July 22, 2018:   Rents and sales fell for Sharjah apartments from H2 2017 to H1 2018 accordingly to a recently published report of Bayut.com, the leading property portal in the UAE.   Rental highlights:  Rents fell for both villas and apartments. The largest decreases were in Al Nahda, where the average 1-bedroom apartment price fell by 16.2%.   Sales highlights: The steepest price falls were seen for Al Nahda, where the average for a 2-bedroom apartment fell by 14.3%.   There was good news for both buyers and renters in Sharjah as prices fell in most areas from H2 2017 to H1 2018 according to Bayut.com.   However, changes to property laws in Sharjah announced in April, which allow non-residents to own property in the emirate – may see increased interest ......read more

he property is fully equipped to provide unrivalled quality of service and comfort to the pilgrims Makkah, KSA, (July 19, 2018):   Makkah Millennium Hotel & Towers, the luxury hotel serving pilgrims coming to Makkah and located directly over the Holy Haram opposite to King Fahd Gate, is ready to welcome more than 15,000 pilgrims coming from across the globe mostly from the GCC, Turkey, Egypt, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Australia, France, the United States and the United Kingdom, and East Asia during Hajj season 2018 – 1439. The property with an inventory of 1,614 rooms and suites is fully equipped to provide unrivalled quality of service and comfort for the Hajj pilgrims as the Hotel is connected to a commercial complex with more than 450 shops, restaurants and four ......read more

Continued government focus on increasing home ownership in the capital through new affordable supply and more public-private partnership (PPP) agreements   Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – 18 July 2018:  Although market conditions in Riyadh remain relatively unchanged this quarter, the governments’ continued focus on providing more affordable housing to drive home ownership amongst Saudi nationals will in turn boost the capital’s overall real estate sector, says JLL’s latest report. In line with the National Transformation Program 2020, the Ministry of Housing aims to increase home ownership for nationals from 47% to 52% through boosting affordable residential supply. A continued focus on this sector of the market was evident this quarter with the Ministry announcing eight new PPP agreements ......read more

July 11, 2018 - ‘Elaf Grand Al Majeedi,’ part of the Elaf Group, a SEDCO Holding Group company and a leading provider of travel, tourism and hospitality services in the region, is one of the best luxury hotels in Al Madina, due to its strategic location opposite to Bab Al Majidi, and the entrance gate for women that offers a unique view of the northern square of the Prophet's Mosque. The hotel, located 20 minutes from Prince Muhammad Bin Abdulaziz Airport, is surrounded by shopping malls and shops in the central region. ‘Elaf Grand Al Majeedi’ is the first hotel in the Kingdom to be branded as "Elaf Grand". Elaf Group launched the new brand after completing a comprehensive renovation of the property, which transformed it from a collection of apartments to one of the best hotels in Al Madina, in ......read more

Saudi Arabia, July 08, 2018:  Tory Burch announces the opening of a new boutique at the Riyadh Park Mall in Riyadh on June 26th. It follows the recent opening of an accessories-only concept at Kingdom Mall in Riyadh. The two stores further extend the brand’s footprint in Saudi Arabia — complementing its boutiques in Jeddah and Al Khobar.   The façade of the store at Riyadh Park Mall is distinguished by green awnings and orange lacquer doors, signature Tory Burch design details. In keeping with all Tory Burch stores, the interior has been designed to create a residential feel. Travertine floors in a basketweave pattern, oak panelling, cane tables and brass fretwork étagères offer a neutral backdrop for a sophisticated mix of furnishings, including a leopard rug, and banquettes covered in an exquisite floral ......read more

Joint venture between UL and GCC Lab Company based in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, gets recognition for its alignment with the KSA Vision 2030 UL Middle East received the award at an event held during the Saudi state visit by HRH Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman to the U.S Dubai, UAE, June 19, 2018:   Gulf Renewables Lab, a UL-GCC joint venture based in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, has received a special award for its innovative and forward-thinking initiatives.    Created with the aim of strengthening the Middle East’s Renewable Energy Infrastructure, the joint venture was commended due to its direct alignment to the Saudi Vision 2030 strategy to diversify its economy and ensure sustainability.    Global safety science organization, UL, is headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois, U.S.. Its ......read more

