Gulf

Saudi imports from UAE jump back up in August

DUBAI, Oct 25 (Reuters) - The value of Saudi Arabia's imports from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in August increased by about 31% month on month, official data showed on…

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UPDATED: Top oil exporter Saudi Arabia targets net zero emissions by 2060

RIYADH, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's crown prince said on Saturday that the world's top oil exporter aims to reach zero-net emissions by 2060 and will more than double…

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Prince Charles says “dangerously narrow window” to accelerate climate action

RIYADH, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Britain's Prince Charles, in recorded remarks at an environment event in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, said there was a "dangerously narrow window" to accelerate climate…

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Saudi Sept oil supplies to China up 2%, Russian volumes down 18%

Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, kept its ranking as China's top crude supplier for a 10th month in September, increasing its volumes by 2% from a year earlier,…

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Iran not ready to resume Vienna talks, wants to discuss texts first -EU official

Iran is not ready to return to talks with world powers over its nuclear programme yet and its new negotiating team wants to discuss the texts that will be put…

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Dubai’s DP World says long time until shipping supply chain disruptions end

There is no end in sight to the shortage of shipping containers, port congestion and sky rocketing freight rates that have rattled global trade, the chairman of Dubai ports giant…

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Cleric Sadr wins Iraq vote, former PM Maliki close behind – official

Shi'ite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's party was the biggest winner in an Iraqi election on Monday, increasing the number of seats he holds in parliament, according to initial results, officials…

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Iraqi forces capture deputy of IS slain leader Baghdadi – PM

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iraq has captured Sami Jasim, a high-ranking member of Islamic State in charge of the group's finance and a deputy of slain leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, Prime…

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Coming weeks are decisive for Iran nuclear deal, Merkel says

JERUSALEM, Oct 10 (Reuters) - The coming weeks are decisive for the future of the nuclear deal with Iran, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Sunday, adding that every day…

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Iraqis vote in general election, a test for democratic system

BAGHDAD (Reuters) -Iraqis were voting on Sunday in a general election many said they would boycott, having lost faith in the democratic system brought in by the U.S. invasion of…

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Magnitude 5 earthquake jolts southwestern Iran

Anadolu Agency - A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5 shook southwestern Iran on Saturday, according to Tehran University's seismological center. In a statement, the center said the quake struck at the…

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US and Taliban set for talks in Doha in first high-level talks since pullout

A U.S. delegation will meet with senior Taliban representatives in Doha on Saturday and Sunday in their first face-to-face meeting at a senior level since Washington pulled its troops from…

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Ten injured in 2 drone attacks at Saudi’s King Abdullah airport

Ten people were injured in two explosives-laden drone attacks at King Abdullah airport in the southern Saudi city of Jizan late on Friday and early on Saturday, the Saudi-led coalition…

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Dubai property prices higher but rents continue to fall – CBRE

Average residential property prices in Dubai rose 4.4% in the 12 months to August, the highest annual growth since February 2015, real estate investment firm CBRE Group said on Thursday.…

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Dubai’s Sheikh Mohammed ordered phones of ex-wife and lawyers to be hacked, UK court says

LONDON, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum ordered the phones of his ex-wife and her lawyers to be hacked as part of a "sustained campaign…

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Abu Dhabi’s Etihad seeks to hire up to 1,000 cabin crew

Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways said on Monday it planned to hire up to 1,000 cabin crew as travel demand rebounds with the easing of international border restrictions and it increases…

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UPDATED: Seven more killed in Oman following tropical storm Shaheen

Seven more people were killed in Oman as heavy winds and rain swept through the country after tropical storm Shaheen made landfall, the national emergency committee said on Monday on…

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Dubai Expo revises worker fatalities to six after including COVID-related deaths

Expo 2020 Dubai, a major world fair that opened last week, on Sunday said three workers on the project had died after contracting COVID-19, revising up the number of fatalities…

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Cyclone Shaheen approaches Oman, flights delayed

Tropical Cyclone Shaheen bore down on Oman on Sunday, prompting authorities to delay flights to and from the capital, Muscat, and to urge residents to evacuate coastal areas. A child…

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Qatari women unsuccessful in first legislative elections

