Muscat International Airport has been awarded the title of the best airport in the customer experience category for the Middle East region in 2023, for the 15-20 million passengers category. 

Meanwhile, Salalah Airport has won the award for the best airport in the Middle East region in customer experience for 2023, for the two million passengers category. 

These awards were presented by the Airports Council International (ACI) in partnership with Amadeus, a leading technology company providing software solutions for the global travel and tourism industry. 

Salalah Airport also won several other awards, including the award for the most dedicated airport employees in the Middle East in all categories, the award for the smoothest airport procedures in the Middle East for all categories, the award for the best pleasant airports in the Middle East, and the award for the best airports in the level of cleanliness, for all categories in the Middle East. The ACI’s performance measurement program is considered one of the most reliable programs in the world and relies on directly measuring the experience of airport customers on the same day of travel. 

This achievement reflects the efforts of Oman Airports to integrate with the endeavors being made by the government of the Sultanate of Oman under the leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik for the air transport sector. 

This is one of the goals of Oman Vision 2040 and is in light of the unlimited support provided over the past years in strengthening the infrastructure of air transportation to and from the Sultanate of Oman, given its strategic location among the countries of the world. 

Muscat International Airport and Salalah Airport’s achievement comes after an evaluation by travelers of the best airports in terms of customer experience within the Airport Service Quality (ASQ) awards. This year, the program highlights the number of airports participating in it, which exceeds 400 airports in the world. 

The same program is characterized by its unwavering commitment to a rigorous and scientific methodology based on direct research conducted through opinion polls administered directly to travelers at the airport, capturing their satisfaction levels on the same day of travel. 

ASQ surveys cover more than 30 performance indicators across key elements of the passenger airport experience, giving the most complete picture of the passenger experience journey. 

This methodology is known for its robustness, allowing for meaningful statistical inference and providing unparalleled insights into the passenger experience. 

More on Visions:

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The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has announced new changes to the Employment Law that mandate contributions to a savings scheme for Gulf nationals employed at the financial hub.

These changes have been made after a period of public consultation in 2023. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has promulgated these updates to ensure that the DIFC’s laws meet global best practices.

Under these changes, DIFC companies are required to make top-up payments into a Qualifying Scheme, which includes the DIFC Employee Workplace Savings plan (DEWS) for employed GCC nationals. Additionally, companies have to make contributions to the workers’ General Pension and Social Security Authority (GPSSA).

These top-up payments are required if the amount of GPSSA contributions made by employees is less than the monthly end-of-service contributions under the Employment Law that they would have received if they were not GCC nationals.

This ensures that GCC nationals in DIFC are not disadvantaged and receive benefits similar to other employees.

Other changes have been made to ensure that Qualifying Schemes do not receive contributions from companies or workers subject to sanctions. The DIFC has also updated Trust Law, Foundations Law and Operating Law to comply with the latest regulations.

The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is a special economic zone in Dubai that was established in 2004 as a financial hub for companies operating in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) markets. The zone spans 110 hectares, or 272 acres.

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The Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) has released its aviation statistics for February 2024, which show a significant increase in the number of aircraft movements and passengers.

According to the preliminary air transport data for the month, there was a 30.1 percent increase in aircraft movement compared to February 2023.

The total number of aircraft movements registered in February was 22,736, while the same period in 2023 saw a total of 17,479 flight movements.

The number of passengers also witnessed a huge surge during the month, with a 34.9 percent increase compared to February 2023.

QCAA reported that the country recorded over 4 million passengers in February, with over 3 million arrivals.

In addition, air cargo and mail showed an increase of 15.4 percent last month compared to the same period in 2023.

The air cargo and mail carried 198,639 tonnes during February 2024, as compared to 172,085 tonnes in February 2023.

The data also showed an increase of 23.8 percent in aircraft movements during January 2024 compared to the same period last year.

The region registered 23,994 flight movements in January 2024, while the same period in the previous year saw 19,377 aircraft movements.

Passengers travelling through Qatar’s Hamad International Airport also significantly increased during the month by over 27 percent compared to January 2023.

The month registered 4.5 million passengers, while last year’s data showed a total number of 3.5 million individuals arriving in Qatar.

