OPEC daily basket price stands at $71.27 a barrel Wednesday

VIENNA, The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at US$71.27 a barrel on Wednesday, 1st September, compared with US$71.43 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

Source: Emirates News Agency

DFM’s trade count jumps 161% as minimum trading commission waiver implemented

DUBAI, The Dubai Financial Market (DFM) trade count today witnessed an increase of 161 percent on the first day of implementation of the minimum trading commission cancellation. Total number of trade count on today’s trading session reached to 6739 transactions, the highest level of daily trade count since the beginning of this year, compared to 2579 transactions on Tuesday.

Trade count of today’s session has also jumped 146 percent compared to its 2740 average year to date.

Additionally, the DFM General Index gained 13.6 points (0.50 percent) during today’s session taking its 2021 gains to 17 percent.

The DFM decision to waive minimum trading commission is part of its numerous initiatives aimed at promoting retail investors’ participation in the market and enabling them to avail its lucrative investment opportunities that include a diversified range of asset classes and financial products.

The immediate jump in trade count underlines that investors targeted by this initiative recognize its importance in reducing the transaction cost and consequently maximizes the potential returns.

Source: Emirates News Agency

RTA contracts with Dubai SMEs reached AED101 million in 2020

DUBAI, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) revealed that its contracts with Dubai SMEs in 2020 amounted to AED101 million, and AED334 million in total in the last three years.

The RTA reiterated its support to national enterprises affiliated with Dubai SMEs. Such support is reflected in the Government Procurement Programme, and concessions granted in contractual procedures of several projects and services required by the RTA.

“The RTA is one of the leading government entities in supporting the business of national enterprises affiliated to Dubai SMEs since 2014. Once again, it was the top supporter of Dubai SMEs through the Government Procurement Programme. It has now maintained this position for the third time running (2018-2020),” said Saeed Al Marri, Director of Contracts and Procurement, Corporate Administrative Support Services Sector, RTA.

“The RTA’s contracts with Dubai SMEs amounted to AED119 million in 2018, AED114 million in 2019, and AED101 million in 2020, which means contracts worth AED334 million in total. It also celebrated Dubai SMEs as part of an annual event to felicitate three categories of entities engaged with the RTA namely outsourcing firms, vendors and investors,” Al Marri added.

Commenting on the activities and initiatives in support of Dubai SMEs in the first half of this year, Al Marri reported that the authority granted concessions to Dubai SMEs and used to invite them for the release of several tenders. Three contracts and 34 purchase orders had been assigned to those enterprises.

“The RTA charted out a plan involving seven initiatives comprising seven aspects in support of Dubai SMEs. Namely, it formed an internal team to support Dubai SMEs, exempted all affiliated enterprises from the initial guarantees of contracts and services worth less than AED500,000 while keeping final guarantees, and designated projects to SMEs in a way that the list of invitees would be restricted exclusively to them. The RTA also waived 50 percent of bidding fees for Dubai SMEs and set up a dedicated communication channel (SME.Procurement@rta.ae) to lend support to them in screening their needs and extending all possible facilities to them,” he stated.

“The RTA recognised the best agency or sector in supporting Dubai SMEs during the annual vendor felicitation event. It also launched an initiative to honour companies, such as subcontractors, that conducted the highest number of transactions with Dubai SMEs, during the annual event for honouring the best vendors,” he further added.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DFM cancels minimum trading commission from 1st of September 2021

DUBAI, Dubai Financial Market (DFM) today announced that the minimum trading commission will be waived as of 1st of September 2021, as part of its numerous initiatives aimed at promoting retail investors’ participation in the market and enabling them to avail its lucrative investment opportunities that include a diversified range of asset classes and financial products.

Hassan Al Serkal, CEO of the DFM said: “Waiving the minimum trading commission represents a significant development for retail investors in particular, as it will directly reduce the transaction cost and consequently maximises the potential return, hence encouraging them to further trade on the market. The larger number of transactions will ultimately benefit various stakeholders including investors, brokerage houses, etc.

Source: Emirates News Agency

OPEC daily basket price stands at $71.88 a barrel Monday

VIENNA, The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at US$71.88 a barrel on Monday, 30th August, compared with US$71.48 the previous Friday, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

Source: Emirates News Agency

DEWA installs 15 EV Green Charger stations at Expo 2020 Dubai

DUBAI, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has installed 15 electric vehicle (EV) Green Charger stations at Expo 2020 Dubai’s pavilions: Opportunity; Sustainability and Mobility.

The Green Chargers will serve the electric vehicles visitors to the Expo. DEWA has installed five Green Chargers at each pavilion, enough to charge 30 electric vehicles simultaneously, in addition to two stations currently being built at the Expo office.

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, said that installing 17 Green Charger stations at Expo 2020 Dubai is part of DEWA’s efforts to support the vision of the wise leadership to host the best edition of the Expo in Dubai. This also supports the Smart Dubai initiative launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make Dubai the smartest and happiest city in the world.

“As the Official Sustainable Energy Partner of Expo 2020 Dubai, DEWA has allocated AED 4.26 billion to support infrastructure projects for electricity and water networks at the exhibition, using the latest smart systems. It will also supply Expo 2020 Dubai with clean energy from the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest single-site solar park in the world,” added Al Tayer.

DEWA has installed over 300 Green Chargers across Dubai. It provides a free charging service at public charging stations for non-commercial EV owners registered in the Green Charger service until 31 December 2021.

Source: Emirates News Agency