Voters chose none of the 26 women who stood for election in Qatar's first legislative elections on Saturday, disappointing candidates who had wanted to lend a voice for women and…

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UPDATE – Qatar’s first legislative elections see 44% voter turnout

DOHA, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Qataris voted on Saturday in the Gulf Arab state's first legislative elections for two-thirds of the advisory Shura Council, a process that has stirred domestic…

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Expo 2020 Dubai kicks off with lavish opening ceremony

The first world fair to be held in the Middle East, Expo 2020 Dubai, opened on Thursday with a lavish ceremony of fireworks, music and messaging about the power of…

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Israeli PM says Iran has crossed nuclear ‘red lines’; Tehran calls it ‘full of lies’

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said on Monday that Iran had crossed "all red lines" in its nuclear program and vowed that Israel would not allow Tehran to acquire a…

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Under U.S. sanctions, Iran and Venezuela strike oil export deal – sources

Venezuela has agreed to a key contract to swap its heavy oil for Iranian condensate that it can use to improve the quality of its tar-like crude, with the first…

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Israeli PM to meet UAE, Bahrain ministers in New York

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett will meet ministers from Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, his first meetings with Gulf leaders since taking office in…

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UAE announces ministerial changes including finance, environment

United Arab Emirates Prime Minister and Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced ministerial changes on Saturday, including new finance and environment ministers. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin…

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Iran wants resumption of nuclear talks that leads to lifting U.S. sanctions -Raisi

DUBAI, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Iran wants a resumption of nuclear talks with world powers to lead to the removal of U.S. sanctions, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi told the annual…

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Amazon to create 1,500 jobs in UAE this year

Amazon said on Monday it plans to create 1,500 direct and indirect jobs in the United Arab Emirates this year as it expands its presence in the country. Job creation…

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Saudi retains top spot in oil supplies to China with volumes up 53% y/y

Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, kept its ranking as China's top crude supplier for a ninth straight month in August as major producers relaxed production cuts. Saudi oil…

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UAE central bank sees COVID-19 increasing money-laundering risks

The United Arab Emirates central bank sees increased risks of illicit financial flows emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, including money-laundering and terrorism financing, it said in a report published on…

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U.S. issues sanctions tied to supporters of Hezbollah, Iran

WASHINGTON, Sept 17 (Reuters) - The United States said on Friday it was imposing sanctions on Lebanon and Kuwait-based financial conduits that fund the Lebanese Shi'ite group Hezbollah as well…

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Emirates seeks 3,000 cabin crew as operations ramp up

DUBAI, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Emirates on Thursday said it would look to hire 3,000 flight attendants and another 500 people for roles at Dubai airport over the next six…

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Iran to allow IAEA to service nuclear monitoring cameras after talks

DUBAI, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Iran has agreed to let the U.N.'s atomic watchdog service monitoring cameras at Iranian nuclear sites, both sides said, after talks held on Sunday to…

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Iraqi PM becomes first foreign leader to meet Iran’s Raisi

(Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi became the first foreign leader on Sunday to visit and meet with Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi since the hardliner took office in August.…

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UAE lifts ban on entry from certain countries for vaccinated residents

The United Arab Emirates said on Friday residents who had been fully vaccinated with a shot approved by the World Health Organization could return as of Sept. 12 from a…

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Etihad boss says July the airline’s best month in over a year

The chief executive of Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways on Wednesday said there was cause for some optimism after July marked the airline's strongest month in about a year and a…

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Oil extends losses after deep Saudi price cuts signal demand concerns

Oil prices extended losses on Monday, falling more than 1%, after the world's top exporter Saudi Arabia slashed crude prices for Asia over the weekend, signalling demand concerns and that…

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UAE non-oil private sector maintains solid growth, employment rises

The United Arab Emirates' non-oil private sector continued its solid growth in August, only marginally below an expansion in July that was the fastest pace in two years, a business…

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Saudi non-oil sector expansion loses momentum in August – PMI

Saudi Arabia's non-oil private sector continued to grow in August but lost momentum due to a sharp drop in output expansion, a business survey showed, signalling a challenging recovery from…

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UAE announces plans to boost economy, attract workers

