ABU DHABI / WAM The Ministry of Finance (MoF) announced that the UAE was ranked first in the ‘Efficiency of Government Spending’ index, a sub-criteria of the World Competitiveness Report 2017- issued by the World Economic Forum (Davos) in Switzerland, having ranked second for three previous years. Since 2010, the UAE has achieved high rankings among the top 10 countries in …

Abu Dhabi / WAM Waha Capital, an Abu Dhabi-based investment company, has acquired a significant minority stake in Dubai-based Channel VAS, a rapidly growing financial technology company. Waha Capital’s new investment is approximately $55 million. The acquisition adds to the diversification of Waha Capital’s principal investment portfolio, which holds stakes in several companies, including New York-listed aircraft leasing firm AerCap …

Dubai / WAM The planned Excise Tax is set to go into effect at the beginning of October 2017, announced the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) at a press conference in Dubai on Wednesday. The new tax will be imposed on carbonated drinks by 50%, and tobacco products by 100% and energy drinks by 100%. The tax affects specific “Excise” goods …