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DUBAI / Emirates Business UAE companies are taking corporate and employee wellbeing seriously as evidenced by growing investments in workplace wellness initiatives. The growing recognition of the many positive benefits of wellness programmes not just on employee wellbeing, but also on the overall competitiveness of the organisation are spurring investments on office renovations, additional facilities, sponsoring lifestyle and sporting activities, ...

LONDON / Reuters Oil investors seem to buy the idea that recovery is finally underway after three years of gluts, but a price boom seems unlikely as the options market shows that at least until OPEC’s supply deal expires, producers will pounce on any rallies. The oil price has gained about 20 percent in the last two months to above ...

SINGAPORE / Reuters Freight rates for very large crude carriers (VLCCs) on Asian routes from the Middle East could fall to a new low for the year next week as too many ships chase the number of available cargoes, ship brokers said on Friday. That came as average rates from the Middle East to Asia have fallen close to last ...

SINGAPORE / Reuters China is on pace to overtake the United States as the world’s biggest oil importer this year, cementing its status as Asia’s most pivotal oil market actor that will increasingly dominate the region’s fuel trade. For the first time, China imported more crude oil in the first half of the year than the US, government statistics showed. ...

ABU DHABI / WAM The actual spending of federal departments amounted to AED8.92 billion during Q1 2017, with a 100 percent budget execution rate, according to a Ministry of Finance report. The Service Sector spending hit AED3.207 billion, which accounts for 36.96 percent of Q1 total spending, while AED2.384 billion went to the Public Order and Safety Affairs Sector- 26.73 ...

ABU DHABI / WAM Blue-chips again gave a last-minute boost to the UAE stocks on Wednesday, with Emaar breaking a new high of AED8.49 despite a profit-booking spree during the first half of today’session. Accordingly, decent gains were held by the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange General Index which was up 1.02 percent, closing at 4608 points, with the Dubai Financial ...

Abu Dhabi / Emirates Business The Masdar Institute of Science and Technology announced a research breakthrough that provides valuable insights on the development of optimized graphene-based membranes, which aim to make water filtration and desalination more efficient and sustainable. The Masdar Institute is a part of the Khalifa University of Science and Technology. The breakthrough was made by a team ...

ABU DHABI / WAM Etihad Airways has introduced the Boeing 787-9 on its scheduled daily service from Abu Dhabi to Seoul. The aircraft touched down this morning at the South Korean capital’s space-age Incheon International Airport. The new two-class 787 Dreamliner service replaces the Airbus A340-600 aircraft previously operated on the route, and features Etihad Airways’ next-generation Business and Economy ...

Dubai / WAM Takaful Emarat, the DFM-listed, Shariah-compliant Life and Health Takaful provider, announced its Q2 financial results for six-month period ended June 30. Results were approved at the company’s Board of Directors meeting. Takaful Emarat reported a net profit of AED0.9 million for the first half of the year. This growth is attributed to the company’s continuous investment in ...

DUBAI / WAM Mohammed Bin Rashid Fund (MBRF), the financial arm of Dubai SME, the agency of Dubai Economy mandated to develop the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector, has appointed Metis Management Consultancy to conduct post-fund monitoring services for all the companies supported by the Fund. The partnership will enable SMEs assisted by the Fund to have greater access ...