Saudi Arabia, 10 June 2018:   Alstom has, for the past few weeks, been conducting initial dynamic tests for the Riyadh Metro Project at the FAST consortium Line 4 Depot Test Track in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Riyadh Metro Project, owned by Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA), consists of 6 lines totalling 176 km and 85 metro stations.    The test campaign includes the demonstration of the performance of the railway system, from power supply to signalling systems, using the trains which have already been delivered.    Alstom, as part of FAST consortium is supplying a fully integrated metro system for lines 4, 5 and 6, which includes: 69 Metropolis-based Riyadh Metro trains, Urbalis signalling system, Hesop energy recovery station as well as tracks. The Metropolis-based train for Riyadh is ......read more

As a Continuation of a Series of Charity Activities Riyadh, 10 May 2018 – Burj Rafal Hotel Kempinski organized an open day to donate blood on May 9th, which took place in front of the Ballroom of the hotel in the presence of media, community influencers, and prominent philanthropists. The hotel's management is always keen on continuing its support to humanitarian services and is fully committed to social responsibility.  The blood donation campaign, organized in collaboration with the Military Hospital in Riyadh, successfully raised awareness about the importance of blood donation and showcased the role of this process in encouraging the spirit of cooperation amongst all members of society. Ghada Al-Rasheed, Human Resources Manager at the Burj Rafal Hotel Kempinski said, "This is one of the most important ......read more

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 18 2018:   Abu Dhabi Ship Building Company (ADSB), a leading provider of construction, repair and refit services for naval, military and commercial vessels, has launched two 64-meter landing ships for the Kuwait Naval Force as part of a contract to build eight naval ships to support Kuwait’s military capabilities.  The ships were launched during a ceremony held at the headquarters of the Kuwaiti Naval Force in the presence of Lieutenant General Mohammad Al-Khodr, Chief of the General Staff at Kuwait Armed Forces; Lieutenant General Sheikh Abdullah Al-Nawaf Al-Sabah, Deputy Chief of Staff; Major-General Khaled Al-Kandari, Commander of the Kuwait Navy; Brigadier Fayez Al Muhairi, Commander of Floating Units at the UAE Armed Forces, and Dr. Khaled Al Mazrouei, Chief Executive Officer of ......read more

Dubai, UAE, April 11, 2018:  Many people know that their mental and emotional wellbeing is as important as – and can actually affect – good physical health. In our busy, modern lives we can often feel removed from nature and even ourselves. So HJÄRTELIG collection invites us to press the “pause” button, if only for a little while, on a daily life that’s often hectic, complicated and online. Whether to practice some yoga, to tend to a plant or simply to relax amongst beautiful, natural materials, HJÄRTELIG collection is about the moments to re-focus and to revitalise ourselves. Designed with a delicate touch, these home furnishing products have a light and peaceful feeling, yet are useful and durable for everyday life at home.  THE DESIGNERS  “With the ......read more

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 11th April 2018:   The sixth edition of The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia and second annual Stone & Surface Saudi Arabia were opened Tuesday (10th April 2018) by His Excellency Faisal Alfadl, Secretary General of the King Saud Foundation and Founder of the Saudi Green Building Forum. AlFadl also hosted a full-day ‘Green Building Workshop’ during the first day of the events at the conference at Stone & Surface Saudi Arabia, detailing Saudi’s position as a world leader in sustainable construction, with an “intelligent cities” green built environment on its horizon. Thousands of hospitality and construction industry professionals are anticipated to descend on Jeddah for the major trade events running together at the Jeddah Centre for Forums and Events for three days, ......read more

Robinsons’ John Lewis celebrates its first anniversary in Dubai with spectacular events Dubai, UAE, April 7, 2018:  The high-end brand “John Lewis” got into the festive mood on March 29th celebrating its first anniversary in Dubai. The iconic store celebrated a morning of entertaining activities, which were initiated with an introduction speech by the General Manager Mr. Adosh Sharma from 11:00 to 11:30 am. The real party mood started at 11:30 with revealing the birthday cake along with a delightful English brunch. The diverse activities comprised of three workshops that ranged from an etiquette session to a baking class. The guests engaged in learning all the secrets of baking delicious cupcakes with our "Master of Cupcake" baking class. Those who were curious to find out more about table manners ......read more

