Olympic and Paralympic track star is sent to prison for the negligent killing of Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day last year
Author Archives: Staff Writer
Waha Capital gets regulatory nod for share buyback
Abu Dhabi-listed investment firm says it plans to repurchase up to 194 million shares
Kuwait’s Agility expects revenue rebound in 2015
Chief executive Tarek Sultan says emerging markets will drive revenue growth next year
Saudi’s Sipchem blames shutdowns for Q3 profit slump
Saudi International Petrochemical Co says third-quarter net profit fell by more than 13% to $42m
Dubai’s inflation rate hits highest level since May 2009
New consumer price data reveals that housing and utility costs drive jump in inflation levels
Louvre Abu Dhabi developer says iconic dome fully installed
Tourism Development and Investment Company announces major milestone in construction of Saadiyat Island project
Oman Oil in talks with US firm Occidental to buy its local assets
CEO Isam al-Zadjali says waiting to hear from Occidental regarding specifics of potential sale
Saudi Arabia hits back at ‘worst airports’ claim
Saudi aviation authority says Jeddah airport is adequate despite being ranked the worst in the Middle East by a Canadian blog
Millions stolen from UAE bank customers in ATM scam
UAE Central Bank to urge banks to update their ATM machines after gang arrested by Dubai police
Two arrested over Saudi student death in the US
The body of Abdullah Abdullatif Alkadi was found near a Los Angeles highway last week, a month after he disappeared
UAE bank customer to have access to credit reports by end of year
Newly launched Al Etihad Credit Bureau to assist financial institutions in loan decisions
Australia lifts ban on face veil in parliament
Prime Minister Tony Abbott intervenes to remove the ban, authorised by the House Speaker earlier this month
Legendary designer Oscar de la Renta dies at 82
The Dominican American fashion designer was synonymous with iconic glamour and red carpet gowns
Education regulator to close Abu Dhabi school after schoolgirl tragedy
Al Worood Academy Private School, with 2,200 pupils, ordered to close next August
Inside TOD’S: There’s no business like shoe business
We visit Tod’s Italian headquarters and meet with CEO and President Diego Della Valle
Aviation
Saudia hopes to raise $2.7bn with 3 IPOs
Ground-handling, cargo and maintenance are the airline company’s next units to be sold as it moves towards privatisation
Najwa Karam to take centre stage at MOE tomorrow
World of Fashion wraps up a week of runway shows with a superstar finale
Aviation
Saudi airspace among most dangerous in the world
There are an average of 20 near mid-air crashes in the kingdom each year – seven times the global rate
Iran arrests suspects after acid attacks on women
Attacks were on women deemed to be wearing Islamic headcovering improperly, causing widespread anger
RTA show Sheikh Zayed Road traffic changes for canal construction
Traffic fully diverted by November
StanChart to drop UAE SMEs with annual sales of less than $10m
The customers have been deemed “non-strategic businesses” by the UK lender
UN questions Israel on Palestinians’ rights
Experts examine record on civil, political rights; Say Israel has ignored calls to halt settlements
Chinese New Year 2015
Burj Al Arab designer on why she initially turned the project down
Khuan Chew was persuaded to apply for the project by Sheikh Mohammed and beat 7 rivals to design the iconic hotel’s interiors
Qatar Airways picks Frankfurt route for A350 debut
Airbus is set to delivery first A350 to global launch operator by the end of this year
Saudi Arabia steps up beheadings; some see political message
Sudden surge in executions in the last two months has coincided with a US-led bombing campaign against IS
Dubai’s Aramex aiming for two acquisitions in 2015
Founder Fadi Ghandour says logistics company is going to be ‘more aggressive’ next year
Qatar’s QIB sees 12% jump in nine-month net profit
Qatar Islamic Bank says it made $300m net profit for the year to September 30
Qatar’s largest Islamic lender posts 16% rise in nine-month net profit
Masraf Al Rayan says it made $384m net profit in the year to September 30
New ultra-luxury property portal launches in the UAE
Luxury SQft targets high-end audience by listing the most exclusive residences
No Islamic New Year holiday for UAE gov’t workers
Official announcement says event, which will fall on either Friday or Saturday, will not be transferred to working day
Sarah asks: How to do my own marketing?
Hi, Can you suggest some good resources about how to do my own marketing? I don’t have a budget to outsource it, so need to find as much good information as I can. Thanks, Sarah P.
IBM to pay Abu Dhabi-backed Globalfoundries to take chip unit
IBM says it will pay Globalfoundries $1.5bn in cash over the next three years to take the chip operations off its hands
Saudi Arabia’s August oil exports fall to lowest in three years
Top oil exporter fights for market share amid weak demand and ample supplies from rival producers
UAE ‘takes first steps’ to launch unmanned Mars probe
Sheikh Mohammed says seven-year technology project is a ‘source of Arab pride’
Boeing sees funding boom for MidEast plane deliveries
US plane maker says commercial financial institutions in the region are increasingly funding the record number of deliveries
Kuwait’s Mezzan says seeking to list on local stock market
Conglomerate seeks regulator’s approval to list 30% of company on Kuwait Stock Exchange
Saudi’s NCB to convert to Islamic bank after pressure from scholars
Saudi’s biggest bank responds to criticism as it launches a $6bn initial public offer of its shares
Melia Hotels to make Qatar debut in January
New 280-room property is unveiled with Tanmiyat Real Estate Investment Company in Doha
Kuwait’s CBK slashes bad loans as settlements reached
Commercial Bank of Kuwait says it has reached a string of debt settlements with clients
Rights group urges Kuwait to stop revoking citizenship of opponents
Government says citizenship revoked for false documents, dual citizenship and security reasons
UAE’s FGB plans bond issue, to establish China office
First Gulf Bank chief also says he expects to post double-digit loan growth in the next 12 months
Unified GCC visa policy being mulled by tourism ministers
Schengen-style visa would allow a person to visit the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman under a single visa
World’s fastest ambulance unveiled in Dubai
“One second can be the difference between life and death,” says Dubai paramedic
Five deny Bahrain F1 Grand Prix bomb plot charges
Accused of rigging a car with explosives and placing it near CID headquarters
Cracking the online payments puzzle in MENA
Khaldoon Tabaza looks at why both investors and founders are worried about venturing into e-commerce businesses
Qatar buys stake in Hong Kong department chain
Deal is reportedly part of a $15bn spending spree across Asia planned by the Gulf state
Trial of prominent Bahraini activist starts in Manama
Rajab being tried for denigrating government institutions
Christie’s extends MidEast Modern Art sale to Oct 30
The auction invested $20 million in technology to expand its online sales and customer base
Former Qatari PM eyes top UN position
Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani in running for UN Secretary General job
Wage dispute resolved for 1,637 UAE construction workers
Labourers had not been paid for 3 months after company shut down
Abu Dhabi part of $2.2bn bid to buy Reebok
Investors are expected to argue that Reebok would do better if it were managed independently of Germany’s Adidas
Australian minister says special forces will go to Iraq
200 members of the special forces had been waiting in the UAE since mid-September because Baghdad had not offered them formal legal protections
158 Indians die in Kuwait in 3mths
The Indian embassy in Kuwait issues new figures for July-Sept, but does not comment on how many were work-related deaths
StanChart set to close bank accounts of thousands of UAE small businesses
Central Bank said in August that up to 8,000 customers will be affected as part of the move to comply with US regulations