by WorldTribune Staff, January 2, 2018 Seeking to increase revenue amid lower oil prices, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have for the first time instituted a value added tax (VAT). The tax, a 5 percent levy applied to the majority of goods and services, kicked in on Jan. 1. Gasoline and diesel, food, […]
Special to WorldTribune.com Bahrain and Sudan on Jan. 4 followed Saudi Arabia’s lead in cutting diplomatic ties with Iran. United Arab Emirates said it would also downgrade its ties to Teheran. The escalating tensions between Saudi and Iran came after Riyadh’s execution of a Shi’ite Muslim cleric. Iranian protesters stormed the Saudi embassy in Teheran […]
Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The United States, ending its government shutdown, has resumed arms sales to the Middle East. The administration of President Barack Obama has approved billions of dollars worth of weapons and munitions to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The Defense Department notified Congress that the two Gulf Cooperation Council […]