HSBC Bank Oman Appoints Andrew Long As CEO

Long joins from HSBC Bank Egypt and replaces Ewan Stirling.

Dubai Nightlife Bubble Forming: Crystal Chief

Regional club owner expresses concern about the number of new night leisure venues opening in the emirate.

Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina F1 Circuit Boosts Capacity As Demand Rises

Organisers have announced the sale of tickets for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, to be held in November 2014.

GCC’s Sugar Stocks Appeal To Investors

The tenth anniversary of the Kingsman Dubai sugar conference was held as the fourth consecutive year of global sugar stocks increase.

Online Car Dealer Carmudi To List Space Shuttles, Targets UAE

The company says it expects to be “flooded with requests for test drives” from interested consumers in the UAE.

Dubai World Sees More Early Debt Payments

Dubai World would be able to meet a $4.4 billion loan maturity in May 2015 and to make some other repayments early, a senior official said.

Bahrain Banks Get Clean Bill Of Health, But Statistics Go Missing

Bahrain has weathered the most recent bout of volatility in global financial markets, the IMF said last week.

Saudi Arabia’s Algosaibi Calls May Creditor Meeting -Bankers

The 2009 collapse of Algosaibi’s Bahrain unit, The International Banking Corp, and Awal Bank, owned by Saad Group, left an estimated $22 billion bank debt.

Abu Dhabi Circuit Chief Defends F1 Double Points Change

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) made the points change in a bid to keep the championship alive as long as possible.

Dubai Hotel Occupancies Hit 87.6% In February

HotStats MENA report highlights good month for UAE hotels and Jeddah whereas across the region the trading picture is mixed

Abu Dhabi’s Hilal Bank Considers Capital Hike To Fuel Growth -CEO

The Islamic lender plans to expand its retail and wholesale banking business locally and internationally over the next five years.

Saudi Bans Men From Selling Perfumes And Cosmetics To Women

Only female staff will be allowed to work in stores selling women’s products by October 2016, local media reported.

Kuwait’s Burgan Bank Says To Raise Capital This Year To Comply With Basel III

The increase, which may happen this year, could be “pure capital” or perpetual bonds or both, its chief executive said.

Bahrain Jails 13 For Life Over Protest, Attack – Lawyer

Defendants were accused of attacking two officers and of taking part in an illegal protest, according to their lawyer.

Abu Dhabi’s Waha Capital Secures $750m Credit Facility

The facility replaces the previous $505 million facility secured in 2011.

Dubai Bourse To Hold Roadshow In London

Executives from 13 companies listed on the DFM and NASDAQ Dubai will meet investors on April 28 and 29 in London.

OSN’s IPO Listing Process To Start In Weeks – KIPCO

Officials say London is being viewed as a primary listing for the firm.

Thai Court Throws Out Murder Charges In Saudi ‘Blue Diamond’ Case

The theft of jewels worth $20 million and the disappearance of Saudi businessman Mohammad al-Ruwaili has strained Thai-Saudi relations.

Saudi Dynasty Moves To Forestall Succession Crisis

The Kingdom recently appointed Prince Muqrin as deputy crown prince.

UAE’s Al Etihad Credit Bureau Says It’s Operationally Ready

The federal credit bureau will help financial institutions in the UAE check the creditworthiness of consumers.

Bahrain Watchdog Eases Batelco Broadband Price Restrictions

Batelco’s share of retail broadband subscribers has fallen to 20-30 per cent in 2012 from 70-80 per cent in 2008.

Oman Air To Raise Capital By $519m As Annual Loss Widens

The carrier’s annual loss widened by 16 per cent to OMR113.34 million in 2013.

Qatar Spending To Rise 3.7% To $60bn In 2014/15

The budget is “the largest in the history of the state of Qatar,” Finance Minister Ali Sherif al-Emadi said.

Fuelling Start-Ups In The Middle East

Local initiative Turn8 is fuelling Dubai’s entrepreneurial scene with investor-demo days.

Emaar Launches Samara Villas In Dubai’s Arabian Ranches

The community will feature 177 villas in four styles.

Emirates Receives 46th And 47th A380s, Launches A380 To Gatwick

Dubai carrier’s double-decker fleet now the size of some international airlines

Over 11,000 Users Register For Dubai’s MyID Service

The service provides users access to over 250 government services.

GE Appoints New President, CEO For The GCC

Dalya Al Muthanna is the first UAE national to take on the senior position.

Obama-Saudi King Talks May Ease Friction But No Breakthrough Seen

Friday’s two-hour exchange in the Kingdom did not yield a shared statement or any evidence of policy changes.

UAE’s IT Spending To Top $4.6bn In 2014

The public sector will account for a major chunk of business IT spending in the UAE, a new report says.