Health Gulf could have drone healthcare delivery by 2026 Drone delivery technology transporting healthcare materials such as blood samples, vaccines and pharmaceuticals is likely to take to the skies across the Gulf within the next two years. A test programme between Siemens Healthineers and the German drone manufacturer Wingcopter in Kenya is due to come to a conclusion in the next two and a […] January 31, 2024
Media & Advertising Saudi TV fights off the smartphone challenge Smart television is holding up as the main platform for accessing sports, news and entertainment in Saudi Arabia, despite the boom in streaming services that can be watched on smartphones, a leading media researcher said this week. “In the past decade there was a lot of transformation in Saudi. New devices, behaviours and trends,” said […] January 30, 2024
Health Saudi university developing AI for early diabetes detection King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (Kaust) said this week it is working with Saudi company AmplifAI Health to develop AI technology for use in the early detection of diabetes. Saudi Arabia and the UAE in particular are investing in health technologies that can predict medical risk and help develop medicines, and the kingdom […] January 30, 2024
People & Lifestyle Pure Health buys Abu Dhabi hospital stake for $150m A subsidiary of Abu Dhabi’s Pure Health Holding has agreed to acquire Mayo Clinic’s shares in Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City for $150 million. Under the agreement, Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (Seha) will acquire 25,000 shares, or 25 percent, of the total issued shares of Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Pure Health said in a statement […] January 30, 2024
People & Lifestyle Dubai Investments buys stake in fertility company Dubai Investments has acquired an equity stake of 34.3 percent in Global Fertility Partners, a network of fertility and reproductive genetics centres in the Middle East. GFP will get $60 million in equity financing to expand its network of fertility and women’s health centres across the Middle East and North Africa. Investors and family offices […] January 29, 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
Media & Advertising Tihama shareholders call for vote to oust board members Shareholders in the troubled media conglomerate Tihama are calling for a vote to dismiss members of the board. The company, which operates WH Smith shops in Saudi Arabia, said in a filing to the Saudi Stock Exchange that it had received a letter from a group of shareholders who collectively own 10 percent of the […] January 29, 2024
Opinion Health How tech is reinventing regional healthcare Local governments are leveraging AI to shape the future of medicine 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
Health Saudi biotech strategy aims to dominate regional industry Saudi Arabia has launched a National Biotechnology Strategy with the aim of becoming the region’s biotech leader by 2030 and a global leader by 2040, contributing 3 percent, or SAR130 billion ($35 billion), to non-oil GDP. The strategy was unveiled by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman with the aim of improving Saudi health standards, helping […] January 26, 2024
Opinion People & Lifestyle Kinokuniya – where better to prepare for Dubai’s literary fest? The Japanese bookstore is proof of the abiding attraction of paper and ink 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
Video length: 05:04 Video Finance Middle East unicorns will flourish, predict VCs For the first time since 2015, there were no deals worth more than $100 million last year in the UAE. Despite this, venture capitalists predict the region will see the creation of at least 10 unicorns – defined as a privately held startup company with a value of more than $1 billion – within the […] 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
People & Lifestyle Saudi to open alcohol store for non-Muslim diplomats Saudi Arabia will open its first alcohol store in Riyadh that will be available exclusively to non-Muslim diplomats, according to several media reports. Customers will have to register through a mobile app, get a clearance code from the foreign ministry, and respect monthly purchase quotas, Reuters reported, citing a document. The foreign affairs ministry is […] January 25, 2024
Finance Avalon Pharma’s market value at $437m on listing Saudi Arabia’s Middle East Pharmaceutical Industries Company (Avalon Pharma) has priced its initial public offering (IPO) at the top of its range at SAR82 ($21.87), implying a market capitalisation of SAR1.64 billion ($437.33 million) on listing. The recorded orders during the institutional book-building stood at SAR68.27 billion, representing a coverage of 138.76 times. The retail […] January 25, 2024
Health Healthy rise in medical tourism to Abu Dhabi clinic The number of overseas patients travelling to the UAE for treatment at the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi rose by 20 percent in 2023, the hospital’s CEO has said. Overseas visitors make up 1.5 percent of the patients treated each year at the Cleveland Clinic hospital on Al Maryah Island. Its CEO, Dr Jorge Guzman, told […] January 24, 2024
Health Kuwait’s pharmaceutical plan may need a shot in the arm Kuwait will continue to lag behind its GCC neighbours in attracting investment into its pharmaceutical sector despite new government measures, say experts. The Ministry of Health announced plans last month to set up warehouses across health districts, adding new facilities to improve medication storage and delivery. It said it is also developing a guide for […] January 24, 2024
Opinion Banking & Finance Saudi funds, serial founders and more trends to shake up startups Saudi Arabia will lead the region, while corporates will play a growing VC funding role January 23, 2024
Opinion Lifestyle In Dubai, it looks like the Russians are staying Russia's move away from the West puts the UAE in focus January 22, 2024