Oil, Gas Industry May Cancel $1trn Projects On Price Fall -Aramco

Aramco executive said that the $1 trillion figure included projects that might merely be delayed, not just those that could be cancelled outright.

Show Us Proof: UAE Minister Hits Back In Airlines Subsidy Row

Sultan bin Saeed al-Mansouri said that the word subsidy is often misused and warned that it should not be used without sufficient proof.

Saudis Block Swedish Minister’s Speech At Arab League

The move comes after Sweden’s foreign minister criticised Saudi Arabia’s decision to punish blogger Raif Badawi.

Oman, Brunei Sovereign Funds Partner In Aircraft Leasing

Oman Brunei Aviation Leasing Co will invest in and manage the purchase and lease of commercial aircraft operated by airlines in the Middle East and globally.

Saudi Aramco Says Operating 212 Drilling Rigs, No Decision On Increase

Aramco deployed 210 oil and gas rigs in 2014, an exceptionally busy year, company sources had said.

Damac Launches Limited Edition Of Trump Luxury Villas In Akoya

Prices for Trump PRVT mansions will start at Dhs6.5 million.

Bahrain Says Will Address Audit Report On $1bn Spending Violations

A report by a state audit body alleged BD400 million of public funds had been wasted by government departments and state-linked firms.

UAE To Try Kuwaiti Ex-MP For Insulting Leaders

Mubarak Fahad Ali Fahad Al Duwailah is charged with accusing the UAE of being against the Sunni Islam school and for insulting the Gulf country’s leader.

Egypt’s Orascom Construction Shares Rise In NASDAQ Dubai Listing

Trading on the Cairo stock market is expected to begin on Wednesday, the company’s chief executive said.

Qatar’s Barwa Real Estate Q4 Net Profit More Than Doubles, Hikes Dividend

The firm earned QAR2.8 billion for the full year, compared with QAR1.4 billion in the prior year.

Solar Impulse 2 Begins Round-The-World Flight From Abu Dhabi

The zero-fuel airplane is flying from the UAE capital to Oman in the first leg of its journey.

Saudi Builder Khodari Says Rights Issue Proposal To Regulator By End-June

The builder announced it November it planned a SAR500 million rights issue to help expand its business.

Omantel Seeks Approval For Debut Islamic Bond

Until now there has been only one issuer of sukuk in Oman, a OMR50 million private placement from Tilal Development Co.

UAE Airlines Suspend Flights To Erbil On Security Woes

Emirates, flydubai and Etihad Airways have suspended flights to Erbil as ISIL destroys ancient cities in Iraq’s north.

Oman Jails Rights Activist Who Wrote Letter To Obama

Said Jadad found guilty of “undermining the prestige of the state”, was fined and sentenced to three years in jail.

Saudi Commerce Ministry Refers MMG Board Members To Investigations Body

Saudi contractor Mohammed Al Mojil Group has not traded on the Saudi bourse since July 2012.

Snapchat Management Holds Talks With Saudi’s Prince Alwaleed

Prince Alwaleed has previously made investments in technology brands including Twitter and Chinese e-commerce firm JD.com.

Dubai’s Drydocks World Floats Second Debt Restructuring

The firm will ask creditors to amend the terms of its $2.3 billion restructuring deal originally signed in 2012, sources said.

Revealed: Western Publishing Editors In UAE Earn 82% More Than Asian Peers

Overall, salaries in the UAE have risen by 9.97 per cent year-on-year to around $11,224 per month, finds 2015 Gulf Business salary survey.

Bahrain To Investigate Alleged Waste Of $1.1bn Of Public Money

The National Audit Court (NAC) produced the figure in its 2013/14 report, a local daily reported.

Saudi Arabia, UAE Among Top Five Defence Importers In 2014 – IHS

The Kingdom overtook India to become the world’s biggest weapons importer in 2014, research company IHS said.

Egyptian Court Adjourns Trial Of Al Jazeera Journalists To March 19

A court last month released Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed on bail after over a year in detention.

Dubai’s Plans For Affordable Housing Will Help Market Mature – Cluttons

Rents in the emirate have surged more than 50 per cent in the last two years, prompting calls for affordable units in the market.

Chinese Firm Wins Dhs150m Contract For Falcon Island Project In RAK

China Harbour Engineering Company will carry out the marine and infrastructure works for the luxury project.

Oman’s Bank Sohar Cuts Proposed Cash Dividend On Central Bank Advice

The lender said it had revised its proposed cash payout to four per cent from six per cent.

Drop In Shale Output Caused Oil Price Rebound – Kuwait Oil Minister

He said projections showed prices might improve this year, but added that they might also stay between $50 and $60 a barrel.

Saudi Arabia Rejects Rights Criticism After Flogging Of Blogger

A statement said the Kingdom’s constitution ensured the protection of human rights because it was based on Islamic Sharia law.

Louis Dreyfus Ships Big US Ethanol Cargo To Middle East

Dreyfus is sending about 280,000 barrels of ethanol from the Port of New York to Jebel Ali in the UAE.

“Jihadi John” Link Deepens Security Unease In Kuwait

Security officials acknowledge that youths from Gulf Arab states have trekked in their hundreds to fight for ISIL in Iraq and Syria.

Saudi King Aims For New Sunni Bloc Vs Iran And ISIL

King Salman is trying to reinforce the need for unity in the Arab region and find a way to work around disagreements over the Muslim Brotherhood.