Ajman Luxury Resort To Open February 1

Starwood will seek to attract well-heeled leisure guests to the less-developed emirate

GCC Mulls Common Water, Power Policy

Authorities are looking to reduce power and water consumption rates in the GCC, which are the highest in the world.

Abu Dhabi Gears Up To Enforce New Shisha Café Rules

Violators face two years in prison and a fine of up to Dhs1 million.

Abu Dhabi’s Inflation Rate Rises 1.3% In 2013

Food and non-alcoholic beverages accounted for the largest rise in the emirate’s consumer price index, rising 25.9 per cent last year.

Qatar Central Bank To Sell $6.6bn In Bonds, Sukuk

The conventional bonds will be worth QAR13 billion, while the rest of the issuance will be in the form of sukuk.

Saudi’s Yansab Q4 Profit Drops 31% On Plant Shutdown

The firm made a net profit of $117.9 million in the three-month period to December 31.

Dubai Ruler Calls For Easing Of Iran Sanctions

Sheikh Mohammed urged the international community to ease sanctions against Iran, in an interview broadcast by the BBC.

Dubai Debt Deal Imminent – Bankers

The emirate was one of the first issuers from the Gulf in 2013 with a dual tranche 10-year sukuk and 30-year conventional note.

Dubai’s Shuaa Swings To 2013 Net Profit Of Dhs2.8m

The investment bank’s annual net profit increased by Dhs62 million from a net loss of Dhs59 million in 2012.

Court Sentences Leader Of 2004 Saudi Attack To Death

Gunmen killed two Americans, two Britons and an Australian at the offices of a foreign company in Yanbu.

Oman Government Official, Two Executives Jailed, Fined On Corruption Charges

Over 20 government officials and private executives from Oman’s oil industry are accused of offering or accepting bribes in exchange for contracts.

Kuwait: The Sleeping Giant

Having lagged behind its regional peers due to political and socio-economic issues is Kuwait ready to awaken from its slumber?

Saudi British Bank Q4 Net Profit Jumps 20%, Beating Forecasts

SABB attributed its profit rise to higher operating income.

Kuwait Says Oil Mkt Balance Takes Precedence Over Price Issue

Kuwait’s oil minister Ali al-Omair said the OPEC member targets 3.5 million barrels per day capacity by 2015.

UAE Frees American Jailed For YouTube Parody Video

Shezanne Cassim, 29, was sentenced to a year in prison in April over a “mockumentary”.

Alcoa Pays $384m To Settle Alba Bribery Charges

Criminal and civil allegations claimed officials were bribed for years to accept the supply of raw materials from Alcoa.

Uncertainty Over Future Running Of Abu Dhabi’s Big Oilfields

A 75-year partnership with ExxonMobil, Royal Dutch Shell, Total and BP expired on Friday.

UAE Arrests Iranians Suspected Of Kidnapping Briton In Dubai

Abbas Yazdi, a 44-year old businessman, went missing in Dubai in June.

Qatar: More Than Just A Gas Nation?

With a new leader at the helm and the emirate’s gas boom coming to an end, can Qatar maintain its economic and political momentum?

DME Targets Asia Sales Growth In 2014

Dubai Mercantile Exchange CEO, Christopher Fix, is looking to establish DME Oman as the price benchmark for Middle East crude heading East

Saudi Arabia Raises December Oil Output Slightly, Pumps 9.8m bpd

The Kingdom kept production in November at steady levels from October when it cut output.

Irish Firm Launches Healthcare Project In The UAE

Broadmeadow Healthcare International will deliver elderly care services through partnerships with local government agencies.

Dubai Group Appoints Former Emirates NBD Banker As CEO

Ahmed al-Qassim was a director of investment banking at Emirates NBD.

4DX Cinema Launches In The UAE

VOX Cinemas has launched 4DX enabled sensory cinemas at Mirdif City Centre and Deira City Centre.

Qantas Credit Rating Slashed By Moody’s

Dubai-linked airline recently announced the loss of 1,000 jobs.

Dubai’s Victory Heights Project Completed

Victory Heights handed over 75 per cent of its phase one villas in 2010 as Dubai recovered from a property crash.

First Look: Dubai Marriott Hotel Al Jaddaf

Marriott’s latest Dubai property has short-stay executives and long-stay contract workers firmly in its sights

Bahrain Suspends Reconciliation Talks With Opposition Groups

The breakdown raises the prospect of more political instability in the country.

Just Falafel Plans 160 New Restaurants In US, Canada

The UAE restaurant chain has signed five area franchise agreements with different partners across North America.

Saudi Hollandi Bank Q4 Net Profit 347.3m Riyals

The bank’s net profit for the quarter was boosted by a 22 per cent jump in total operating income to 671.1 million riyals.