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The Majid Al Futtaim (MAF) Group, a shopping malls and retail organization in the UAE, reported a marginal increase in its net profit to AED2.7 billion ($735 million) in 2023, up from AED2.4 billion in 2022.

The group’s revenue was impacted by a decline in the retail business due to geopolitical headwinds.

However, the group recorded a consolidated revenue increase of 1% to AED34.5 billion, with its Lifestyle vertical contributing to the growth by crossing AED1 billion for the first time.

MAF Group’s EBITDA increased by 12% to AED4.6 billion, and total assets increased to AED69.7 billion, up from AED66.1 billion in 2022.

MAF Properties was one of the key performers for the company, with revenue growing by 20% year-on-year to AED6.9 billion and EBITDA increasing by 21% to AED3.6 billion.

The growth was attributed to increased footfall and higher occupancy rates, along with growth in its Tilal Al Ghaf development.

The group’s shopping malls business witnessed tenant sales of AED30 billion, an increase in overall occupancy to 96%, and an 8% rise in footfall, to 232 million visitors.

Revenue for its entertainment vertical grew by 7% to AED1.8 billion, with the group stating that the cinemas business was recovering from delays and adjustments to its content pipeline.

This reflected positively on EBITDA, which increased by 53% to AED193 million in 2023.

The group’s retail arm, on the other hand, saw revenues decline by 4% on a restated basis to AED24.7 billion, primarily due to currency devaluations in Egypt, Pakistan, Kenya, and Lebanon.

EBITDA for the retail vertical also declined by 15% to AED1.1 billion year on year. However, at a constant currency rate, MAF added that its revenue grew by 4%, and EBITDA fell 4%.

The group’s retail digital business saw “significant growth,” with revenue increasing 17% to AED2.6 billion, contributing nearly 10% of MAF Retail’s revenues in 2023.

The group said its net debt increased to AED15 billion, primarily due to investments in working capital.

Additionally, MAF retained its “BBB” credit rating with a stable outlook from Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings.

Commenting on the 2024 outlook, Ahmed Galal Ismail, Chief Executive Officer, Majid Al Futtaim, said, “While we are not immune to the impact of the regional macroeconomic challenges, including currency devaluation in Egypt, Lebanon, Pakistan, and Kenya, and the deeply concerning geopolitical events that are shaping market dynamics and consumer behaviors, we are confident in our ability to navigate the path ahead while delivering value to our stakeholders in 2024 and beyond.”

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Dubai has been recognized as one of the best cities in the world for work and being livable.

According to the latest Global Expat Index, Dubai has secured the 9th spot with a score of 6.80, surpassing other popular destinations such as Toronto, Sydney, and Lisbon.

Additionally, the emirate has been ranked as the third most preferred city in Asia for expats, with a score of 6.81, while Abu Dhabi has landed on the 8th spot with a score of 6.09.

As per the report by Preply, an online language learning marketplace, Dubai is known for its luxurious lifestyle, however, its cost of living is relatively high, standing at $3,787 per month.

Nevertheless, the average tax-free salary in Dubai is the second highest among all Asian cities, with a figure of $3,894.

Moreover, the UAE’s favorable tax laws, which include no income tax, can benefit those earning more than $64,000 annually.

Dubai has also scored high on the safety index, with a score of 83.40, making it the third-safest city in the ranking.

Meanwhile, the average cost of living in Abu Dhabi, Dubai’s neighboring emirate, was $3,501, with the tax-free salary averaging $3,597.

Abu Dhabi has also been ranked as the safest livable city in Asia, with a score of 86.71.

Other top expat cities

Tallinn, Estonia topped the list with the highest overall expat score of 7.35 out of 10, making it the best city for work and living.

Estonia’s capital city also scored a high safety index of 77 out of 100, placing it among the top 10 safest cities for expats. Bern, Switzerland ranked second with a score of 7.32, followed by Singapore and Basel, Switzerland, jointly occupying the third spot with a score of 7.08.

Toronto and Sydney jointly ranked 11th on the list with a score of 6.76, while Lisbon was at 16 with a score of 6.54

On the Asia index, Singapore took first place as the ideal city for expats looking for the best-suited areas to move to in 2024, with a score of 7.20.