With a total of four mobile showrooms, GROHE has been on the road in Europe and the Middle East since March 2017 So far, the XXL trucks have covered approximately 150.000 kilometres in 33 countries Dubai, United Arab Emirates - 4 April 2018:  GROHE, the world's leading manufacturer of sanitary fittings, welcomed the 100,000th visitor to its innovation tour through Europe and the Middle East. GROHE employees congratulated Muneem Al Fashtaki in front of the GROHE XXL truck in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The sales manager of Al Falaj Trading Est., a medium-sized distributor of the region, visited the mobile showroom in order to find out about the latest GROHE innovations.   Representing all visitors to the GROHE trucks, he received a small gift of a GROHE Power & Soul shower set that allows switching between ......read more

Saudi Arabia, March 27, 2018:  The Middle East Facility Management Association (MEFMA), a non-profit professional organization, successfully threw the spotlight on the significant role that Facilities Management (FM) plays in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's (KSA) rapidly thriving freehold property segment, in a specially hosted workshop and networking event that was held last March 26, 2018 at the Sofitel Hotel in Jeddah Corniche. The exciting one-day event was sponsored by MEFMA Corporate Members Al Mahmal Facilities Services Company.  The event featured a panel discussion covering the topic, 'The strategic role of FM in the KSA Freehold Property Sector,' which featured the participation of industry experts Mohammad Al Duraibi, Member of the Board of Directors, MEFMA; Hazim Al-Dabbagh, Managing Partner, SureFix ......read more

The Third Edition of the Sale to run from March 28th to March 31st with up to 70% off 27 March 2018, Dubai, U.A.E:   SOUQ.com has announced the third edition of ‘Everything For You Sale’ giving customers a chance to shop for what they want at great prices, with up to 70% off from Wednesday, March 28 to Saturday, March 31. The third edition of SOUQ’s biggest sale of the season will give customers the opportunity to search for what they want, with great savings on thousands of products. For customers, looking for a personal makeover, revamping their home, stocking up on kitchen supplies or craving to get their hands on the latest gadgets, you can find a vast selection on SOUQ’s ‘Everything For You Sale’:  This year, customers can shop an even greater selection, as ‘Everything ......read more

Dubai, UAE 21st March 2018:  With almost 5,000 projects in the pipeline, Saudi Arabia is fast becoming one of the world’s busiest markets for construction – led by urban development and a growing transport network.  A new ‘Saudi Arabia Construction Overview’ report by market analysts BNC Network – prepared ahead of Stone & Surface Saudi 2018 taking place in Jeddah next month (10-12th April 2018) – has priced the 4,778 projects in various stages of development across the Kingdom at US $839.1 billion. In line with Saudi Vision 2030, the Kingdom is taking significant measures to improve its infrastructure to further its position as a destination for business and leisure tourism, enhance its religious tourism sector, and cater to the needs of its growing population.  “A ......read more

MEPCO is recognized for its employment environment in the manufacturing sector Industry-leading Saudization with KSA nationals comprising almost half of MEPCO’s employees Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 14 March 2018:  The leading regional vertically integrated paper manufacturer, the Middle East Paper Co. (‘MEPCO’), has been recognised by Great Place to Work in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The organisation’s research and management consulting firm assess award applicants from over 100 companies on a variety of parameters before choosing the company most deserving of the title in each market. The award scores are determined through an employee survey that measures company performance across key indicators including: credibility of management, respect, fairness, pride, and ......read more

Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, March 08, 2018:  Panasonic Homes & Living, in collaboration with its KSA channel partner Al Manara Electric Trading, is showcasing its latest innovations for the Electrical Construction Material space at The Big 5 Saudi happening until today at the Jeddah Centre for Forums & Events.  The event is being held at a crucial time when the Saudi Arabia construction market is showing signs of renewed optimism after a slowdown due to low oil prices and fiscal spending cuts.  According to the latest BNC Project Intelligence report, Saudi Arabia has over 4,700 active construction projects with a combined estimated value of US$ 852.3 billion. The urban construction sector has over 3,300 projects representing approximately 70% of all construction activities in the Kingdom, driven by the ......read more

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 27 February, 2018:  Dur Hospitality, the Saudi grown hospitality company, and IHG®  (InterContinental Hotels Group), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, have recently announced the signing of a franchise agreement for Crowne Plaza®  Riyadh Palace, under the master franchise agreement signed in 2014 for 4 hotels. Currently operating as Riyadh Palace Hotel, the property is expected to be rebranded to Crowne Plaza by June 2018.  Remarking on this, Mr Ahdab, President of Hotel Operations Dur Hospitality said, “We are delighted to partner with IHG® yet again, for their world class brand – Crowne Plaza®, making this our second hotel with them, following the opening of Holiday Inn, Tabuk. Riyadh is home to more than 6 million people and has solidified itself ......read more