The United Arab Emirates plans to launch 50 new economic initiatives to boost the country's competitiveness and attract 550 billion dirhams ($150 billion) in foreign direct investment in the next…

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Islamic State attack kills 10 policemen near Iraq’s Kirkuk

Islamic State militants killed 10 Iraqi policemen and wounded four during an overnight attack on a guard post near the city of Kirkuk, police sources said on Sunday. Police sources…

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UPDATED: Missile intercepted over Saudi oil region injures two, damages buildings

Two children were injured and buildings were damaged when a ballistic missile was intercepted over Saudi Arabia's oil-rich eastern region on Saturday, the ministry of defence said. The missile was…

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Saudi state media companies to start moving from Dubai to Riyadh

DUBAI, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Dubai-based Saudi state-owned media companies will start moving staff this month to the capital Riyadh, sources said, as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman presses ahead…

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Abu Dhabi removes quarantine for all vaccinated travellers

Abu Dhabi will remove the need to quarantine for all vaccinated travellers arriving from international destinations starting Sunday, said the Abu Dhabi government media office on Twitter on Thursday. A…

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Britain’s Raab, in Qatar, cites need to engage with Taliban

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Thursday there is a need to engage with the Taliban on Afghanistan, but Britain has no immediate plans to recognise their government. Raab…

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Iran’s Khamenei says Biden ‘no different’ from Trump on nuclear deal – France 24

France 24 - The multilateral deal that offers Iran relief from sanctions in return for curbs on its nuclear programme was torpedoed by Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States…

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OPEC+ could reconsider output increase, says Kuwaiti oil minister

KUWAIT, Aug 29 (Reuters) - The 400,000 barrel per day increase in oil output agreed by OPEC+ nations in previous gatherings might be reconsidered at its next meeting on Sept.…

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Abu Dhabi bourse to cut trading commissions by 50%, extend trading hours

The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) said on Saturday it has cut its trading commissions by 50% and will extend its trading hours by one hour from Oct. 3. The…

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Mideast leaders plus France meet in Baghdad to talk security, diplomacy

Several Middle Eastern leaders and French President Emmanuel Macron met in Baghdad on Saturday at a summit hosted by Iraq, which wants its neighbours to talk to each other instead…

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Qatar offering COVID vaccines to Afghanistan evacuees yet to transit

Qatar is offering COVID-19 vaccines to evacuees from Afghanistan who are temporarily staying in the Gulf Arab state, which has been facilitating global evacuation efforts since the Taliban seized Kabul,…

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One of Italy’s most wanted drug traffickers arrested in Dubai

One of Italy's most wanted drug traffickers, 32-year-old Camorra boss Raffaele Mauriello, was arrested in Dubai on August 14, police said. He faced three arrest warrants for murder, mafia association…

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Iran prisons head apologises after leaked pictures show abuse

The head of Iran's prisons apologised on Tuesday for "bitter events" in Tehran's Evin prison after videos leaked by hackers showed beatings of prisoners, a rare admission of abuse by authorities. A hacking group calling itself Edalat-e…

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Iran resumes fuel exports to neighbouring Afghanistan

Iran resumed fuel exports to Afghanistan a few days ago following a request from the new Afghan government, which feels empowered by the U.S. withdrawal to buy the sanctioned nation's oil…

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Russia, Iran and China to hold joint drills in Gulf

Russia, Iran and China will hold joint maritime exercises in the Persian Gulf around late 2021 or early 2022, Russia's ambassador to Tehran said, the RIA news agency reported on…

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Saudi Arabia pledges to provide support for Tunisia, Tunisian presidency says

Saudi Arabia pledged to provide assistance to Tunisia, which is suffering a political, economic and health crisis, the Tunisian presidency said on Sunday, the latest sign of support for President…

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Dubai sets up money laundering court

Dubai has established a specialised court focused on combating money laundering, in a move to "strengthen the integrity of the financial system", the emirate's media office said on Sunday. The…

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Iran reports record daily death toll

Iran has reported an all-time daily coronavirus death toll, with 684 further fatalities recorded. Sunday’s figure passes the 655 deaths recorded in 24 hours on 16 August, taking the cumulative…

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