Dubai companies are hiring again after COVID-19 unemployment hit

The seasonally adjusted index covers non-oil sectors, including travel and tourism, wholesale and retail, as well as construction. (Shutterstock)
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Updated 09 August 2021
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Dubai companies are hiring again after COVID-19 unemployment hit

  • IHS Markit Dubai PMI rises to 53.2 in July from 51 in June
  • Job creation rises to 20-month high

DUBAI: Job creation in Dubai’s non-oil economy rose to a 20-month high in July as businesses gradually recover from the impact of COVID-19, according to the latest IHS Markit Dubai Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) report.

The composite index rose from 51 in June to 53.2 in July, the second highest reading since November 2019, as increased consumer spending pushed businesses to hire more employees to match rising demand.

The seasonally adjusted index covers non-oil sectors, including travel and tourism, wholesale and retail, as well as construction.

Data showed travel and tourism firms recording the most improvement in output growth since June.

“Growth in the Dubai non-oil economy re-accelerated in July, helped by a rise in customer numbers that boosted sales in the travel and tourism, and wholesale and retail sectors,” said David Owen, an economist at IHS Markit.

“This was also a key driver of employment as firms frequently mentioned hiring sales staff, leading to the fastest rate of job creation since November 2019,” he said.


Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in red at 11,167  

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Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in red at 11,167  

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index dipped on Wednesday, losing 46.43 points, or 0.41 percent, to close at 11,167.54. 

The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR4.88 billion ($1.30 billion), as 66 of the listed stocks advanced, while 192 retreated. 

The MSCI Tadawul Index decreased, down 5.52 points, or 0.37 percent, to close at 1,506.55. 

The Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu lost 153.40 points, or 0.65 percent, to close at 23,486.52. This comes as 32 of the listed stocks advanced, while 31 retreated. 

The best-performing stock was Tourism Enterprise Co., with its share price surging 9.95 percent to SR14.36. 

Other top performers included Mobile Telecommunication Co., Saudi Arabia, which saw its share price rise by 5.32 percent to SR11.48, and Al Masar Al Shamil Education Co., which saw a 4.86 percent increase to SR22.89. 

On the downside, Almoosa Health Co. was the day’s weakest performer, with its share price falling 4.81 percent to SR150.40. 

Dallah Healthcare Co. fell 3.81 percent to SR113.50, while Saudi Research and Media Group dropped 3.44 percent to SR100.90. 

On the corporate front, Arabian Plastic Industrial Co. has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with K. K. Nag to explore the establishment of a specialized manufacturing facility for expanded polypropylene products. 

According to a Tadawul statement, the agreement sets out initial mutual obligations and rights between the two parties as part of APICO’s broader expansion strategy to increase production capacity and meet rising industrial demand. 

The company’s share price rose 1.21 percent to SR43.52 on the parallel market.