Gulf carrier set to start four-day global sale for travel between Oct 24 and June 19
Author Archives: Staff Writer
Oman tourism project set to award construction tender
First phase of Saraya Bandar Jissah almost complete; grand opening slated for 2017
Qatar’s QIB posts 12.4% fall in Q3 net profit
Qatar Islamic Bank reports third quarter profit of nearly $95m; misses analysts’ forecasts
Dubai ‘sex in cab’ Brit hid marriage to avoid adultery charge
Former expat Rebecca Blake says she kept quiet in order to avoid a harsher sentence – report
Interview: Qatar’s Sheikh Mohamed AJ Althani
An author, historian and former economy and trade minister, Qatar’s HE Sheikh Mohamed AJ Althani questions whether Arabs are doing enough to retain their culture, and explains why the state cannot play a central role in the diversification of local economies forever
Etihad fly past celebrates Sydney Opera House birthday
Abu Dhabi aircraft watched by 10,000 people as it flies at 2,000 ft above famous landmark
Harrods pays $111m dividend to owner Qatar Holding
Payout comes as London luxury department store posts 10% jump in sales – report
Kuwait’s Gulf Bank says CEO Accad resigns
Personal reasons cited for resignation which will be effective from January 2 2014
Abu Dhabi-backed Carlyle to invest in US trailer parks
$30.8m deal will acquire low-cost homes in Florida targeted at retirees – report
Qatar websites targeted by Syrian hackers
Gulf state’s main websites forced to shut down for a number of hours over weekend
‘Undo this monstrous injustice’ pleads jailed Dubai exec
Australian jailed in Dubai for 10 years pleads with developer after it admits defeat in parallel case in Australia
Qatar offers official tours of delayed new airport
Delegates at airport conference in November will be given behind scenes look at terminal complex
Dubai named most reputable city in Gulf – study
Emirate ranked 41st in new list of 100 cities based on levels of trust, esteem, admiration and respect
Oman’s Galfar says MD resumes work after questioning
Galfar had said its managing director was called for questioning by “concerned authorities”
Saudi sends texts to warn of hiring illegal workers
Authorities have begun sending text messages warning against employing illegal expatriates
400,000 expats flee Saudi in 2012
Ministry of Labour report found that thousands of workers failed to return to kingdom
London Array secures $424m Abu Dhabi funding
World’s largest offshore wind farm secures new financing from Masdar
Dubai bourse surges to five-year high as Eid ends
Index climbs 2.1 percent to 2,890 points, its highest intra-day level since November 2008
Syria Crisis
Freed Lebanese, Turkish hostages fly home after deal
Release was negotiated by Qatari mediators
Egypt crisis
Mubarak trial resumes in closed session – State TV
Former Egyptian strongman was released from jail but is kept under house arrest in a military hospital in Maadi
Saudi doctors lose $156m Canada lawsuit
Doctors’ grievances with university medical programme included allegations of racism
Abu Dhabi workforce doubles to more than 1.5m
Male expatriates make up almost the entire workforce in emirate
Arab states urge Saudi to keep UN Security Council seat
Diplomats said Washington would like the Saudis to reconsider decision to renounce the offer
Sheikh Mohammed launches Smart City plan for Dubai
Dubai ruler announces new project with fibre optic networks and high-speed wireless internet at its core
Egypt crisis
Soldiers wounded in Egypt car bomb blast
At least four injured in explosion near army intelligence building northeast of Cairo
Al Jazeera-AT&T lawsuit to remain under wraps
Qatari broadcaster wins right for secrecy while it appeals previous ruling on legal fight over US news channel
Sky’s the limit for aviation alliance
Michael Wisbrun, managing director of SkyTeam, the world’s second-biggest aviation alliance, talks about future growth, the thinking behind Etihad’s current stake-buying path and whether the Gulf can really sustain three global aviation hubs
Banks should do more to help the private sector
Is it time for UAE banks to roll out their own funds for SMEs, asks Ed Attwood
Three global Gulf carriers may be ‘too much’ – aviation boss
SkyTeam aviation alliance exec says Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi may need to rethink plans
MidEast buyers snap up 7.5% of all London property sales
Investors from the region are third most active in prime residential market in 2012 – Knight Frank
Cityscape 2013
Trump eyes PGA tour for Dubai golf course
US tycoon’s company hopes to attract the best golfers to new course in Damac’s Akoya project
Piaget plans to double revenue in the Middle East
As the Swiss luxury brand launches its latest collection, it is increasingly focused on its lucrative Gulf buyers
MidEast fashion designers need to develop unique identity
Many in the region are trying to be ‘either Parisian or American’, says leading fashion expert
Qatar Airways set to double capacity on Berlin route
Gulf carrier reportedly set to introduce bigger aircraft to meet rising demand for German travel
Dubai hotels post double-digit demand growth in Sept
New STR Global data shows 15.5% increase in RevPAR and 8.8% rise in occupancy
Expo 2020
Dubai Expo 2020 win vital for growth, says CBRE
Report says defeat would result in ‘short term dip in sentiment’ in Dubai real estate sector
UAE named top Arab nation for human rights
International Human Rights Rank Indicator ranks the UAE 14th globally; Saudi Arabia named one of worst offenders
Dubai to launch website for home buyers, sellers
E-mart initiative is one of new technologies to be unveiled at GITEX to help real estate investors
Kuwait said to bid $2.4bn for London development
Gulf state keen to buy More London complex that includes City Hall, amphitheatre, offices, shops
Qatar Airways said to eye stake in India’s SpiceJet
Gulf carrier reportedly in talks to take 24% stake; could invest up to $200m in low cost airline
Cityscape 2013
Investors should be cautious of Turkish property – agent
Warning comes as around $3bn of investment in Turkey is coming from the six Gulf states
Gollum actor, Pixar boss to headline Dubai film summit
Cinematic Innovation Summit will take place before Dubai International Film Festival in Dec
Cityscape 2013
Emirates NBD to finish Motor City Hotel in 2014
UAE lender acquired the Dubai hospitality asset from developer Union Properties in May
Etihad Cargo posts record figures in September
Freighter unit of Etihad Airways lifts more than 45,000 tonnes, a rise of 42% on year-earlier figure
NY-based PR firm eyes further MidEast expansion
Cohn & Wolfe aims to build on Bates Pan Gulf minority stake deal completed last year, says CEO
Dubai’s Saif Belhasa Group to expand restaurant unit
New Alison Nelson Chocolate Bar outlets, plus Egyptian grilled food brand and Japanese food concept in pipeline
Saudi Arabia declines seat on UN Security Council
Gulf kingdom accuses UN body of ‘double standards’ that makes it hard to end conflict and wars
95,000 people ‘enslaved’ in Gulf states, says charity
Majority of those living in slavery in region are in Saudi Arabia, according to Walk Free Foundation
Toyota recalls 9,100 cars in Saudi Arabia
Japanese car giant announces recall of mostly Camrys in 15 countries due to aircon issues
Cityscape 2013
Interview: Damac MD Ziad El Chaar
Developer Damac has tied up with global brands as it seeks to push forward after a tough few years. Managing director Ziad El Chaar argues that new legislation makes the Dubai property market a safer bet for investors than five years ago
Dubai Duty Free sales hit $1.27bn so far in 2013
Airport retailer says total sales are up 12% in the first nine months of the year
Dubai, Abu Dhabi rental gap now ‘negligible’
New figures show narrowing of living costs in UAE cities but disparity remains for sales prices
Oman’s Galfar says rights issue 96% subscribed
Construction company raises more than $34m after offering 49.5 million shares