Perspective. Analysis. Regional Intelligence.

Oman’s population increases to 4.44m in May

Oman’s total population exceeded 4.44 million in May, posting a 0.3 percent increase over the previous month, according to the latest data published by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI). Expatriates numbered over 2.02 million, forming 45.5 percent of the total population, according to news agency WAM, which cited information from Oman News

Opera’s Middle Eastern conquests

DUBAI, renowned across the world for its oil wealth, now wants to forge a reputation for the arts. In recent years, the emirate has built several contemporary art galleries including Artspace and the Mottahedan Projects. Now, construction crews are putting the final touches on a striking building designed by Janus Rostock, a Danish architect. Featuring

Ramadan for foreigners – as explained in the UAE

Ramadan is well underway, one of the most important periods on the Islamic calendar. In the United Arab Emirates, where the native population is heavily outnumbered by foreigners, efforts are underway to explain to expats the holy month and other aspects of local life. “We have large millions of non-Emiratis living in the UAE. We

Only these people will get ‘Green Card’ in Saudi Arabia

Riyadh: Saudi Arabian government will provide green card only to foreign investors and highly qualified experts among expats. The Kingdom expects to reap economic benefits generated by experts in the expat community. “The new system will be similar to the US residence model. The Saudi government is interested in taking advantage of foreign investors and

The Gulf Will Always Need Migrants

Forecast Slumping remittances sent by migrant workers in the Persian Gulf to their homes in the developing world will rebound when oil markets stabilize and Gulf diversification plans pan out. But to appease and employ their growing local populations, Gulf states will edge out some white-collar expatriates in favor of citizens. Since the burden of

Saudi cabinet approves land tax, foreign investment rules

Saudi Arabia’s cabinet approved a tax on undeveloped urban land and rules allowing foreign investors to own 100 per cent of retail and wholesale businesses, an official said on Monday. The measure aims to help resolve a shortage of affordable housing in Saudi Arabia by putting more unused land on the market where it can

Dubai rent prices at lowest point in 2 years

Residential rates in Dubai are at their lowest since 2014 and will continue to fall this year, according to Dubai-based consultancy Phidar Advisory. Rent declined by 1.3 per cent month-on-month in May, compared with a compound monthly average decline of just 0.3 per cent since the most recent market peak in May 2014, Phidar said

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No income tax on expats, says Oman official

Oman has no plans to impose income tax on expats, an official has reportedly claimed. Salem Al Saadi, an advisor at the Ministry of Manpower, was quoted as telling the Times of Oman that the sultanate “does not encourage such a tax”. It followed reports that Saudi Arabia was planning to introduce income tax on