Insights: General
Cultural awareness, expat life and practical guides for anyone building a life or career in the Middle East.
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Hyperloop lands in the Middle East
Travel from Abu Dhabi to Al Ain could be just eight to twelve minutes in future. The Department of Municipal Affairs and Transport (DMAT) has signed an agreement with Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HyperloopTT) for a feasibility study to connect Abu Dhabi and Al Ain using the Hyperloop system. This combined with the first fully-operational Hyperloop
December 14, 2016
Read more about Hyperloop lands in the Middle EastKuwait’s Alshaya to launch 32 brands in upcoming Mall of Qatar
Retail franchise operator says eight brands will be making their debut in Qatar including The Cheesecake Factory. International retail franchise operator MH Alshaya Co is preparing to open 32 brands at the new Mall of Qatar, which is set for a soft opening on December 10. Alshaya’s portfolio at the mall will include eight brands
Qatar to save ‘100s of millions of dollars’ with merger of Qatargas and RasGas
Transition will take around 12 months to complete and will begin before the end of this year, said Saad al-Kaabi, chief executive of Qatar Petroleum. Qatar will merge state-owned liquefied natural gas producers Qatargas and RasGas Co Ltd, the chief executive of Qatar Petroleum (QP) said on Sunday, in the Gulf state’s latest reaction to
Qatar prepares to welcome its first mega cruise ship
Qatar will welcome its first mega cruise ship today, when the 333m-long MSC Fantasia docks at Hamad Port. With 3,000 passengers and 1,300 crew, it’s the largest passenger ship ever to sail into Qatar. It is so big that it will not be able to dock at the former Doha Port off the Corniche, which is set
December 7, 2016
Read more about Qatar prepares to welcome its first mega cruise shipNew free four-day transit visa now available in Qatar
A new visa scheme for travelers transiting through Hamad International Airport (HIA) goes online today (Nov. 1), Qatar Airways and the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) have announced. The free 96-hour transit visa is available to all Qatar Airways passengers with layovers of five or more hours at HIA, regardless of nationality. However, visas are granted based on the sole
RAK to the future: Forging a reputation on the global business stage
Ras Al Khaimah, the UAE’s second-smallest emirate, is quietly boosting its tourism, free zones and real estate. It may not get the international acclaim of Dubai or the media attention of Doha, but Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) is quietly making its mark. Famed largely for bringing the world RAK Ceramics, the northern UAE emirate is
UAE – Sharjah book fair attracts over 2.3m visitors
The 35th edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) concluded on a record-breaking note on Saturday, attracting over 2.31 million visitors over its 11 days, with the volume of book sales reaching Dh176 million. Both the visitor and sale counts are the highest since SIBF began in 1982. Last year, the fair attracted over
November 14, 2016
Read more about UAE – Sharjah book fair attracts over 2.3m visitorsKUWAIT – Minimum Salary Increase for Dependent Sponsorship
The Kuwaiti Ministry of the Interior (MOI) has announced that, effective 19 October 2016, it has increased the minimum monthly salary requirements for foreign nationals sponsoring spouses and dependents for family and visit visas. Minimum Salary Changes The minimum salary increases will apply as follows: Sponsorship New Salary Requirement Current Salary Requirement Residence KWD 450/month
Sheikh Mohammed issues law on free zones and special development zones in Dubai
In his capacity as Ruler of Dubai, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, issued Law No. 15 of 2016 on the regulations issued by the authorities of free zones and special development zones in Dubai. The new Law is applicable to all free
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