Saudi, – February 20, 2018:   JLL, the world’s leading real estate investment and advisory firm, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jeddah International College to support growing efforts to ensure a transparent real estate market in Saudi Arabia.  As part of the MoU, JLL will collaborate with key stakeholders in Jeddah International College to collect, consolidate and share accurate data. Furthermore, the partnership will introduce innovative initiatives through informative seminars, lectures, forums, conferences and launch internship programs at JLL for college students and graduates to learn data transparency from experts in the field.   The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has made a number of developments in recent years towards a more transparent real estate market with a focus on ......read more

The UAE’s largest department store bursts onto the top ten list of the World Retail Awards   Dubai — February 14, 2018 —   Robinsons, the largest department store in the UAE, has been on the finalists list for the World Retail Awards and was recognized for the 2018’s Outstanding Store Design for stores larger than 1200sqm. For the last ten years, the World Retail Awards have recognized the highest standards of excellence in store design, as well as the very best retailers and retail initiatives across a range of categories.   The Robinsons story began on 25 February 1858, when John Spicer and Philip Robinson founded Spicer and Robinson in Singapore. Since then, Robinsons’ pioneering spirit has kept them at the forefront of Asian retail. In 2008, the Al-Futtaim Retail Group ......read more

Dubai, UAE 13th February 2018:   Almost 60% of Saudi Arabia’s current construction pipeline of 143 hotels is forecast to open in 2018, according to a new report. The ‘Saudi Arabia Hotel Construction Overview’ report by TOPHOTELPROJECTS – compiled ahead of The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia (10-12th April 2018) – has revealed that 84 hotels comprising 27,281 rooms will open throughout the Kingdom this year. Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah and Al Khobar remain the busiest areas for hotel construction across the country. Each of these cities rank highly in the Middle East’s top ten most active cities for hospitality development, sitting third, fourth, sixth and tenth respectively.  Notable hotel openings set for the Kingdom in 2018 include: Hilton Riyadh Hotel & Residences; Copthorne Hotel ......read more

Find gifts for him, her, kids and even your beloved pets effortlessly on SOUQ   8th February, 2018, Dubai, United Arab Emirates:  On what’s considered as the most romantic time of the year, the love smitten couples can think of only one thing “where can I get the perfect present for the love of my life?” If you are running out of ideas and time with your busy schedules, your best solution is here at SOUQ.com, where lovers can avoid the hassle of gift hunting and buy your beloved a gift to cherish. Whether your loved one is your better half, your pet or even your kids, SOUQ has unveiled a huge assortment of gifts for all of them! From gorgeous flowers, scrumptious chocolates, cuddly soft toys and jewelry for your lady love to fashionable clothes, grooming sets and gadgets for your handsome gent to ......read more

Expansion and redevelopment of existing structures and areas set a trend amongst the top construction projects in Saudi Arabia, as reported by the BNC Network.  The Big 5 Saudi (5-8 March 2018, Jeddah Centre for forums & Events) is expected to attract 15,000 visitors and will offer 50+ CPD certified workshops. Dubai, UAE, January 31, 2018:  A significant number of expansion and redevelopment projects populate the 10 highest value construction projects in Saudi Arabia, according to the latest ‘Top Projects in Saudi Arabia’ report prepared by the BNC Network for The Big 5 Saudi. The multi-development expansion of Mecca’s Holy Haram Mosque and the redevelopment of Jeddah’s downtown are among the list, which also includes details on Riyadh’s Mall of Saudi and the country-wide King ......read more

Dubai, UAE, January 22, 2018:  Al -Jazeera Paints, giant of high quality paints manufacturing in the Kingdom, Middle East and North Africa, has launched modern water insulation techniques, such as Al- Jazeera Cool Roof and Al- Jazeera Flexi Guard. This comes at time of increasing calls for taking all actions that contribute and help to enhance sustainability in buildings and facilities to reduce the costs of periodic maintenance of water leaks and its damages, and reduce the squandering resulting from heat leakage as well. Al-Jazeera Cool Roof performs water insulation for roofs of buildings and factories, as it is water borne, flexible, environmentally responsible coating with high properties of water insulation. It contributes to reduce the absorption of heat surfaces by sun reflection technology, leading to reduce internal ......read more