Iran boosts oil trade via UAE ahead of sanctions relief

The trading sources said Iranian fuel oil shipments are still being presented with documents declaring it of Iraqi origin at the ship refuelling hub of Fujairah

Abu Dhabi rents rise as experts call for more affordable housing

Average apartment rents rose about 7 per cent year-on-year in Q3 while villa rentals were up 3 per cent

UAE’s Etihad Airways signs $700m IT deal with IBM

IBM will provide a global technology framework for Etihad and its partners, including setting up a cloud data centre in Abu Dhabi that will be developed and operated by it

UK seeks release of Briton facing 350 lashes in Saudi Arabia

Karl Andree, 74, was jailed for 12 months in August last year after being caught with homemade wine in Saudi

Dubai names Harbin, ACWA preferred bidders for clean coal plant

The 1,200 megawatt power plant is the first phase of the Hassyan clean coal project

Oberoi Group inks deal to manage two luxury hotels in Qatar

The group will manage a 250-key luxury hotel in the West Bay area of Doha and a 148-key luxury serviced apartment complex in Lusail

Saudis tell Russia: Syria action will have “dangerous consequences”

The Saudis urged Russia to help fight terrorism in Syria by joning the already established anti-Islamic State coalition

Almost 71% of affluent UAE residents own more than one credit card

Credit cards were also used frequently, with almost a third using their card daily and almost half using it weekly, a report found

UAE named world’s third strongest nation brand

A favourable tax regime, strong tourism credentials and low levels of crime have propelled the UAE forward in brand strength rankings

Aldar launches phase two sales at West Yas villa development

Abu Dhabi developer says sold 300 luxury villas within the project in first phase

Kuwait oil minister says no calls within OPEC for ceiling change

Ali Al-Omair said a market exit by high-cost producers could help buoy oil prices in 2016

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Russia’s Putin discuss Syria, Yemen

Sheikh Mohamed met the Russian President in Sochi on Sunday

Mobile phone recycling firm Redeem expands in UAE

The company, which established an office in Dubai this year, has signed partnerships with three major electronic retailers

Qatar energy minister says oil price has bottomed out

Signs indicate that a recovery will take place in 2016, Qatar’s energy minister Mohammad bin Saleh al-Sada said

Kuwait says won’t slow development of oil projects

Kuwait Petroleum Corp is studying investment opportunities, including petrochemicals, in Asia and North America

Russia’s Putin, Saudi defence minister agree to cooperate in Syria

Russia’s intervention in Syria has infuriated Syrian President Assad’s regional foes, including Saudi Arabia

Siemens wins new service contract at Dubai International airport

The company will provide operation and maintenance services for baggage and material handling systems

Kuwait sovereign fund may sell assets to cover deficit – report

The fund, which is estimated to have more than $500bn of assets, is studying whether to liquidate assets that generate annual returns of below 9 per cent

France to agree aerospace deals with Saudi Arabia – sources

Saudi Arabia has shown interest recently in purchasing flexible assault naval vessels like the Mistral helicopter carriers sold to Egypt as well as multi-purpose Fremm frigates

Trading in Saudi Arabia’s Mobily suspended -regulator

Mobily restated 27 months of earnings to March 31, 2015, slashing its total profits over the period by nearly SAR 1.76bn ($470m)

Apple ranked ‘most intimate’ brand in the UAE

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank only UAE brand to make top ten

Russia’s Putin and Abu Dhabi crown prince to meet, discuss Syria

The two leaders will meet on Sunday, the Kremlin announced

UAE announces Islamic New Year holiday

The ministry has declared October 15, Thursday as a holiday for public sector workers

UAE serviceman dies in vehicle accident in Yemen

The soldier was killed when the vehicle he was travelling in overturned on Saturday

Dubai developer to build $4.8bn tourist resort in Bosnia

The ‘Buroj Ozone’ project will include thousands of housing units, hotels and the largest shopping centre in Bosnia

Kuwait sports clubs back government in dispute with FIFA

FIFA has given the Kuwait Football Association until this week to avoid implementing a new set of sports laws

Oil market needs a leader, Saudi adviser says

The advisor called for greater international cooperation to reduce speculation and support a healthy oil market

Access Bank enters Dubai to tap into regional trade boom

One of Nigeria’s biggest lenders is opening its first branch in Dubai to capitalise on growing Middle East-Africa investment ties

UAE-Taiwan trade hit by oil price drop, yuan devaluation

Taiwan’s exports to the UAE have been stagnant over the last year due to a weak yuan and oil price fall, a senior official said

UAE money rates hit multi-year highs as oil money dries up

As governments’ oil income shrinks, they are making fewer new deposits in their banking systems, reducing banks’ supplies of excess cash