UAE, Abu Dhabi Extend $20bn Of Dubai Debt

The debt is being rolled over for five years at a one per cent annual interest rate, WAM said in an official statement.

Majority Of UAE Firms To Hire 10 Staff Over Next Three Months

Receptionists, accountants and human resource professionals are the most sought after groups among the employers in the UAE.

Virgin Mobile Middle East Plans Saudi Launch By June

Virgin Mobile Middle East and Africa was one of the winning bidders for three mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) licences in the kingdom.

Saudi C.Bank Gov Says Rates Reasonable, No Impact From Fed

Saudi Arabia, which pegs its riyal currency to the U.S. dollar, has kept its repo rate at 2.0 per cent since January 2009.

Damac Announces Sale Of Trump Estates In AKOYA Project

The project includes over 100 luxury villas, conceptualised by Donald Trump and his daughter Ivanka Trump.

Dubai’s Emaar Expects Listing Of Retail Unit Within Months -Chairman

Emaar is in the final stages of discussions with banks on the best way to conduct the listing, according to its chairman Mohammed Alabbar.

Saudi 2014 Economic Growth Of 4.4% Achievable – Central Bank Governor

Saudi Arabia’s central bank governor said that he expected the private sector to drive growth in the Kingdom.

First Half Of Omantel Share Sale 1.99 Times Subscribed

The sale required investors to place minimum orders of two million shares each.

Abu Dhabi Executive Council Appoints First Female Member

Amal Al Qubaisi was also the first woman to be elected to the UAE’s Federal National Council in 2006.

Sotheby’s To Auction $1.5m Damien Hirst Artwork In Doha

The artwork, Tranquility, is also part of the auction house’s public exhibition in Dubai.

Dubai Approves Bridge To Link Mega Tourist Island Project

The Dh6 billion Bluewaters Island project will also be connected to the mainland via a monorail system and a footbridge.

Emaar Plans $2.5bn Listing Of Shopping Mall Unit

The proceeds “will be primarily distributed as dividend” to Emaar shareholders, the firm said.

Saudis Hardened By Wars In Syria, Iraq Join Al Qaeda In Yemen

Last month, Yemen said it had handed Saudi Arabia 29 of its nationals wanted as al Qaeda militants.

Huge Housing Deal May Signal Gulf Investment Push Into Egypt

Dubai firm Arabtec has signed a $40 billion deal to build one million homes in Egypt.

Saudi Listing Of Brotherhood As Terrorist Group Complicates Gulf Ties

Despite the brotherhood’s taste for populist electoral politics, no other GCC member, apart from Saudi Arabia, has declared it a terrorist organisation.

GQ Bar Bosses: Promoting Gentlemen’s Culture In Dubai

The newly launched GQ Bar in Dubai is calling all gentlemen to experience a night they won’t forget, its owners tell Aarti Nagraj.

Building Bridges Between Japan And The UAE

Trade, energy and industry ties are dominating business and bilateral relations between the two countries, say experts.

Kuwait Bourse To Be Big Fish In Small Pond As Others Upgraded

The upgrading of Qatar and the UAE to emerging market status by the MSCI may benefit Kuwait’s stock market.

RAK Properties Adds More Units To Flamingo Villa Community

Flamingo Villas, the flagship development of RAK Properties, was launched during Cityscape last year.

UAE’s ADCB To Buy Back Further Shares In 2014 – CEO

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank bought back seven per cent of its shares last year after it secured approval for a 10 per cent buyback.

Saudi Arabia Launches New Housing Scheme To Ease Shortage

Eligible citizens who submit requests through the new programme, ESKAN, are expected to be allocated homes within seven months.

Pictures: Waldorf Astoria Hotel In Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah

The 319-room hotel marks the Hilton luxury brand’s first entry into Dubai.

Abu Dhabi Airports Signs Fuel Services Deal With ADNOC

Both the companies will jointly invest in a new fuel farm and a hydrant system that will enhance the fuel storage capacity of the airport.

Egypt Says Two Brotherhood Members Arrested In The Gulf

The arrests are the first reported cases of Egypt’s Gulf allies detaining members of the Islamist group on its behalf.

Iran Says Seals Gas Export Deal With Oman

Three agreements were signed between Oman and Iran, one of which was an initial deal on building a gas pipeline linking Iran with the Sultanate.

UAE To Host 16 IPL Matches – BCCI

The UAE will host the first phase of the popular cricket tournament from April 16 to April 30.

Dubai Lynx Awards 2014 Winners Announced

Memac Ogilvy Dubai claimed agency of the year, while Ogilvy & Mather bagged network of the year award.

Qatar’s Barwa Real Estate Posts 27.3% 2013 Profit Rise

Barwa made 1.4 billion riyals ($384.5 million) in 2013, up from 1.1 billion riyals in the prior year, according to a bourse filing.

Dubai Islamic Bank Eyes Kenya, Indonesia For Expansion

The emirate’s largest sharia-compliant lender says it is entering a growth phase domestically and internationally.

UAE Summons Iraq Ambassador Over Saudi “Terrorism” Charge

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has long had chilly ties with Sunni-led Gulf Arab states, which in turn view him as too close to Shi’ite Muslim Iran.