UAE’s RAKBANK Sets Initial Price Thoughts For Debut Bond Sale – Leads

The lender expects to price a deal this week, a document from lead managers said.

Bahrain’s Gulf Air Resumes Athens Flights

Carrier resumes flights to Greek capital after two-year absence

Saudi Arabia Says Rejects Foreign Intervention in Iraq

In a statement, the Kingdom blamed the crisis on years of “sectarian and exclusionary” policies.

Qatar Airways A380 Deliveries Delayed Again – CEO

The delivery had been expected around the end of May, but was pushed back after the airline rejected the aircraft during a pre-delivery inspection.

Dubai’s Arabtec CEO Says No Rift With Major Shareholder Aabar

Shares in Arabtec, one of the most heavily traded stocks in Dubai, have plunged 48 per cent from their May peak.

DEWA Says All Services Now Available On Smart Devices

DEWA’s customers conducted around 3.3 million transactions in 2013 through its website and smart app, its chief executive said.

Bahrain’s GFH Loses Appeal Against Kuwait Regulator Monitoring

Kuwait’s Capital Markets Authority decided to monitor the stock after it was traded in high volumes ahead of a company disclosure last year.

Bahrain’s Batelco Wins $211.1m From Indian Partner

Batelco, via wholly-owned subsidiary BMIC, had sued Chennai-based Siva and its chairman Chinnakannan Sivasankaran.

Qatar Blames Iraqi Government For Rebel Advance

The official’s comments will further strain Qatar’s poor relations with Baghdad, which has long accused Doha of backing the insurgents.

Saudi Arabia Records Dismal Turnout For 11,000 Private Sector Job Adverts

The monthly salaries being offered for these jobs ranged from SAR4,000 to SAR10,000, according to a report by Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Iraq Ends Recovery In Dubai, Arabtec Shares

Dubai’s index drops 2.3 per cent while Abu Dhabi’s benchmark slides 1.4 per cent.

Abu Dhabi’s Al Jaber Group Signs Debt Restructuring

No figure for the amount of debt renegotiated was given in the statement, but bankers had previously said it was in the region of $4.5 billion.

Dubai Bourse Amends Ownership Data After Arabtec Shares Plunge

The level of Aabar’s stake in Arabtec is important because the deep-pocketed fund has backed the construction firm’s expansion to become one of the region’s largest builders.

Bahrain Mulls Union To Protect Workers’ Rights

The union will charge a nominal membership fee of BD1.200 per year, which will amount up to 100 fils a month.

Samena Capital Completes Acquisition of 30.6% Stake In RAK Ceramics

The investment firm will acquire 250 million shares from the ruling family of Ras Al Khaimah.

Aabar’s Stake In Arabtec Stabilises – Dubai Bourse

In a brief statement on Sunday, Dubai Financial Market said the stake had now risen slightly to 18.94 per cent.

Italian Property Developer Preatoni Acquires Dubai Star Tower

The move reflects a rebound in investor confidence in the JLT development, says chairman.

Ooredoo CEO “Confident” That Qatar Will Host 2022 FIFA World Cup

Exclusive: Nasser Marafih, CEO of Qatari telecoms firm Ooredoo, says Qatar will host FIFA’s most successful tournament ever.

UAE Drafting New Law For Domestic Workers

The country recently revised a standard form contract, which regulates the relationship between domestic workers and their employers.

Is Another Property Bubble Looming Over Dubai?

Dubai house prices posted the fastest year-on-year rise of any of the world’s major markets in January-March, soaring 27.7 per cent.

Saudi MERS Response Hobbled By Institutional Failings

Saudi health sources and international virologists have highlighted poor communication, lack of accountability and inadequate state oversight in the Kingdom.

Qatar Says Diplomat’s Comments Criticizing Tripoli Fake

The Qatari ambassador allegedly denounced a Libyan Supreme Court ruling on his twitter account.

Alitalia Board Votes To Accept Etihad Offer, Rapidly Do Deal – CEO

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad is prepared to invest up to $1.70 billion over the next four years.

Saudi Arabia Proposes Reducing OPEC Meets From Twice To Once A Year

The OPEC meetings since 2012 have produced no policy change.

Qatar Is Better Off With World Cup Than Without It

If stripped of the tournament, Qatar will suffer a big setback in the regional race for economic diversification, writes Reuters columnist Una Galani.

Five Minutes With… Richard Weilers, Chief Operating Officer, Tsogo Sun Hotels

Weilers reveals why the South African hotel operator opened its first Middle Eastern property in Abu Dhabi.

GCC’s Hospitality Industry Seeing Rise In Job Vacancies – Report

Job opportunities in the hospitality sector have increased due to the growing number of hotel projects in the region.

UAE’s Al Hilal Bank Eyes Capital-Boosting Sukuk Issue

Al Hilal will meet investors in the Middle East, Hong Kong, Singapore, London and Switzerland between June 15- 23.

Etisalat’s Dollar Bonds Outperform Euro Paper In Secondary Market

Etisalat sold $4.3 billion worth of bonds in four tranches on Wednesday.

Qatar Airways Launches Direct Flights To Miami

Miami International Airport becomes the airline’s sixth US gateway, and it’s 142nd destination from Doha.