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- Senior Associate - Private Equity
Location: Dubai, UAE - Senior Human Resources Officer
Location: Dubai, UAE
Construction Week
January 2007
Arabian Banking & Finance
January 2007
CEO Middle East
January 2007
Arabian Business English
January 2007Analysis of The Month
ArabianBusiness.com opened 2007 - and January - with its front cover questioning whether the region would boom or gloom; a consensus on 'boom' can assuredly be confirmed by year-end.
In the month, we also surveyed Abu Dhabi as a Future Capital looking at how real estate developers, Aldar, plans is redefine the skyline in the Emirate. Qatar was also under focus as a rival financial centre in the Gulf to Dubai and Bahrain.
'From Thriller to Griller' ended the month with an exclusive interview with former-boxer-turned-grill-marketer George Foreman, rumbling in the jungle that is Dubai.
ArabianBusiness.com Editor-in-Chief James Bennett aired his views in January with 'Time to build on the positives'.
In a year-end wrap-up for 2006, he said the region exceeded expectations and said, it "can only get better in 2007," accurately gauging the month. Read what he believes in store for the Gulf in 2008.
In the month, we also surveyed Abu Dhabi as a Future Capital looking at how real estate developers, Aldar, plans is redefine the skyline in the Emirate. Qatar was also under focus as a rival financial centre in the Gulf to Dubai and Bahrain.
'From Thriller to Griller' ended the month with an exclusive interview with former-boxer-turned-grill-marketer George Foreman, rumbling in the jungle that is Dubai.
ArabianBusiness.com Editor-in-Chief James Bennett aired his views in January with 'Time to build on the positives'.
In a year-end wrap-up for 2006, he said the region exceeded expectations and said, it "can only get better in 2007," accurately gauging the month. Read what he believes in store for the Gulf in 2008.
January in Quotes
Boxing teaches you how to see. But if something doesn't work there's no need going out and trying to peddle it. The grill works. It sells itself.
George Foreman, boxer-turned-grill entrepreneur, tries to persuade ArabianBusiness.com to buy the grill.
Partner's Cover Stories
BlackBerry cracks the Gulf
Banking & Finance
The 'addictive' email phone, beloved of execs around the world, is finally coming here.
Timeline
2007 Jan 3
In Saudi Arabia Muslims circled the Ka'aba, Islam's holiest site, for a final time, bringing to a close what may have been the largest hajj pilgrimage ever.
2007 Jan 4
Overshadowed by an Israeli raid into the Palestinian territories, a summit between Israel and Egypt achieved little in reviving the long-stalled Mideast peace process, highlighting instead the disagreements between Israel and its Arab neighbours.
2007 Jan 4
Musir Salem Jawher (28) from Bahrain won the 30th International Tiberias Marathon, around the Sea of Galilee. The Kenyan runner (Leonard Mucheru), adopted by Bahrain 4 years earlier, faced anger from Bahrain for running in an Israeli marathon.
2007 Jan 5
A prominent Sunni Arab group charged that some officials in the Iraqi government have links with Shiite militias involved in sectarian violence and said authorities should be held responsible for any attacks by the armed groups.
2007 Jan 9
Jordanian police killed one suspected al-Qaida member and detained a second in a crackdown that foiled a terrorist plot against Jordan.
2007 Jan 9
The Bush administration barred Bank Sepah, Iran's oldest bank, from doing any future business in the US, accusing it of transferring Iranian missile payments to North Korea. Germany's Commerzbank AG said it will stop handling dollar transactions for Iran at its New York branch by Jan 31.
2007 Jan 10
In central Iran a truck smashed into a bus, killing at least 14 people.
2007 Jan 10
Lebanese trade unions threatened to escalate protests unless the government drops plans to raise taxes, adding to troubles for Lebanon's US-backed prime minister amid an opposition campaign to bring him down.
2007 Jan 14
A court convicted Sheik Talal Nasser Al Sabah, a member of Kuwait's ruling family, for drug trafficking and condemned him to death.
2007 Jan 14
In Nicaragua Iran's Pres. Ahmadinejad, touring Latin America in search of an alliance of "revolutionary countries," said the US is trying to hide its failures in Iraq by accusing his nation of funding insurgents there.
2007 Jan 16
Russia said it had delivered new anti-aircraft missile systems to Iran and would consider further requests by Tehran for defensive weapons.
2007 Jan 17
The Doomsday Clock, created in 1947 and run by the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, was nudged forward to 11:55 due to moves by Iran and North Korea. It reached 11:58 in 1953 and moved back to 11:43 in 1991.
2007 Jan 18
In Dubai a high-rise apartment building under construction caught fire, injuring up to 25 workers and trapping others in thick smoke as rescue crews scrambled to reach them.
