Announcements

Abu Dhabi and Dubai Lead as Most Liveable Cities in the Middle East and Africa

Published

2 years ago

August 12, 2024

Spread the love

Abu Dhabi and Dubai remained top liveable cities in the Middle East and Africa, and improved their scores in health care and education, according to the Global Liveability Index of the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) for 2024.

The index ranked Dubai closely behind in the second spot, highlighting its achieved progress in the same areas.

According to the “Crime and Safety Indexes” provided by the Numbeo website, Abu Dhabi is considered one of the safest cities globally. The city ranked first globally on the Safety Index with a score of 88.2 points and had the lowest score on the Crime Index with 11.8 points. Meanwhile, Dubai ranked fifth on the list of the world’s safest cities.

In the field of health, recent data from a report by the Dubai Health Authority showed that the total number of licensed and operational healthcare facilities in the emirate reached 5,020 during the first quarter of 2024, with the number of licensed doctors totaling 13,370.

Meanwhile, the number of healthcare facilities in Abu Dhabi, during the same period reached 3,323, including 67 hospitals, 1,136 health centres, 765 clinics, 1,068 pharmacies, and 287 other facilities classified as healthcare establishments. At the same time, the number of licensed doctors in Abu Dhabi reached 12,922 by the end of 2022.

In the field of education, the number of schools in Abu Dhabi reached 459, including private, public, and mixed schools, during the 2023-2024 academic year, while the number of private schools in Dubai reached 220.

Eight of the top ten cities in the region were in Gulf countries, which are stable and have an increasing influence on the world stage. Among them were Kuwait City, Doha, and Bahrain in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th spots, respectively. The six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is one of the world’s economic powerhouses, drawing talent from around the world and deploying vast pools of capital to it.

The global index includes 173 cities judged on five categories: stability, health care, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure.

Related Topics:#abudhabi #featured #latestnews #livablecuty #middleeast #news

Sudhashree Dash

With 20 years of experience across print, TV, and digital journalism, Sudhashree is a seasoned media professional with a keen eye for news. A true news bug, she thrives on curating stories that capture the pulse of fashion, film, and all things trending. Deeply immersed in the fast-evolving media landscape, she swears by the power of social media to shape narratives and spark conversations.

Announcements

Small businesses in the UAE now have tax relief until 2029

Published

10 hours ago

August 7, 2026

Michael Gomes

Spread the love

Small businesses in the UAE with annual revenues of up to Dh3 million will continue to be eligible for Small Business Relief under the corporate tax regime until the end of 2029.

The Ministry of Finance said on Friday that Ministerial Decision No. 131 extends the period during which eligible businesses can benefit from Small Business Relief to cover tax periods ending on or before December 31, 2029.

The relief was introduced to help reduce the corporate tax compliance burden for smaller businesses and start-ups that meet the eligibility requirements.

Dh3 million threshold remains unchanged

The existing annual revenue threshold of Dh3 million, set under Ministerial Decision No. 73 of 2023, will continue to apply.

The relief applies to tax periods beginning on or after June 1, 2023 and, following the latest amendment, will remain available for subsequent tax periods ending on or before December 31, 2029.

Eligible taxable persons with annual revenue of up to Dh3 million can claim Small Business Relief, subject to meeting the conditions and requirements outlined in the corporate tax legislation.

The relief enables qualifying businesses to benefit from simplified corporate tax compliance requirements.

More time for small businesses

The extension provides eligible small businesses and start-ups with additional tax periods to benefit from the relief while continuing to meet the Dh3 million revenue threshold.

The Ministry said the decision is part of its efforts to support smaller companies and entrepreneurs, strengthen the business environment, and encourage sustainable growth and expansion.

Announcements

August fuel rates announced: UAE petrol prices go up

Published

1 week ago

July 31, 2026

Michael Gomes

Spread the love

UAE motorists will pay more at the pump from Saturday after the UAE Fuel Price Committee announced higher petrol and diesel prices for August 2026.

The revised rates, which take effect from August 1, are:

Super 98: Dh3.60 per litre (up from Dh3.40)
Special 95: Dh3.49 per litre (up from Dh3.29)
E-Plus 91: Dh3.41 per litre (up from Dh3.21)
Diesel: Dh3.80 per litre (up from Dh3.60)

The increase reverses July’s price reduction and comes after volatility in global oil markets during the past month.

The UAE Fuel Price Committee reviews retail fuel prices at the end of each month, with rates determined in line with movements in international oil markets.

The new prices will remain in effect throughout August 2026.

Announcements

UAE’s Jaywan card can now be used for online shopping on thousands of websites

Published

3 weeks ago

July 21, 2026

Michael Gomes

Spread the love

Online shopping with the UAE’s Jaywan card just got a major upgrade.

Network International has announced that Jaywan cardholders can now use their cards to pay on thousands of online stores connected to its payment gateway, expanding the domestic payment scheme beyond in-store purchases.

The move is expected to make online payments faster and more convenient while supporting the UAE’s push towards a cashless economy.

What is Jaywan?

Launched by Al Etihad Payments, a subsidiary of the Central Bank of the UAE, Jaywan is the country’s domestic payment card scheme.

It was introduced to provide a secure local payment option, reduce transaction costs and strengthen the UAE’s digital payments ecosystem.

Until now, Jaywan cards were mainly accepted for in-store purchases. With the latest expansion, cardholders can also use them for online shopping across thousands of merchants powered by Network International.

What this means for shoppers

For UAE residents, the update means more flexibility when shopping online.

Whether you’re ordering groceries, booking services or buying products online, you’ll be able to use your Jaywan card anywhere that supports Network International’s payment gateway.

The company says the integration offers secure, fast and seamless online payments, while merchants won’t face additional charges for Jaywan transactions processed through its platform.

A step towards a cashless UAE

The expansion is part of the UAE’s broader strategy to accelerate digital payments and reduce reliance on cash.

By making Jaywan available both in stores and online, payment providers are helping create a more connected digital payment ecosystem for businesses and consumers alike.

As more banks, merchants and payment providers adopt the scheme, residents can expect to see Jaywan accepted across even more everyday payment services in the future.