Insights: General
Cultural awareness, expat life and practical guides for anyone building a life or career in the Middle East.
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Dubai’s Blends & Brews Coffee Shoppe plans global expansion
Blends & Brews Coffee Shoppe, operating under the hospitality division of UAE-based Thumbay Group, will add 100 outlets worldwide to its portfolio by 2020, according to Thumbay Group founder and president Thumbay Moideen. The Dubai-founded brand recently ventured into India, opening a café in Thumbay New Life Hospital, Hyderabad, shortly before it unveiled its seventh
New law allows non-UAE citizens to buy land in Dubai South
Land plots in Dubai World Central have been made available for non-UAE citizens to purchase after a decision was made on Monday by Dubai’s ruler HH Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum on Monday. “The decision grants non-UAE nationals the rights to absolute ownership, without a specific time frame, of lands and properties located in
Six Flags announces theme park in Saudi Arabia
US-based Six Flags Entertainment Corp plans to expand to Saudi Arabia, its chief executive announced on Monday. After a meeting with Saudi deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salman during his current visit to the US, Six Flags CEO John Duffey revealed the company’s future plans in the Kingdom on Al Arabyia TV. “We’re very honored
Dubai, Abu Dhabi see marginal average rent rises during May
Real estate markets in Dubai and Abu Dhabi witnessed marginal growth in property prices during May, according to a new report by Bayut. Compared to April, average apartment rents in Dubai grew 1.57 percent in May, while average rental yields remained at 5.3 percent, the report said. It added that the average rent for studio
What does success look like to you?
For me, success comes in many forms, including personal and professional levels. I have been lucky enough to be able to find successes across both. In 2012, I made the decision to compete in an Ironman (3.8km swim, 180.25 km bike, 42.2km run) in Western Australia and to raise funds for a worthwhile charity. Over a period of nine months, I raised
June 22, 2016
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Kuwait arrests 800 expats for residency, labour violations
Authorities in Kuwait have arrested 800 expats for violating residency and labour laws during a security crackdown. Police also arrested three defendants linked to a drugs case in Hawalli, reported The Times Kuwait. They also registered five drugs and alcohol cases in Farwaniya and took two others into custody following reports of absconding. In the
‘Energy City’ announced to help realise Saudi Vision 2030
Saudi Arabia has revealed plans to set up an “Energy City” with state-of-the-art infrastructure as part of Saudi Vision 2030, a senior official has said. Khalid Al-Falih, minister of energy, industry and mineral resources said that the aim of the new project is to attract major companies in energy-related industries to the city. He also
Qatar: The Shape of Tomorrow
Doha: Plastic and ready-made, it’s a city built for Jeff Koons. When I run into him in March at the elevator bank at the W Doha Hotel, it feels staged. House music plays at a tasteful volume for nine o’clock in the morning. Koons’s smile is cartoonish and his gray skinny tie impeccably knotted. A frequent
June 20, 2016
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The Gulf states’ double expat dividend
How should policymakers in the Gulf states manage their countries’ large expatriate workforces? In Saudi Arabia, foreign nationals account for roughly one-third of the population. In Qatar and the UAE, nine out of every ten residents is an expatriate. Should these governments continue to invest heavily in developing indigenous labour forces, with the aim of
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