2007 Jan 19
Jordan's King Abdullah II told an Israeli newspaper that his country wants its own nuclear program for peaceful purposes.
2007 Jan 19
Hrant Dink (53), a Turkish citizen of Armenian descent, was shot to death at the entrance to his newspaper's offices. The journalist had faced constant threats and legal proceedings as one of the most prominent voices of Turkey's shrinking Armenian community.
2007 Jan 22
In Turkey police said Yasin Hayal, a nationalist militant convicted of bombing a McDonald's restaurant in 2004, had confessed to inciting the killing of an ethnic Armenian journalist last week. Hayal said he provided a gun and money to the teenager who is suspected of carrying out the Jan 19 shooting.
2007 Jan 22
Iran barred 38 nuclear inspectors on a UN list from entering the country in what appeared to be retaliation for the UN sanctions imposed last month.
2007 Jan 22
Rosoboronexport chief Sergei Chemezov said Russia had fulfilled a contract to sell air defense missiles to Iran. This included 29 sophisticated missile systems under a $700 million contract signed in December 2005.
2007 Jan 23
Hezbollah-led protesters paralyzed Lebanon, clashing with government supporters and burning tires and cars on roads in and around the capital to enforce a general strike aimed at toppling US-backed Prime Minister Fuad Saniora. Three people were killed and more than 170 wounded.
2007 Jan 25
International donors pledged $7.6 billion in aid and loans at a conference to raise money for Lebanon's U.S.-backed prime minister and his economic reform program. The US pledged to more than triple its economic aid to $770 million including $220 million in military aid. Government and opposition supporters clashed at a Beirut university campus. At least 3 people were reported killed.
2007 Jan 26
Canada apologized to software engineer Maher Arar, who was deported to Syria by US agents after Canadian police mistakenly labeled him an Islamic extremist, and paid him C$10.5 million ($8.9 million) in compensation.
2007 Jan 26
An Iranian opposition group based in France claimed Iran has thousands of paid operatives working in neighboring Iraq.
2007 Jan 26
The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution condemning the denial of the Holocaust, with only Iran rejecting it as an attempt by the United States and Israel to exploit the atrocity for their political interests.
2007 Jan 27
In Yemen 6 security forces were killed and 20 others were injured in clashes with followers of Abdel-Malek al-Hawthi in Saada.
2007 Jan 28
Hamas and Fatah gunmen battled each other in the streets in an increasingly bloody power struggle that left more than two dozen Palestinians dead over the weekend.
2007 Jan 29
Saudi Arabia said it would begin a 158,000 barrel-a-day cut in oil production effective Feb 1.
2007 Jan 30
The Saudi foreign minister said Saudi Arabia and Iran are working together to try to calm the crises in Iraq and Lebanon.
2007 Jan 30
Jamal Khalifa, a Saudi citizen married to a sister of Osama bin Laden, was killed when gunmen broke into his house in village in Madagascar in an apparent robbery.
2007 Jan 31
A special committee, invited by IMF managing director Rodrigo de Rato, proposed new ways for the IMF to fund itself. A loan to Turkey at this time accounted for two-thirds of the IMF's outstanding credit.
In Saudi Arabia Muslims circled the Ka'aba, Islam's holiest site, for a final time, bringing to a close what may have been the largest hajj pilgrimage ever.
2007 Jan 4
Overshadowed by an Israeli raid into the Palestinian territories, a summit between Israel and Egypt achieved little in reviving the long-stalled Mideast peace process, highlighting instead the disagreements between Israel and its Arab neighbours.
2007 Jan 4
Musir Salem Jawher (28) from Bahrain won the 30th International Tiberias Marathon, around the Sea of Galilee. The Kenyan runner (Leonard Mucheru), adopted by Bahrain 4 years earlier, faced anger from Bahrain for running in an Israeli marathon.
2007 Jan 5
A prominent Sunni Arab group charged that some officials in the Iraqi government have links with Shiite militias involved in sectarian violence and said authorities should be held responsible for any attacks by the armed groups.
2007 Jan 9
Jordanian police killed one suspected al-Qaida member and detained a second in a crackdown that foiled a terrorist plot against Jordan.
2007 Jan 9
The Bush administration barred Bank Sepah, Iran's oldest bank, from doing any future business in the US, accusing it of transferring Iranian missile payments to North Korea. Germany's Commerzbank AG said it will stop handling dollar transactions for Iran at its New York branch by Jan 31.
2007 Jan 10
In central Iran a truck smashed into a bus, killing at least 14 people.
2007 Jan 10
Lebanese trade unions threatened to escalate protests unless the government drops plans to raise taxes, adding to troubles for Lebanon's US-backed prime minister amid an opposition campaign to bring him down.
