Dubai Duty Free To Launch Online Shopping

Executive vice chairman Colm McLoughlin said the company will focus on the new Al Maktoum International airport.

Saudia Restarts Jeddah-Manchester Route

The airline will resume services to Manchester after a seven-year gap and will fly thrice a week.

Kuwaiti Government To Keep Reviewing Subsidies

The government said last November that it would form a special committee to review its sometimes wasteful spending.

Asian workers take a break at Friday Market in Kuwait City

Saudi Arabia Signs Labour Deal With Sri Lanka

The deal provides Sri Lankan domestic workers in the Kingdom the right to retain their travel documents.

Dubai’s Arabtec Wins $705m Abu Dhabi Contract

The project on Al Reem Island will house a five-star hotel and a residential tower, and will be built within three years.

German Diplomats Survive Shooting Attack In Saudi Arabia

The incident took place in the town of Awamiya on Monday evening.

UAE Sees Keen Interest For Largest Oilfields On Revised Terms

Several companies are interested in joining the project with revised terms, UAE’s oil minister Suhail bin Mohammed al-Mazroui said.

Godolphin Door Permanently Shut For Tainted Trainer, Zarooni

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) banned Zarooni for eight years after finding him guilty of administering anabolic steroids.

Dubai’s Drydocks World Signs $730m North Sea Rig Deal

The order was part of a package of contracts which could be worth a total of $1.4 billion to Drydocks by the third quarter, its chairman said.

Etihad Chief Says Will Not Be Rushed On Alitalia Decision

Alitalia is in talks with Etihad to sell the UAE carrier a large stake.

UAE PM Says Treatment Of Jailed American Was Unsatisfactory

Shezanne Cassim was detained in April and sentenced to a year in prison for making a 20-minute “mockumentary”.

Saudi Arabia Replaces Public Sector Expat Workers

All jobs previously occupied by expats will be considered vacant until qualified Saudi citizens can fill them, the ministry said.

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.