Bloomberg After a year to forget for British retailers, investors are betting some of the UK’s major chains now face a make-or-break holiday shopping season. Among those with the most at stake are department-store operators Debenhams Plc and House of Fraser Ltd., as well as fashion retailer New Look Retail Group Ltd., owned by embattled billionaire Christo Wiese. Despite Black ...

DUBAI / Emirates Business The Arabian Hotel Investment Conference 2018 (AHIC) is forecasting significant opportunities for hotel investors targeting the Middle East in light of new data from MEED Projects, which predicts that more than $14bn worth of hotel construction contracts will be awarded in 2018. According to MEED Projects, the online projects tracking service, the value of new hotel ...

SHARJAH / WAM HH Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has issued Law No. 10 2017 approving a general budget of AED22.1 billion for the fiscal year 2018. The total amount is a 6 percent increase from the emirate’s 2017 budget and focusses on several strategic objectives and indicators within the economic, ...

DUBAI / WAM HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chief Executive of Emirates Group, laid the foundations for the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai on Sunday. The ceremony, also included the signing of the official agreement for the UAE’s participation in the Expo, ...

ABU DHABI / WAM The Dubai Financial Market (DFM) on Sunday launched the Regulated Short Selling (RSS) service following the completion of all regulatory, technical and procedural preparations. The service is part of DFM’s efforts to provide market participants with new tools to further strengthen their trading activities, better utilise their resources, and further enhance market liquidity. The RSS service ...

DUBAI / Emirates Business Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the largest industrial company in the UAE outside oil and gas, signed a three-year alumina supply agreement with Vinacomin, a Vietnamese state-owned firm. Under the agreement, Vinacomin will supply EGA with up to 300,000 tonnes of alumina per year. Alumina is the feedstock for aluminium smelters. The deal is the first long-term ...

Dubai / WAM His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said that ministerial work is a responsibility and serving as a minister is a national mission that requires dedication and hard work, in which the minister leads his or her team offering an exemplary model and a source of ...

Abu Dhabi / WAM The Atlantic Council’s second-annual Global Energy Forum will convene in Abu Dhabi on January 12-13, 2018. This premier gathering of government, industry, and thought leaders will set the global energy agenda for the year and anticipate and respond to dramatic changes in the world of energy. For a second consecutive year, the forum will be held ...

Dubai / WAM Sheikh Hasher bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, Director-General of Dubai Department of Information, on Sunday inaugurated the International Autumn Trade Fair (IATF), at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC). “IATF has enabled creation of a remarkable trade landscape in the country. With VAT to be introduced soon, UAE citizens and trade partners can expect a positive influence ...

Dubai / WAM Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, DP World Group Chairman, and CEO and Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC), on Sunday inaugurated TEKNO 2017 exhibition at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC). Bin Sulayem toured the exhibition and also interacted with exhibitors to know more about their products, technologies and services on offer. “TEKNO ...