The top three positions were rounded off by Bangkok in second place with a score of 6.96, followed by Dubai at 6.81.

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According to the state-owned Saudi Press Agency, the international technology conference LEAP 24 has attracted investment deals worth $888 million. 

The investments include funds for venture capital and start-ups and are intended to support innovation and tech entrepreneurship in the region.  

Investcorp launched a $500 million fund to target Saudi businesses in their growth stages. 

 The National Development Fund and the Social Development Bank established the $40 million Gaming and Esports Investment Fund, managed by Impact46. 

Merak Capital also established an $80 million fund to back game accelerators in the kingdom.  

Furthermore, another fund worth $50 million was launched by Takamol Holdings to support early-stage firms, while Plug and Play and X by Unifonic announced two more funds to support technology start-ups and business software services for young businesses.  

In addition, Saudi-based start-ups raised a total investment of $53.4 million. Among them, BRKZ, an international information technology firm secured $8 million in a Series A round. 

 FanZ, an AI-enabled sport tech secured $1.5 million in pre-seed funding, and Lawazem, an online B2B supplies player secured $8 million, among many others. 

About LEAP 2024: 

LEAP 2024 was a highly successful technological conference that attracted 50,000 guests from outside the Kingdom.  

Al-Khamisi proudly declared it as the most attended conference of its kind in the world, with a total of 215,000 visitors. 

This contributed to a surge in hotel occupancy rates in Riyadh, which reached 99 percent during the conference. Furthermore, many new projects were announced at the event. 

investments totaling $13.4 billion, showcasing the Kingdom’s growing economy in the global tech landscape. 

 Read More about LEAP 2024

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The Trump Villas at AIDA will be situated within the Trump International Golf Club, offering residents an elite membership to the club and sea views from an elevation of over 130 meters.

The project will provide a range of world-class amenities, including a clubhouse, expansive parks, and recreational spaces.

Property owners will receive a Trump-branded golf cart.

This development in Oman is not the only one bearing the Trump name in the Gulf; he has also put his name on a gated community in DAMAC Hills in Dubai through a deal with Emirati billionaire Hussain Sajwani.

AIDA is a development located in Muscat, near five UNESCO world heritage destinations, and surrounded by sharp cliffs, curvaceous valleys, hilltops, and the Arabian Gulf.

The site will also host five-star hotels, including Ritz Carlton, Jumeirah Hotels, and Shangri-La. Dar Global has recently listed on the main market of the London Stock Exchange.

Donald Trump’s presence in the Gulf:

Former US President Donald Trump has previously invested in real estate projects in the Gulf, particularly in Dubai, through a partnership with Damac Group in 2015.

Trump’s business presence in the oil-rich Gulf region has now expanded with a new project in Oman, despite ongoing scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest.

Challenges within MENA for Donald Trump:

There have been accusations of conflicts of interest regarding Trump’s involvement in real estate developments across the Gulf, particularly due to his close relationships with countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE during his presidency according to OmanMoments.

Despite his promise not to initiate new foreign deals during his time in office, his businesses continued to benefit from pre-existing agreements in nations such as Turkey, the Philippines, and India.

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The opening day featured presentations from tech giants such as HTC, Accenture, and Microsoft. Dr Yaser Al-Onaizan, CEO of SDAIA, inaugurated the event by introducing the day’s theme as “The Dawn of AI” in front of a diverse audience of international thought leaders, practitioners, policymakers, and academics from different fields.

Al-Onaizan revealed that this week’s participants include people from big companies such as Google, Meta, and Huawei, as well as entrepreneurs and smaller companies, and people working in AI from some of the world’s leading universities, such as Stanford and Berkeley.

The opening ceremony also marked the public debut of Mohammad the Humanoid Robot, QSS Systems’ latest Saudi-made bilingual robot, and the male counterpart of SARA, the first humanoid robot built in the Kingdom. Mohammad addressed the audience in flawless Arabic while gesticulating with his hands, introducing himself as the first Saudi robot in the form of a man.

He explained that he was developed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a national project to showcase the country’s achievements in the field of artificial intelligence and inspire a new generation of AI enthusiasts.

