University Of Dubai, IBM Partner To Set Up Smarter Cities Institute In Dubai

The institute will focus on skills development and research capabilities as Dubai targets becoming a ‘Smart City’.

Dubai Fund ICD Plans Sukuk, Bond Offering As Early As Wednesday

The fund aims to issue an Islamic bond with a six year lifespan and a conventional bond offering of 10 years duration.

Air Arabia Records Dhs75m Q1 Net Profit, Up 27%

The Sharjah-based low cost carrier recorded a 12 per cent rise in passenger traffic.

Dubai To Become ‘Open Air Gallery’ Under New Initiative

Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed launched the first project under the emirate’s Brand Dubai initiative.

Damac Real Estate Q1 Net Profit Up 79% On Dubai Growth

The developer said that booked sales more than doubled year-on-year to $864 million in the first quarter.

UAE Outperforms Emerging Markets Driven By Non-Oil Sector Growth

The country’s manufacturing and hospitality sector have seen immense growth

Abu Dhabi’s Waha Capital Q1 Profit Jumps 78%

Waha Capital’s net profit in the three months to end-March rose to Dhs152 million($41.4 million).

UK Health Authorities Say Second U.S. MERS Case Flew Via London

The passenger was on Saudi Airlines Flight 113 from Jeddah to London.

How The CIO Got A Seat At The Table

CompTIA’s Randy Gross explains why IT is becoming more integral to business success.

Dubai Hotel Chiefs Dismiss Over Supply Fears Post Expo 2020

Although over supply fears are uncalled for, average Dubai room rates need to decrease, industry experts say.

Kuwait Minister Accused By US Of Terrorism Funding Quits – Report

The resignation comes after a senior US official allegedly claimed that Nayef al-Ajmi had “a history of promoting jihad in Syria”.

Jeddah Economic Co To Raise Funds For Kingdom City Super Tower Project

Kingdom City in Jeddah will also include mixed-use residential and commercial developments, the chief executive said.

Qatar’s Katara Hospitality Inks Deal With Starwood To Operate Milan Hotel

Katara-owned Excelsior Hotel Gallia will be a part of Starwood’s Luxury Collection portfolio, making it the brand’s seventh hotel in Italy.

Emirates Launches Fifth Daily Flight To Singapore

The Asian country has become an important gateway hub for the Dubai-based carrier.

Aldar Sees Project Completions Driving Revenue Growth

Aldar launched three new developments worth Dhs5 billion last month and said it was exploring 23 property projects.

Exclusive: More Gulf Restaurants For Heinz Beck

Beck’s Belcanto will be another ‘casual fine dining’ concept, similar to Social by Heinz Beck at The Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah.

UAE Retirement Age On Global Par At 60 – Report

Women working in the country’s public sector can retire earlier at 55, finds new Mercer report.

Saudi’s Naimi: No Plans To Reduce Output Despite Rising Exports From Iraq, Others

Saudi Arabia’s oil minister also said that total global oil demand was steady.

Slow Q1 Growth In Dubai’s Property Prices, But Rents Continue To Boom

Implementation of the federal mortgage cap seems to be most effective in cooling prices, real estate consultancy Cluttons says.

Philippines Hoping To See 20% Rise In GCC Tourists In 2014

The Southeast Asian country is boosting social media promotion and working on improving air connectivity to lure more visitors from the GCC.

Abu Dhabi’s Ruwais Refinery To Be Commissioned By End Of Year

The expansion is planned to more than double the capacity of Ruwais refinery from 415,000 barrels a day (bpd).

Dubai Agrees $1.7bn Sale Of German Packaging Firm Mauser

Mauser was put up for sale earlier this year, having been bought by DIC from JP Morgan’s buyout unit in 2007, in a deal which valued the firm at 850 million euros.

Oman’s Raysut Cement Posts Flat Q1 Profit, Misses Estimates

The company made a profit of OMR8.23 million ($21.4 million) in the three months to March 31.

Dubai Bourse Changes Trading Session Structure Ahead Of MSCI Upgrade

The move is expected to make closing prices more predictable and eliminate large last-minute swings, the bourse said.

UK Fraud Office Steps Up Probe Into Barclays Over Qatar

The Financial Times said this was an acceleration of the SFO’s probe into allegedly corrupt arrangements with Qatar as part of the bank’s emergency cash call in 2008.

Abu Dhabi’s Union National Bank Q1 Net Profit Rises 3.5%

The bank made a profit of Dhs512.1 million ($139.4 million) in the quarter, up from Dhs494.9 million a year earlier.

Dubai Contractor Drake & Scull Posts 27.1% Q1 Net Profit Drop

The firm made a net profit of Dhs45.7 million ($12.4 million) in the first three months of 2014.

UAE’s Aldar Q1 Net Triples On Handovers And Sales

The developer’s profit rose to Dhs453.4 million ($123.4 million) in the first quarter from Dhs154.3 million in the same period of 2013.

Saudi’s Naimi: Willing To Supply More Oil In Case Of Shortage

Russia’s military intervention on Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula and its aftermath in eastern Ukraine have rattled oil markets for the last few months.

Kuwait Signs $12bn LNG Supply Deal With Shell

Kuwait Petroleum Corp (KPC) also plans to sign a $3 billion deal LNG supply deal with BP, a senior executive said.