2007 Jan 14
A court convicted Sheik Talal Nasser Al Sabah, a member of Kuwait's ruling family, for drug trafficking and condemned him to death.
2007 Jan 14
In Nicaragua Iran's Pres. Ahmadinejad, touring Latin America in search of an alliance of "revolutionary countries," said the US is trying to hide its failures in Iraq by accusing his nation of funding insurgents there.
2007 Jan 16
Russia said it had delivered new anti-aircraft missile systems to Iran and would consider further requests by Tehran for defensive weapons.
2007 Jan 17
The Doomsday Clock, created in 1947 and run by the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, was nudged forward to 11:55 due to moves by Iran and North Korea. It reached 11:58 in 1953 and moved back to 11:43 in 1991.
2007 Jan 18
In Dubai a high-rise apartment building under construction caught fire, injuring up to 25 workers and trapping others in thick smoke as rescue crews scrambled to reach them.
2007 Jan 19
Jordan's King Abdullah II told an Israeli newspaper that his country wants its own nuclear program for peaceful purposes.
2007 Jan 19
Hrant Dink (53), a Turkish citizen of Armenian descent, was shot to death at the entrance to his newspaper's offices. The journalist had faced constant threats and legal proceedings as one of the most prominent voices of Turkey's shrinking Armenian community.
2007 Jan 22
In Turkey police said Yasin Hayal, a nationalist militant convicted of bombing a McDonald's restaurant in 2004, had confessed to inciting the killing of an ethnic Armenian journalist last week. Hayal said he provided a gun and money to the teenager who is suspected of carrying out the Jan 19 shooting.
2007 Jan 22
Iran barred 38 nuclear inspectors on a UN list from entering the country in what appeared to be retaliation for the UN sanctions imposed last month.
2007 Jan 22
Rosoboronexport chief Sergei Chemezov said Russia had fulfilled a contract to sell air defense missiles to Iran. This included 29 sophisticated missile systems under a $700 million contract signed in December 2005.
2007 Jan 23
Hezbollah-led protesters paralyzed Lebanon, clashing with government supporters and burning tires and cars on roads in and around the capital to enforce a general strike aimed at toppling US-backed Prime Minister Fuad Saniora. Three people were killed and more than 170 wounded.
2007 Jan 25
International donors pledged $7.6 billion in aid and loans at a conference to raise money for Lebanon's U.S.-backed prime minister and his economic reform program. The US pledged to more than triple its economic aid to $770 million including $220 million in military aid. Government and opposition supporters clashed at a Beirut university campus. At least 3 people were reported killed.
2007 Jan 26
Canada apologized to software engineer Maher Arar, who was deported to Syria by US agents after Canadian police mistakenly labeled him an Islamic extremist, and paid him C$10.5 million ($8.9 million) in compensation.
2007 Jan 26
An Iranian opposition group based in France claimed Iran has thousands of paid operatives working in neighboring Iraq.
2007 Jan 26
The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution condemning the denial of the Holocaust, with only Iran rejecting it as an attempt by the United States and Israel to exploit the atrocity for their political interests.
2007 Jan 27
In Yemen 6 security forces were killed and 20 others were injured in clashes with followers of Abdel-Malek al-Hawthi in Saada.
2007 Jan 28
Hamas and Fatah gunmen battled each other in the streets in an increasingly bloody power struggle that left more than two dozen Palestinians dead over the weekend.
2007 Jan 29
Saudi Arabia said it would begin a 158,000 barrel-a-day cut in oil production effective Feb 1.
2007 Jan 30
The Saudi foreign minister said Saudi Arabia and Iran are working together to try to calm the crises in Iraq and Lebanon.
2007 Jan 30
Jamal Khalifa, a Saudi citizen married to a sister of Osama bin Laden, was killed when gunmen broke into his house in village in Madagascar in an apparent robbery.
2007 Jan 31
A special committee, invited by IMF managing director Rodrigo de Rato, proposed new ways for the IMF to fund itself. A loan to Turkey at this time accounted for two-thirds of the IMF's outstanding credit.
Fundamental errors
Posted by James, Dubai, UAE on 26 January 2008 at 12:49 UAE time
Try - sent the US dollar to a 17 year LOW, not high. And the Ruppee is worth far MORE than it was 12 months ago.
By the way being proud of the chaos that ensued following your stroy on the dollar depeg is nothing to be proud of, if that what your implying happened.
HSBC and other major banks were profiteering in the aftermath buying dollars at 3.40 and selling at 3.69? Best of both worlds for them? Or just covering themselves? But a disaster for everyday businesses and people who were stuck with dollars and debts in dirhams... all on the back of mere speculation - go the market economy?!?. The banking industry - along with Arabian Business should be ashamed.