On the DeepMedia Stage, Waseem Sayegh, Head of Live Ops at TikTok METAP, delivered a keynote address about the evolution of media from the first public television demonstration in 1927 to the present-day internet age. He highlighted the power of online creation and how TikTok users can showcase Saudi culture to the world, build partnerships, relationships, and careers.

He also mentioned the recent tribute to Saudi Arabia launched on TikTok, which celebrated Foundation Day and broadcasted Saudi culture to billions of people worldwide through thousands of hours of content created by thousands of creators.

Sayegh then provided examples of regional creators who have used TikTok accounts to develop their careers, from a Saudi cooking influencer who renowned chef Jamie Oliver invited to review his restaurant, to a UAE-based fashion influencer who has launched her own clothing label and is in the process of creating her first makeup At the DeepFest Main Stage, Omar Hatamleh, the award-winning Chief Advisor of AI and Innovation at NASA, delivered a 20-minute presentation that covered various topics.

He spoke about racial and gender bias in AI, 3D printing of biological organs based on genetics, collective learning in the automobile industry, and the economic impact of longevity. He also highlighted the potential negative impact on humans’ cognitive skills through increased use of AI.

Hatamleh, who holds four engineering degrees and speaks four languages, showed a short video of two men attacking a mechanical robot and asked the audience if they felt empathy for the faceless, metal robot. Only a few hands went up.

He then posed a philosophical question, “What if this robot looked like a human, understood you, and was able to empathize with you on a deeper level than anybody else in the world?” Hatamleh has received multiple awards and recognitions from NASA, including the Silver Achievement Medal, the NASA Innovation Award, and the Superior Achievement Award.

In his closing comments, Hatamleh urged strategists to see things from different perspectives. He compared it to how astronauts look at the globe from space and see an incredibly beautiful planet without borders or countries. He then comes back to Earth with a transformed mind.

Gary Sorrentino, the Global CIO at Zoom Inc., shared his perspective on the new economy of ‘New Collar Workers’ who are becoming a challenge for employers today. These workers have proved they can do high-level work as well as showing they do not need to do it in an office.

Sorrentino urged corporate leaders to learn from past technological advancements. He emphasized that when it comes to AI, you can’t just turn it on. Instead, you need to figure out how to operationalize it and teach employees how to use it.

He used spreadsheets as an example, stating that even though the most famous spreadsheet software was created 30 years ago, we still only use two percent of it.

DeepFest, which runs from March 4-7 at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Centre in Malham, continues Tuesday with presentations from Google, Meta, the US Chamber of Commerce, Noon, and many others. The event also includes live demos, training sessions, and start-up pitches.hes.

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Ookla Global Index updated their rankings for the Global Index which highlights the existence of 5 cities in the Middle East taking up the top 5 spots which is seeing an upward trend of MENA influx over the years.

The majority of those cities are in both Qatar and the UAE, with other countries not falling too far behind like Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

Middle Eastern countries ranked in the global top 10:

1. UAE: Ranked 1^st globally with an average speed of 302.38 Mbps.
2. Qatar: Ranked 2^nd globally with an average speed of 285.84 Mbps.
3. Kuwait: Ranked 3^rd globally with an average speed of 196.94 Mbps.
4. Bahrain: Ranked 9^th globally with an average speed of 128.74 Mbps.

Cities ranked in the global top 10:

1. Ar-Rayyan: Ranked 1^st globally with an average speed of 346.45 Mbps, an increase of 2 spots taking the spot that Dubai held.
2. Abu Dhabi: Ranked 2^nd globally with an average speed of 336.22 Mbps.
3. Dubai: Ranked 3^rd globally with an average speed of 334.63 Mbps, dropping down 2 spots from the previous rankings.
4. Doha: Ranked 4^th globally with an average speed of 303.28 Mbps.
5. Riyadh: Ranked 5^th globally with an average speed of 261.43 Mbps.
6. Kuwait City: Ranked 10^th globally with an average speed of 228.12 Mbps.

The UAE was also the fastest 5G market globally in Q2 2023 according to Ookla intelligence data with the biggest network companies in the country providing median download speeds of 556.63-680.73 Mbps globally.

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