Latest news with #GulfStates
The National
09-07-2025
- Business
- The National
What does Oman's new income tax mean for the Gulf?
The absence of income tax has helped to attract people from around the world to move to the Gulf. But one country is set to change direction. Oman recently announced it will be the first country in the region to introduce personal income tax. While some countries, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia, have other types of taxes, such as VAT, on most goods and services, Oman is making history with a levy on personal income. The tax is not set to take effect until 2028, but it has already raised questions about whether other Gulf states will follow suit. Deepthi Nair, Assistant Business Editor, discusses the subject with David Daly, a partner at the Gulf Tax Accounting Group in the UAE.
Wall Street Journal
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
The Perfect Time for Regime Change in Iran
What does President Trump actually want to do with Iran? The week that the U.S. struck the country's nuclear sites, he posted on Truth Social that 'if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn't there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!' But since then he has been pushing to end the Israel-Iran war. The instinct behind Mr. Trump's post was the right one. If unimpeded, Iran's jihadist rulers will rebuild their nuclear program. Iran's deputy foreign minister told NBC News on July 3: 'Our policy has not changed on enrichment.' To prevent Iran from achieving its ambitions, the U.S. should press its advantage and work openly with Israel and the Gulf states to undermine the regime.
Zawya
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
UN vote to phase out fossil fuels tests climate commitments
Countries are set to vote at the U.N. Human Rights Council on Tuesday on a pledge to phase out fossil fuels to fight climate change, with diplomats warning that Gulf states and others may renege on previous commitments. The vote, on a broader motion on acting against global warming, follows the council in 2021 recognising access to a clean and healthy environment as a fundamental right. But it has exposed divisions among the 47 members after the Marshall Islands, one of the most countries most vulnerable to rising sea levels, with average elevation of just 2 meters, made an amendment to the motion to mention exiting fossil fuels. With that, the vote has become a test of countries' willingness to eventually exit the oil age after states agreed to do so at the COP28 climate summit in December 2023. The council's decisions, often reached by consensus without a vote, are not legally binding but help shape global standards. It is not clear whether there will be a majority in favour of the language later on Tuesday. "It is incomprehensible that a resolution purporting to advance the protection of human rights from the effects of climate change would fail to mention the need to transition from fossil fuels ...," Doreen Debrum, ambassador of the Marshall Islands to the U.N. in Geneva, told Reuters ahead of the vote. The move is supported by Australia, Britain and Germany and a group of small island states including Samoa and Vanuatu. But oil producing countries including Saudi Arabia and voting member Kuwait voiced opposition to the phrasing in negotiations, according to three diplomats. Riyadh called instead for "multiple pathways" to reduce emissions. There was no immediate response to Reuters' requests for comment from Saudi Arabia's international media offices or the foreign ministry of Kuwait. Their diplomatic missions in Geneva did not immediately respond. Sébastien Duyck, human rights and climate campaign manager at the Center for International Environmental Law, called the vote a "litmus test for governments". The move comes as leaders on climate action, such as the European Union, face criticism from campaigners that they are scaling back policies even as they deal with the consequences of a blistering early summer heatwave. The U.S., which has withdrawn from climate action under President Donald Trump, will not participate formally in the vote since disengaging with the council this year. (Reporting by Emma Farge; Editing by Alison Williams)
Arab News
08-07-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan to participate in over 120 expos this fiscal year, prioritizing Gulf events
ISLAMABAD: The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) will participate in over 120 international exhibitions to boost exports and foreign investment as part of its business plan this fiscal year, the Pakistani commerce ministry said on Monday, with a major focus on Gulf states. Pakistan has been actively participating in international exhibitions to attract customers by showcasing products and services from its growing sectors like information technology (IT), health care, food and engineering. The country recently participated in the Arab Health, Gulfood and AI Everything exhibitions, highlighting its ambition to promote 'Made-in-Pakistan' products, forge business-to-business (B2B) partnerships, and tap into new trade opportunities. Gulf states present a key export opportunity for Pakistani businesses, given their strong consumer demand and large expatriate workforce, and Pakistani companies last year secured millions of dollars in joint ventures, investments and business collaborations during their participation in exhibitions across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Abdullah Ghauri, a section officer to the TDAP secretary, said that participants of a meeting of the TDAP board, presided over by Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, on Monday placed a special focus on ensuring Pakistan's participation in all key trade events across the Gulf countries. 'We participated in 23 exhibitions and expos last year, majority of them in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar,' he told Arab News. 'Out of a target of 120 exhibitions, the participation in last year's 23 major events across the Gulf states remains a key priority, subject to possible adjustments depending on the circumstances.' Monday's TDAP board meeting gave approvals for various strategic initiatives to enhance the country's export competitiveness and trade facilitation in the financial year 2025–26 which began on July 1, according to the commerce ministry. The annual business plan included Pakistan's participation in over 120 exhibitions, along with 'Made-in-Pakistan' exhibitions in Ethiopia, Bangladesh and other countries. Ghauri said this year's calendar would be published within a week with exact details of the events, adding that information technology (IT), agri-based products, hospitality and services, and infrastructure development would be among major areas of focus. Pakistan's IT sector is a priority area for the government to boost export revenues and stabilizing external accounts and Islamabad expects it to reach $4 billion this fiscal year under the 'Uraan Pakistan' initiative, which aims to raise IT exports to $10 billion by 2029. The TDAP board endorsed measures to promote greater participation of women entrepreneurs in international trade exhibitions, according to the commerce ministry. 'The Minister for Commerce stressed the importance of shifting Pakistan's export focus toward emerging international markets instead of relying solely on traditional destinations,' the ministry said, adding that this approach would help diversify export avenues and reduce dependency on limited regions. The commerce minister also called for the induction of dedicated researchers within TDAP to conduct sector-specific studies and provide data-driven insights to strengthen the authority's planning and policy support capabilities.
Zawya
07-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Kuwaiti, Saudi societies ink agreement to enhance AI, IoT cooperation
RIYADH -- Chairman of Kuwait Artificial Intelligence for Things (AIoT) Society, Sheikh Mohammad Al-Malek Al-Sabah, declared on Monday signing an agreement for strategic cooperation with the Saudi AI Governance Society to jointly develop technologies in the field. Sheikh Mohammad said in a statement to KUNA that the agreement partly aims at exchanging expertise, overhauling AI education and training on the Internet of Things (IoT). He expressed hope that it would contribute to developing joint protects, setting unified criteria for ethical governance of advanced technologies to enhance the Gulf States' status as leading regional hubs for technology and innovation. Dr. Dhabya Al-Bouainain, Chairperson of the Saudi association, said that the accord was worked out as part of Riyadh's approach to bolster cooperation with the regional countries to regulate and develop AI technologies. She noted necessity to establish strategic partnerships to contribute to setting up an advanced legislative-ethical environment that backs up innovation and ensures responsible and ethical usage of the emerging technologies. The society was represented at the signing ceremony by its chairperson Sheikh Mohammad, Secretary Dr. Ayed Salman, member Abdulaziz Al-Bajras, while the Saudi side was represented by the association's chair Dr. Al-Bouainain and board member Majed Al-Otaibi. Kuwait's AIoT, proclaimed in 2023, organizes seminars and conferences to promote awareness of the necessity of the AI and the IoT, encourage scientific research and cooperation with state departments to develop technologies. All KUNA right are reserved © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
