Dubai and the UAE started the year in record-breaking style with spectacular firework displays across the country.
In the same week there were major news stories including Dubai’s decision to scrap a 30% sales tax on alcohol in the emirate, and the introduction of new tax rules on the shipping of international packages to the city.
Elsewhere Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al Nassr football club in Saudi Arabia, only to find out he was banned for two matches.
It has been another busy week for news in the Middle East.
From Dubai’s announcement of a new $8.7tn economy plan to a slashing of petrol prices in the UAE there has been a lot happening at the very start of 2023.
Check out the Arabian Business pick of the biggest stories of the week.
Dubai axes 30% tax on alcohol sales
Hotels, bars, and restaurants that purchase alcohol throughout this period will pay 30 percent less than they have done in 2022 and in previous years. It is understood that Dubai authorities expect the cost savings from the alleviating the tax to passed onto consumers, resulting in price dips and increasing the affordability of the city in 2023.
Dubai firms MMI and African + Eastern have also scrapped the fee needed to acquire a licence to buy alcohol in the emirate.
2023 begins with sensational Burj Khalifa firework show in Dubai
Huge crowds descended on Downtown to see the Burj Khalifa light up with a stunning firework display.
There were 828m of fireworks, 2,500 firing directions, 287 firing positions and 4,000 watts of lasers in the Burj Khalifa New Year’s Eve firework display.
UAE announces petrol and diesel prices for January 2023
The cost of petrol across the UAE will fall in January, it was officially announced.
Super 98 will fall to AED2.78 from AED3.30 in December, Special 95 will fall to AED2.67 from AED3.18, Diesel will fall to AED3.29 from AED3.74 and E-plus 91 will fall to AED2.95 from AED3.11.
The petrol prices in the UAE peaked to a high of Dh4.52 for Special 95 in July.
World’s safest airlines revealed: UAE and Qatar carriers in top 10
AirlineRatings.com, a dedicated aviation safety website has revealed its list of the safest airlines of 2023.
After monitoring 385 international airlines AirlineRatings.com identified Qantas as the world’s safest airline.
Sheikh Mohammed announces $8.7tn Dubai economic plan
The announcement was made by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Through the D33 economic plan, Dubai aims to position itself among the top four global financial hubs in the world, attracting more than AED700 billion in foreign direct investments in the next 10 years.
Cristiano Ronaldo unveiled by Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, faces two-match ban
Ronaldo arrived at the stadium on Tuesday evening and was immediately taken to a press conference with Al Nassr President Musalli Al-Muammar and first team coach Rudi Garcia. Speaking of his ambition to inspire a future generation of players in Saudi Arabia, the Portugal star revealed he had had offers from Europe, South America and the US.
However, it later emerged the football icon would be ineligible to play for two matches after being suspended by the English Football Association for smashing a phone out of a fan’s hands while he was still playing for Man Utd. Under FIFA rules the ban is transferred to Ronaldo’s new team.
Abu Dhabi eyed Standard Chartered takeover to form giant $1.1tn bank
The Middle East’s largest bank was previously in the “very early stages of evaluating a possible offer for Standard Chartered”, but is no longer doing so, it said in a regulatory filing Thursday.
FAB had been assessing Standard Chartered for more than six months as it considered a potential bid for the London-based lender.
UAE announces new tax: International deliveries and Amazon parcels subject to new fees
A new customs duty on packages with a value of more than AED300 and shipped internationally came into effect January 1.
It means that parcels bought overseas and shipped to the UAE are subject to further charges.
Dubai Bling ‘millionaire’ Farhana Bodi tells fans to pay $97 each for online tips
The influencer, described as a “millionaire” in the Netflix series Dubai Bling, announced to her 2 million fans on Instagram that she is launching the Farhana Bodi Academy.
She says she will be “sharing some of the tips and tricks that I’ve learnt on how to grow through social media.”
Dubai’s Emirates devalues all miles, Skywards upgrades to cost more
“In line with current market conditions, Emirates Skywards is introducing an increase on Skywards Miles required for Upgrade Rewards and Classic Rewards booked in Business Class and First Class. The increase will be gradually introduced on reward tickets across the Emirates network between December 22, 2022 and January 31, 2023,” the spokesperson said.
The bonus Skywards Miles earning opportunities will be increased for all Platinum, Gold and Silver members travelling with Emirates, the spokesperson added.
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