Dubai Project ‘Living Legends’ On Track For 2015 Opening

The much-delayed residential project located in Dubailand is set to deliver first 150 villas in Q2 2015.

Falling Oil Prices Will Not Affect UAE Banks’ Growth- ENBD CEO

Banks in the UAE are much stronger than they were during the financial crash of 2008, the chief executive of Dubai’s largest lender said.

Malaysia’s MSM Scraps Pact With Dubai’s Al Khaleej To Build Sugar Refinery

Due to the fact that the project is of “national interest”, MSM decided to build it without a partnership, it said.

Qatargas, Pakistan Close To 15-Year LNG Supply Deal – Sources

The first shipment is expected to be received by March, according to sources.

Saudi Arabia Clamps Down On Visa Trading

The Ministry of Labour said that it will set a limit on the number of workers that each firm is permitted to transfer within a year of recruitment.

Majority Of GCC Workers To Change Jobs Over Low Pay Rises In 2015

The majority of employees expect a pay rise of five per cent while only a fraction of employers are set to award that level of increase this year.

France In ‘Final Stage’ Of Talks To Sell Rafale Jets To Qatar

France said last June it was confident of winning a deal soon to supply fighter jets to Qatar.

Bahrain Launches Criminal Investigation Against Main Opposition Group

The Interior Ministry accuse the al-Wefaq group of trying to undermine national security.

Dubai’s Damac Awards Contracts Worth Dhs1.2bn In 2015

The developer said that it appointed five contractors to work on its master developments and hotel apartment projects.

Dubai’s Al Habtoor Turns Hollywood Producer, Eyes Egypt For Film Talent

The Dubai-based businessman confirmed that he is currently working on two Hollywood movies.

Oman’s Bank Dhofar Working With Two Advisers On Capital Plans

The lender said last month that it was mulling options for raising up to $300 million of capital at the earliest opportunity.

Aldar Leases Out 90% Of Burj Mohammed Bin Rashid Project

The tower is also the tallest building in Abu Dhabi and is named after Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

UAE’s JadoPado Expands, Sees Local E-Commerce Hit $12bn By 2018

The online retailer has expanded into a marketplace, and will host sellers from around the world.

Dubai’s DEWA Posts 2014 Profit Rise, To Repay $1bn Bond In April

Dubai’s only utility also said it would distribute a cash dividend for the year of Dhs500 million to the government.

UAE, Saudi Arabia Control 74% Of GCC’s Private Wealth

Almost 44 per cent of the GCC’s private wealth is focused in Saudi Arabia, while the UAE controls around 30 per cent, a new study shows.

UK Businessman Takes Emirates To Court Over Lost Luggage

Abrar Khan claimed the airline refused to compensate him after losing his luggage en-route to Dubai.

UAE Says Its Jets Target Oil Refineries Under ISIL

The strikes were aimed at cutting off their main sources of funding, state news agency WAM said.

Etisalat’s Egypt Unit Signs $120m Loan

HSBC and National Bank of Abu Dhabi, will each provide $60 million each to Etisalat Misr.

Kuwait To Boost Drilling Rigs, Crude Capacity Despite Low Oil Price

The Gulf state plans to deploy 120 oil and gas rigs by the start of next year, up from 80 rigs now.

UAE Banks’ Profit Growth To Dip On Weaker Economy, Asset Quality -S&P

Sector-wide profit growth this year is expected to drop to five or six per cent from 22 per cent in 2014.

UAE Calls Egyptian Hostage Killings By ISIL “An Ugly Crime”

The UAE’s president and other leaders condemned the killings and affirmed their support to Egypt in rooting out such radical groups.

Bahrain’s Batelco Q4 Net Profit Rises 22%

The former monopoly has now posted rising profits in four of the past six quarters.

Orascom Construction To List On Nasdaq Dubai, Egyptian Exchange

The listing followed a demerger of OCI NV’s engineering and construction business from its fertilizer and chemicals business.

Emirates Introducing A380 On Milan-New York Route

The service will begin from June 1, and raise superjumbo capacity between Dubai and Milan.

Hospitals on Alert As Saudi Arabia Finds Six New MERS Cases

Two people have died after being affected with MERS over the last two days, prompting fresh health warnings to prevent an outbreak.

Oil Steadies Around $61, Kuwait Sees Prices Supported

The price of Brent crude has increased by more than 30 per cent in the last four weeks.

Abu Dhabi’s NMC Health Says Signs $825m Loan Facility

The facility is divided into two tranches and will be used to refinance existing debts of NMC and to fund its acquisitions.

Kuwait Oil Minister Says He Expects Price Rally To Continue

Omair said the current market surplus was less than 1.8 million barrels per day.

Dubai’s MAF To Open Canadian Brand Lululemon Stores In ME

The first lululemon athletica store is slated to open in Dubai later this year.

Omantel Says Board Proposes Paying Cash Dividend Of 75%

The proposed cash amount, for which no timeframe was given but which is in line with what the company paid for the second half of 2013.