New scheme for sending cash being tested between emirates and the Philippines.
Author Archives: Staff Writer
Qtel launches SIM card with pre-loaded services menu
New 128K SIM card offers direct access to the latest news, important numbers and other selected services
Air-con walkways aim to reduce vehicle use
Transport chiefs reveal plans to encourage more people to walk around parts of Dubai.
Committee to decide on future Dubai property projects
Gov’t sets up body to oversee launch of developments amid global slowdown.
Mercedes-Benz reports 20% growth in Mideast sales
Luxury car maker says region is bucking global gloom in automotive markets.
Moody’s downgrades rating for troubled Gulf Bank
Agency lowers financial strength rating for Kuwait bank hit by derivatives deal loss.
More than 1,000 fines in road safety crackdown
Dubai traffic cops hand out 1,089 penalties to drivers for range of violations.
Saudi sales cut fails to halt oil price slide
Prices tumble more than $2 to just over $60 a barrel as global economic gloom dominates.
75,000 register for ID cards in four weeks
CEO of Emirates Post offices says plans are in place to handle rush, smooth out process.
Saudi bourse regulator fines real estate giant
Developer Dar Al-Arkan handed 100,000 riyal penalty for violating disclosure rules.
Energy minister says nuclear option vital for future
Official reaffirms UAE’s plan to develop nuclear power as demand surges by 9% a year.
UAE banks’ real estate exposure ‘overblown’
Summit told that property market correction ‘does not pose systemic risk’.
Bookers benefit from apartment boom
Planners are being urged to take advantage of the region’s expanding serviced apartment sector.
Planners victorious over room rates
Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) has capped hotel rates during Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) in response to planners’ pleas for affordable accommodation during peak demand periods.
Oman confronts food safety issues
Oman is trying to back up recent rapid growth in its F&B market by improving the country’s food safety record, according to industry insiders.
Catering a top priority for travel industry
Airlines in the Middle East are coming under increasing pressure from food-savvy passengers demanding decent in-flight food, the International Travel Conference Association (ITCA) has revealed.
Australia meat-ing ME demand
The Middle East’s F&B purchasers are increasingly relying on suppliers ‘Down Under’ to satisfy the market demand for quality red meat, a recent study has revealed.
Multiplex braced for vanity-fuelled growth
Marketing initiatives planned for distributor’s portfolio in the UAE and Oman, ITS gm reveals.
Cargo the lone bright spot in India’s aviation crisis
October saw considerable angst in the Indian aviation markets, as the fuel crisis, combined with a worrying fall in capacity, at last bit home to put a considerable dent in what had previously been regarded as one of the country’s most gilded industries.
Qatar Airways Cargo launches new routes
Qatar Airways Cargo has added to its network of 18 worldwide destinations by starting operations to Zaragoza, in northern Spain and Sialkot, in Pakistan.
Green and lean
Hyatt Hotels’ Birgitta Witts on how putting eco-friendly initiatives in place can make good business sense.
Union of gas producers unlikely
Russia, Iran and Qatar announce plans for an OPEC-style trilateral gas agreement.
Combined effort
Combilift has marked its 10th anniversary with a new product launch, which it believes will revolutionise the material handling sector, explains managing director Martin McVicar.
The case for fibre
CommsMEA investigates the issues facing operators in the region around deployment of high capacity fibre networks
Cowboy town’s ceasefire
Abu Dhabi’s regulation of room rates will help industry win business.
Embracing the alternatives
Fairmont Dubai’s Alka Patel discusses co-generation and green alternatives to conventionalelectricity in a bid to cut down on fossil fuel usage while slashing your property’s bottom line.
In good company
Getting Dubai’s business elite together in the same room isn’t easy. But this magazine achieved just that when hosting its second annual CEO Middle East Awards last month.
Capital gain
As companies across the globe are feeling the economic slowdown, the Middle East is one of the few safe havens left in the aviation world.
Getting the light right
Despite the sizeable budgets, regional lighting projects don’t always get it right. Michael Grubb, director of Sutton Vane Associates, reveals to COD some of the tricks of the trade.
Preparations for monetary union
What can the GCC learn from the European experience of monetary union? Russell Krueger of the International Monetary Fund and Erwin Nierop from the European Central Bank offer an expert view.
Aluminium: Saviour or tyrant?
5 reasons aluminium is praised and criticised in architecture.
Steady shot
Arab Media Group’s senior cameraman Abbas Dalal takes the new Panasonic AJHPX3000 ENG camera for a road test.
Remember the deals in November
MIME highlights seasonal meeting and incentive offers from around the world to keep your colleagues in the festive spirit.
Training day
EC Council has partnered with ComGuard to offer accredited courses for regional IT professionals who are looking to protect their organisations from attacks and data loss.
Money talks
Boeing Capital is confident in future investment from the Middle East as the region continues to order more aircraft.
A matter of fact
London’s three floor, 32,737sq ft, 26,000 capacity venue, matter, is a purpose built space designed to offer an advanced new proposition for both live music and club nights in the vibrant capital. Kelly Lewis speaks with Most Technical’s Dave Parry about the club’s fit-out.
Don’t believe the hype – create it
After a whirlwind month of activity in Abu Dhabi, it is easy to see why many outsiders fail to look beyond the Emirates when considering entry into the Middle East broadcast industry.
Night to remember
It took the judges months to sift through and decide the contenders for the CEO Middle East Awards 2008. But this year’s winners were finally announced during an extravagant ceremony in Dubai.
People movers
Easy access is key to a development’s success, so why not start the planning with transport? Michele Howe looks at the benefits of transport oriented development.
Polymer producers bottle it
Greater action to recover used goods for recycling is needed, and it makes financial sense, writes Natasha Graham.
Former UAE minister charged with betrayal of trust
Court hears claims that he threatened to throw woman into the sea.
Egypt to give public free shares in state firms
Regime tries populist measure amid stalled privatisation programme and unrest.
Dubai police rescue two abducted girls
Egyptian male held after the pair, aged four and 12, were snatched from near their home on Monday.
Dubai World eyes Russia investments despite crisis
State-owned investor still looking at Russian logistics and urban projects after utility deal put on hold.
Qatari Diar eyes full control of Chelsea Barracks project
State-owned property firm moves in on $1bn 12.8-acre landmark London development.
Gulf Int’l Bank posts $220mn Q3 loss on US exposure
GCC gov’t-owned institution writes off $284.2mn including Lehman products.
EastNets secures investment from IFC
Aims to drive regional employment and expansion in the Middle East
Saudi Arabian Airlines revamps web presence
New site developed by Vignette to offer more services online for Saudi Arabian Airlines customers
DP World takes over two Algerian ports
Dubai-based operator commits $108mn to develop two facilities over 30-year concession.
Bahrain banks real estate exposure below 30% – cbank
Kingdom’s banks’ sectoral exposure in line with proposed guidelines.
Barclays open to Gulf acquisitions
UK bank still ‘quite acquisitive’ despite investment banking consolidation, says wealth unit head.
Technical fault hits UAE mobile network
Rival operator Du confirms glitch which affected thousands of calls to Etisalat subscribers.
200 jobs axed at property firm Damac
Chief exec says ‘tough decision’ to cut workforce taken now to help safeguard company future.
Mashreq launches mobile banking
Mashreq Bank launches region’s richest mobile banking solution