National Bank Of Abu Dhabi Q1 Profit Up 36%

The bank posted net profit of Dhs1.41 billion ($384 million) in the first three months of 2013.

Barclays’ Senior MENA Banker Resigns

Dubai-based Michael Helou headed up Barclays Capital in the region, the lender’s investment banking arm.

Abu Dhabi’s Kizad Signs Dhs33m Deal With Cast Aluminium Industries

UAE-based CAI has signed a long-term land rental agreement to operate in Kizad’s aluminium industrial cluster.

Al Habtoor Unveils Water-based Theatre Plans

But Group CEO confirms there will be no new Metropolitan Hotel on the three-hotel site

UAE Eyes Gasoline Self-Sufficiency From End-2014

The UAE currently produces around 2.7 million tonnes and relies on imports for the rest, according to officials.

UAE’s Dana Gas Expands Gas Exploration In Egypt And Lebanon

Abu Dhabi-listed Dana Gas has won a bid to develop an offshore block in Egypt’s Nile Delta.

Saudi Mulls Switch To Friday-Saturday Weekend

The Kingdom’s Shura Council has recommended changing the country’s official weekend.

UAE-Based Flydubai Latest Carrier Flying To South Sudan

The low-cost carrier will link Juba with Dubai four times a week.

UAE Stock Markets Hit New Multi-Year Peaks

Dubai’s index rose 1.4 per cent to 1,986 points, its highest level since December 2009.

Dubai Knowledge Village, Academic City See 24% Growth

The business parks now encompass 564 companies with an influx of HR and recruitment names in 2013.

Air Arabia Posts 17.5% Rise In Q1 Passenger Numbers

The low-cost carrier introduced three new routes in the first quarter of the year.

Marks & Spencer, Mango Stores To Open In Al Ghurair Centre

The Dubai-based mall is undergoing a massive Dhs2 billion-expansion project.

Pudner To Leave Dubai’s ENBD, New CEO Will Reveal Priorities

Pudner is expected to stay as CEO until his contract expires at the end of this year.

Sebastian Vettel Wins Bahrain GP

The race was untroubled by anti-government protests and reported clashes elsewhere in the tiny Gulf kingdom.

Saudi Telecom Posts 38.5% Fall In Q1 Net Profit

The firm posted a net profit of SAR1.55 billion, attributing the profit drop to charges relating to an Indian affiliate.

Total-Led Group Gets Laffan 2 Refinery Deal – Qatar Petroleum

Construction of the $1.5 billion condensate refinery is expected to be completed by the second half of 2016.

Saudi’s Kingdom Holding Sees 9% Q1 Profit Rise

The firm made a net profit of 110.1 million riyals ($29.4 million) during the three months ended March 31, compared with 100.8 million riyals in the same period a year earlier.

GEMS Education Raises $545m Expansion Loan

The loan is a mix of Islamic and conventional financing managed by lenders including Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank and Dubai Islamic Bank.

Emirates NBD CEO Rick Pudner Resigns

Pudner has been at the helm of Dubai’s biggest bank since 2006 after 24 years at HSBC.

ITC Projects Revive Oman’s Real Estate

Integrated Tourism Complex developments, such as Muscat Hills and The Wave, help to revive the Sultanate’s real estate market.

Saudi’s Mobily Misses Estimates With 11% Profit Rise

Mobily’s revenue for the three months to March 31 was 5.63 billion riyals, up from 5.01 billion riyals from the prior-year period.

Saudi King Removes Deputy Defence Minister In Royal Reshuffle

Prince Khaled bin Sultan has been removed from his post, replaced by Prince Fahd bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Abdulrahman.

Barcelona President Rosell Aims To Continue Beyond 2016

Sandro Rosell negotiated the club’s $39.25 million sponsorship deal with Qatar Sports Investments.

Sabic To Cut Over 1,000 Jobs In Europe

The company, which employs 40,000 people spread across 40 countries, made a net profit of around $6.59 billion in 2012.

FIFA is considering a request from the South American Football Confederation for hosts Qatar to play Ecuador a day earlier than previously planned

Qatar To Develop Solar-Powered Cooling For World Cup

Qatar has promised to hold a carbon-neutral World Cup and so is researching solar-powered cooling technology.

FAA Approval Clears Dreamliners For Take Off

Boeing said planes wll be modified “in approximately the order they were delivered” and the expectation is they will be flying again in May.

U.S. Nears $10bn Arms Deal With Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE

The deal will take V-22 Osprey aircraft, advanced refueling tankers, anti-air defense missiles and 25 F-16 Desert Falcon jets to the region.

Saudi’s Sabic Q1 Profit Falls 10%

Net income for the three months to March 31 was 6.56 billion riyals ($1.75 billion) compared to 7.27 billion riyals in the same period last year.

Bahrain Soccer Head: I’m Favourite For AFC Top Job

An interview with Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa reveals he favours himself to replace disgraced Qatari Mohamed Bin Hammam.

Saudi Oil Exports In February Jump To 7.45m bpd

The world’s largest oil exporter shipped around 7.09 million bpd in January.