Middle East Experience

Private sector companies in the United Arab Emirates will have to fill 10 percent of their positions with Emirati nationals within five years, the UAE said on Sunday, announcing its latest tranche of economic reforms.As part of measures to boost the private sector as it diversifies its economy away from hydrocarbon revenues, the Gulf state said it will spend 24 billion dirhams ($6.53 billion) to get citizens into 75,000 private sector jobs over five years.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Incentives will include salary top-ups, training grants, pension subsidies and child allowances for Emiratis working in the private sector.Oil-rich Gulf countries like the UAE have traditionally relied on expatriates for skilled and cheap labor, while citizens largely worked in government jobs.But since the 2014-2015 oil price shock they have increasingly encouraged their citizens to work in the private sector rather than be on the state’s payroll.The target for 10 percent of private sector workers to be Emiratis will start with a 2 percent target in the first year.The government also said it wanted 10,000 Emiratis to be healthcare workers in five years’ time. The UAE has historically sourced most of its healthcare staff from countries such as the Philippines and India.Other provisions included granting Emiratis in government jobs a leave of absence and 50 percent of their salary for 6-12 months to start their own businesses.The initiatives are part of 50 new economic projects the UAE is announcing this month to boost its competitiveness.The regional business and tourism hub has launched measures over the past year to attract investment and foreign expatriates to help the economy recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.Some of these included liberalizing laws regarding cohabitation before marriage, alcohol and personal status laws.Last week the UAE said it wanted to attract $150 billion in foreign direct investment over nine years and it introduced more flexible visa categories to attract residents and skilled workers.“It has always been a difficult act to balance creating incentives for expats to relocate to the UAE and stay for a long time while creating gainful employment for the citizen population,” said Hasnain Malik, head of equity strategy at Tellimer.“Anything that raises the all-in, operating cost of foreign-owned companies reduces the competitiveness of the UAE as a location,” he said, commenting on the new private sector measures.A UAE trade delegation is in the United States this week to deepen the trade partnership, state news agency WAM said.Read more:‘Projects of 50’: UAE to invest $6.5 billion in private sector to create 75,000 jobsGolden Visa: UAE doctors react to receiving long-term 10-year residencyUAE ‘Golden Visa,’ ‘Green Visa’: Eligibility, application and requirements explained
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE government wants Emiratis to fill 10 pct of private sector jobs by 2026

Oman’s role in the ongoing Yemeni crisis is to help bring about stability and diverging views on the conflict closer, Oman’s foreign minister told Al Arabiya on Sunday.“Our role in the Yemeni crisis is to help and we seek to bring the views of the Yemeni crisis closer,” Oman Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi told Al Arabiya.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“It is our duty to help Yemen stabilize,” he added.Albusaidi said he was optimistic about the “future of our countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council.”Oman’s foreign minister said his country was close to advancing the Yemeni political process, adding that the Iran-backed Houthis have not rejected Omani mediation efforts so far.In a wide-ranging interview, Albusaidi also spoke on the ongoing developments in Afghanistan, saying that his country hopes the current Afghan government will “coexist with all sects.”“The Afghan situation is an internal matter and we respect what the Afghan people decide,” he told Al Arabiya.Oman’s foreign minister said his country was close to advancing the Yemeni political process, adding that the Iran-backed Houthis have not rejected Omani mediation efforts so far.In a wide-ranging interview, Albusaidi also spoke on the ongoing developments in Afghanistan, saying that his country hopes the current Afghan government will “coexist with all sects.”“The Afghan situation is an internal matter and we respect what the Afghan people decide,” he told Al Arabiya.On Palestine, the Omani foreign minister said Muscat adheres to the two-state solution based on the Arab Peace Initiative.Read more:No. 2 US diplomat thanks Oman for mediating peace, says Yemen war must endGCC chief urges global pressure on Houthis to avert Safer oil tanker catastropheTop Houthi negotiator says militia will not meet with new UN Yemen envoy
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Oman’s role in ongoing Yemen crisis is to help, mediate: FM

The European Union Sunday urged Lebanon's new government to move quickly to adopt reforms that would pave the way for a deal with the International Monetary Fund to halt the country's economic collapse..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: EU urges new Lebanese govt to adopt reforms

The temporary agreement should keep Tehran from censure for noncompliance by the nuclear agency, a move that could have derailed already suspended nuclear talks..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Iran and I.A.E.A. Reach Last-Minute Deal on Nuclear Monitoring

Al Hubara launches two brand-new concepts where local flavors meet global cuisines together with family entertainment..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Al Hubara at Sheraton Grand Doha brings brand-new weekend brunches  – Doha News | Qatar

Students say the exam was mostly easy, but the physics paper was tough..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: UAE: Medical aspirants take NEET exam in Dubai for the first time

Lebanon registered 11 coronavirus deaths and 785 cases in the past 24 hours, the Health Ministry reported Sunday..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Lebanon registers 785 COVID-19 cases, 11 deaths in last 24 hours

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi became the first foreign leader on Sunday to visit and meet with Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi since he took office in August.Iraq has been trying to mediate between Tehran and its Gulf Arab foes, including Saudi Arabia, in the hope of stopping its neighbors settling scores on its territory.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Iraq has become the playground of rivalries between Iran on one side and the US, Israel and Gulf Arab states on the other, with attacks against US forces and assassinations of Iranian and Iraqi paramilitary leaders.“I hope despite the aims of the enemies of the two countries, we will witness expansion of good relations between Iran and Iraq,” Raisi said in a joint news conference in Tehran.Raisi said Iraq had agreed to waive visas for Iranian pilgrims to Shiite holy sites in Iraq later this month on the occasion of Arbaeen marking the end of the 40-day mourning period for Imam Hussein, Prophet Mohammed’s grandson.“Decisions were also made about the two countries’ financial issues that should be adopted,” Raisi said, without elaborating.Iraq relies on Iranian gas and electricity, but imports have been irregular recently due to outstanding payments.Iran’s state gas company said late last year that it had slashed supplies to Iraq over more than $6 billion arrears, placing Baghdad and other cities at risk of power shortages.Iraq’s electricity ministry said last month that Iranian gas supplied to the central region was reduced from 3 million to 2 million cubic meters per day, while to the southern region it was reduced from 17 million to 5 million cubic meters per day.Read more:Israeli minister says Iran giving militias drone training near IsfahanIran to allow new memory cards in UN’s nuclear site surveillance camerasIran, Iraq agree to cancel visa requirements between the two countries
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Iraqi PM al-Kadhemi becomes first foreign leader to meet Iran’s President Raisi

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said that Israel should advance the “economy for security” formulation without negotiating with Hamas.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Lapid outlines ‘economy for security’ plan for Gaza

The steps taken to assist the rehabilitation of disabled IDF veterans have been coming thick and fast since the "One Soul" reform was approved in May.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Gantz approves new work compensation for disabled IDF veterans