Connect with us

Announcements

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

Published

on

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.

 

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

UAE fuel prices for June announced: Petrol edges closer to Dh4 a litre

Published

on

Spread the love

The UAE announced revised fuel prices for June 2026, with motorists set to pay significantly more for petrol while diesel costs decline compared to the previous month.

The latest adjustment is particularly notable as it marks the country’s first monthly fuel pricing update since formally leaving both OPEC and OPEC+ earlier this year.

Beginning June 1, Super 98 petrol will be priced at Dh3.95 per litre, up from Dh3.66 in May. Special 95 will rise to Dh3.83 per litre from Dh3.55, while E-Plus 91 will increase from Dh3.48 to Dh3.76 per litre.

In contrast, diesel users will benefit from a reduction, with prices falling from Dh4.69 per litre in May to Dh4.33 in June.

The latest increase extends a three-month upward trend in petrol prices, reflecting ongoing volatility in global energy markets and fluctuations in crude oil prices.

Impact on residents

For households across the UAE, fuel price movements remain a key economic indicator, influencing transportation costs, daily commuting expenses and overall household budgets. Rising petrol prices can have a noticeable impact on monthly spending, particularly for residents who rely heavily on private vehicles.

The June pricing announcement comes just weeks after the UAE officially ended its six-decade membership in OPEC and OPEC+, a move that took effect on May 1, 2026.

The revised prices will come into effect from June1, 2026.

Continue Reading

Announcements

Dubai announces Dh1.5 billion package to protect jobs and support businesses

Published

on

Spread the love

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has approved a fresh Dh1.5 billion economic support package aimed at protecting jobs, easing pressure on businesses and strengthening Dubai’s economy during a challenging period for the region.

The latest measures bring the total value of Dubai’s recent economic support initiatives to Dh2.5 billion, following an earlier Dh1 billion package introduced earlier this year.

The new package includes 33 initiatives that will be rolled out over the next three to 12 months, targeting key sectors including tourism, hospitality, trade, education and customs services.

One of the biggest beneficiaries is Dubai’s hotel and tourism industry, with several major fee relief measures announced to reduce operating costs.

Hotels across the emirate will be allowed to postpone 100 per cent of government sales fees on rooms as well as food and beverage services for three months. The relief applies to hotels, hotel apartments and holiday homes.

Dubai has also postponed the Tourism Dirham fee, a charge applied to hotel stays for up to 30 consecutive nights, for the same period. Hotels will additionally be exempt from permit, postponement and cancellation fees related to events.

Retailers and commercial businesses are also expected to benefit, with Dubai removing additional charges linked to sales campaigns and promotional offers. The move is likely to encourage more discounts and shopping promotions across the city over the coming months.

The package further includes streamlined procedures for residency permit issuance and renewals, although detailed implementation guidelines are yet to be announced.

Other sectors receiving support include education, customs, transport and aviation. Measures include deferred licence renewal fees for educational institutions, payment deferrals in the transport sector, an 80 per cent reduction in customs fines and a 50 per cent cut in fees for renewing civil aviation permits.

In a statement shared on X, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said the initiatives reinforce Dubai’s economic resilience and competitiveness while strengthening partnerships between the government and private sector.

He added that Dubai remains committed to supporting businesses and residents while continuing to position itself as a leading global economic hub.

Continue Reading

Announcements

Dubai property boom fuels ANAROCK’s Middle East expansion plans

Published

on

Spread the love

ANAROCK Group has announced a major leadership reshuffle as it looks to expand its footprint across the Middle East and Europe, with a strong focus on Dubai’s growing real estate market.

The independent real estate consultancy said the appointments come as the region enters a new phase of growth, driven by rising investor confidence, infrastructure expansion and increasing demand across residential and institutional real estate sectors.

New leadership appointments

Anuj Kejriwal has been appointed CEO, EMEA, while continuing his current role as Founding Partner and Head of Retail Advisory.

In his expanded position, Kejriwal will oversee the rollout of ANAROCK’s institutional advisory services across the Middle East, including capital markets, land services, consulting and valuation.

The company said Dubai will act as the launchpad for its wider regional expansion strategy before moving into broader European markets.

Meanwhile, Aayush Puri has been named CEO – Residential, Middle East and CEO of ANAROCK Channel Partner (ACP).

He will lead the firm’s residential business across the region while continuing to oversee the international operations of ANACITY, the group’s proptech and property management platform.

Focus on Dubai’s growth

According to ANAROCK, Dubai’s real estate market remains one of the key long-term growth drivers for the company, supported by strong economic fundamentals and sustained investor demand.

The firm also plans to hire senior local talent across consulting, residential and capital markets divisions as part of its expansion push.

Anuj Puri, Chairman of ANAROCK Group, said the leadership changes reflect the company’s commitment to strengthening its regional presence and capturing new cross-border opportunities in one of the world’s most dynamic real estate markets.

Continue Reading

Popular

Exit mobile version
https://headline.ae/