Posted by James, Dubai, UAE on 26 January 2008 at 12:49 UAE time
Try - sent the US dollar to a 17 year LOW, not high. And the Ruppee is worth far MORE than it was 12 months ago.
By the way being proud of the chaos that ensued following your stroy on the dollar depeg is nothing to be proud of, if that what your implying happened.
HSBC and other major banks were profiteering in the aftermath buying dollars at 3.40 and selling at 3.69? Best of both worlds for them? Or just covering themselves? But a disaster for everyday businesses and people who were stuck with dollars and debts in dirhams... all on the back of mere speculation - go the market economy?!?. The banking industry - along with Arabian Business should be ashamed.
Review 2007
Posted by N. A. Mirza, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on 31 December 2007 at 17:39 UAE time
Looks sound and indeed worth preserving. December Timeline should have stories on the most peaceful and accident free Haj, BJP's history-making victory in India's western state of Gujrat and above all assassination of Benazir Bhutto. An analysis on King Abdullah's sincere peace efforts was a must.
Editor's reply: December's timeline will be updated with the happenings of the last two weeks of December shortly.
Posted by N. A. Mirza, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on 31 December 2007 at 17:39 UAE time
Looks sound and indeed worth preserving. December Timeline should have stories on the most peaceful and accident free Haj, BJP's history-making victory in India's western state of Gujrat and above all assassination of Benazir Bhutto. An analysis on King Abdullah's sincere peace efforts was a must.
Editor's reply: December's timeline will be updated with the happenings of the last two weeks of December shortly.
BEST AND WORST NEWS OF 2007!
Posted by RAJENDRA ANEJA, DUBAI, UAE on 27 December 2007 at 11:50 UAE time
Best news:
1. Some peace in Iraq and refugee return.
2. More focus on climate
3. Dialogue between Bush, Putin
4. No war with Iran
5. Talks between Israel, Palesine
6. Shakira going to study at a university
Worst news:
1. Continuation of world poverty
2. No cure for Aids, cancer
3. Human rights violations and beating of monk in Burma
4. Inflation across the word, including Gulf.
5. Instability in India, Pakistan.
6. I have not become a movie-star (the pay is better, than that in management).
Posted by RAJENDRA ANEJA, DUBAI, UAE on 27 December 2007 at 11:50 UAE time
Best news:
1. Some peace in Iraq and refugee return.
2. More focus on climate
3. Dialogue between Bush, Putin
4. No war with Iran
5. Talks between Israel, Palesine
6. Shakira going to study at a university
Worst news:
1. Continuation of world poverty
2. No cure for Aids, cancer
3. Human rights violations and beating of monk in Burma
4. Inflation across the word, including Gulf.
5. Instability in India, Pakistan.
6. I have not become a movie-star (the pay is better, than that in management).
REVIEW 2007: PROFITS AND SOUL
Posted by RAJENDRA ANEJA, DUBAI, UAE on 26 December 2007 at 17:04 UAE time
The review writtn by Mr James Bennett, is sound, pithy and covers all key issues. Congratulations for this excellent encapsulation.
I hope 2008, will be a more enlightened year for the Gulf and for all of us. Let us hope, we realise that money is important, but without good HR practices, there can be no profits in the long run.
And as the Bible preaches, "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, at the loss of his own soul."
Posted by RAJENDRA ANEJA, DUBAI, UAE on 26 December 2007 at 17:04 UAE time
The review writtn by Mr James Bennett, is sound, pithy and covers all key issues. Congratulations for this excellent encapsulation.
I hope 2008, will be a more enlightened year for the Gulf and for all of us. Let us hope, we realise that money is important, but without good HR practices, there can be no profits in the long run.
And as the Bible preaches, "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, at the loss of his own soul."
Brilliant
Posted by Frank Dane, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on 26 December 2007 at 11:26 UAE time
That is one of the best Year in Reviews I have seen. Really polished - especially on the later months - October to December. I love it. Thank you - another great reference site, and hugely entertaining as well.
Posted by Frank Dane, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on 26 December 2007 at 11:26 UAE time
That is one of the best Year in Reviews I have seen. Really polished - especially on the later months - October to December. I love it. Thank you - another great reference site, and hugely entertaining as well.
Pressure mounts on last female minister to quit
Posted by Adam, Kuwait, Kuwait on 25 December 2007 at 08:53 UAE time
The Kuwait government needs to get a life.. The men in parliament cannot handle a women minister. I admire her and for what she is doing and putting all these silly men to shame.. Wake up guys...
Posted by Adam, Kuwait, Kuwait on 25 December 2007 at 08:53 UAE time
The Kuwait government needs to get a life.. The men in parliament cannot handle a women minister. I admire her and for what she is doing and putting all these silly men to shame.. Wake up guys...