Saudi Arabia Sets Deadline For Telecoms Licence Bids

The Kingdom will be only the second country in the GCC to permit MVNOs.

Saudi Clerics Protest Against Shura Woman

The protest came after King Abdullah appointed 30 women to the Shura Council.

Oman Mulls Hiring Of Expatriate Workers

The Council of Ministers wants to identify the type of businesses that Omanis should be encouraged to set up.

Qatar Airways Denies Talks To Buy SpiceJet Stake

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker says the carrier has no plans to acquire stakes in any Indian airlines.

Palm Jumeirah Dubai’s Preferred Place To Live

Emirates Hills comes joint top with the Palm in poll by local property portal.

Dubai Airport Freezone Sees Revenues Rise 26%

A new AED300 million project underway includes seven floors of new offices for international organisations

Etihad Starting Amsterdam Flights

Abu Dhabi airline’s arrival in May will help boost Netherlands-UAE trade links, currently valued at $3.6 billion

Bahrain’s Investcorp sells CCC Information Services

Investcorp sold the insurance industry software provider to US-headquartered Leonard Green & Partners.

Emirates Airline President – “Oil Prices Spiked By Greed”

Tim Clark tells Gulf Business the airline industry will continue to face problems in 2013.

UAE’s Abraaj Group Sells Thai Hospital Stake

Abraaj sold its stake in Vejthani to KPJ Healthcare for an undisclosed sum.

Exclusive: Prince Alwaleed’s Kingdom Holding Plans New Digital Acquisition

Saudi-based Kingdom Holding Company, which owns a stake in Twitter, is planning a new digital acquisition, its chairman tells Gulf Business in an exclusive interview.

Saudi British Bank Q4 Net Profit Up 24.4%

The lender’s fourth quarter profit rose on higher operating income and a drop in expenses.

Nike Unveils McIlroy Sponsorship In Abu Dhabi

The golfing star has split from previous sponsor Jumeirah and joins Tiger Woods.

Obama Meets New Saudi Minister At White House

The President of the United States met with Prince Mohammed bin Nayef to discuss security issues.

Saudi Names New Governor For Oil Region

Prince Saud bin Nayef is the new governor of Eastern Province, taking over from Prince Mohamad bin Fahad bin Abdulaziz.

Riyad Bank Q4 Profit Misses Forecasts

The Saudi lender reported a rise of 4.1% in net with full year growth of 10.1 per cent.

Qatar Flying Dreamliner To Munich, Zurich And Frankfurt

Four European routes now feature the aircraft, which remains the subject of an FAA review

China To Join UAE-Based IRENA

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) now has 160 participating countries.

Doha Bank Sells Shares To Increase Capital

The Qatari bank will hold a local rights issue as it plans to match the capital levels of its peers.

Morgan Stanley To Trim Dubai Staff Amid Global Cuts

The bank plans to slash 1,600 jobs globally to reduce costs.

Dubai Airport’s Terminal 1 To Receive Upgrade

Once the refurbishment of Terminal 1 is complete next year, it will be linked via a new elevated train system to Concourse D, which is currently under construction.

New UAE Mortgage Rules Seen Positive For Banks

The UAE central bank reportedly plans to issue broad regulations for the housing mortgage industry this year.

Rotana Eyes Bahrain Recovery

Operator maintains that while occupancies in Bahrain have reduced year on year, business opportunities remain.

Abu Dhabi Plans 5,000 New Jobs For Emiratis In 2013

The Abu Dhabi Executive Council has announced a Dhs330 billion financial injection to fund various projects and initiatives in the emirate.

Mobily Awards $256m Contracts To Ericsson, Huawei

The Saudi operator accounted for 41 per cent of Saudi telecom revenue in the first nine months of 2012.

Oil Revenue Puts Kuwait’s Budget Surplus At $52bn

Total revenue for April-November was 21.6 billion dinars while spending reached a mere 6.9 billion dinars.

UAE Central Bank Plans Broad Mortgage Rules By Mid-2013 – Sources

The new regulations are expected to include the mortgage caps introduced by the central bank late last year.

QNB Posts 11.1% Rise In 2012 Net Profit; Plans To Hire Thousands

Qatar National Bank, the Gulf state’s biggest lender, made a record net profit of QAR8.3 billion last year.

Kuwait Investment Authority Had $261bn Assets In 2012

Kuwait’s Future Generations Fund is a nest egg for when the economy suffers shocks.

Qatar Airways Sells Cargolux Stake To Luxembourg

Qatar Airways bought the 35 per cent stake last year and sold it back for the original price of $117.5 million.