Alitalia Looking To Create Bad Company To Woo Etihad

Under the plan to woo Etihad, the new firm would take on the majority of Alitalia’s debt and around 3,000 staff, a local paper reported.

Egypt Warns Against Travel To Saudi Arabia Due To MERS Virus

The first case of the disease in Egypt was reported last week.

Qatar Lifts Retail Diesel Prices By 50%

The move apparently aims to curb smuggling of fuel in the Gulf country, a local newspaper reported.

Bank Muscat’s Islamic Unit Plans $300m Dual-Currency Sukuk Issue

The issue would be part of a 500 million rial ($1.3 billion) sukuk programme which the bank’s shareholders approved in March,

Abu Dhabi’s Senaat Shelves IPO Plans – Sources

The IPO was expected to mark the merger of the Abu Dhabi, Dubai indices and help kick start new listings in the UAE.

Oman Industrial Conglomerate Orpic Signs $2.8bn Loan

The money will be used to fund various Orpic projects, including an expansion plan for its refinery in the industrial city of Sohar.

First Boutique Hotel Opens In Sharjah

72 By Hues is looking to capitalise on Sharjah’s growing tourism market.

UAE Telco Operator Du Aims For Double-Digit Revenue Growth In 2014

Chief executive Osman Sultan was bullish on the company’s prospects despite a slow net profit growth of 4.5 per cent in the first quarter.

Dubai Islamic Bank In Talks For 40% Stake In Indonesian Lender -CEO

The bank’s chief executive declined to name the acquisition target.

Kuwait’s Al Ahli Bank Appoints Former Gulf Bank Head As CEO

Accad joins Ahli, a medium-sized lender, from Kuwait’s Gulf Bank where he resigned as CEO last year.

Sofitel Dubai Downtown Opens Its Doors

Luxury brand’s third Dubai property blends French culture and art and targets business and leisure travellers given the proximity to DIFC and Dubai Mall

Bank Of Sharjah Q1 Profits Rise 13%

The lender said that it continued to grow its loan book in Q1 2014 while maintaining the structure of its balance sheet with high levels of liquidity and capital.

Bahrain’s GIB Sets Guidance On 2bn Saudi Riyal Floater -IFR

The issuer completes investor meetings for the deal on May 5 and settlement is scheduled for May 11.

Emirates SkyCargo Begins Operations At Dubai World Central

The start of operations was marked by the arrival of an Emirates SkyCargo Boeing 777 Freighter from London Heathrow today.

UAE’s FNC Passes Anti-Money Laundering Act

Under the law, individuals found guilty of money laundering will face a jail term of ten years along with a fine ranging from Dhs100,000 to Dhs500,000.

Saudi-French Alliance Wins $2bn Bus Deal For Riyadh Metro

The 10-year deal will be linked to the city’s railway project and will handle the procurement, operation and maintenance of the buses.

Business Jet Numbers Double At Dubai World Central

Planned runway maintenance at Dubai International has significantly increased the number of private and business jets at DWC, according to DC Aviation Al-Futtaim.

WhatsApp can officially hide online status, announces rollout of Communities

Facebook Launches Mobile Ad Network To Vie With Google, Twitter

The service allows mobile-app makers to insert various types of ads within their software, with Facebook sharing advertising dollars with the developers.

Dubai Islamic Bank Q1 Net Profit Doubles

The bank made Dhs636.6 million ($173.3 million) in the opening three months of the year, it said in a statement.

Expo 2020 A “Once In A Life Time Opportunity” To Lure Emiratis To The Private Sector – Report

The mega event could shift the balance of employment away from the public sector, a new report says.

Killing the Heartbleed Bug

It is in everyone’s interest to understand the Heartbleed Bug and its consequences, explains Fatima El Malki, social media manager at Active PR.

UAE Telco Du Q1 Net Profit Rises 4.8%

The firm made a net profit of Dhs490.3 million ($133.49 million) in the three months to March 31.

Qatar’s Ooredoo Q1 Net Profit Rises On Asset Sale

The telco made a net profit of 887 million riyals ($243.62 million) in the three months ended March 31, it said in a statement.

Oman Regulator Gives Nod For Power Plant Share Sales Worth $163m

Both companies, which became operational in April 2012, are owned by mostly foreign consortiums.

Saudi Telco Mobily Seeks 20% Stake In Landline Firm Atheeb

Mobily signed a memorandum of understanding in August with four of Atheeb’s founding shareholders to buy a controlling interest in the firm.

Dubai Lender Mashreq Posts 35% Rise In Net Profit

The lender made a net profit of Dhs575 million ($156.6 million) in the opening three months of 2014, it said in a statement on Wednesday.

Abu Dhabi’s Louvre Displays Treasures At The Paris One

Backers hope the pieces, once returned to Abu Dhabi, will help create a cultural hub in the Gulf Arab state.

Kuwait Regulator Extends Corporate Governance Deadline

The rules include separating the positions of chairman and chief executive, prompt disclosure of information to the market, and establishing internal controls and risk management.

Subsidies Draining Kuwait’s State Budget -Minister

Subsidies in the major oil producer are expected to cost 5.11 billion dinars ($18.2 billion) next fiscal year to cover items like fuel and energy.

Dubai Developer Deyaar’s Q1 Net Profit Soars

Deyaar made a quarterly consolidated net profit of Dhs52.1 million ($14.2 million) compared to Dhs19.4 million in the same period in 2013.