UAE Investors Prefer Property Over Gold

Real estate is currently the preferred asset class for investors in the UAE, finds new survey.

Oman’s Alizz Islamic Bank Eyes Q3 Launch -COO

Alizz Islamic Bank is the second full-fledged Islamic bank in the sultanate.

Zain Saudi Narrows Losses As Revenues Improve

The affiliate of Kuwait’s Zain, made a net loss of 398 million riyals ($106.13 million) in the three months to March 31.

Austrian Airlines €90 Million Investment To Benefit Dubai Passengers

Business class passengers can sink into flatbed seats and enjoy touchscreen monitors

Merkel Urges Qatar To Ensure Fair Tenders For 2022 World Cup

Infrastructure spending in Qatar will average over 10 per cent of gross domestic product ahead of the World Cup.

Emirates NBD Eyes 40% Retail Lending Boom

ENBD presently generates around 95 per cent of its revenue from its home market, although it is hoping to increase its international business to 15-20 per cent in five years.

UAE Credit Bureau May Struggle For June Start

Head of consumer and elite banking at NBAD and the head of retail banking at Emirates NBD believe the June start date will be missed.

Qatar, Exxon Sign MoU On U.S. Natural Gas

Both companies are involved in LNG projects in Qatar and have shared interests in LNG terminals in the UK, Italy and the US.

Saudi Aramco Starts Production From Giant Manifa Oilfield

Aramco said Manifa’s output will reach 500,000 bpd by July and 900,000 bpd by the end of 2014.

Oman Plans To Build $1bn Oil Storage Facility

The facility, located in Duqm, will be able to store up to 200 million barrels of crude oil.

Goldman Sachs Middle East Senior Banker Resigns

Khaled Eldabag, a Dubai-based managing director, had clients including Abu Dhabi investment fund Mubadala.

Dubai Most Profitable ME Route For Turkish Airlines

Its Dubai-Istanbul route has seen a 16 per cent growth in business class passenger revenue.

Qatar’s Airport Delay Due To Contractor – Al Baker

The soft opening of the region’s new airport was scheduled for April 1, having already been pushed back from December last year.

Emaar Launches Burj Vista In Downtown Dubai

This is the Dubai-based developer’s fifth property project launch so far this year.

Etihad Launching Belgrade Flights

Etihad aims to tap into growing UAE trade flows and connect Serbian diaspora in Australia and US.

Qatar, UK’s Centrica Buy $987m Of Gas Assets In Canada

The deal is the first joint investment by Qatar Petroleum International and Britain’s biggest energy supplier.

Prince Alwaleed In Favour Of Saudi Women Driving

The move will “save more than 500,000 jobs”, says the Kingdom Holding chairman.

Oman Firm Signs Deal To Build $200m Sugar Refinery

The refinery will begin operations by the end of 2015 and will produce one million tonnes of sugar per year.

Dubai Developers To Revive Housing Projects

Developers are reviving building plans after nearly three years of inactivity, encouraged by a gradual recovery in real estate.

Dubai Islamic Bank Q1 Net Up 17%

The bank made Dhs301.7 million ($82.2 million) in the three months to March 31.

Saudi Lender NCB Posts 19.4% Q1 Net Profit Rise

National Commercial Bank’s net profit was boosted by higher special commission and fee income.

Dubai Rents Up 10% In Q1 2013, Set To Rise Higher

Residential rents have shot up in areas such as Burj Downtown, Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah, says report.

Global Hotel Alliance Relocates Head Office To Dubai

Relocation provides 18-brand alliance with tax benefits and signals city’s growing commercial allure

Banque Saudi Fransi Q1 Net Drops 13.3%

The kingdom’s fifth-largest bank by market cap said it made $182.4 million in the three months ending March 31.

Telco Zain Bahrain Must Complete Share Sale By Year-End – Regulator

Zain Bahrain has been instructed to sell 15 per cent of its shares in the IPO and list on Bahrain’s bourse.

Union Properties Shareholders’ Approve $109m Debt Extension

The Dubai-based property developer’s loan has been extended until August 20, 2017.

Oman’s Sohar 2 And Barka 3 Power Plants Fully Operational

The two new plants will together add 1,500MW of power to the sultanate’s current existing capacity of 4,500MW.

Qatar Airways Chief Hopes Dreamliners Fly Again In April

The Gulf airline has an order for up to 60 Boeing 787s, 30 firm orders plus an option to buy 30 more.

Arabtec Shareholders Approve Capital Raise

Arabtec replaced its chief executive last month in a management shake-up led by Aabar, its largest shareholder.

Saudi Awards Jubail Fuel Oil Tender To Shell International Trading ME

The Kingdom has awarded up to 400,000 tonnes of cracked fuel oil to SITME.