Entries Tagged 'Hot Topic' ↓
by Casey McFannDecember 1st, 2008 — Hot Topic, Issue 13 December 2008
Somali pirates are hungry for more
They’ve struck again. And again. And again. In fact, in a period of two weeks last month the brazen pirates off the coast of Somalia tallied nine hijacked ships alone. They can now claim their largest take, in capturing the Saudi supertanker Sirius Star some 450 miles off the coast of Mombasa. The vessel owned by Saudi oil giant Aramco was heading for the US via the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa, instead of heading through the Gulf of Aden and the Suez Canal.
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by Robin LyndhurstNovember 1st, 2008 — Hot Topic, Issue 12 November 2008
With all the new rules and regulations doing the rounds in the UA E, heavy duty driver’s licenses and safety on the roads are turning out to be two areas of focus.
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by Robin LyndhurstOctober 1st, 2008 — Hot Topic, Issue 10 September 2008
DP World’s much publicised Jebel Ali Port is already congested. But there’s hope in the form of a second phase
Jebel Ali hasn’t had the easiest of years, with Dubai’s ongoing growth and the closure of Port Rashid causing berth congestion at DP World’s flagship port. Reports of ships being kept waiting up to 10 days just to find a slot have made it a trying period for shippers and carriers alike.
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by Robin LyndhurstSeptember 1st, 2008 — Hot Topic, Issue 10 September 2008
With shorter work hours and regular deadlines, how does anything get done during the Holy Month?
Meeting Ramadan deadlines is challenging for all Middle Eastern companies, given the shorter working hours and allowances for Muslim staff who are fasting and praying. But for logistics companies, the Holy month can present additional challenges, since global trade never stops and the industry, in any given month, ticks to a 24-hour beat.
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by Robin LyndhurstJuly 1st, 2008 — Hot Topic, Issue 9 July/Aug 2008
As if soaring inflation was not enough, the VAT is coming soon. Contrary to popular belief, experts say it could be a blessing in disguise
The UAE is set to be the first GCC country to introduce value added tax (VAT) on consumer goods and services in early 2009, paving the way for the tax to be pan-regional within five years – Oman and Syria are also proposing to introduce it next year. VAT will likely be set at between three to five per cent in the UAE, replacing the five per cent customs duty.
Small businesses with revenues under US$1 million will be exempt from the tax, according to a statement by Dubai Customs, and companies within the health and education sectors could also be exempt – but it is unlikely those in the logistics sector will escape.
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