Insights: General
Cultural awareness, expat life and practical guides for anyone building a life or career in the Middle East.
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Q1 residential sales flat in Abu Dhabi as rental demand rises
Abu Dhabi’s residential sales market remained “muted” in the first three months of 2016 with prices remaining largely stable, according to CBRE’s quarterly market update. However, while there was “weak” appetite for property purchases in the first quarter of this year, demand for rentals remained strong, with affordable residences highly sought after and capable of
Qatari insurance market: Bright outlook despite depressed hydrocarbon prices
Qatar is a unique market within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) with an economy that has been rapidly growing on the back of natural gas. With diversification efforts added to this, the economy can support the growth in insurance companies and takaful operators, writes Blake Goud. This is not to say that the drop in
Filipino workers in GCC escape major job losses in era of cheap oil
A Qatari-based construction firm has laid off 60 Filipino workers but the continuing slump in global oil prices has so far had little impact on the country’s workforce in the Gulf, according to new figures. While Qatari Diar Vinci Construction (QDVC), which has projects including the Doha Metro and Lusail light rail network ongoing, has
British Airways launches cheap fares on flights from the UAE
British Airways has announced discounted fares across all cabins from the UAE to London, Europe and North America. The deals are available for bookings made until April 10 for travel until November 30, the UK flag carrier said in a statement. Paolo De Renzis, head of Middle East, Africa and Central Asia sales for British
New Abu Dhabi project to feature city’s largest aquarium, cinema
Construction work has started on a AED850 million ($231 million) project in Abu Dhabi that will feature a 5,000 sq m aquarium – the biggest in the UAE capital – as well as its largest cinema. The Municipality of Abu Dhabi City in partnership with AlBarakah International Investments, said in a statement that the Al
Singapore’s Ascott eyes 5,000 MidEast serviced units by 2020
CapitaLand’s wholly owned serviced residence business unit, The Ascott Limited (Ascott), has signed contracts to manage its first two serviced residences in Al Khobar, one of the main metropolitan cities in Saudi Arabia’s oil-rich Eastern Province. The 172-unit Ascott Corniche Al Khobar and 133- unit Somerset Downtown Al Khobar are slated to open in 2018
Hilton inks deal for 138-key mid-market hotel in Doha
Hilton Worldwide on Wednesday announced the signing of a management agreement with Universal Management Group to open the mid-market Hilton Garden Inn Doha C Ring Road. Set to open in 2018, the hotel is located in Qatar’s capital, Doha and once open will join Hilton Garden Inn hotels already operating in the UAE and Saudi
New female-focused recruiter aims to add flexibility to GCC jobs market
Recruitment consultancy, Hopscotch, has launched to bring together professional women requiring flexible working options in the Gulf region and GCC companies looking for quality, shorter term hires. The company said that with limited channels to find flexible or part time work, women’s skills and knowledge are being lost from the regional workplace. In a recent
Abu Dhabi expats sending their families home due to rising cost of living
ABU DHABI // The rising cost of living in the capital has forced many expatriates to send their families and children home to make ends meet. The cost of rents, school fees and groceries have risen while salaries remained the same, they said. Shibu Varghese said: “Last year, I sent two of my children back
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