Dubai Should Offer Incentives To Become Viable Film Production Hub

International filmmakers will only be lured to the city if it offers attractive benefits and creates a strong production ecosystem, say experts.

UAE’S Emirates REIT To Raise At Least $135m In Dubai IPO

The company plans to use the proceeds for possible future acquisitions and investment in existing assets.

Hyundai Motor To Launch First Battery-Powered Electric Car In 2016

The South Korean car maker has so far focussed on manufacturing fuel-cell cars.

Dubai Design District Records High Investor Interest

The district will help Dubai earn around Dhs300 billion in tourism revenues per year by 2020, the developer says.

UAE’s First REIT To Announce IPO On Nasdaq Dubai

Emirates REIT, which was formed in 2010, has eight properties valued at over Dhs1.1 billion.

UAE’s NBAD Picks Banks For Five-Year Aussie Bond-IFR

The lender has picked ANZ, Citigroup, HSBC and itself to arrange the Kangaroo bond.

Spurning Gulf Arab Pressure, Qatar Says Foreign Policy ‘Non-Negotiable’

A source close to Qatar’s government said last week the dispute had more to do with issues in the wider Middle East such as the crises in Egypt and Syria.

Qatar Sells Q2 Condensate At Lower Premiums -Sources

Buyers of Qatar’s deodorised field condensate include Shell, South Korea’s SK Energy and Samsung Total Petrochemical.

Saudi Protester Jailed For 10 Years Over Twitter Messages

The man, who has been in jail for three years, was charged and convicted under laws that criminalise internet abuse.

Kuwait Budget Spending Up 8% Year-On-Year In April-Jan

The International Monetary Fund warned Kuwait in December to restrain the rising public sector wage bill and subsidies.

Abu Dhabi’s Aldar Properties To Build 2,300 National Housing Units

The projects have a total developmental value of Dhs5.7 billion and are being fully funded by the Abu Dhabi government.

Saudi Retailer Alhokair Eyes US, UK Buys; Plans Debut Sukuk

Alhokair completed the purchase of Spanish clothing brand Blanco last month for 11 million euros.

Bahrain’s GFH To Start $3bn Tunisia Project

The financial park and real estate project had been suspended for five years.

Abu Dhabi Opens 17th Century-Style Hotel

The opulent hotel has four 71sqm Rose Suites on the 15th and 16th floor

REVEALED: Top 10 Salaries In Qatar

Qatar maintained its position as the GCC’s second highest paying nation in the 2014 Gulf Business Salary survey.

UAE’s Retail Sector To Grow 33% By 2015

Dubai’s retail industry is one of the most lucrative sectors for foreign investment, according to a new report.

Qatar’s Doha Insurance To Launch $120m Rights Issue March 17

Doha Insurance has said the capital boost would increase financial solvency and improve its credit rating.

Al Hamra Unveils $164m Falcon Island Development In RAK

Falcon Island will cater to the luxury market outside Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Strong Demand Spurs Emaar To Launch Second Phase Of MBR City Project

The Dubai developer will launch for sale the second phase of luxury residences at Mulberry at Park Heights.

Qatar-Backed Bloc Says To Rejoin Syrian Opposition Coalition

The 40-member bloc, which quit the 120-member coalition, said it had returned to confront what it saw as its unfair exclusion from decision-making.

Bahrain Says Foreign “Terrorists” Behind Blast That Killed Three Police

Bahrain, which has been seeing clashes between Shia and Sunni sects, accused Shi’ite Iran on Thursday of fomenting bloodshed in the kingdom.

New CEO Of Kuwait’s NBK Backs Bank’s Regional Strategy

NBK’s Islamic banking business has helped to boost profits, the executive said.

Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority Launches Dhs1.1bn Smart City Project

The project in Dubai will span an area of 150,000 square metres.

Emirates Starts Daily Boston Flights

The east coast city becomes the eighth destination in the carrier’s US network

UAE’s Arabtec Agrees $40 billion Housing Project With Egypt Army

The project will cover 160 million square meters across 13 sites in Egypt for lower income individuals, a statement said.

Qatar’s Barwa Bank Names Subeai As Acting CEO

Khalid Yousef al-Subeai was previously CEO of The First Investor, Barwa’s wholly-owned investment banking unit.

Dubai 2013 Trade Growth Slows But Iran Business Stabilises

The non-oil foreign trade of Dubai rose to Dhs1.329 trillion ($362 billion) in 2013, data from Dubai Customs revealed.

Oman Court Jails Businessman To 15 Years Over Bribes

Mohammed Ali was previously sentenced to three years in jail in January over bribes made to Petroleum Development Oman.

Qatar May Face Higher Costs Of Hiring Foreign Workers – IMF

The publicity about deaths of migrant construction workers in Qatar could affect the availability and cost of hiring new workers, said the fund.

Apple’s iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S3 Remain UAE’s Popular Smartphones

The number of smartphones registered on the UAE’s networks rose by 10 per cent last year, according to official figures.