23, 2022
Tourism UK rules out criminal action against DP World’s P&O Ferries The UK has announced it will not pursue criminal action against P&O Ferries over mass redundancies announced earlier this year. The company, owned by Dubai-based DP World, whose ships sail across the English Channel, North Sea and Irish Sea, laid off nearly 800 workers in March and then went on to hire cheaper agency staff, […] August 22, 2022
Tourism Tourism rebound to help Thai economy to grow 3-3.5% this year Thailand’s economy is expected to grow by three to 3.5 percent this year, helped by public investments and a pick-up in the vital tourism sector, the finance minister said on Monday. Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy will continue its post-pandemic recovery as state investment projects are accelerated, Arkhom Termpittayapaisith told a state agency forum. “The economy […] August 22, 2022
