The Battle For Black Gold: Can Saudi Win?

The Saudi domestic economy is softening as oil prices head south. Can it cope with the crash?

Is Saudi’s Stock Market Ready For An Upgrade?

In 2014, bourses in the UAE and Qatar were upgraded to emerging markets status. Could the opening of Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul see it follow?

Dubai Islamic Bank Sukuk May Open Window For Gulf Bond Issues

The plunge in Gulf stock markets, which were overvalued and dominated by panicking retail investors, made bond issuers stay out of the primary market.

Bahrain’s BAPCO To Decide On Refinery Expansion Next Year, Sees Tough 2015

The proposed expansion would boost the capacity of the Sitra refinery by 100,000 barrels per day, BAPCO’s CEO said.

Kuwait Controls Minor Fire At Shuaiba Refinery

There were no casualties and limited damage was caused, state news agency KUNA said.

Qatar May Fund Energy, Other Projects In Venezuela -Sources

Industry sources in Qatar said that the country was still studying the possibility of investing in Venezuela’s energy, real estate and tourism sectors.

ACWA Power, TSK Win Contract To Build Power Plant In Dubai’s Solar Park

The project has a net power capacity of 200 MW and is the largest utility scale solar plant in the world to be tendered in a single phase

Bank Muscat Q4 Profit Drops In Absence Of Insurance Payout

Bank Muscat made a profit of OMR36.5 million ($94.8 million) in the last quarter of 2014.

Oman Cement Q4 Net Profit Drops 35.8%, Trailing Forecasts

The firm made a net profit of OMR1.7 million ($4.4 million) in the last quarter of 2014.

New Saudi-Sinopec Oil Refinery Starts Exports

The company did not specify where the shipment was headed to.

Kuwait’s Jazeera Airways Leasing Unit To Sell 15 A320s For $507m

The carrier will sell aircraft from Sahaab Aircraft Leasing to a joint venture between South Africa’s Investec Bank and Hong Kong-based Chow Tai Fook Enterprises.

Revealed: World’s Most Expensive Construction Markets

Qatar was the most expensive construction market in the Middle East region in 2014, according to a study by EC Harris.

Revealed: Best Passports In The World For Travel

Finland, Germany, Sweden, the UK and the US, who can all access 174 countries visa-free, top the list.

Dubai Utility DEWA Names Preferred Bidder For Upsized Solar Plant

A consortium of Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power and Spain’s TSK had been selected as the preferred bidder to build the 200MW solar power plant.

Dubai’s Emaar Says Watching Market Conditions For Hotels IPO

Emaar sold a 15.4 per cent stake in its retailing unit in an initial public offer in September, raising $1.6 billion.

Saudi’s Al Rajhi Bank Q4 Net Profit Falls 1.8%, Misses Forecast

The decrease was the sixth straight drop in quarterly profit posted by the bank.

Nakheel Set To Lease Space At New JV Triangle Mall, Al Khail Avenue

The developer will launch for lease 1.5 million sqft of shopping, dining and entertainment space at the mall from January 18.

Stock News: Gulf Markets Rise After Oil Rebounds

Wednesday’s 4.5 per cent surge in Brent crude futures was the biggest percentage gain since June 2012.

Qatar Airways Launches First A350 Flight

The first of the Doha carrier’s 80 A350s has entered service to Frankfurt

Kuwait’s Americana Still In Talks For Sale

Americana, backed by Kuwait’s billionaire al-Kharafi family, operates franchises for restaurant chains around the region.

Oman’s Bank Dhofar Q4 Net Profit Up 9.2%, Beats Estimates

Net profit for the full year was down 30.6 per cent year-on-year to OMR40.5 million.

Bank Muscat Q4 Net Profit Drops 26.6%, Misses Forecasts

Net profit in 2014 was OMR163.2 million, up 7.3 per cent from the previous year.

Dubai’s Emaar Says Banks Slash Interest Rate On $500m Loan

Emaar said the pricing on the loan had fallen by 1.5 per cent.

Oil Price Drop Unexpected, OPEC Was Right Not To Cut – Kuwait

Oil prices have collapsed about 60 per cent in the last six months.

Citigroup Loses Appeal Over Abu Dhabi Fund’s Arbitration

Abu Dhabi Investment Authority is pursuing a second arbitration over its $7.5 billion investment in Citigroup in late 2007.

Saudi Lender NCB Q4 Profit Rises 1.7%, Misses Forecast

The lender made a net profit of SAR1.83 billion($487.6 million) in the last quarter of 2014.

Saudi Cement Q4 Profit Rises 9%, Beats Forecasts

The company made a net profit of SAR269 million ($71.68 million) in the last quarter of 2014.

Saudi British Bank Q4 Net Profit Near-Flat, Misses Forecasts

The bank made a profit of SAR969.4 million ($258.3 million) in the last quarter of 2014.

Dubai Parks And Resorts Begins Work On DreamWorks Zone

The company said that work on the steel structure, in which the animation zone is located, has started.

Kuwait Oil Minister Says Crude Price At Unexpected Levels

The current price fall affects Kuwait and other oil-producing countries, KUNA said, citing Ali al-Omair as telling parliament.